Protect yourself from identity theft

Since 1997, approximately 27 million adults in the United States have become victims of identity theft according to the Federal Trade Commission. To minimize your risk—and the risk to your team members and clients—follow these cautionary steps at your practice:

• Never give out personal information—yours, staff members', or clients'—on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are absolutely certain you know and trust the person or group you're dealing with.

• Guard your mail and trash from theft. Deposit outgoing mail only in U.S. Post boxes or at the local post office, avoiding unsecured mailboxes. Tear up or shred personal charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank statements, expired charge cards, and credit offers.
• Monitor your billing cycles. Follow up with utility and service companies if your bills don't arrive on time. An absent bill may indicate that a thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his or her tracks.