As a prior victim of identity theft myself, I was in Tampa, FL back in in the 1990's when an employee of Red Roof Inn stole my credit card number, name and address from their customer database. The woman then went on an online shopping spree with my credit card number and with that of 51 other guests. There are still over 60 warrants out for her arrest in Hillsborough County, FL.
I have some questions and recommendations for you:
Do you carry your social security card with you? If yes, then take it out of your wallet or purse. Combined with your driver's license, a thief has everything that he or she needs to open new accounts in your name. You won't need your social security card on a regular basis. Nowadays, you only need it when you apply for a new job.
Do you receive your mail in a secure mailbox? If not, I would buy a locking mailbox for your home or consider getting a post office box. The cost of a letter-sized mailbox is $44 for a year. A small investment for your security.
If you have your bank statements and/or canceled checks mailed to you, switch to receiving an E-statement.
Do you shred your bank statements, credit card bills and old tax returns when you are ready to get rid of them? If not, I would highly recommend that you invest in a cross-cut paper shredder.
Is your virus software up-to-date on your computer? If not, then there may be viruses installed that will steal your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security number, etc.
Do you pull your credit report every year? If not, then you may not even know that you are a victim of identity theft! You can get a free copy of your report from TransUnion, Experian and Equifax from www.annualcreditreport.com . This is the only site that you truly get a FREE report from.
Michael P Rolfes is a licensed private investigator in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana since 1997. Visit his company website at www.officialinvestigations.com
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