Atlantic Blog

The holiday shopping frenzy has begun. It is a little scary to think about it, but every two seconds an American becomes a victim of identity theft. If the thought of having to clean up your credit report because someone stole your identity worries you, and you don’t want to become another statistic; here are some tips to stack the odds in your favor.

1. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet. If your wallet is lost or stolen, and your social security card is in it, then you are at risk. And, just as importantly, make copies of all your cards and put them in a secure safe space. That way, if they're stolen you can report it fast, and accurately.
2. Stop using simple passwords. You can bet that if you use easy to guess passwords and PINS—like your house number or birth date—some hacker will figure it out. Use a mix of symbols and numbers and upper and lower case letters.
3. Use your instinct. If an overly generic e-mail address doesn’t look legit, don’t reply, and don’t click on any links. Go to your account log-ins manually using a bookmark, or typing the URL.
4. Know that Atlantic Federal Credit Union will never call you, or e-mail you asking for your social security number or birth date. If a business or individual asks for personal information, passwords, or credit card numbers--do not give them. Instead, call any financial institution requesting information directly at a number you know is legitimate
5. Make sure all your electronic devices are as secure as possible by updating your operating systems, software and browsers; being up-to-date will minimize chances of being hacked. And, password-protect all of your devices, so that if stolen, logging in will be more difficult.
6. Shred. Yes, some of the easiest targets for identity thieves are home trash bins. Shred invoices, financial statements, or any other personal type documents. Don’t just toss them; shred them. Remember, Atlantic offers free shred months in the spring and fall.
7. Check your online banking accounts and credit reports regularly. There are three credit-reporting bureaus...a trifecta - for analyzing your activity. Check a different bureau every four months at annualcreditreport.com. If you see anything suspicious, report it.

You can also find additional safety tips on the Atlantic Federal Credit Union website.

Follow all these steps, and your odds of being a victim of identity theft will drop dramatically.

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