Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Most identity thieves are targeting your social security number, your bank account, credit card information and all the corresponding PINs and passwords. It’s hard to protect yourself from a determined thief, but there are lots of things you can do to make it less likely you’ll fall victim to this crime.
Here are some of the things you need to keep an eye on in order to minimize your risk.
1. Home computer: A professional hacker won’t have any problem accessing your data from a remote location. Software that prevents viruses and software from attacking your computer is crucial to your safety. And don’t forget a firewall. And these days, there is some good identity theft software available that gives you added protection from hackers. If you want to keep your data protected, your best bet is to create strong passwords. It shouldn’t be any less than 8 characters, preferably 10 or more. It should include both letters and numbers. And it shouldn’t be something easy to crack like your birthday or anniversary.
2. Garbage: If it’s garbage to you, you’re usually pretty confident no one else wants it. But the fact is that thieves often dig through trash cans to obtain any kind of personal details that can be used to assume your identity. This even includes unsolicited credit card applications, so make sure you shred everything before it goes out to the trash.
3. Mail Delivery: Most people don’t have mailboxes that lock. But for anyone who wants your identifying information, the mailbox is a prime attraction. Think about all the financial documents that are sent to your home via the mail. Imagine what an identity thief can do if he gets hold of your statements from the bank or credit card company.
4. Lockers: Making sure your locker is well secured if it contains your purse or wallet is a critical part of identity theft protection. This means the locker at your fitness club or at your place of work. When you use your own lock instead of one provided by the facility, the thief won’t have access to the extra key.
5. Wallet or purse: Keep these items close to you at all times. Most people carry around in their handbag or wallet everything that a thief requires in order to steal your identity. This includes your credit cards, checkbook, and bank card, not to mention any PINs you’ve written down.
6. Information: Be careful who you give out information to. Sometimes you’ll get a request for personal information that appears to be from a company that you deal with. In reality, it could just as easily be an identity thief impersonating an employee of that organization. This is possible on the phone and through the internet. It’s all too easy to give out confidential information in these circumstances.
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