| All across America people are fighting a battle | | | | The best form of defense for your business and |
| they never imagined they would. No, they are not | | | | customer privacy is to avoid throwing away any |
| using artillery and tanks. Instead, they are fighting | | | | documents before being shredded. This can be |
| off the prey that try to steal their identity each | | | | done professionally at your business or securely |
| and every day.That's right, every place you go | | | | taken away to a shredding center.There are |
| and use a credit card, sign a legal document, use | | | | steps you can take to protect yourself. First, get |
| your cell phone, or buy merchandise on line you | | | | yourself a shredder or hire a professional |
| have become a potential victim of identity theft. | | | | shredding company to shred all financial |
| Every time you share personal information about | | | | documents prior to tossing them out. Then, |
| yourself a skilled identity thief may have access | | | | remember; "Do not carry your Social Security |
| to commit fraud against you. This is a sad but | | | | card with you and don't give out that number |
| true condition of our society these days.Over the | | | | unless absolutely required. Be sure to use security |
| past five or six years this problem has increased | | | | measures on your computer and don't open mail |
| to the point that 500,000 to 700,000 people | | | | if you don't recognize the sender. Keep |
| become ensnared in this type of fraud every | | | | passwords as unfamiliar as possible. In other |
| year. Statistics show one in ten has been or will | | | | words don't use birthdates and last digits of a |
| become victims of this crime spree.How does it | | | | Social Security card. Use common sense. Don't |
| happen? Well, some of the most common | | | | keep important paperwork in easily accessible |
| techniques are dumpster diving: Rummaging | | | | places if you live with roommates, have |
| through the trash. Skimming: This means getting a | | | | employees, or are having strangers who do work |
| credit card number and using a device that holds | | | | around your home.Take the steps to fight back |
| and stores the number when your card is | | | | against this crime. Check your credit scores often |
| processed. Phishing: This is a fake company trying | | | | and report suspicious information you find. Watch |
| to get you to give them personal information | | | | your statements for unfamiliar purchases or denial |
| about yourself like credit card numbers or Social | | | | of credit for some reason you don't recollect. You |
| Security numbers. Change of address: Your | | | | can also place a "Fraud Alert" on all credit |
| financial information is diverted to a bogus address | | | | accounts telling the creditors to watch for certain |
| by someone putting in a change of address card | | | | things before opening new accounts in your name. |
| for you. Plain and simple theft: Your wallet or | | | | File police reports and report fraud and theft to |
| purse is stolen, mail is stolen to get your banking | | | | the Federal Trade Commission. Check out some |
| records and bill statements, personnel records are | | | | of the Identity Theft Protection Programs |
| stolen and the list goes on and on.Identity theft | | | | available as well.It is important to remember the |
| doesn't stop at home; Thieves prey on | | | | best way to defend against identity theft is to |
| businesses and customer documents as well. | | | | look after yourself, because no one else is. In |
| Businesses throw out a lot of papers each day, | | | | fighting this never ending battle make sure that |
| many of which have vital information on them. | | | | you are the "first line" of defense. |