Identity theft is quickly becoming one of the most widely known crimes in the United States. Almost everyone knows someone who has been a victim of this frustrating crime, and for those who are victim, it is about a lot more than the money. Identity theft clean up can take a lot of time. Time on the phone dealing with your bank and the social security office and other institutions that protect and hold your identity. But it can also take a long time to actually get your identity back, because unless the culprit is caught, it can be a drawn out process. And if you are in the process of buying a house, or getting a mortgage when your identity is stolen, it could have serious consequences such as a huge change in your credit history or a sudden lack of funds because someone decided to go on a shopping spree with your credit card. Here are some simple steps for how you can avoid this huge headache, especially with tax season in full swing and sensitive documents floating around.
Guard Your Documents
Keep an eye on your mailbox, and make sure to get your mail every day. You are an easy target when you don’t check your mail. Especially with tax documents and returns floating around because they contain your Social Security number, your income, and your full name. You don’t have to become a mailman stalker, but if your mailbox isn’t one that locks, consider getting your mail every day. And if you are headed out of town, use the USPS website and put your mail on hold; it only takes a few minutes! And when you are finished with important documents that you no longer need, make sure to dispose of them properly. Shred them, or take them somewhere that you can get them shredded. And if you’re deleting computer files, make sure that they are permanently deleted from your hard drive, not just from your desktop.
Use Safe Websites
In this age of technology, make sure that you are only using reputable websites. Never click through an email to any site asking for your Social Security number or sensitive information. If you have a question about the legitimacy of a website, call their customer service line, check the Better Business Bureau website, and check their encryption certificates. A quick Google search can tell you a lot about a website or business!
Update Your Security Settings
A lot of people forget that security settings are constantly changing and when your bank sends that email asking you to update your info, it’s because they really want to be able to do their job of protecting you! So make sure that you take a few minutes every couple months to check in on your accounts and do things like updating your address and phone number and taking the time to close any accounts that are no longer active. Inactive accounts are an easy target because they are counting on the fact that you aren’t paying attention!
So, take a few minutes to check in on the security of your identity! It could save you a lot of headache, and it’s a good habit to be in, so that when you are ready to do the big things, like buy a house or sell one fast, you don’t have any unnecessary hangups!
