Beyond Origins the Discussion

Preventing Identity Theft With A Few Simple Tips

August 23rd, 2008

Preventing identity theft should now be an essential part of your life. Just as for years we have taken steps to make our homes as safe and secure as we possibly could, for the 21st century we now need to take those same steps to protect our identity. Just remember that the identity thief wants your info for just one reason and that is to commit fraud in your name, as many times as he can before you find out. When you finally do find out, he’s long gone and you are left with a severe financial mess and maybe even several litigations.

Identity thieves want your Social Security card number, passwords and bank account, credit card number and other information. Therefore, in preventing identity theft, ensure that you have some sort of system in place so you never accidentally give out sensitive information. So where are the potential dangers and risks that can compromise your security? Here are just a few of them.

Mailbox: Lock it securely! Many people still do not bother and yet it’s one of the easiest steps you can take in preventing identity theft. Without it, all the identity thief needs to do is walk past, open and grab your post. Cut your post down as much as possible by singing up to online banking and cancelling paper bank statements.

Wallets and Purses: It seems obvious but guard your wallet at all times. Your wallet or purse may well contain all the information an identity thief requires. Never carry your social security number around with you, leave it somewhere safe at home. After all, when was the last time you were asked for your number in a normal day at work or out and about.

The Trash: If you are serious about preventing identity theft you simply must invest in a paper shredder. You can pick one up for around $20 nowadays and its a must have tool to beat the dumpster divers. All identity thieves know the easiest way to find a usable identity is to look in the trash. A bank or credit card statement, letter from the hospital etc. All can be used as a first step in creating another financial you.

Don’t Ignore The Professionals: A company like Life Lock charge around $10 a month so is well worth considering, especially when they guarantee your identity to the tune of $1 million.

Giving Away Information: The identity thief is a brazen thief. Posing as your doctors office, your bank etc. they will often phone or email folk asking for personal information. Emails especially seem to work well for them, probably because of the sheer numbers. Software allows them to email millions at a time so it only requires less than 1% to comply and they’ve had a good day at work. Never give out social security numbers, bank account details and especially passwords. Your online bank, ebay, Amazon etc. NEVER ask for your password in an email.

Lockers: You are much more likely to know the person who steals your identity than the criminal be some con artist working from a laptop in Nigeria. If you use lockers at work or the gym, use your own locks on them if possible. If you go away on vacation, empty your lockers before you go. If a work mate know’s you are away for 2 weeks he’s got a great head start with those credit cards!

Preventing identity theft requires many steps on your part as you can see from the above few tips. For many more tips and advice on preventing identity theft please feel free to grab your copy of our complimentary ebook, “Facts About Identity Theft“

Entry Filed under: Legal