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There is a growing crime in this country and you are at risk of becoming a victim. It’s called Identity Theft and it can happen to people of all ages and all income levels, even those who don’t use credit cards or the internet. You are almost five times as likely to fall victim to identity theft as you are to be in a traffic accident*. And YOU are the only one that stands between the criminal and his intentions. Although no one can prevent identity theft completely, you can minimize your risk by being aware of the ways in which criminals operate, stay vigilant and be prepared. (* 2004 FTC Survey, 2004 BTS Statistics)
HNB is working in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission to get the word out to as many consumers as possible. Please take a few minutes to take the following quiz to see how prepared you are to safeguard your good name.
Directions: Answer Yes or No to the 9 statements below. At the end of the quiz, add up your score and refer to the protection rating chart at the bottom of the page.
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Whether it is over the phone, in person, or via the Internet, I provide personal information (social security number, drivers license number, medical, financial, mother’s maiden name, etc.) only to people I know or contacted first. |
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| 2. |
I use a crosscut paper shredder on credit card bills/offers, bank checks/statements, and other documents with personal information before throwing them away. |
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| 3. |
None of the identification cards in my wallet or purse (e.g., medical insurance, military cards, drivers license) include my Social Security number. |
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| 4. |
When I am giving out personal information, I am always aware of who is around me. |
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When I receive my monthly credit card statement, I always review the transactions charged to my account carefully before paying the bill. |
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Neither my Social Security number nor driver’s license number appears on my personal checks. |
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| 7. |
I never leave my outgoing mail in an unlocked mailbox at the curb, with the flag up. |
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I get copies of my credit reports from the three major credit bureaus at least once a year and review them carefully. |
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| 9. |
I have a credit monitoring service that notifies me if there are any changes to my credit history. |
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TOTALS |
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What is YOUR Identity Theft Protection Rating?
Score one point for each YES answer above and check your risk rating using the chart below.
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