How Do Criminals Steal Your Identity?
Identity theft is a serious crime and the fastest-growing crime in the world. People whose identities have been stolen spend a lot of time and money cleaning up the mess made of their good name and credit record. In fact, victims may lose job opportunities or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit!
There has been considerable media attention given to Identity Theft, much of it focusing on high-tech ways criminals steal identities. While these methods are used, most identity thieves still rely on tried-and-true methods to get their hands on your paper records - real documents that can serve as the basis for their dirty work.
In cases where the method of identity theft was known, 79% of information was obtained offline versus only 11% obtained online. Conventional methods such as lost or stolen wallets, misappropriation by family and friends, and theft of paper mail are among the most common ways thieves gain access to information!
Only 2.3% of all Identity Theft takes place as a result of computer hacking, while 2.4% is a result of phishing scams! As you can see, our biggest threat to identity theft is not our computer -- a BIGGER threat is our MAILBOX!!
There are things you can do to reduce your risk.
1) Limit the amount of information you carry in your wallet, billfold or purse. Do not write down the PIN to any of your ATM, Global or Credit Cards. If possible, do not carry ANYTHING that has your Social Security number printed on it. If your checking account number is the same as your Social Security number, contact Commonwealth Credit Union to have your checking account number changed.
2) Lock your car and glove compartment. Do not store credit card receipts, old bills, or anything with your Social Security number in your glove compartment.
3) Don't "Trash" your own identity. That is, be careful what you throw away. People tend to throw away all sorts of things, like unsolicited credit card offers, old bills, expired credit cards, unused checking account deposit slips and countless other papers. For an Identity Thief, a bit of "dumpster diving" can provide a rich harvest of personal information. A good investment is a document shredder, which is available at just about any office supply center or discount store.
4) Protect your mailbox. Any bills you pay via "check in the mail" are a golden opportunity for an identity thief. All he has to do is look for the raised mailbox flag, look for your mail, and open anything that looks "interesting" to him. The same goes for any monthly or quarterly financial statements you receive. You can reduce your risk in these areas by using Commonwealth Credit Union's FREE eStatement and Bill Payment services.
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