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Protect Your Identity This Holiday Season

The busiest shopping season of the year can be one of the worst times to become a victim of identity theft. Over one million Californians were victims last year. There are steps you can take to lower your chance of becoming one of those statistics.

When an identity thief takes some piece of your personal information and uses it without your knowledge, you become an identity theft victim. The thief may run up debts or even commit crimes in your name. The Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Privacy Protection offers the following tips to help keep that from happening.

• Don't Carry Too Much Personal Information on You - Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Don't carry a lot of credit cards. Carry only the identifying information that you need. Don't print your driver's license number, your telephone number or your Social Security number on your checks.
• Tear Up or Shred Papers - Tear up or shred papers with personal information before you throw them away. Shred unsolicited, pre-approved credit offers and "convenience checks" that you don't use. Better yet, stop most of the pre-approved credit offers by calling 888-5OPTOUT.
• Don't Give Out Personal Information Unless You Made the Contact - Never give out your personal information in response to an unsolicited phone call or an e-mail. Your bank will not ask you to verify your account number or password in this way. When in doubt, call the company from the number you look up in the phone book.
• Ask Questions! - Whenever you're asked for personal information that seems inappropriate to the transaction, ask questions. Why do you need it? How will you protect it? Will you share it with other companies? Is there an alternative to giving the information? Explain that you're concerned about identity theft. If you're not satisfied with the response, considering going elsewhere.
• Check Your Bills and Bank Statements Promptly - Check your credit card bills and your bank statements as soon as you get them. If you see any unauthorized transactions, call and report them right away. Call if bills don't arrive on time. It may mean that someone has changed the address or other information in your account so that you will not learn about fraudulent charges.
• Check Your Credit Reports--for Free! - Starting this December, we're all entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year. In December, check the Office of Privacy Protection's Web site, at www.privacy.ca.gov, or call 866-785-9663, to find out how you can get your free reports and how to check them for signs of identity theft.

Take these easy precautions now to help prevent a crime that cost U.S. victims $5 billion and businesses $50 billion this last year.

If you think you may be a victim, please visit the Office of Privacy Protection's Web site at www.privacy.ca.gov and see the Identity Theft Victim Checklist on what to do. Feel free to call (866) 785-9663.

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