Protecting your identity
Protecting your identity is one of the most important things to do. Here are a few tips to ensure you do not fall victim to identity theft.
- Never give out any personal information to someone you do not know or trust. This includes your full name, date of birth, residential address, your bank account or credit card details, copies of identification, and other personal records
- Make sure you destroy personal information you no longer need. Do not just throw it away. Old bills, bank statements, and personal records should be burnt, shredded, or cut up
- Make sure you keep personal records safe. You should not write down access codes, passwords, and PINs with your personal information
- Check your credit report regularly to make sure no one has used your personal details or name to obtain credit. You can get a copy from a credit rating agency such as VedaAdvantage, Dun & Bradstreet, or the Tasmanian Collection Service
- There are other simple things you can do to protect your identity. You should lock up your letter box, sign all debit & credit cards as soon as you receive them, follow up with companies if you do not receive a bill or statement you were expecting, and do not forget to tell your bank or other financial service provider if you move house or change address