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Your personal information can be
easily obtained so guard it carefully...
Disturbingly, much of the information an identity thief
needs to create false accounts under your name is a matter of public
record. Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage, and divorce
information are all easily accessible – and legal to obtain – by a
person who knows where to look. Make sure this information is well
guarded and don’t offer extra information when creating these documents.
The same is true for your employee documents at work. It doesn’t take
much for an unscrupulous co-worker to dig through files and find your
personal information, which he can use to open new accounts. Check with
human resources to find how securely they file your personal
information, such as your social security number. You might be
frightened by what you find.
The trash is another favorite resource for identity thieves. Those
credit card statements and bank statements you receive once per month?
They are filled with personal information that an identity thief can use
to open new accounts under your name. Shred or burn these documents
rather than simply toss them in the garbage. The same is true of credit
card receipts, insurance forms, credit applications, and credit offers.
Finally, never carry your social security card. If your wallet or purse
is lost or stolen, your social security card is all an identity thief
needs to open up new credit card accounts under your name.
Terms &
Disclaimers
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