Are you afraid of "identity theft" and if so what precautions do you take against it ...?

Question

... a friend of mine has just bought a paper shredder and is telling me to do the same - what for I ask - who would want to steal *my* identity?!!!

Answer 1

One thing I hope to be able to do to avoid identify theft is NOT have a National ID card (or more to the point NOT have my details entered on the National Identity Database). That would just mean that when my identity was stolen (and it would certainly happen - it would be, amongst other things, a government IT project. Nuff said) I would find it next to impossible to prove that I owned the identity and not the thief.

Answer 2

i use only walmart you load it debit card on the Internet.
and only put on it the amount needed for what i am going to buy.
this protects me from credit card theft over the internet.
i also only deal with companies that have a hard storefront address not just a pobox. and a internet site.
NEVER EVER give your social security number out over the Internet. NO MATER WHO"S SITE YOU THINK IT IS,
IF SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE YOUR BANK ASKS FOR YOUR SS# OVER THE INTERNET. DO NOT GIVE IT
GO TO YOU BANK.

DO NOT USE YOUR REAL NAME WHEN JOINING WEBSITES MISS SPELL IT BY ONE OR MORE LETTERS
SO THAT IT SOUNDS THE SAME BUT NOT SPELLED RIGHT. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO SPOT SCAM SITES THAT HAVE SOME OF YOUR INFO AND ARE TRYING TO GET MORE.

Do not send resumes to people offering work in the newspaper unless you know the company and can call them on the phone.
this is one of the not will known ways to get your info for id theft.
the id thieves put a add in the newspaper offering jobs openings with no company name. or a fake company name and a pobox.
then a week or two later they send you a job application asking for your drivers lic # , SS#, date of birth, and any thing else they want.
then they go to another state and use this info to become you.

you only find out about it later when the bill collectors come for looking you.

Answer 3

its not a question of who wants to steal your identity - its a question of what lengths these people will go to, to steal your identity and use your money at your own expense

of course i don't want anyone to steal my money so i do whats necessary

i shred all documents that give away details that could be used to obtain a credit card on my name without my awareness (bank statements)

i cut up expired debit and credit cards

when i bank online i make sure the browser history is deleted so no one can access personal ids and passwords

i never reply to bogus emails from banks, they are not meant to send you emails in the first place

something that i haven't done is checked my credit rating, even though i don't use credit cards or apply for loans i should, that's apparently meant to reveal if a loan has been passed in your name or something like that

Just keep upto date with techniques people use to get your money, before it was card cloning now its the internet and your garbage bins

Answer 4

Be precautions but don't be paranoid. The rates of identity theft are actually falling according the the FTC and Javelin Strategy. The number one source of identity thieves is stolen/lost purses and wallets so start with being careful with what you carry on your person.

Answer 5

its amazing how easy identity theft is. I watch a programme on it a few months back & at night when people had gone to bed the reporter who was doing the programme went through peoples rubbish bins explaining as that this is how most i.d thefts occur. it was horrifying at what we throw out. this chap found bank statements so that had bank acc. no. etc on as well as name & address utility bills, etc so now I shred everything & give the shredded paper to my hamsters for bedding with a bit of fluffy hamster bedding. I got a letter the other day from a company I've just set up a Direct debit with, confirming my details & there in the letter was my full name (2 christian names ) & surname + husbands full name & surname, our sort code, our bank acc no. & the branch we bank with its address. we have a joint acc thats why hubby name on. Imagine that falling into the wrong hands. This always happens on letters from banks or companies you have set up a D D with. frightening thought.

Answer 6

I've had it happen to me twice. I bought a paper shredder but I never use it. Instead I tear off the portion of a letter with my name and address, as well as any important details like bank account numbers, and tear them into tiny pieces. The rest of the letter goes in the recycling.

Answer 7

You'd be shocked! Have a read around the internet about identity fraud/theft and then go buy a shredder!! We have had one for some years and shred EVERYTHING.

Answer 8

I remain a mystery even to myself! I read an article recently where some guy went to the tip and re-assembled an entire copy of the Telegraph, which had been shredded, in fifteen minutes. Bet he wouldn't try that with The Sun -we'd end up with Picasso style models!
Anything with your ID should be burned if possible!

Answer 9

Yes, I'm very concerned about identity theft. I shred any and all mail with my name, address etc on it. I don't do internet banking and I don't give my credit card number to anyone on the internet or telephone. I give no personal information to anyone that isn't necessary. I refuse to speak to anyone on the phone who is supposedly taking a suryvey or trying to sell me anything.

Answer 10

No, I am not afriad of Identity theft because I watch my money, credit cards and checks and SS# very closely and I know when and where my money is going, so I would notice if something was missing.