Safeguarding your personal identity, even on a holiday.
Identity theft is more prevalent than people assume because it is easier and less risky to steal an identity than to break into a home.
Here are 6 tips to add more protection to your personal identity.
- NEW CREDIT CARDS
If you applied for new credit cards, be sure you sign them as soon as you receive them. In that way, your authentic signature adds a layer of security to your card. Just imagine how joyful a thief would be in discovering a new card without a signature on it. - PASSWORD, PIN NUMBERS, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS, BANK ACCOUNTS
Undoubtedly, it is a challenge to remember a pile of numbers which may be keys to your accounts or lead to the accounts themselves. Don’t store these numbers on a sticky note in your wallet. You are simply asking for trouble in doing so. Besides, it is a very impractical way of storing and accessing these numbers. A PASSWORD Managing application is the route to take. LastPass is one of these apps which I highly recommend as because it is inexpensive, extremely versatile and easily accessed on all your devices. - MARKETING TELEPHONE CALLS
Have you ever had your ducts cleaned? Contact that company again but do not fall for the telephone solicitation. These callers are trying to get personal information from you. They are persuasive and seductive in their solicitation. Cut them off as soon as you recognize they are trying to get your personal information. Do not engage them in any kind of conversation as they are pro’s at what they do, having practised it and refined it so they sound incredibly convincing. Steer clear, get away quick! - LAND MAIL: A GOLD MINE FOR PERSONAL IDENTITY MINERS
Clear you Canada Post mailbox if you have one that can be accessed by passers-by. Even your “Super Box Mailbox” is vulnerable to a smooth-talking villain who may be able to distract the mailman hurriedly loading the mailboxes. Clean out your mailbox regularly and often. - TRASH CAN BE A TREASURE TROVE FOR PERSONAL IDENTITY THIEVES
Remove personal information, labels, addresses from the material you are trashing. Leaving such material on your trashed documents is an invitation to a personal identity thief to take out the scissors and cut our your identity for their use.
Shred documents or cut them up into thin strips before you discard them into the trash bin. Make it realistically impossible for identity thieves to reassemble your information. Be especially wary when tossing away receipts, old invoices, old statements or preapproved credit card applications. Again, the personal identity treasure hunters search for these little personal identity jewels. Don’t become their jeweller. - TELEPHONE SOLICITATION IS A REFINED AND WELL POLISHED SCAM
Immediately upon recognizing that the phone call you have answered is a solicitation, get off the phone. Say “Thank you, I have already dealt with this issue/matter.” Get away from the caller as fast as you can. Do not hesitate, don’t delay. These people are practised professionals. They have refined their larceny into a finely polished craft. They are professionals working their larcenous craft every day, all day long. They are practised and polished in what they do. Do not believe you can match wits with them. They do this for a living. Do you? Get off the phone call as quickly as possible.
