Tips to Keeping Your Social Security Number Safe
Cases of identity theft are continuing to rise, so it is crucial to protect yourself in any way possible. If you do a lot of banking or purchasing online, you should make sure to not save too much information. Every computer is at risk as there are many hackers and spammers out there that may put Spyware or other hazardous material on your hard drive.Never leave your laptop unattended or open around people you do not know, and it's the same not to leave information up on your desktop computer if there are doubtful people around. You should also be aware of what is going on with your credit report, and make sure to check it at least biannually for suspicious activity. You can request that the bank only puts your first initial and last name on your checks; this can help to keep your information a little more confidential.
You should never opt to have your social security number on your checks, and it is recommended to never keep your social security card on you or any document with the number, as the cases of actual thefts are in the same range as identity thefts. A very beneficial tip is to go through your wallet and photocopy all of its contents, this can be extremely helpful in the event that you are robbed, you will know exactly what was in it, and you will have all the necessary information to contact the proper departments to assist you.
Contact any companies that have print your social on documents they mail you, and ask them to desist at once. A large number of people also make the mistake of using the last four digits of their social as security codes or pin numbers for their ATM cards. This may be easier for you to remember, however that number is probably the first number a thief would try if he was able to steal your card.
Contributing National Payday Staff Writer
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