There's a monster in your home. You know the one. It sits on a desk, table, or counter and grows each and every day thanks to a never-ending supply of credit card offers, catalogs, bills, and junk mail. Like many families, you have no doubt lost any number of keys, sunglasses, and important papers beneath the sprawling pile of paper. At some point (or at many points), you've looked at the stack and sworn that this would be the weekend you would take the time to get the beast of clutter under control.
When that day does finally arrive, remember that within that pile there are details about you, your family members, and your finances. In today's world of numerous passwords, online security, hackers, and fraudulent schemes, the data that can be recovered from your household mailbox "clutter" can be a goldmine for someone trying to lay claim to your identity. Even though they may seem unimportant, in the wrong hands they can be the key that unlocks the door to your life and allows a stranger inside.
Identity theft is an ever-growing problem worldwide. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) references a 2008 Javelin Strategy and Research report, which found that 8.1 million Americans were victims of identity theft. The subsequent losses to those individuals amounted to $45 billion. Contrary to popular belief, the report adds that most identity theft cases do not involve high-tech methods. In fact, it found that 56% of cases occurred when the perpetrator had direct contact with the victim's personal information such as information from the trash, a mailbox, or a wallet. Given that information, there are a number of very simple and basic practices you can implement that will greatly reduce your exposure to potential identity thieves.
The BBB offers suggestions of things you and your family can do to help protect your identity and keep it your own:
- Back up your computer data and make sure it is stored in a separate location away from your computer.
- Do not store passwords, credit card account numbers, or banking account numbers on cell phones, PDAs (personal digital assistant), or electronic organizers.
- Do not store passwords or documents that include your personal information (tax returns, loan applications, etc.) on your computer's hard drive.
- Keep any computer browser or security software up to date and actively running on your system.
- Do not use email to send personal information about you or your family.
- Do not use public computers to transact business online. They are far less secure than your home computer.
- Do not respond to email messages that ask you to "verify" your account information. The companies you deal with already have that information and they will not email you to ask for it.
- Make passwords unique and avoid commonly used password choices such as birth dates, mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Shred any documents or applications you receive at home that you do not want to keep. This includes credit card applications, billing statements, health insurance forms, utility bills, etc.
- Destroy expired and cancelled credit cards and debit cards. Make sure you cut through the numbers on the card.
- Protect your Social Security number and all of your account numbers. Do not carry them in your wallet or purse. Only provide your Social Security number when it is absolutely necessary. Offer to provide another form of personal identification instead.
- Make sure your personal information is secure in your home if you have roommates or employ outside help (babysitter, cleaning person, or contractors).
- Limit the amount of personal information you have printed on your checks. You don't need to include your phone number, driver's license number, or Social Security number.
- Be aware of your billing cycles on credit accounts and utilities. Check your monthly statements regularly and monitor them for any unauthorized activity.
Protecting your personal information takes an effort on everyone's part. Teach your children what information needs to be kept secure and show them proper ways to conduct business and dispose of account information and junk mail that may contain important information about you or your family. You're unique and by taking a few precautionary measures you can make certain that your personal identity remains your own.
Sources:
Red Cross—www.redcross.org
Better Business Bureau—www.us.bbb.org
