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Health & Fitness

Privacy Protection and the Threat to Military Families

Asked to help lead bipartisan efforts to protect the privacy of Minnesotans' medical, financial and online data, Rep. Joe Atkins examines current and emerging privacy issues.

Whenever you’re a victim of identity theft, it’s a terrible thing. It’s frustrating and takes time — and money — to recover from. What’s even worse however, is when it happens to our the men and women serving in our military — especially if they’re on a tour of duty overseas.

With four members of our extended family now in the U.S. military, stationed in various parts the world, this is a topic that hits home.

A recent ABC News report called attention to some the scams targeting military personnel and their families. 

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The tips I wrote about in my initial column on identity theft apply here as well: Protect your Social Security number. Don’t keep your Social Security card in your purse or wallet, and only give your Social Security number if absolutely necessary. Next, be careful with your mail and trash. Shred documents that could contain personal data: insurance forms, credit applications, old credit cards, and so on.

Next, be careful while on the Internet. Be sure to download security updates for your operating system, and make sure you’re not visiting fraudulent sites attempting to be something else, like your bank. In addition, use intricate passwords that aren’t easily guessed. Use capital letters, numbers, symbols and so on. Don’t use things like your mother’s maiden name or your phone number. Someone could easily guess those with very little information about you.

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Be sure to verify a source before sharing information. Don’t give out personal information by mail or the phone unless you absolutely know who you’re dealing with. Thieves frequently pose as representatives of banks or government agencies to get people to give them personal information. Finally, always be sure to safeguard your purse or wallet, and store files and information in a secure location.

For military members, there are a couple more things to consider. First, safeguard your military ID. Keep it with you or locked up at all times. Keep your personal information in a secure place, especially if you live in barracks or with roommates. Never lend your credit cards or account information to anyone else. Don't let mail pile up unattended if you can’t collect it. Use a mail stop or P.O. Box, or have someone you trust hold your mail while you are away.

While you’re on active duty, you have another option, called an Active Duty Alert. An Active Duty Alert on your credit report requires creditors to take steps to verify your identity before granting credit in your name. An alert is effective for one year, unless you ask for it to be removed sooner. If your deployment lasts longer than a year, you may place another alert on your report.

To place an alert, call the toll-free fraud number of one of the three credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You only need to call one of them, because the one you call is required to call the other two for you.

For more information for military personnel on identity theft, visit http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt02.shtm. As always, I welcome comments on this issue, either by posting below, emailing me at Rep.Joe.Atkins@house.mn, taking my survey at www.facebook.com/State.Rep.Joe.Atkins, or by giving me a call at the Capitol at 296-4192.

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