da: Identity Theft Protection

Montgomery County, PA

P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Courthouse Hours: 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m.
Phone: 610-278-3000
Website: www.montcopa.org

Identity Theft Protection   
 
AVOID
 
 
There are many things that consumers can do to help protect themselves from the nuisance and destruction of identity theft.  The best way to fight identity crime is to safeguard your personal information.  The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has put together a list of tips that will help residents avoid the perils of identity theft.
  1. Be careful with your Social Security number and other personal information.
  2. Shred all financial documents before throwing them away, including credit card records and receipts, checks, unsolicited credit applications, credit reports and ATM receipts. Many thieves get their information from documents found in people's trash.
  3. Be cautious at ATM's so-called "shoulder surfers" can get your number and access your accounts.
  4. Mail theft is common. Never mail checks from your home mailbox. drop them off at a mailbox or post office.
  5. When new credit cards or previous ones expired, watch the calendar to make sure that you get the card within the appropriate time. Inquire immediately of creditors when anticipated bills or statements fail to arrive in the mail.
  6. Thieves have been known to divert mail for a few weeks through a forwarding notice to steal information from your bills.
  7. Do not use your mother's maiden name as a password on your accounts. Make up a fictitious word.
  8. Always question the information gathering and handling practices of merchants, creditors, government agencies, employers, educational institutions and others.
  9. Don't be afraid to ask if they really need this information for a valid purpose.
  10. Ask to have an alternative number where social security numbers are used for identification by schools, employers or other institutions.
  11. Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and social security numbers.
  12. Do not carry any identifiers you do not need including birth certificate, social security card or passport, unless necessary.
  13. Never give out personal information on the phone unless you initiate the call or you know the person you are speaking to.
  14. Order your credit history regularly to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
 
Identity Theft Reporting   
 
id
 
If you suspect that you have been the victim of an identity theft, contact the three major credit bureaus, contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with and immediately contact your local police department and file a police report.
 
For more information about identity theft visit these websites:
 
 
Credit Reporting Bureaus   
EQUIFAX
P. O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
(800) 525-6285
www.equifax.com

EXPERIAN (formerly TRW)
P. O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
(800) 301-7195
www.experian.com

TRANSUNION CORPORATION
P. O. 34012
Fullerton, CA 92834
(800) 680-7289
www.tuc.com