Friday, April 3, 2009

ID THEFT - THE TOP TEN LIST

How do ID thieves get the information they need?

Easy...

10 - Stealing records from employers. Every office needs a "clean desk policy" at night. All paperwork, especially letterhead stationery needs to be locked away.

9 - Posing as a landlord, employer or credit reporting officer to obtain credit reports.

8 - Stealing credit and debit card numbers by “skimming” the account information.

7 - Stealing wallets, purses and laptops, especially at airport security points.

6 - Stealing mail.

5 - Diverting mail by submitting false change of address forms.

4 - Stealing personal information from homes and offices. Simple theft by employees, workers, cleaning crews, etc.

3 - Obtaining information through interviews, phone calls and emails, posing a legitimate business person or official.

2 - Scouring public records for names, addresses, phone numbers and then use that to open bank accounts and obtain credit cards. Building up credit with a store card or other easily obtained facility, leads to more credit.

1 - Rummaging through your garbage at home or at work. “Dumpster Diving” can be extremely fruitful, as most people still feel no need to invest in their own safety with a $50 shredder. You are what you throw away, and ripping important information in tiny pieces isn’t good enough. SHRED!

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