Identity Theft IQ Test
Are You at Risk for Identity Theft? Test Your "Identity Quotient"

___	I receive several offers of pre-approved credit every week. (5 points)
___	Add 5 points if you do not shred them (cross-cut shredder preferred) before putting them in the trash.
___	I carry my Social Security card in my wallet. (10 points)
___	I use a computer and do not have up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection. (10 points)
___	I do not believe someone would break into my house to steal my personal information. (10 points)
___	I have not ordered a copy of my credit reports for at least 2 years. (20 points)
___	I use an unlocked, open box at work or at my home to drop off my outgoing mail. (10 points)
___	I do not have a P.O. Box or a locked, secured mailbox. (5 points)
___	I carry my military ID in my wallet at all times. (It displays my SSN.) (10 points)
___	I do not shred my banking and credit information, using a cross-cut “confetti” shredder, when I throw it in the trash. (10 points)
___	I throw away old credit and debit cards without shredding or cutting them up. (5 points)
___	I use an ATM machine and do not examine it for signs of tampering. (5 points)
___	I provide my Social Security number (SSN) whenever asked, without asking why it is needed and how it will be safeguarded. (10 points)
___	Add 5 points if you provide it orally without checking to see who might be listening nearby.
___	I respond to unsolicited email messages that appear to be from my bank or credit card company. (10 points)
___	I leave my purse or wallet in my car. (10 points)
___	I have my driver's license number and/or SSN printed on my personal checks. (10 points)
___	I carry my Medicare card in my wallet at all times. (It displays my SSN.) (10 points)
___	I do not believe that people would root around in my trash looking for credit or financial information or for documents containing my SSN. (10 points)
___	I do not verify that all financial (credit card, debit card, checking) statements are accurate monthly. (10 points)

Each one of these questions represents a possible avenue for an identity thief.
Understanding Your Score:
	100 + points - Recent surveys* indicate that 8-9 million people are victims of ID theft each year. You are at high risk. We recommend you purchase a cross-cut paper shredder, become more security-aware in document handling, and start to question why people need your personal data.
	50-99 points - Your odds of being victimized are about average.
	0-49 points - Congratulations. You have a high "IQ." Keep up the good work and don't let your guard down now.
* For information on recent identity theft survey findings, visit the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse web site at www.privacyrights.org/ar/idtheftsurveys.htm.
For a list of tips on reducing your risk of identity theft, read our Fact Sheet 17, "Coping with Identity Theft: Reducing the Risk of Fraud," at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17-it.htm. Remember, you cannot prevent identity theft. Criminals can commit identity theft relatively easily because of lax credit industry practices and the ease of obtaining SSNs. But you can reduce your risk of fraud by following the tips in Fact Sheet 17. The most important advice we can give you is to check your 3 credit reports at least once a year. If you are a victim of identity theft, you will catch it early by checking your credit reports regularly. Your annual free credit reports are available from (877) 322-8228 or at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Copyright © . Privacy Rights Clearinghouse/UCAN. For distribution of the Identity Theft Quiz, see our copyright and reprint guidelines. This copyrighted document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit, educational purposes only. The text of this document may not be altered without express authorization of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. This fact sheet should be used as an information source and not as legal advice. PRC fact sheets contain information about federal laws as well as some California-specific information. Laws in other states may vary. Overall, our fact sheets are applicable to consumers nationwide.

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