No matter what is taken, being stolen from can feel like a really terrible violation. Whether somebody's come into your home, plucked your wallet from your back pocket, or just copied the content from your internet dating profile without asking, having something taken from you feels terrible. But nothing feels quite as bad as identity theft. And nothing is quite as dangerous, either.
When somebody uses somebody else's identification or personal information to make money (or even just to cause trouble), they're engaging in identity theft. And it's one of the most expensive and inconvenient crimes in the world. The truth is, unfortunately, that we're all at some risk of having our identities stolen. While you can't completely eliminate the possibility of having your identity stolen, you can reduce the chances of it happening. Here's how.
1. Tell your computer not to remember you.
You know all those accounts you use on the internet (your email, your Facebook page, your bank account, your internet dating profile, etc.) with the little box asking if you want it to remember you? Well, for any account with any personal information on it --including your full name-- it's a very bad idea to click that box. If you allow a computer to remember your logon information, anybody who accesses that computer will have access to it.
When you use a public computer, you should never, ever request that computer remember your logon information, and you should make a point of signing out whenever you're done. But it's also a good idea to do avoid "remember me" on your home computer, as well. Especially if you have people in and out of your home all the time.
2. Look over your shoulder at the ATM.
Identity thieves can do a lot with your PIN number. So when you use a cash machine, be sure to be aware of your surroundings. Is somebody standing close enough behind you to allow them to see what number you punch in? With a simple cell phone camera and a bit of sneakiness, identity thieves can learn a lot about you at the ATM. So be careful about who is around at a cash machine, and get into the habit of shielding your PIN when you punch it in.
3. Only use encrypted sites to send your personal information.
If you're anything like me, you pay for a hundred different things on the internet, from a new pair of shoes to light bulbs to memberships at internet dating sites. But even if you're not paying for something, be sure the site you're using is encrypted whenever you provide your personal details online. Your credit card information isn't the only thing that can be stolen, so the more information you're giving out, the more careful you need to be. Look for the https: at the beginning of the web address, and watch for the encryption symbol before moving forward.
4. Be careful about what you throw away.
If you want to avoid identity theft, one of the best investments you can make is a paper shredder. If you don't keep and file everything with your banking, tax, or other financial information on it, it's all too easy for identity thieves to pick it up out of the garbage. So be careful about the kind of information that ends up there.
5. Keep your social security card at home.
There are a very few times that you really need to keep your social security card (or your country's equivalent) with you. When you're going to a sign a contract for a new job or sign up for a new bank account, sure, bring it along. But otherwise leave it at home. With your social security card in hand, identity thieves can use your information to create a new identity for themselves-- and leave you in a very difficult situation indeed.
6. Getting rid of an old computer? Clean it up first.
When you delete a file or folder on your computer, the information isn't actually gone. You're simply making room for new information. So when you get rid of a computer, a lot of that information is still there, waiting to be grabbed by professional thieves. Be sure that your drives are completely wiped before getting rid of your old computer.
7. Record the contents of your wallet.
Unless if you're very lucky, your wallet will probably be stolen a few times during the course of your lifetime. And sometimes the information you need to prevent the use of any credit cards, insurance cards, etc., is right there on the card itself. So take a few minutes and make photocopies of everything currently residing in your wallet. Not only will it give you the information you need, it will also help you to remember exactly what was in there-- and exactly what needs to be taken care of if your wallet is stolen.
