Is Your Identity Safe?
If you are like the majority of people out there, you have already received the dreaded notices from various credit card companies and/or investment agencies or even prior employers or payroll companies that your personal information may have been leaked. I was one of those unfortunate enough to receive a letter from my alma mater college, noting that they had lost a box of files containing my personal information including social security numbers and addresses.
My thoughts immediately went to the possibilities of identity theft. We all hear the reports reported on the television of people who have had their identities stolen. We hear of the Nigerian scams where people across the world steal identities and use them for criminal purposes. However, this does not mean that you have to hoard your cash away in your mattresses and avoid all contact with credit companies and banks!!! This does not mean you have to burn all of your papers 5 seconds after you get them. There are always sure-fire ways that you can secure your personal information in order to avoid the dreaded identity theft.
The number one way to ensure your security is to secure your information. Destroy all papers with social security, bank account, credit card and other compromising information as is possible.Do not leave them laying around for anyone to steal. You should also know where your information is kept. Social security cards, passports and other documentation that you do not use on a daily basis. They should be kept in a fire-proof safe installed in your house (this is no good if you leave the safe unlocked and unsecured). Report any missing or stolen information like credit cards or security cards as soon as possible.
In addition to this, be sure that when you dispose of documentation, you do so by using a shredder. Do not just throw out or recycle your secure paperwork. Anyone can go through your trash to obtain personal information, so it is important that if someone did go through that garbage that there is nothing that would compromise your security.
Also, be weary of individuals asking for personal information over the phone or through the internet in emails. It is also imperative that you secure your computerized information by using detachable hard drives and password protection.
If you need more information, then do more research and continue to be wary of anyone asking for personal details.
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