Identity Theft: What You Can Do About It
The battle against identity theft rages on. Everyday, someone carelessly discards a receipt or bill and someone else gives out his or her social security number on the Internet. Everyday, somewhere in the Unites States and across the world, someone becomes a victim of identity theft.
While it can make managing finances easier, getting bills and bank statements by mail does put you at risk of identity theft. Getting pre-approve offers in the mail is a sign that companies are taking notice of your impressive credit rating but they may not be the only ones taking notice. But just because you receive an offer on official looking letterhead doesn’t mean that it is legitimate and may simply be an excuse to obtain your personal information.
The best way to minimize this danger and prevent identity theft from happening to you is to keep a close eye on the routine times your bills are mailed, as well as minimize the amount of information you receive in the mail. However, knowledge of the kinds of information that come from the postal worker is the best weapon against Identity Theft.
Many common bills that you receive - utilities, telephone, regular credit card statement - usually have your contact details displayed on them. This is the kind of information that an identity theif looks for.
A wealth of information can be found on pay stubs, bank statements and pre-approved credit card offers. Did you know that these private documents contain your name, address and account numbers?
All this information is dangerous in the wrong hands. Pre-approved credit card offers also give would-be thieves the upper hand, and paycheck stubs from direct deposits give away your employer’s name and address as well. Sometimes, even your pay rate and social security number will be included on the stub. Rather than crumple these documents and throw them away, invest in a shredder to fight against identity theft.
“Dumpster Diving” is a common practice of thieves collecting information. This requires them to scrounge through your last night’s leftovers in the garbage in hopes to find that one golden nugget: your bank statement, your credit care receipts, or anything that has anything personal about you.
Many people throw out papers in the garbage, thinking no one would touch them amongst the food scraps. Think again. Do your best to remember to destroy any personal information and you’ll be doing your job in protecting yourself against identity theft.
