Minimize your identity risks
<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Protect your mail.</span> Know when your mail gets delivered and pick it up as soon as possible after delivery. If bills are late, contact your creditors. </font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Keep papers</span> containing your personal information in a safe place, and shred them when they are no longer needed. This includes account statements, receipts, tax forms, and anything else containing your account information or Social Security number.</font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Protect your Social Security number.</span> Leave your Social Security card in a safe place. Do not give out your Social Security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your driver's license, and never write it on a personal check at a store.</font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">When you use a credit or debit card,</span> make sure you know where your card goes during the transaction and get it back immediately after the purchase. Always take receipts with you.</font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Never write passwords</span> or PINs on the backs of cards or anything else you keep in your wallet.</font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Contact creditors immediately</span> if you lose your wallet. To help you do this, keep a list or photocopy of all your credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, and the telephone numbers of their customer service and fraud departments in a secure place at home. Do the same with your bank account information.</font></font>
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<p class="Breaktext" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt"><font size="2"><font face="Myriad Pro"><span class="MyriadBold">Protect your identity </span>when you shop online. Shop only with companies you know and trust. </font></font>
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<p class="Sourcereg" style="margin: 5pt 0in 3pt"><font size="1"><font face="Myriad Pro">Source: Illinois Attorney General</font></font>