Identity
Theft - Be Careful What You Throw Away!
Ever wonder how someone becomes a victim of identity theft? You hear crazy
stories all the time of people watching over your shoulder as you key in your
ATM number. Or using high-tech gadgets that “capture” your PIN number,
etc. as you use them at check registers. In reality though, the potential for
identity theft is as close as your garbage can.
Everyone at one time or another has either joked about or heard a joke about
“Dumpster Diving.” Usually it refers to someone scavenging for food or
behind a store to see what they have thrown out. And everyone has heard of
someone finding something of real value in the trash. Personally I’ve seen
someone on the Antiques Road Show showing off a painting they found this way,
only to be told it’s worth some extraordinary amount of money.
This article is not about that kind of buried treasure but another kind that
most people have been guilty of throwing out – that in the wrong hands can
cause you an awful headache, otherwise known as identity theft.
Following is a list of items that should NEVER be thrown away! Instead shred
them, or better yet – if your office is like the one I work in, there should
be a trash bin dedicated to sensitive material that is taken away and shredded
each month – take your sensitive items there and throw them away.
Monthly Credit Card Statements
You
are probably thinking, why would anyone go through someone’s stinky
garbage? It’s what they find if they go through enough garbage that
keeps them coming back. If they find your personal information that is legible
enough to read, and enables them to steal your identity, that’s reason
enough. If they get lucky enough to find your credit card statement that will
give them enough information to re-invent you for their own usage or sell it
to someone else.
One
credit card statement is worth more than gold. With this information they can
buy anything they desire. And best of all, they will never have to pay for it.
In most states, you are not responsible for fraudulent charges to your card
provided you report it immediately when you receive your receipt. So check
your receipts monthly and make sure there aren’t any charges YOU didn’t
make on it. It could be a sign that you have become a victim of identity
theft.
Before you discard your statements here some tips to protect your credit and
identity from thieves.
Credit
Card Account Numbers
When you write your checks for payment to the CC company don’t write the
full account number on the memo line of your check. Only put the last 4
digits, that’s all that is required, the company knows the rest of the
numbers. It’s just a precautionary move on your part.
Cancelled Checks
Destroy cancelled checks when they are returned from the bank. Most banks don’t
return cancelled checks anymore, there was a time when they did, and if you
bank with one of those who still do its best to shred them as a precaution.
This will prevent anyone from knowing your bank account number and making you
their next identity theft victim.
Monthly Checking Account Statements
The
account information on your monthly statement can be used to print counterfeit
checks to drain your account. Identity theft is so common that a smart thief
can make an identity card with your name and address and their picture
and use that to open a bank account and write bad checks on the account.
Because your name is the one on the check it will appear that you are the one
writing the check. You may not find out about it until you try to write a
check at the grocery store and are told that they won’t accept it.
Stores use a check-guarantee company to get reports on checks that a bank
sends back stamped NSF. This service helps merchants identify customers who
are passing bad checks and minimize their losses. So if you’re a victim of
identity theft, odds are the thief is running around writing bad checks on
your account, hence the NSF report.
The
check-guarantee companies also protect the customer. When you notify the bank
of stolen checks they alert retailers for you.
Utility Bills
One
of the things a “dumpster diving thief” will look for is the bottom
portion of your utility bills that says “Retain for your records”. This
part of the bill will have your name, address and account number. Utility
bills, telephone water, garbage and electric bills are used as proof of an
address when opening a bank account – by not shredding these documents you
make yourself an easy target for identity theft. The identity thief can put
all these to good use. Be sure to shred them before discarding them.
Cell Phone Bills
A
cell phone bill can be used the same way as a utility bill for opening a bank
account. The bottom portion has your name and address plus your cell phone
number. Most people discard these after paying the amount owed but should
shred them. In the wrong hands they can cause a lot of headaches.
Remember: If you don’t shred, it isn’t dead! If you are careful
NOT to leave anything lying around you can’t be hurt. Everybody is
vulnerable to identity theft.
For more information on identity theft
click here.
Reference: Preventing Identity Theft For Dummies
