Preferred Consumer | Privacy | Getting Anonymous


Getting Anonymous: What You Can Do Now to Protect Yourself

Protecting your privacy and financial information takes getting proactive. Here are some of the most effective steps you can take today to make yourself anonymous:

Solicitations

Get your name removed from marketing lists. This will screen out a large percentage (but not all) of the pre-approved credit card offers, catalogs and other solicitations. You can remove your name several ways:

  • Call 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
  • Contact the Direct Marketing Association

(for mail solicitations)
DMA Mail Preference Service
P. O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

(for phone solicitations)
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

Go online at www.the-dma.org (there is a $5 charge)

Also:

  • Register for the national Do Not Call list at www.donotcall.gov. After three months, your number will be added to the list and telemarketers who do not have a prior relationship with you cannot call you. This applies to residences only.
  • When filling out warranty and product registration cards, give only your name, address and information about the product you purchased. Leave the rest blank. Companies often use these cards to build their marketing databases.
  • When joining or donating money to organizations, tell them in writing not to sell or exchange your name with other groups. Do the same when subscribing to magazines, book clubs and the like. If you really want to have legal ammunition, have copies of the letters notarized and keep them on file.
  • Keep your address and phone number unlisted.
  • Avoid entering sweepstakes and other contests. The purpose of such contests is to compile names and addresses that can be sold to marketers for other solicitations.
  • Avoid calling toll-free numbers (800, 866, 877, 888 and 900) unless you know the company. When you call these numbers, a system called Automatic Number Identification can record your phone number for resale to solicitors.
  • Get Caller ID blocking.

Online

  • Do not send any sensitive personal information via e-mail, chat or instant messaging, and do not do business with any Internet business that asks you to do so. Unless encrypted, Internet data transmission is not secure.
  • Always read the privacy policy of any Web site where you're thinking of registering. If you're not satisfied, contact the company and ask the following questions:

    • Why do you need this information?
    • How will it be used?
    • Who oversees the use of this information?
    • Who will have access to it?
    • How long does your privacy policy apply?
    • How can I opt out?
    • Who do I contact if there is a policy violation?
  • Check for Better Business Bureau Online (BBBOnline) or TRUSTe seals on the site. These indicate the site has passed stringent standards for privacy protection.
  • When buying online, look for an unbroken lock symbol in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser and "https" at the beginning of the Web site address. This means your personal information is encrypted.
  • Turn off "cookies" in your Internet browser. These are small bits of data that other sites leave on your computer that tell them you've been there before. To opt-out of the sharing of cookie data with advertisers, visit the Network Advertising Initiative web site at www.networkadvertising.org.
  • Install firewall software on your computer, which prevents unauthorized access to your files via the Internet.
  • Do not tell anyone your Internet passwords, and change your passwords annually.
  • Use the "remove me" links in any "spam" you receive and demand to be removed from their list. Do this multiple times and threaten legal action if necessary.
  • The EPIC web site provides a section on software products that you can use to add extra layers of protection when you surf the web. Visit it at www.epic.org/privacy/tools.html.
  • Find tips on how to reduce unsolicited e-mail messages at www.spamcop.net or www.stop-spam.org. For more spam-fighting tips, go to www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs20-spam.htm. To learn about state spam laws, go to www.spamlaws.com.

Financial Data

  • Start reading your credit card statements in detail. If you see unknown charges, report them to your card issuer immediately. Most companies maintain a policy absolving you of fraudulent debt if you report it ASAP. For more information about credit card companies, visit www.cardweb.com.
  • Get copies of your credit reports and do so annually. Check them for fraudulent activity, correct addresses and so on. The time to contest incorrect credit information is before you need a mortgage, car loan or other loan, not while you're applying. You can get your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus:

  • You're entitled to one free copy of your report a year from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Visit this central site that allows you to request your free credit report - www.annualcreditreport.com.

Healthcare Information

  • Find out if your medical history is stored in the insurance industry data base, the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). You may receive a copy ($9) of your MIB report by:

    • Writing: Medical Information Bureau, P.O. Box 105, Essex Station, Boston, MA 02112
    • Calling: (617) 426-3660
    • Surfing: www.mib.com
  • The report is free if you have received a letter from an insurance company stating they used MIB information to make a negative decision about you. As of April 2003, the federal privacy rule HIPAA gives individuals in all 50 states the right to access their medical records. Be sure to read your healthcare providers' privacy notices and take advantage of opt-out opportunities.

 Identity Theft

  • Keep your Social Security card in a safe location. The last four digits of your SS# are often the key to accessing your accounts. Also, make sure your health plan and other cards don't have your Social Security number on them.
  • Don't give out personal information on the phone if you don't know the caller.
  • Stop placing outgoing mail in your mailbox. Take it to the post office or deposit it in a drop box.
  • Shred papers with personal information, especially bank statements and credit card offers, before throwing them away. Thieves will sometimes go through your trash to find credit card offers, fill them out, and start a buying spree.
  • Watch what you say on your mobile phone. Conversations can be eavesdropped on, so if you tell someone your credit card number, an eavesdropper could hear it. Newer digital phones are less vulnerable.
  • Memorize PINs and don't carry them written down in your wallet. When you use ATMs or make calling card calls, be aware of who's around you and make sure you block the keypad from others' vision.
  • Avoid using common PINs and passwords like your birthdate, others' birthdates, or your name. Pick something obscure that you'll remember, such as a pet's name or the date you graduated from high school.