City of Santa Clara issued the following announcement on Nov. 19
One of today’s biggest concerns is identity theft. Identify theft is when someone steals your personal identifying information to commit fraud such as apply for credit, get medical services, open lines of credit, file taxes, make purchases and more. These acts can have devastating consequences including damaging your credit status, cost you money and take a tremendous amount of time to restore your good name.
Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself from identity theft:
- Secure your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Only give out your SSN when necessary
- Don't share personal information (e.g. birthdate, social security number, bank account number, etc.)
- Collect mail every day. Place a hold on your mail when you are away from home for several days
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender
- Use the security features on your electronics and use complex passwords
- Do not use public WiFi networks to connect to the internet or other networks
- Review your credit card and bank account statements. Compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions
- Shred receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired credit cards. This can prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information
- Store your personal information in a safe place
- Review your credit report annually to be certain they don't include accounts that you have not opened. You can order it for free from Annualcreditreport.com
- Freeze your credit files with Equifax, Experian, Innovis, TransUnion, and the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange for free. Credit freezes prevent someone from applying for and getting approval for a credit account or utility services in your name
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