Dog Community

Identity theft protection

Posted : 8/22/2008 10:15:42 AM

How prepared are you to fight identity theft?

Be honest now!! Does your purse or wallet contain your Social Security number - your SS card, a healthcare card, etc?

If someone broke into your home, how easy would it be to find your SS#, credit card numbers, books of checks? If your SS# card and papers are locked up, could a thief easily walk off with the lock box (e.g small fireproof box) and break it open later?

Do you ever throw away (or recycle) anything with your SS# , a credit card number, or a bank account number on it (without cross shredding it)?

How easy is it to steal mail (that might have your SS#, a credit card number, or a bank account number) out of your mailbox?

Do you have all your card numbers at home? You won't have bills for a debit card or a healthcard.

Do you have the theft reporting numbers for all credit/debit/ATM/health cards programmed into your phone(s) and/or the theft reporting sites bookmarked? Don't forget that thieves also steal computers.

Visa - (800) 847-2911
Mastercard - (800) MC-ASSIST
American Express - (800) 554-AMEX

If you carry a check book, why? Would a couple of checks do? If a check book is stolen and returned, check the middle of the book for missing checks. If your home is broken into, examine every book of checks that the thief might have accessed.

Do you have the numbers for the 3 major credit bureaus to file an alert? http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/credit_bureaus.html

Equifax 1-800-685-1111
Experian 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion 1-800-888-4213

I admit that I need to work on locking up papers and on my mailbox. Embarrassed

NOTE: A healthcard with a SS# should be xeroxed (both sides) with the number covered and the copy laminated. Carry the copy and lock up the original. When laminating leave a 1/8 inch plastic edge - otherwise the front and back won't stay together. Complain strongly about having a healthcard with your SS#.

CAUTION: The theft of your driver's license can also give you headaches - arrests, traffic tickets, hospital ER charges billed to you, rental vehicles, new DLs in other states (with a different address). The theft of your passport can give a terrorist a way into the U.S., so don't carry it unless you have to. The fraudulent use of your healthcard could help to raise your insurance rate.

Don't count on someone actually looking critically at a DL before allowing its use as an ID. Angry

cakana

Posted : 8/22/2008 10:33:49 AM

Does your purse or wallet contain your Social Security number - your SS card, a healthcare card, etc?

I don't carry my SS card with me and my health card (Blue Shield) doesn't have my SS# on it, so I'm good there.

If someone broke into your home, how easy would it be to find your SS#, credit card numbers, books of checks? If your SS# card and papers are locked up, could a thief easily walk off with the lock box (e.g small fireproof box) and break it open later?

It wouldn't be too difficult to find important docs, including checks, but IF I had something stolen from home or elsewhere, I'd be on alert and notify everyone who needed to know. I'm more worried about the identity theft that happens without you even realizing it.

Do you ever throw away (or recycle) anything with your SS# , a credit card number, or a bank account number on it (without cross shredding it)?

We shred every single thing that has our info on it. We burned up one shredder and now have a really good one.

How easy is it to steal mail (that might have your SS#, a credit card number, or a bank account number) out of your mailbox?

Our mailboxes are locked, so short of someone breaking the lock (highly unlikely), there's no concerns there.

Do you have all your card numbers at home? You won't have bills for a debit card or a healthcard. - Yes!

If you carry a check book, why? Would a couple of checks do? If a check book is stolen and returned, check the middle of the book for missing checks. If your home is broken into, examine every book of checks that the thief might have accessed.

I never carry my checkbook

janet_rose

Posted : 8/22/2008 10:55:56 AM

cakana
I'm more worried about the identity theft that happens without you even realizing it.

Breaking into your house without your knowing may be easier than you think. Are your deadbolts protected against "lock bumping"? Mine are not, so I am looking into changing my deadbolts. The sites below have me a bit spooked!! nerves

http://www.lockbumping.org/ - public service site

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_bumping - lists locks advertised as "bump proof"

http://www.lockjawsecurity.com/ - add on

http://www.pickbuster.co.uk/ - fix??

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 8/22/2008 1:04:07 PM

Yikes! Most of those things are things I haven't even thought of. I did hear a good tip for travelers awhile back. They said to type out a list of all your card numbers and the phone numbers to call if they go missing. Keep this list under the first layer of the inside of one of your shoes - NOT in your purse or wallet. That way if your purse/wallet gets stolen while you're on a trip, you have all the numbers right at hand to call your banks and the info. you need to give them. How many of us have our card numbers and bank phone numbers memorized? Not me.

Joyce