Identity Secure

Every day you share personal information about yourself with others. It's so routine that you may not even realize you're doing it. You may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, buy a gift online or apply for a credit card. Each transaction requires you to share personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your Social Security number; or your name, address and phone numbers.

It's important to find out what happens to the personal information you and your children provide to companies, marketers and government agencies. These organizations may use your information simply to process your order; to tell you about products, services, or promotions; or to share with others.

And then there are unscrupulous individuals, like identity thieves, who want your information to commit fraud. Identity theft is the fastest-growing white-collar crime in America, and occurs when someone steals your personal identifying information, like your SSN, birth date or mother's maiden name. Consumers targeted by identity thieves usually don't know they've been victimized.

Tips from the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission encourages you to make sure your transactions — online and off — are secure and your personal information is protected:

• Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Ask about the company's privacy policy.
• Read the privacy policy on any website directed to children. Websites directed to children or that knowingly collect information from kids under 13 must post a notice of their information collection practices.
• Put passwords on all of your accounts, including your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information — like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number.
• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you'll actually need.
• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. When you discard receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements — tear or shred them.
• Consider ordering a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it's accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized.
• Use a secure browser when shopping online to guard the security of your transactions. Look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.