The Newport Beach Police Department reminds residents that you can greatly minimize the risk of scams or identity theft by implementing the following tips.
- Be extremely cautious when handling and disclosing the following information:
- Social security number
- Mother’s maiden name
- Date of birth
- Current and past addresses
- Driver license number
- Credit card numbers
- Bank account numbers
- Personal Identification Number (PIN) codes
- Usernames and passwords
- Never provide personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the phone call. If you receive a call and want to confirm the caller’s identity, ask for a callback number and check it against the publicly-advertised numbers for that company. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to determine the legitimacy of a business.
- Never leave sensitive outgoing mail – such as checks or forms with the personal information listed above – in your residential mailbox Use a blue postal mailbox or your local post office.
- Consider installing a residential mailbox that is secured with a locking mechanism.
- Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight.
- When ordering new checks, do not have them mailed to your home. Pick them up at your bank or have them delivered by registered mail.
- Use a shredder prior to disposing of bank and credit card statements, cancelled checks, pre-approved credit card offers, and any other personal information listed above. A crosscut shredder offers added security by making it more difficult to reconstruct shredded documents.
- Place your garbage bins out in the morning on the day of pickup, rather than the night before. This gives “dumpster divers” less opportunity to go through your trash.
- Minimize the amount of information you carry in your wallet or purse by taking out extra cards and IDs.
- Cancel all unused credit cards. Maintain a list of all active cards and account, including the following details: account numbers, expiration dates, telephone numbers and addresses for each creditor. Store this information in a secure place.
- Open all bills promptly and check your accounts monthly.
- Call your credit card company if your card is expired and you have not received a replacement. Report any lost or stolen cards immediately.
- Notify financial institutions and credit card companies in advance of any address or phone number changes.
- Always shield the keypad from prying eyes when you enter your PIN number.
- Never leave transaction receipts behind, including at an ATM, the gas pump, the bank, or in a nearby trash receptacle. These should be shredded if they include any sensitive information.
