22 Sep 5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
There is a new identity theft case every 14 seconds according to the National Council of Identity Theft Protection (NCITP). Identity theft is becoming a more common crime in the United States since digitized money transfers are much more common. According to the NCITP, 33% of Americans are victims of identity theft, three times the world average. But the good news is that there are several ways to protect you, your employees, and your business from the risks of identity theft.
Protecting yourself is crucial; if you don’t, thieves can steal information that is valuable to them, such as your name, address, phone number, bank account information, credit card data, and social security number. It is possible for scammers to use this sensitive information to open additional credit cards, loans, bank accounts, set up cell phone services, make purchases, and more. A few identity thieves may even provide the police with your name during an arrest. Here are our expert’s top 5 suggestions to prevent identity theft.
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Collect Your Mail
Collecting your mail every day when it is delivered will reduce the odds of someone taking your mail. If you go out of town for an extended period of time and don’t have a trusty confidant to pick it up for you, you can put it on hold. Find out how to put your mail on hold at USPS.
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Review Your Credit Card and Bank Statements
Always review your financial statements, a couple of dollars here and there can easily get overlooked and quickly add up to thousands. This is why we advise you to never leave your receipts behind at the gas station, grocery store, or anywhere else you may receive one. Keep them until you can review that month’s bank or credit card statement and shred them when you are done.
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Shred Sensitive Documents
You don’t need to hold onto all of your mail, most of it is junk. The documents that contain personal information you will want to shred, securely before you throw them away. But either way, don’t throw your mail away without shredding it!
Read more about Greenway Shredding and Recycling residential and commercial shredding options here.
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Be Vigilant
Email and SMS messages on your taxes, shipping updates, coupons, job applications, and more have made life much faster than ‘snail mail”. But these can also cause greater risks of phishing emails and scam texts. Never share any information or click any links unless it is from a trusted source. Experts say to be more vigilant when you are traveling and during tax season.
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Keep Records Secure
Keep your personal records in a safe and secure location. Learn more on what documents you should be keeping and for how long here.
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BONUS: Keep your Passwords Secure and Change them Regularly
Keeping your passwords secure can be a tough task, especially if you like the convenience of “save my password”. Writing them down on post-it notes or in your notes. But what if you lose the sticky note or worse your phone. Keep backups of your passwords somewhere no one else will find them – where that may be is up to you.
Updating your password regularly can also help you keep a secure account, make sure to also update wherever you write them down. The “Forgot my password” feature is a wonderful thing but can get daunting.
If you’re looking for a secure and reliable place to have your documents destroyed, look no further. Greenway Shredding and Recycling has decades of experience. Greenway’s shredding process is top tier with no contract required to start. You will receive a certificate of destruction ensuring your documents were destroyed and did not fall into the wrong hands.
Contact Greenway Shredding & Recycling by form or call us at 502-749-0390
If you or someone you know is going through Identity Theft contact the Kentucky Department of Revenue.