“Social” smarts will help protect your identity
By obtaining your SSN, identity thieves have the easiest path to the greatest damage: stealing you money and government benefits, as well as getting medical care and other services in your name. this does nothing more than create havoc for you to clear up afterward.
That said, here are a few ideas to help you Keep Your Digits Safe. When in question, always be mindful and trust your instinct!
- Leave the card at home (Social and Medicare). Unless you are seeing a medical provider for the first time, chances are you don’t need to carry that Medicare card.
- Just say NO! – only a few organizations have a legal right to that information. It is ok to just say no.
- Guard the Final Four – although most widely used and shared, the last four digits are in fact the most important to protect. These are truly random and unique. Scammers can easily get the first 5 digits based on when and where you were born.
- Freeze them out – if you place a freeze on your file at the credit bureau, ID thieves can’t get loans or open accounts in your name because lenders can’t do the required credit check. to note, Freezes can be “thawed” as needed.
- Report quickly – if your number is used for identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877.438.4338 or identitytheft.gov File a police report, notify credit reporting bureaus and your banks!
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