A few months ago I took part in the Citizens Police Academy program at the RSVP. The program was educational about the law, and how it works, the drug problems, and crime statistics.

It was then that I first met Mr. Steve Marshall. He has been our District Attorney for the last ten years (and two days). He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, and he continued at the University of Alabama Law School. His vast experience in a Birmingham law office from 1990 to 1995 plus in his own offices here, from 1995 to 2001 gave him the knowledge to become our District Attorney.

As he spoke to us, I determined that this is a man who cares about his immediate family (his wife and fourteen-year-old daughter) as well as all of us, here in Marshall County.

Identification Protection has become a major cause of worry for many of us. Those of us that attended this program have gained knowledge than we did not have before.

He pointed out that this program is not to instill fear; but rather, understanding and caution. Computers give us vast resources and it has also brought opportunity. Unfortunately, where there is opportunity, there are those that will use it the wrong way.

These are some of the suggestions to not only protect your identity on the computer, but in everyday situations as well.

1. Check your credit report regularly (www.annualcreditreport.com)

2. Check all credit card, or charge account, statements before paying them.

3. Shred all personal information before disposing of it in the trash.

4. Cut up expired credit cards with a scissors, not just in half, but all the way.

5. Use a black marker to cover your name, prescription number and any other personal information on medication bottles before disposing of them.

6. Don’t give out your Social Security number to anyone that cannot tell you how it will be used, and how it will be stored.

7. If you are sent a computer email asking you to verify your account by sending return information to the sender, call the company involved (your bank, Ebay, PayPal, etc.) for verification. This is called “Pfishing.” It is a way for someone to attempt stealing personal information.

8. Don’t send personal information or pictures, through Facebook, Google, Twitter, or any other program on line. (Your address and other personal info can be traced using a variety of programs available.

Identity Thieves work in many ways, such as:

1. Going through your trash.

2. Checking your mailbox or transferring your mail to another address.

3. Stealing your wallet, your purse, or your briefcase.

4. Stealing personal information from your employer.

5. Use of “pfishing” or other email schemes.

If you find you are a victim:

1. Call the Police and file a report.

2. Close out all charge and credit card accounts.

3. Contact the FTC (ftc.gov/idtheft) or phone (1-877-438-4338)

4. Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies.

Remember, YOU are the first line of defense against Identification Theft.