Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you.
From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine:
Shred The Evidence
Feed any unwanted mail bearing sensitive information into a crosscut shredder. While assiduous tearing by hand can do the job, $75 or less will get you a decent shredder. To make sure mail isn’t diverted before it reaches the shredder, get your letters delivered to a secure location. A street-side mailbox doesn’t make the grade. Police say these boxes are favored targets of ID thieves looking for checks to steal. Consider renting a box at the local post office.
Opt Out Of Offers
Opt out of solicitations for new credit cards, mortgages or other loans. Call the credit bureaus’ dedicated line at 888-567-8688 from your home telephone or register online. You can opt out for five years or forever.
Personal information is trash worth protecting but not all trash is -speaking as a reformed dumpster diver. Who knew stealing trash was illegal? My favorite heists always took place in those large containers you'll see parked outside of shopping malls; used in the rehabbing of merchant spaces. Boy, I've gotten lots of goodies that way. Lumber, shelving, lighting, tons of electrical wiring, and once, an entire PBX phone system. Most of what I wanted was building materials I could recycle for use. It seems like such a waste to throw that stuff away, filling up land fills.
Posted by: Dumpster Diver | June 6, 2006 9:21 AM | Permalink to Comment