Six Steps for Making Identity Protection Part of Your Routine

The theft of your identity, especially personal information such as your name, Social Security number, address and children’s names, can be painful and exasperating. It’s imperative to always be on guard.
Spencer Accounting Group, Limited Liability Co. Wants to make sure you understand the dangers to your personal and financial data. Making these six steps part of your routine will help you protect your own financial information.

1. Read your credit card and banking statements carefully and regularly – watch for even the smallest charge that appears suspicious. (No Company should be sending you emails requesting sensitive information or send you emails asking for sensitive personal and financial information such as asking you to update your account.)
2. Review and respond to every correspondence you receive. Warning signs of tax-related identity theft can include IRS notices about tax returns you did not file, income you did not receive or employers you’ve never heard of or where you’ve never worked. I personally open every piece of mail regardless if I consider it junk mail, because you never know if it’s a red flag email signifying that someone has stolen your identity.
3. Evaluate each of your three credit reports at least once a year. 
4. Review your annual Social Security income statement for excessive income reported. You can sign up for an electronic account at www.SSA.gov.  
5. Examine your health insurance statements; look for claims you never filed or care you never received.
6. Shred any documents with personal and financial information. Never toss documents with your personally identifiable information, especially your social security number, in the trash