Maybe you've heard of "identity theft." It's when people steal your personal and financial information and use the information to take money out of your bank account or run up charges on your credit card.
How savvy are you about keeping your private stuff private? Try this quiz.
True or False:
1. When someone asks me for my Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers, I ask why. If I feel uncomfortable about the response or the person or company asking for the information, I say no.
A. True*
B. False
2. The best thing to do with trash that has important numbers is to throw away the papers as soon as possible.
A. True
B. False*[FALSE: First, tear up the papers, or better yet, shred them. Thieves often go through the trash looking for numbers so they can raid your accounts.]
3. I'm especially careful about giving private information over the phone or on the Internet. In fact, it's safest to never send sensitive information, such as my password, Social Security number, credit-card number, secret word, or PIN in an e-mail.
A. True*
B. False
4. It's always OK to buy something on the Internet using a credit card number.
A. True
B. False*[FALSE. If you aren't sure about the site's security, it's better to print out the order form and mail it to the company with your payment instead of sending your credit-card number electronically. One way to check if an Internet site is secure is to look for a Web page address that begins with "https" instead of "http."
5. I make sure no one is looking over my shoulder whenever I use my ATM, debit, or credit card.
A. True*[TRUE. Thieves sometimes stand close enough to see your card numbers or the personal identification number (PIN) that you punch in.]
B. False
6. The safest place to put my bill payments is outside my house for the mail carrier to pick up.
A. True
B. False*[FALSE. It's safer to use a postal mailbox. Someone might steal your envelopes from the outside of your house and get your check or credit card numbers.]
7. If I think someone has used my phone or credit card without my permission, I'll call the phone or credit card company right away and report it.
A. True*[TRUE. The company may not hold you responsible for paying those bills.]
B. False
8. It's important to always carry my Social Security card in my wallet.
A. True
B. False*[FALSE. Put it in a locked drawer at home, or in a safe deposit box at a bank, so it can't be stolen. In fact, avoid carrying anything in your wallet that has your Social Security number on it. Some people avoid carrying their credit cards and checkbooks, too.]
