How to ensure identity theft protection

1. Be aware of the many ways that identify theft can occur.

Identify theft can occur from somebody using your credit card details illegally to make purchases, through to having your entire identity assumed by another person to open bank accounts, take out loans, and conduct a business in your name. You must guard against your name being used to commit crimes, including carrying out terrorist activities.

2. Stay on the lookout for identity theft.

One of the downsides to the improved communications and the ease of doing business that technological advances have produced, is that fraudsters and other criminals may have more opportunities to obtain details about you, your home, and your personal life. And you may not know that you are the victim of identity theft until long after it has happened. A 2007 survey by The Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 3% of Australian over the age of 15 years experienced some form of identity fraud in the year preceding the survey.

3. Remain alert.

Your identity is a valuable possession and needs to be protected, accordingly. You need to be aware of the many ways that identity thieves can access your personal information. You may lose your purse/wallet or have it stolen, your home may be broken into and personal papers stolen, thieves may steal mail from your letterbox, thieves may retrieve information from your rubbish or recycling bin, you might provide your personal details over the phone or internet, or your details may be sourced through an unauthorized third-party.

4. Understand the dangers.

By using your name, details, and other stolen identity, thieves can: open new credit card and bank accounts; buy a cell phone and open an account; acquire a loan and buy a car, computer, etc.; change the address of your account so that you don’t receive accounts that will signal a problem; and if you’re the principal of a public company, obtain credit and goods in the company’s name.

5. Protect your identity.

It is not enough to rely on others to alert the relevant authorities such as police service. You need

to lock all personal documents in a safe container when not using them;

to keep copies and key documents in a secure location;

to carry only essential personal information;

to destroy personal information before putting it in the bin;

to put a lock on your letter box;

to resist any temptation to respond to suspicious mail or email;

to not store personal details on mobile phones or wireless devices;

to avoid giving personal or financial information over the phone;

to ask questions;

to activate caller ID on your phone and record the numbers of unusual calls;

to contact the do-not-call register;

to treat any request for spying your personal documents with caution; and

to protect your documents when you are traveling.

6. Keep tabs on your financial information.

Financial gain is a key motivator of identity thieves, so keep a check on your financial information by:

ordering a copy of your financial reports annually;

checking your billing and account records carefully;

guarding against giving your personal or financial information to anybody with whom you have not initiated contact; and

limiting the credit you have in certain accounts.

7. Guard information on your computer.

Identity thieves like to hone-in on your computer where they’re confident of finding out need-to-know information. Your protection tactics should include

Using passwords and access controls;

Choosing strong passwords and changing them regularly;

Opting not to have the site you’re logging onto remember your password;

Avoiding giving your personal information over the internet;

Refusing to open an attachment in a e-mail you don’t know and trust;

Installing anti-virus software;

Exercising caution when using special networking sites;

Avoiding using public computers to access your personal information; and

Ensuring that all information is erased from your computer (and mobile phone, too) before disposing of it.

8. Know when your identity may have been stolen.

Identity theft protection is your responsibility, so you need to be aware of some warning signs that indicate that somebody could be using your identity. Examples include

Your wallet or purse has gone missing (stolen, perhaps);

Unfamiliar charge appear on your credit card statements;

Unfamiliar bills start arriving;

Mail has gone missing—stolen or redirected, perhaps;

Calls from creditors with whom you do not do business;

New credit cards arrive that you have not applied for; and

Denial of credit because of your credit ‘history’.

9. Take considered action.

If you become a victim of identity theft, you need to take action and there are several things you can do to minimize financial loss and damage to your name. Be aware, however, that even if you do follow these steps, it may not prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use of your documents. Actions should include

Inform the police, immediately;

Close all unauthorized accounts;

Alert you bank or financial institution;

Get a copy of your credit report and review the report;

Report loss or theft to the relevant agencies—government and non-government; and

Contact the office of the relevant authority associated with any breach of privacy.