Identity Theft - Prevent ID Theft
Figuring out how thieves steal your identity also suggests many of the solutions:
- Shred all documents. Make sure it is a good shredder. One that we recommend is a microshredder that reduces the shreds to almost a powder form. We found the same or similar shredders at both staples.com and officemax.com. Expect to pay $170 to $200. This may sound like a lot of money, but it could save you thousands of dollars and hours of headaches.
- Never let your credit cards out of your sight. Pay cash at restaurants and don't let waiters take it where they can skim your credit card info.
- Never click on reply buttons to emails you are not expecting, no matter how official they look. Rather, go to the site requesting the info and log in directly.
- Stop receiving credit card offers from credit card companies by opting out of that type of junk mail. Do this by going to www.optoutprescreen.com.
- Keep your sensitive financial records in a safe place, preferably a reliable safe.
- Do not give any financial information to anyone on the phone unless you initiate the call to a reliable financial institution. And don't use your cell phone or cordless phone: these phones can be picked up by others.
