Do reduce your paper trail by shredding items with sensitive information prior to depositing into the trash. These items include, but are not limited to: bank, credit cards, investment and insurance statements; offers for credit cards, personal loans and mortgages; and even junk mail.
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Do choose to receive your statement online instead of through the mail. This is especially important for bank and credit card statements, investment and retirement accounts and insurance policies.
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Don't routinely carry any sensitive, identifying items in your wallet or purse, such as: Social Security card, Medicare ID, passport, passwords or checks.
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Do make sure you have strong passwords for all accounts. You passwords should include a minimum of 8 characters, including both upper - and lower-case letters, numbers, and social characters. It is also crucial that your passwords are not easily guessed, such as the name of a spouse or child, or the word, "password."
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Do incorporate "best practices" when using Wi-Fi to access the internet: When on a public network, make sure to confirm IDs before logging in, and limit access to sensitive sites. Secure your home Wi-Fi network with a PIN, pass code our authentication method.
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Don't be susceptible to email traps. Do not open emails from addresses with unknown senders, click on links with unknown destinations, or open attachments you were not expecting. Also, avoid sending sensitive information over email unless the email in encrypted. If it's not encrypted, it's not secure.
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Do take advantage of the free annual copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. Even young children should have their credit reports reviewed for any possible criminal activity. This practice can also reveal honest errors that may negatively impact your credit score.
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Do frequently review all transactions on your credit and debit/ATM card accounts to detect possible fraud early. Early identification of fraud can enable you to take aggressive action to limit the damage thieves are able to do
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Do look for an "https:" and a lock symbol in the address line of a website before entering sensitive information. A properly encrypted website will give you a secure user experience, allowing you to send and receive sensitive information safely.
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Don't wait to file your annual tax return. A form of identity theft know as fraudulent tax filing is rising dramatically. Criminals submit tax returns electronically using stolen personal information (name, date of birth, and Social Security number) - and pocket refunds. So it's wise to file as soon as you can.
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This material is for informational or educational purposes only. The information in not intended as investment advise and is not a recommendation about managing or investing your retirement savings. In providing these materials, the issuing companies and distributor listed are not acting as your fiduciary as defined by any applicable laws and regulations.
2017 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Prudential Annuities, Prudential, the Prudential logo, the Rock Symbol, and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
2017 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Prudential Annuities, Prudential, the Prudential logo, the Rock Symbol, and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.