TRADING PARTNERS

Procedures - Privacy

What You Can Do to Protect Your Privacy - Never Talk To Stranger's Guide

  • Be sure to opt-out of information sharing from all of your financial, brokerage, and insurance companies.
  • Wherever possible, minimize the amount of personal data given to commercial or governmental entities.
  • Do not release contact information where it is unnecessary.
  • Do not give out your Social Security Number unless it is related for tax purposes, such as employment or opening a bank account.
  • Don't give out personal information on the phone, mail or through the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you are dealing with. Pretexters may pose as representatives of survey firms, banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother's maiden name, financial account numbers and other identifying information. Legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
  • Pay attention to your statement cycles and follow up with your financial institutions if your statements do not arrive on time.
  • Review your statements carefully and promptly and report any discrepancies to your institution immediately
  • Keep items with your personal information in a safe place. Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit application, insurance forms, bank checks and other financial statements.
  • Be mindful about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates or are having work done in your home by others.
  • Add passwords to your credit card, bank and phone accounts.
  • Your credit report contains information on where you work and live, the credit accounts that have been opened in your name, how you pay your bills and whether you've been sued, arrested or have filed for bankruptcy. Checking your report periodically can help you catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances.