Identity theft has quickly become one of the most prevalent crimes of the 21st century. Identity Theft Resource Center* reports an estimated 7 million people were victims in 2003.

From a business perspective, thieves could use stolen information to purchase your goods and services. Or worse, criminals may be targeting your business as a potential source of your customers' Social Security numbers and credit card or bank account information. Find out how you can protect your business by protecting your customers.

Protecting Your Customers and Your Business
Be sure you're taking steps to minimize the risk of identity theft. Evaluate how your business handles customer information by asking the following questions based on suggestions by the The Identity Theft Resource Center:

How and why do you gather customer information?

• Is the personal information you gather pertinent to the products and services you provide?
• Do you gather the information in a secure environment?

Once you have the information, how do you protect it?

• How do you store the information?
• What security measures do you take to protect it? For example, is information password protected or access limited?

How do your employees handle the information?

• Is there a current record of which employees have access to what information?
• Do you perform background checks on employees on a regular basis?
• Do your employees understand the sensitive nature of the information they're accessing?
• Is personal information visible on desks, computer screens, or documents?
• Do your employees know with whom they can share personal information?
• Are disclosures understood by employees to keep customers aware of how their information is used and/or shared?

How you do dispose of information?

• Is it possible to read paper and electronic versions when they're thrown away?
• Do you shred personal documents?

Protect your business by ensuring customers' information is in safe hands. Identity theft victims are often left not only with a financial loss, but also with a ruined credit history and the time-consuming, complicated task of piecing their financial life back together. Help reduce the risk of identity theft today.