<p>Now, on to how to protect yourself from Identity Theft. </p>
<p>-Nothing much you can do about idiots throwing unshredded loan apps out....</p>
<p>But other than that, buy a cross-shredder for everything...rip out your address and the pre-printed order sheet from ALL catalogues sent to you (new trend happening with people ordering from these and changing "your" address to a drop box that has been rented with a fake ID...so if your card is on file with them, whammo)</p>
<p>When you use an ATM machine, watch your surroundings and cover the screen and keypad so people with binoculars a block away can't see either what numbers you are punching, or what pops up on the screen (this applies to gas pumps too if you are using your card - zip code request)</p>
<p>Never throw anything out with your address or personal information on it- shred it all. Don't get lazy or you may be taken advantage of.</p>
<p>Sign up for the Do Not Call registry for both home and cell phone. Block your phone number when calling any business or customer service. </p>
<p>Do not give your credit card info to anyone who you haven't called yourself. </p>
<p>Don't use those little "roll away" atm machines you find in some rinky dink gas stations, malls. Some of these things have been rigged...they will give you money, but acct will be cleaned out within a week (they are not regulated...you could buy one yourself for 5000.00 and put one in a store yourself).</p>
<p>Carry your car registration and information in your wallet or purse. If you can't fathom that, lock your glovebox or take it with you when valeting your car.</p>
<p>Never enter your real date of birth on any web sites that request it to "register"...just put in the actual month and the number 1 from now on (or a different number if you were actually born on the 1st)</p>
<p>Never put your home address (put work address) when signing up for contests and giveaways.</p>
<p>If you don't use electronic bill pay and simply must send a check out to pay bills....do not leave them in your mailbox for the USPS to pick up. Drop it at the post office physically, or in the blue boxes only close to collection time for that box. Crooks fish mail out of these boxes at all times of the day and night, take your check, "wash" the ink off with brake fluid and make it out to themselves (or their fake identity) and clean you out.</p>
<p>Call the three major credit bureaus and put a "fraud alert" on your identity. That way, no one can open an account in your name without you verifying that it is really you. While I'm on this theme, check your reports religiously and scan the accounts and make sure they are all yours. Clever thieves have been known to open accounts, charge and pay just the minimum for a 6 month period...then call CC company to request a credit increase, them wham....10K gone in the next hour and they bail on the card. </p>
<p>And might I add -police departments will never call you and solicit money/charitable donations....EVER. Shady firms do this and claim to be legit...they work a loop hole in the system that is too lengthy to explain here. The stickers that they send you as a "thank you" will not get you out of a ticket.
</p>
<p>I could go on and on...it's a nightmare.</p>
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