| You are retired and think you are doing all that is | | | | an adviser that pays your bills each month like |
| necessary to protect your records, accounts, | | | | several retired couples I know? Make sure you, or |
| passwords, and the other numbers and sources | | | | someone who would recognize any bogus |
| that relate to your identity, only to find out that | | | | charges, checks those bills on a regular basis. |
| something far beyond your control can bring the | | | | Don't assume an auto pay or financial advisor has |
| nightmare of identity theft straight into your life. | | | | taken care of things and just drop the bill in your |
| Your information trail spreads out behind you like | | | | file system or a drawer. |
| a boat wake as you sail on the course of your | | | | When you order online and the company provides |
| life. Things in that wake contain tons of | | | | a checkbox to keep your information from being |
| information, which can be used to steal your | | | | shared with related or partner companies, do you |
| identity. | | | | check that box? Many senior citizens and retired |
| You worked for "Wile E. Coyote Industries" over | | | | persons are new to the internet and do not pay |
| three years ago. Your file is still in Mr. Coyote's | | | | attention to the checkboxes. Always make sure |
| personnel office. The gal pal of an identity thief | | | | that the" do not share" box is checked before |
| pulls the information from your file while she is | | | | you close or move on from that page. You want |
| engaged as a temporary worker. A personnel file | | | | to opt-out of this type of information sharing |
| is chuck full of information that is gold for her | | | | because you have no idea where that information |
| boyfriend. Bam! You get a bill for a credit card | | | | is going and who can get access to it. |
| you didn't apply for or a bill is forwarded from an | | | | I also want to cover the single biggest mistake |
| address you previously occupied. An acquaintance | | | | many retirement community seniors make |
| in our retirement community, recently told me his | | | | regarding identity theft. In our retirement |
| grandson believes this very thing happened to him | | | | community, the residents have fought tooth and |
| and it had made his life miserable for more than a | | | | nail with the USPS to retain the privilege of having |
| year. He had worked for a small mortgage firm a | | | | mail delivered to our door. I think it is great and |
| few years past and later learned that some | | | | have a heavy, secure metal slot in my garage |
| personnel files had "disappeared" from the | | | | door for mail delivery. The mistake I see all over |
| company. He was not notified because the | | | | the community are homes which do not have a |
| company didn't have his current information. He | | | | secure slot but have an ornate, decorative |
| was not aware until a bill for a credit card he had | | | | mailbox right on the front of the house. These |
| not applied for was forwarded from a previous | | | | mailboxes are located a mere twenty feet from |
| address. Information over which he had no control | | | | the curb. A quick-footed, young gang member |
| is now haunting his life due to identity theft. | | | | could secure significant information for his identity |
| In 2005, employment related fraud accounted for | | | | theft ring in a selective zip through such a |
| 13% of all identity theft and just because we are | | | | retirement community. Security rests in having a |
| retired, it does not mean there is not information | | | | secure slot in your front or garage door. If not, |
| in the files where we used to work and we have | | | | we would be better off to agree to the secure |
| no control over it. Have you thought about places | | | | USPS lock box on the corner. |
| where things may be floating in your wake? Ask | | | | Do some thinking about this and I bet you can |
| yourself some of the questions I pose in the rest | | | | see other things floating in your wake. If, as you |
| of this article. | | | | consider this, you realize you are not doing much |
| Did you move when you retired or a short time | | | | of anything to protect your identity, get started. |
| after? Does the company you retired from or | | | | The three most important things, in our opinion; |
| even the last few companies you worked for | | | | get a shredder, get a shredder, and get a |
| have your current address? The company needs | | | | shredder. Next, create and keep a secure list, in a |
| this information to notify you if your personnel file | | | | safe or safety deposit box, that has your |
| was tampered with or the company's computer | | | | account information and the places you should |
| files where hacked. Of course, the hacker already | | | | contact if you suspect a problem. |
| has the information from the file, but you will | | | | Finally, do not make the biggest mistake of all. So |
| have been notified and can take steps to limit or | | | | many people launch themselves into a personal |
| stop any damage. This would be far better than a | | | | investigation of their identity theft. People, there is |
| surprise on your credit card or possibly learning | | | | a crime happening here, don't try to tackle this |
| that a car loan has been secured in your name | | | | yourself. Do not go at this alone. CONTACT THE |
| with your stolen identity. | | | | POLICE! |
| Do you have auto pay accounts or someone like | | | | |