RALEIGH, N.C. (October 19, 2011)—Last year, more than 8 million Americans were victims of identity theft, resulting in the loss of more than $37 billion.* With eye-opening statistics like these, it is imperative that Americans continue to take an active role in protecting their sensitive information from potential harm.

To assist consumers in taking action, Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (bbb.org) offers 10 everyday habits to help them protect their identities, online and offline.

1. Secure your personal documents at home.

Securing your personal documents at home is always a good idea, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

2. Shred any mail that you don’t want to keep.

This includes credit card applications, insurance forms, financial statements, health forms and billing statements. Also cut up expired credit and debit cards.

3. Monitor your bank and credit card transactions thoroughly.

Criminals with your account number generally start with small transactions to see if you’ll notice.

4. Protect your Social Security number, all account numbers and passwords.

Don’t carry these numbers in your wallet. Also, minimize the personal information you print on checks. You don’t need to include your Social Security number, phone number or driver’s license number.

5. Never respond to emails requesting to “verify” your personal information and identifiers.

Your bank, credit card company, online payment system, the IRS—none of these organizations will call or email asking for your confidential information. They already have it.

6. Don’t create obvious passwords.

Mix in some numbers with capital and lowercase letters.

7. Never use email to communicate sensitive personal information.

Examples of such personal information are your user name, passwords, Social Security number or credit card number.

8. Don’t use your PDA or cell phone to store bank information.

Consumers should never store bank information such as credit card numbers or other financial information on their cellular devices.

9. Keep your computer system and browser software up to date and set the highest security level you can tolerate.

Back up your data regularly on a separate storage device and never store passwords or financial information on your hard drive.

10. Check your credit report at least once per year.

There is only one source authorized to give you ONE FREE annual credit file disclosure per year from each of the three consumer reporting companies. Call 877.322.8228 or visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

“Identity theft is a life-altering experience that can leave a tremendous emotional and financial burden,” says Toby Barfield, president and CEO of BBB Serving Eastern North Carolina. “Practicing these simple everyday habits is a excellent proactive step in deterring identity thieves.”

Barfield also adds that if a consumer’s identification or credit card is lost or stolen, they should immediately notify their credit providers by phone, and then notify each of the three credit bureaus to discuss if placing a “Fraud Alert” on your file is necessary. This alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in the consumer’s name or make changes to existing accounts. The three credit bureaus may be reached at:

• Equifax: 800.525.6285 or www.equifax.com

• Experian: 888.397.3742 or www.experian.com

• TransUnion: 800.680.7289 or www.transunion.com

To further assist members of the community, BBB is hosting its semi-annual “Secure Your ID” Day. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Free document shredding and ID protection tips will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Coastal Federal Credit Union’s headquarters on St. Albans Drive in Raleigh. Additional information is available at www.easternnc.bbb.org/secure-your-id.

About BBB serving Eastern North Carolina:

Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by BBB Accredited Business fees from more than 2,900 local businesses and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit bbb.org.

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Media Contact

Brian Van Norman

919.232.5008

brian@articulon.com

* Results according to a 2011 Javelin Strategy and Research survey.