Page 16 - AAA Northampton County - AAA Now! Summer 2015

AAA
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
FIVE TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL IDENTITY CHECK-UP
lf you are like most Americans, you care about your health. You get regular check-ups and try to stay
in shape. But what about your identity? When was the last time you checked it? It’s a good idea to do
a check-up on the security of your identity at least once per year.
To get started, here are five tips that will help keep your identity in tip-top shape.
1) Check your credit reports. By law, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three nation- wide credit reporting bureaus once per year. You can order your reports by visiting annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-5228. You can order all three reports at once from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion or you can stagger them and order one report from each credit reporting bureau, every three months. It may be best to do the latter so you don’t wait an entire year before you check your reports.
It’s wise to check your credit reports for accuracy to help guard against identity theft. You should definitely check them before making a large purchase, buying insurance or applying for a job. Credit reports can help you detect identity theft because if a thief steals your personal data – like your name, birthdate and Social
Security number – he or she can open a credit card in your name and begin charging things. You might not know about it for a long time, however, if you don’t check your credit reports. But be sure to check all three reports, as not every credit card reports to every credit bureau.
2) Review your financial and medical statements.
Your financial and medical statements can often provide early clues of identity theft. Be sure to check your bank, credit card, and loan statements – whether online or on paper – for unauthorized charges. This also goes for medical bills and Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) from health insurers. Medical identity theft can be financially devastating if someone uses your insurance for costly medication or surgical procedures. Always check to see if you are being charged for a medical procedure or office visit that you don’t recognize.
3) Update your security software. Cybercriminals
are relentless. They are constantly introducing new viruses and malware into cyberspace. lf you mistakenly download a virus or malware, don’t let it infiltrate your computer system. Check your firewall, anti-virus and anti-malware software. Set your preferences so your software automatically updates. You can further protect
your computer files by installing security patches and other software programs for your operating systems.
4) Keep hard copies of personal information safe, too. Many thieves steal personal data the old-fashioned way. They break into houses and rummage through desks, filing cabinets and boxes to find Social Security cards, passports, birth certificates, tax returns and bank statements. You can avoid this situation by putting important documents into a locked drawer or safe. Better yet, you can keep them in a safe-deposit box at your bank or credit union.
5) Shred old, unnecessary documents. Your trash bin can also be a gold mine for identity thieves. Don’t throw away documents with sensitive information without shredding them. This includes old tax returns, bank statements and mail with your name and address on it.
Identity theft can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful. Don’t chance it. Do all that you can to safeguard your identity. It’s better to spend a little time upfront, than to back paddle for months or years trying to repair the damage.
For more information on protecting your identity, visit the protectMvlD@ blos.
AAA Members Save on Passport Photos
Instant passport photo service is available at your AAA Northampton County office.
Photos:
$7.99 Members $12 Non-members
Plus & Premier Members receive one set of passport photos FREE!*
MESH BACK SUPPORT Member price $9.99 Non-member price $12.99
*One per membership year
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3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • www.aaanc.com
SUMMER 2015
Now!