| You may not know it but stolen mail accounts for | | | | period. Warranty cards are simply a ploy for the |
| nearly 8 percent of identity thefts and an | | | | manufacturer to collect information for profit such |
| additional 3 percent of identities are lost as a | | | | as income level, number of children, hobbies, |
| result of Dumpster Diving. I know, that does not | | | | interests, etc. which in turn allows your profile to |
| sound like a big deal but considering the Federal | | | | be provided to others who in turn attempt to |
| Trade Commission in 2004 received 387,456 ID | | | | interest you in their products and services. What |
| Theft complaints and these statistics have been | | | | you also need to bear in mind is that less than |
| consistently rising every year since; simple math | | | | honest employees can harvest that personal data |
| will tell you in 2004 alone there were nearly | | | | from this card and use it to steal your identity. |
| 31,000 victims of identity theft as a result of mail | | | | Should you decide to complete the warranty card |
| and garbage thefts. | | | | anyway simply keep things in check by only |
| I am sad to say these thefts were a direct result | | | | annotating your name, address and date of |
| of people failing to take the most basic proactive | | | | product purchase. Send the card back with a |
| measures that could have precluded these crimes | | | | copy of the receipt if required. Advise the |
| from occurring. Just a few measures such as the | | | | company in writing by adding a statement to the |
| following can eliminate identity theft of mail and | | | | card that stipulates your personal information is |
| trash. | | | | not to be distributed. There is legally no |
| - Always go directly to the post office or use a | | | | requirement to answer any other questions and |
| secure mailbox when sending out bills or any | | | | subject your personal profile to solicitations or |
| correspondence containing personal information or | | | | theft. |
| account numbers. Never ever use the unlocked | | | | National Do Not Call List maintained by the Federal |
| mailbox in your front yard because the Red Flag | | | | Trade Commission. You can go online to or call |
| that alerts the postal carrier to pick-up your mail | | | | them direct from the phone (landline and cell) that |
| also tells thieves there are possible checks waiting | | | | you wish to bar by dialing 888-382-1222. Your |
| inside for alteration. | | | | registration will not expire. Telephone numbers |
| - To eliminate the risk of mail delivery thefts, opt | | | | placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will |
| out of junk mail and solicitations that often contain | | | | remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call |
| offers for loans, credit cards, refinancing | | | | Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in |
| propositions, etc. This process can be started by | | | | February 2008. Bear in mind this action will not |
| calling 1-800-567-8688. | | | | eliminate all phone calls as some agencies are an |
| - If you did not ask for it, do not fall for it. | | | | exception from the FTC requirements such as |
| Another words, when Telemarketers call and | | | | chartable organizations, political pollsters, telephone |
| especially if they request your bank account, | | | | surveyors (Not selling products) and the |
| credit card or Social Security Number or any | | | | commercial companies with whom you have |
| other personal information - Hang up! Even better, | | | | conducted or have existing business relationships |
| use your caller ID or an answering machine to | | | | with. |
| screen calls and do not talk to solicitors at all. | | | | Additionally the FTC states, "you should know by |
| What Else Can You Do? | | | | purchasing something from a company, you |
| Put aside the needed time and campaign to stop | | | | established a business relationship with the |
| junk mail from being delivered and an end to | | | | company. As a result, even if you put your |
| most telemarketing solicitations by undertaking | | | | number on the National Do Not Call Registry, that |
| the following actions; | | | | company may call you for up to 18 months after |
| Credit Bureaus | | | | your last purchase or get a delivery from it, or |
| You may contact Equifax, Experian and | | | | your last payment to it, unless you ask the |
| TransUnion Corporation by calling | | | | company not to call again. Finally, An established |
| 1-888-5OPT-OUT to reach the National Opt-Out | | | | business relationship with a company also will be |
| Center Hotline established by the three credit | | | | created if you make an inquiry to the company, |
| bureaus to help consumers remove their names | | | | or submit an application to it. This kind of |
| from pre-approved credit, insurance and other | | | | established business relationship exists for three |
| financial offers. | | | | months after the inquiry or application. During this |
| Financial and Other Institutions | | | | time, the company can call you." |
| You can stop the spread of your personal | | | | Junk Mail |
| information that happens as a result of established | | | | You can reduce these mailings by contacting the |
| business relationships. Banks for example are | | | | Direct Marketing Association by logging onto Here |
| required annually by law to notify you about how | | | | you will be given choices to opt out of both mail |
| they use your personal informationand as a | | | | and Email solicitations. Opting out of mail lets you |
| customer; what opt-out rights you have. These | | | | choose one or all of their categories (Credit |
| notices often contain mailing addresses, phone | | | | Offers, Catalogs, Magazine Offers (this includes |
| numbers or a website address to contact and | | | | subscription offers, newsletters, periodicals and |
| subsequently stop this business from sharing your | | | | other promotional mailings) and/or Other Mail |
| information with unaffiliated third parties such as | | | | Offers (this includes donation requests, bank |
| credit card issuers, insurance companies or | | | | offers, retail promotions and more). There is a |
| mortgage companies. Bear in mind even if you | | | | separate registration form on the DMA site to be |
| opt out of these affiliations the bank (as an | | | | removed from Email. This Email Preference |
| example) can still pass your information onto their | | | | Service (eMPS) removal file online once completed |
| other affiliations such as their credit card | | | | is good for five years. |
| department or their mortgage component. Just be | | | | In conclusion, thinking you will be removed from |
| aware when opting out to make sure you tell a | | | | junk mailings by scribing refused or return to |
| business you opt out of both unaffiliated third | | | | sender upon unsolicited letters will remove you |
| parties and their affiliations as well and would like | | | | from distributor listings is futile. Postal regulations |
| complete instructions and contact information on | | | | requires third class returned mail be simply thrown |
| how to accomplish it. | | | | away. You have to take the actions we discussed |
| Warranty Cards | | | | to be relieved from unwanted receipt of mail, as |
| Some form of warranty covers whether you | | | | the postal system is required to deliver metered |
| know it or not most durable and non-durable | | | | or properly stamped articles. Their requirement to |
| products you buy within the United States unless | | | | throw the returned mailing away isn't any more |
| otherwise restricted by law. When you make a | | | | productive than you tossing it into the trash. The |
| purchase and keep the receipt, that product is | | | | only one who benefits is the dumpster diver |
| under warranty for its designated period of time | | | | looking for your personal information to sell and |
| whether you return the warranty card or not | | | | he/she will if the junk isn't properly shredded. |