Identity Theft Protection: Take Back Your Privacy

By Dawn Handschuh, Personal Finance Writer   

Very little seems private anymore. Government agencies and marketing companies keep tabs on us all. If you're an identity theft victim, regaining your privacy takes on a greater sense of urgency because you know the more your personal information circulates, the greater the odds it could be misused.

Whether you're still rebuilding your stolen identity or you simply savor your privacy, there are a variety of "opt-outs" available to reduce unwanted e-mail, postal mail and phone calls intruding on your life. Whatever you can do to reduce the hijacking of your personal details is a sensible, defensive measure.

Most people are familiar with the opt-outs for junk mail and telemarketing calls. However, the more targeted opt-outs below could especially protect identity theft victims from future fraud.

Prescreened Credit or Insurance Offers Opt-out

You can avoid getting pre-approved mail offers from credit card or insurance companies, a particularly effective preemptive move against identity theft through mail theft.

How long it lasts:
Five years or permanently; it's up to you.

How to:
Call 888-5OPTOUT (567-8688). Or opt out online at www.optoutprescreen.com.

Financial Institutions Opt-out

This opt-out limits the ability of banks, credit card companies, brokerage firms and insurance companies to share your personal financial information with non-affiliates for marketing purposes.

How to:
Privacy notices are periodically mailed with your statements. Sometimes they're posted on the company's website. Read them carefully, and follow their directions for opting out.

FERPA Opt-out

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) opt-out stops schools from releasing student "directory information" without consent.

Directory information includes:

• The student's name, address and home phone
• Their school, major and degree received
• Attendance dates

Some schools also include the weight and height of athletes and participation in school activities.

How to:
Check with the school office. Colleges may post a FERPA form online.

Data Broker Opt-outs

Commercial data brokers acquire, purchase and sell information about consumers. Many have information on most Americans. Most data brokers offer limited opt-outs, often for identity theft victims. Many of their websites (www.privacyatchoicepoint.com, www.intelius.com, www.lexisnexis.com and www.ussearch.com) contain instructions for doing so.