Social Security Number

Finances

Protect Passwords

Don’t Carry in your Wallet.

Only carry necessary credit cards.

Don’t carry your personal identification numbers (PIN) in your wallet or purse.

Only give when necessary.

Watch billing cycles for missed bills.

Don’t share PINs or passwords, even with close friends or relatives.

If asked for your social security number.  Ask why?

View all statements for odd charges.

Avoid using easily available information for your PINs or passwords.

Such as:
Mother’s maiden name, yours or your family members’ birth dates, your SSN, phone number or a series of consecutive numbers (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4).

Don’t print on the back of checks.

Use automatic deposit for payroll, social security or other federal benefit checks.

Shred old bank statements, insurance forms, credit applications, etc.

To sign up for automatic deposit of social security checks and other federal benefit payments, call (800) 333-1795.

Review your Social Security Earnings Statement for errors in your yearly salary. To order a statement, call (800) 772-1213.

Choose a different PIN for each account.

Mail

Online Information

Scams and Frauds

Call 1 (888) 5-OPT-OUT to stop pre-approved credit card applications.

Beware of e-mails that claim to come from a bank, Internet Service Provider, business or charity and ask you to confirm your personal information or account number.

Never give personal information to telemarketers who call you on the phone.

Place outgoing mail into a locked mailbox such as a blue postal service box.

Never send your SSN or financial account numbers by e-mail.

To cut down on unwanted telemarketing calls, sign up for the national Do Not Call registry at (888) 382-1222
or www.nocallsnc.com .

Don’t leave incoming mail sitting in an unlocked mailbox.

Don’t transmit your SSN or account number online unless using a secure web site or encryption software.

Double-check references for door-to-door sales, home repair offers and other products. Verify that charities, businesses and others who contact you are who they claim to be before
you provide any personal information.

Cut down on junk mail by sending a letter or postcard with your first and last name, home address and signature to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing
Association, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. (www.dmaconsumers.org)

Secure web sites often have an icon in the shape of a lock in the lower right-hand corner. A secure web site’s address will change from http to http's..

If you think the request for information is legitimate,
hang up and contact the company at a number you know is valid to verify the request.

Read privacy policies and inquire how your personal information will be used.

Use one low-limit credit card for all online purchases or request a one-time-use number from your credit card company each time you want to make a purchase online.