The Orange County Mortgage Blog

Added Safety Measures You Can Take

to Protect Your Credit from I.D. Theft

• Never carry your Social Security card on you and never give out your S.S. # over the phone, without first asking "what happens if I don't give it?" Usually the answer is "nothing".  And Never, ever give it in an email. 
• Don't use your mother's real maiden name or your real city of birth as identifiers. 
• If possible - Have your mail delivered to a locked mailbox.  Identity Thieves  frequently go mailbox to mailbox down Main Street, USA.  Right after mail delivery (before you return home from work) to intercept your credit card and bank statements.
• Which leads in to; cancel your paper statements and retrieve them monthly online.  Ironically it's much safer than paper mail.
• Buy a cross cut shredder and shred All credit card unsolicited pre-approved credit card offers thru the mail. And those checks that come attached to your credit card statements every month.
• And last but not least - Ask you Doctor's office, Dentist office, Attorney, Accountant, etc.  How do they dispose of their trash? Do they run it through a shredder first?  Over 80% of Identity theft in the U.S. is still being done the old fashioned way; off-line by dumpster diving behind medical and legal buildings and stealing your mail, and even careless ATM usage.

•  I will expand on the ATM sneaky tricks thieves use in an upcoming Blog so stay tuned, More tips to come.