December 5,2006
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Reducing Your Exposure to ID Theft (Part 2 of 3)
In part one, you learned some of the ways to combat ID theft before it happens. Here are some further tips.
1.) Request that your school/work not use your social security number as your student/employee ID number.
2.) Watch your credit report. Become familiar with its components, and request your free copy from the three major reporting agencies annually.
3.) Never give away such crucial info as your mother's maiden name, date or birth, or credit card number unless you initiated the phone call or transaction.
4.) Be sure to log off entirely when using a computer that others have access to, especially public-access machines in a library or café.
5.) Watch for unsavory scammers looking over your shoulder/back as you use the computer. This type of fraud is called "shouder surfing," and its more common than you might think.