| Will we ever get a break? Not right now. In San | | | | programs on your computer system. If |
| Diego, police arrested a postal worker for stealing | | | | performing a transaction online make sure the |
| mail and trading it to identity thieves to support | | | | company provides a secure server. They should |
| his drug habit. | | | | tell you but if not look for the yellow lock at the |
| Another arrest involved the hacking of wireless | | | | bottom of your screen. |
| carrier T-MobileUSA's network. According to Fox | | | | Guard your plastic. Examine your credit card |
| News, the attacker gained access to a database | | | | statements and request a copy of your credit |
| of 16 million customers including the personal | | | | report. Agencies will send you one free copy per |
| information of the Secret Service agent | | | | year. If you request more than one, you get |
| investigating the break in. | | | | charged a fee anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars |
| Then there's Choicepoint. When last we left the | | | | depending on the credit bureau. |
| information giant, criminals broke into their 19 billion | | | | Handle this with care. Even though you're doing |
| records database. Choicepoint now acknowledges | | | | the right thing in trying to protect yourself, too |
| previous attacks that date back to the year | | | | many inquiries are frowned upon by these |
| 2000. | | | | agencies and could impact your credit negatively. |
| The number of identity theft victims as well as | | | | Joining a credit monitoring company can remove |
| the methods of getting personal information | | | | that obstacle. |
| continue to increase sharply. Yet while no 100% | | | | One caveat.You should exercise vigilance in |
| guarantees exist online or off, safeguarding can't | | | | protecting your credit cards but it's not the total |
| hurt and one of the best ways for fighting | | | | solution that some experts claim. The Federal |
| identity theft exist in your own home. | | | | Trade Commission estimates that 60% of all |
| Check your trash. | | | | identity theft cases do NOT involve any existing |
| Going through your garbage has turned into an | | | | accounts. Guard your plastic but make guarding |
| exact science and a major goldmine for the | | | | your Social security number the top priority. |
| identity thieves. The Department of Justice refers | | | | These methods of protection take on a special |
| to this as "dumpster diving" Check everything you | | | | significance due to the identity of the criminals. |
| throw away then check it again. | | | | According to the Better Business Bureau's 2005 |
| Mark any information including financial statements, | | | | Fraud Survey Report, family freinds and neighbors |
| driver's license, address and especially your social | | | | account for half of all identity thieves. You don't |
| security # "Sensitive" then shred it. I recommend | | | | want to turn someone you know and love over |
| a crosscut shredder. Throw it away in different | | | | to the authorities so do your best to eliminate the |
| garbage cans on different days. | | | | temptation. |
| Shred junk mail credit card offers and get taken | | | | Again, no 100% guarantees exists. You make |
| off the major credit agencies' marketing lists. | | | | transactions at the restaurant, corner store, gas |
| If you're not doing it already, get into the habit of | | | | station and a host of other places. We all need to |
| taking your mail particularly any bill payments | | | | deal in this world so there's always a risk factor. |
| directly to the Post Office. Identity thieves also | | | | Stay vigilant on the things you control and the |
| target mailboxes. They frequently stake out the | | | | chances of identity theft can decrease. |
| area and wait for the optimum time. Getting a | | | | Because at all costs you want to avoid what |
| locked mailbox doesn't hurt either. | | | | many victims rank as the worst part of identity |
| Use anti spyware, a firewall and antivirus | | | | theft. The nightmare of recovery. |