Broward College Offers Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (October 2, 2014) – According to the Federal Trade Commission, South Florida has one of highest occurrences for identity theft incidences in the nation. During National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, Broward College’s Chief Information Security Officer Matt Santill is offering tips on how to monitor and safeguard all personal and financial information –

Check your credit reports. Everyone is entitled to one credit report from each of the three credit bureaus per year. One of the best ways to detect an identity theft incident is by carefully reviewing your credit report. Reports are free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com.

Get rid of credit cards you didn’t apply for. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to opt-out of receiving cards in the mail that you didn’t request. This will prevent identity thieves from stealing preapproved credit cards destined for your mailbox.

Request a free Full File Disclosure Report. Many people are surprised to find out that their sensitive data is readily available for purchase to law enforcement, government agencies, financial services firms, collection agencies, insurance and health care providers, hiring managers, and other professionals. This has been abused many times over the years to create unauthorized databases used by identity thieves. Reports are available to review, and opt-out options are provided by visiting https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com. 

When making purchases determine whether a credit or debit card will be used. Consumers may be liable for unauthorized debit card purchases, depending on when the unauthorized charges are reported. If it is within two business days, the maximum loss is $50. More than two business days but less than 60 days, the maximum loss is $500. More than 60 calendar days after a statement is received, the maximum loss could result in the entire amount. If a credit card is used instead of a debit card, the maximum loss is limited to $50 by law.

For more information, contact Tina David at 954-201-7510 or tdavid@broward.edu.

-BC-