Industry News
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| | Simple Ways To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
Simple ways to protect yourself from identity theft
By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
The woman left her purse on the passenger side seat when she filled up the gas tank of her car.
She didn't lock the passenger door, and didn't see the man walking up to the car until it was too late.
He opened the door, made off with the purse and quickly disappeared.
Cash wasn't the main target. The thief was really after credit cards, checks and personal information like a Social Security card, all fodder for the crime of identity theft.
Crimes such as these happen every day, said Rebecca Sears, outreach and education manager for the attorney general's Consumer Protection Division.
There's a lot of talk about high-tech security, such as making sure your computer has an up-to-date firewall and protection against viruses and spyware. Sears said there also are a lot of low-tech ways people can protect themselves from the fast-growing crime of identity theft.
The woman who stopped for gas could have simply locked her passenger door, Sears said.
The most common way identity thieves get personal information is by stealing a wallet or purse. Sears suggests not carrying unnecessary personal information to limit what thieves can get from yon. Keep your Social Security card and credit cards you're not likely to use in a safe place at home when you go out, she said.
The same goes for documents containing personal information. Don't leave them on the kitchen counter where a burglar would easily find them, Sears said.
Shred documents you intend to throw away, and never leave outgoing mail in your mailbox on the street.
Mail-theft accounts for a significant amount of identity theft, Sears said. Some people negotiate with their local postal authorities for locked mail boxes, she added.
On the computer, never click on links from unknown sources or respond to unsolicited requests for personal information.
In addition, prudent consumers check on their credit ratings. By law, people are entitled to receive a free report annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Sears said.
Those free reports are available at www.annualcreditreport.com .
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 | |
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