Page 16 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! – Winter 2016

AAA
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MEMBER SERVICES
IDENTITY THEFT IS A (FINANCIAL) HEALTH RISK
Are you one of the millions who are constantly thinking about being healthier? Even if you don’t make perfect choices every day, chances are you understand the importance of good health. Does this focus transfer to your financial well-being?
Financial troubles are a major source of stress for many. Your financial health is your safety net if your physical health fails you. So, while you focus on your physical health, it’s important to protect yourself from an increasingly common financial woe – identity theft.
Equal to exercise, a healthy diet, and the occasional vaccine, there are steps you can take towards minimizing your risk of identity theft. Give yourself
a financial well-being workout by following these identity theft prevention tips:
Monitor your credit report. Consider checking for unauthorized activity on you accounts through a credit or identity protection service for help with halting fraud. AAA offers identity monitoring to members with enrollment in ProtectMyID®, which protects you by detecting signs of fraud and helping you resolve them.
Protect your Social Security number.
Take your Social Security card out of your wallet, and make sure it’s not printed on your checks or any other commonly used piece of identification. Give out your Social Security number as infrequently
as possible. When you receive requests for your SSN, ask how it will be used and if another form of identification is acceptable.
Shred documents destined for disposal. This includes pre-approved credit card offers, convenience checks, account statements, and anything that contains personal or financial information. Going through the garbage is one of the most common ways identity thieves gain access to information.
Send and receive smartly. Your mailbox is even more exciting than your garbage can to identity thefts. That’s why ProtectMyID’s identity theft protection alerts members when a new address shows up on their credit profile.
Consider using a locked, secure mailbox or P.O. Box for sending and receiving mail. Avoid a paper trail altogether by
switching to paying bills online through your bank or the creditor’s secure websites.
Explore the World Wide Web with care. Be smart about opening and responding to unsolicited emails and never click on a link sent to you by someone you don’t trust. Make sure your firewall and antivirus software are up-to-date on computers and digital devices.
The reasons for taking care of yourself physically are abundant and obvious, as are the reasons for protecting your financial health by taking steps to prevent identity theft. Just like preventing a cold, it’s
not always a matter of “if” but a matter of “when” your personal information might be overexposed. You’ll be happy you took preventative measures should you find your financial health at risk.
This article is provided for general guidance and information. It is not intended as, nor should it be construed to be, legal financial or other professional advice. Please consult with your attorney or financial advisor to discuss any legal or financial issues involved with credit decisions.
Published by permission from Consumerinfo.com, Inc. ©2016 Consumerinfo.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Special Offer for AAA Members!
HOW MUCH IS YOUR IDENTITY WORTH?
Get identity theft protection for less than your daily cup of coffee1
IDENTITY THEFT MONITORING
PROTECTMYID® ESSENTIAL* free for AAA members
Daily Credit Monitoring Lost Wallet Assistance Fraud Resolution Support Identity Theft Insurance2 Internet Scan ChildSecure®
Home Address Monitoring
Experian Credit Report only
$10,000 for AAA Premier Members
PROTECTMYID® DELUXE $8.95 per month
All 3 Credit Bureaus
$1 million in coverage
60%
DISCOUNT
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Visit AAA.com/IDtheft or call 800-440-6943
1. A daily 16-ounce Grande coffee at Starbucks cost $63.00/month, based on the price of $2.10 per cup, according to the USA Today coffee calculator.
2. Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete terms, conditions and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
ProtectMyID® Essential and Deluxe are provided by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. To be eligible to enroll in and receive this benefit, you must be 18 years of age or older and a current valid AAA Member. Benefit subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Certain terms, conditions and restrictions apply.
*Membership requires a valid email address and online access
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3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • www.aaanc.com
WINTER 2016
Now!