What's Your Identity Theft Probability Score?*

Answer each of the following questions and add up your points to see how susceptible you are to be victimized by an identity theft.

1. I pay bills with checks and place them in my mailbox or in a corner postal box.

10 points

2. I do not use direct deposit or electronic transfer for paychecks, refund, or insurance claims checks.

5 points

3. New boxes of checks are mailed to my home.

10 points

4. I have not ‘opted out’ of my credit card marketing programs and receive “convenience” checks in the mail.

10 points

5. I carry a purse or wear a wallet in my back pocket.

10 points

6. I use checks for shopping and carry my checkbook with me when in public.

5 points

7. I have not copied the contents of my wallet.

5 points

8. I have at least one item in my wallet that contains my SSN.

10 points

9. I throw away my annual Social Security Earnings Statement without reviewing it.

10 points

10. I keep my purse, briefcase, checkbook, registration, insurance card, or other identifying information in my car.

10 points

11. I do not keep financial and personal documents in locked files in my home or office.

10 points

12. I do not shred banking and credit information before trashing.

10 points

13. I use a shredder, but not a cross-cut shredder.

5 points

14. I have not “opted out” of credit card solicitations.

5 points

15. I have not ordered copies of my credit report in over a year.

10 points

16. I have not notified the credit reporting agencies of the death of a relative or friend.

10 points

17. I have responded to e-mails or telephone calls from my Internet provider, bank, or companies like eBay or PayPal requesting account verification.

10 points

18. I use e-commerce, but do not use a secure browser, or I have high-speed Internet service but no firewall protection.

10 points

MY ITP SCORE: ____________

SCORING:

• 60+ points – You are at high risk of being an ID theft victim. See the Miminize Identity Theft check list.
• 30-60 points – Your odds of being victimized are about average. Higher if you have good credit. See the Miminize Identity Theft check list to identify additional changes that will reduce your risk.
• 0-30 points – Congratulations. You have a high “IQ.” Keep up the good work, but check the Miminize Identity Theft check list for anything you may have overlooked.

*This information provided courtesy of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.