Our partners, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has a collection of valuable pamphlets with information and advice to help prevent Identity Theft.

Safe Holiday Online Shopping (PDF)

This pamphlet primarily addresses “online community marketplaces” like Craigslist and eBay and provides useful, cautionary tips for both buyers and sellers.

As a buyer:

• Do not give out personal information. No one should need your social security number or other personal details for a transaction
• Try to purchase items sold close to home so that they may be inspected before purchase

As a seller:

• Do not ship items before you have received payment
• Do not accept overpayment for items

How to HUM BUG Proof Your Holidays (PDF)

We wrote about this topic last December, too. This pamphlet gives advice about how to protect yourself when you’re out and about during the holidays, including while shopping, while at holiday parties, while away from home and while at church. 

• Only carry what you need when you’re out shopping; leave extra credit cards and your checkbook at home.
• Don’t leave your personal belongings (purse, keys, wallet) unattended while at parties, even at a friend’s home.
• When going on vacation, remember that burglar’s are less likely to invade a home that looks occupied. Timers and motion sensing lights may be worth the investment.

New Year’s Resolutions (PDF)

CBI provides a list of New Year’s resolutions that will help you protect yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud in the coming year. Some of our favorites...

• Review your credit card and bank account statements carefully every month, contacting the financial institution immediately if you notice anything that is not accurate.
• Never give out personal information to someone calling you on the phone or sending you a text or email.
• Shop only on secure websites that you trust.
• Do not give out too much information on Facebook page or blogs. Criminals read these, too.

Many of them are simple and don’t take very much time, but will help secure your identity and therefore your peace of mind. Not a bad way to start the New Year.

OPT OUT - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

One of the ways identity thieves can get your information or set up bogus accounts in your name is by calling you  or by stealing and fraudulently using credit card and other offers that come in the mail. You didn’t ask for these communications, but you can ask to stop them… and lower your risk of identity theft.

“Opting out” means taking your name off mailing lists for credit card offers and other junk mail, and it means putting yourself on Federal and State “No Call” directory. Having your name on a “No Call” directory removes you from lists that telemarketers and other organizations have access to for making their sales pitches. Many telemarketers are harmless (if annoying), but some are out to get your personal information.

Opting out is another GREAT New Year's resolution! It takes a little time to opt out of all of the various lists, but is so worth it.

This pamphlet provides phone numbers and websites for all of the various opting out options, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions about opting out.

• There are two “No Call” lists, a state list and a federal list. You can and should register for both, and you can register all of your personal numbers, including cell phone and personal fax numbers.
• You can contact your credit card’s customer service department to opt out of receiving check solicitations, which would be easy for an identity thief to use fraudulently.
• You can register to stop junk mail and junk email. Stopping regular junk mail costs $1; stopping junk email is free to register and good for six years.

Happy Holidays from the Education Cents team. Stay safe out there!