FTC Consumer Alert

Federal Trade Commission ■ Bureau of Consumer Protection ■ Office of Consumer and Business Education

Privacy:

Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information

Every day you share personal information about yourself with others. Itís so routine that you may

not even realize youíre 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, call home on your cell phone, schedule a

doctorís appointment or apply for a credit card. Each transaction requires you to share personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN);

or your name, address and phone numbers.

Itís 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 ó the fastest-growing white-collar crime in America ó occurs when

someone steals your personal identifying information, like your SSN, birth date or motherís maiden

name, to open new charge accounts, order merchandise or borrow money. Consumers targeted by

identity thieves usually donít know theyíve been victimized. But when the fraudsters fail to pay the bills

or repay the loans, collection agencies begin pursuing the consumers to cover debts they didnít even

know they had.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) encourages you to make sure your transactions ó online

and off ó are secure and your personal information is protected. The FTC offers these tips to help you

manage your personal information wisely, and to help minimize its misuse.

ï Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it

will be shared with others. Ask about companyís privacy policy: Will you have a choice about the

use of your information; can you choose to have it kept confidential?

ï 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.

ï Put passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your motherís maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone

number, or obvious choices like a series of consecutive numbers or your hometown football team.
ï Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what youíll actually

need. Donít put all your identifying information in one holder in your purse, briefcase or backpack.

ï 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, expired charge

cards, credit offers you get in the mail and mailing labels from magazines, tear or shred them. That

will help thwart any identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your

personal information.

ï Consider ordering a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) every year. Make sure itís accurate and includes only those activities youíve authorized.

CRAs canít charge you more than $9.00 for a copy and in some states, your credit report is free.

ï Use a secure browser when shopping online to guard the security of your transactions. When submitting your purchase information, look for the ìlockî icon on the browserís status bar to be sure

your information is secure during transmission.

For More Information

To learn more about more about privacy issues and how they affect your life and the decisions you

may make in the marketplace, visit www.consumer.gov/ncpw.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in

the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a

complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357),

or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and

other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds

of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

January 2002

F C EDERAL RADE OMMISSION T FTC OR HE ONSUMER

1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov