Date: November 7, 2006
Contact: Media Coordinator - 858-693-7935 x104
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Holiday Consumer Alert
“IDENTITY THIEVES DON’T TAKE A HOLIDAY”

Every year ITRC gets more calls about lost and stolen wallets than any other time of the year. This is the season to enjoy, not to be stressed as an identity theft victim. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the biggest shopping season of the year. As we enter the holiday season, we would like to remind everyone to take additional precautions against identity theft. Identity theft is not just something you read about in the paper. About 10 million people fall victim to this crime every year. No one is immune – from birth to beyond death. Because of the distractions of the holidays and crowded shopping environments, conditions are ripe for identity thieves and pickpockets to take advantage of the situation. Who’s in your wallet?©

The following are the Identity Theft Resource Center’s Tips and Suggestions to be safe during the holiday season.

• Social Security Numbers: Never carry your Social Security card or its number with you on a daily basis. This is true not only during the holidays but year-round. That number is more valuable than gold to identity thieves. Only carry it on the single days you need it and keep it in a locked box at all other times.
• Mail Awareness: Watch for monthly bills. We all know that the holidays will cause some mailing delays. However, if you have not received your bills within a few days of their regularly scheduled dates, contact both the issuer and the Post Office. Failure to receive a bill could be as innocent as a delay, or it could be an indicator of mail theft. If this is a case of theft, let the Postal Inspector’s Office know. Remember- a locked mailbox is a necessity in today’s world. It is also a great family gift- the gift of protection.
• Mailing bills: Each year we see Post Office boxes filled to overflowing with outgoing mail. We recommend that you mail envelopes containing checks or sensitive information inside the post office before the last pickup of the day. During the holidays, make sure that the post office box is sufficiently empty enough that your mail doesn’t sit within easy reach of someone’s inquiring hands.
• Shoulder surfing: Shoppers often open new credit cards to cover large holiday purchases. This makes it a perfect time for shoulder surfers (those who either purposely overhear conversations or look over shoulders for information – hence the name shoulder surfer) to “borrow” sensitive information. Take a few extra moments to protect credit cards, driver’s licenses and checks from wandering eyes. Instead of verbally sharing requested sensitive information, write it down for the clerk and take that slip of paper home with you. Afterward, store it in a place where others cannot lift it or, better yet, destroy it.
• Credit card receipts: It is now mandatory that businesses truncate all but the last five numbers on credit card numbers on the customer copy of receipts. A gift receipt should not have a credit card number on it at all. ITRC recommends that you place that receipt in a secure location in your wallet. Do not throw it in the purchase bag. Pickpockets and thieves won’t steal grandma’s new sweater but will be happy to take the receipt that has your credit card number on it.
• Credit Card Skimming: Credit card skimming occurs when a clerk slides your credit card through a second machine that scans the information from the magnetic strip and stores it until it is downloaded onto a counterfeit card. The golden rule is “Out of sight, out of control.” Keep your eyes on your cards at all times. Don’t let a clerk or accomplice distract you from the transaction.
• Information protection: Cross-cut shred any receipts you no longer want, especially those with credit card numbers on them. Lock up any documents with financial, credit or social security information on them BEFORE allowing guests into your home for that holiday party. Be stingy with your social security number- there are only a limited number of reasons a company might need it. Add passwords onto all your credit cards, financial accounts and utility accounts to verify your identity. By the way, home cross-cut shredders make great gifts; some even shred old credit cards and CDs with stored information you no longer wish to keep.
• Dumpster diving: We all get more mail than we can deal with at this time of year. Take the time to look through each envelope. Don’t assume an envelope contains a business gift card or advertisement. It may well be a pre-approved credit card offer or transfer balance check that looks a greeting card. Confetti shred any documents that contain bar codes or sensitive data or something someone could use to steal an identity.
• Online Shopping: Keep a printout of the web page(s) describing the item you ordered, any email messages, and the page that shows the seller’s name, address, telephone number and return policies should you have any problems. For online purposes, it is not necessary to provide a social security number. A credit card number should do. Avoid using debit cards for this purpose. Make sure the company is on a secure server site and that the information you send is encrypted.
• Purse snatching and pickpockets: Unzipped purses, backpacks or open bags are open invitations to pickpockets. Carry your wallet or purse securely. We recommend fanny packs for men and women. Attach it so that it rests against your stomach. If carrying a purse, loop the strap over your shoulder and have the clasp-side of the purse against the FRONT of your body. Wallets should be placed in a front pocket or in a closable back pocket. Put a large rubber band around the wallet a couple times to create more friction and make it harder for the thief to pickpocket.
• Who’s in your wallet ©: Minimize what you carry with you. Leave extra credit cards, check books, deposit slips and debit cards (with VISA or MasterCard logos) at home. Those are the easiest items for a thief to use.
• Finally, Debit cards are not credit cards: They are a direct link to your bank account. When you use a credit card, you receive a billing statement, giving you time to “dispute” fraudulent activity before paying the bill. Debit cards electronically transfer money immediately. ITRC recommends that you leave these in a safe location at home during the holidays especially on the days you do not need to make an ATM deposit or withdrawal.

With some additional awareness, the holiday season doesn’t have to be an open door to identity thieves. And while we cannot completely prevent you from becoming a victim, following these tips should help to convince a thief to find an easier target.

ITRC may be reached to schedule an interview at 858-693-7935

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