Posts Tagged ‘ID theft’

Do Not Keep These in Your Wallet

July 29th, 2011

You are at risk for identity theft every day

We all make sure we’ve got our keys, wallet and phone before we head out the door, but more often than not, we are carrying things that are better left at home. Some items we carry on a daily basis can be virtually impossible to replace and others may leave us at risk for identity theft in the event of loss.

Social Security Card

“You don’t really need it," says Maria Lin, editor-in-chief at Learnvest. If your Social Security card gets in the wrong hands, someone could open a credit card, apply for a loan, or even buy a car with the information. It’s nine digits, just memorize it.

Passport

If you’re traveling leave your passport in the hotel safe. Keep a photocopy in your wallet for identification along with your driver’s license. If you’re traveling in the U.S., use your driver’s license instead. "Your passport is the primo document for your identity and if someone gets a hold of it, you can really put yourself at risk for identity theft," says Lin.

Passwords/Pass codes

Do not write them down. If you absolutely can’t remember important pass codes, store them digitally on a password-protected phone, but never write them down and leave them in your wallet or purse.

Non-Password Protected Phones

Today, many people have smart phones that allow them instant access to bank accounts, PayPal accounts, medical records, and more. Even if your phone only accesses e-mail, a thief could easily search for banking or ATM passwords or addresses, according to Lin. "Think about all the things you have digitally stored on your phone. You have to have it behind password protection. This way a thief can still erase your phone’s memory and use it for themselves, but they won’t have access to your data."

Checkbook

"Your checkbook has your bank account number and routing number on it, your address, and possibly imprints of your signature," says Lin. Lin says, “if you know you’re going to need to write a check one day, peel off one check and take it with you. Don’t get into the habit of carrying your checkbook with you all the time. You want to prevent someone’s ability to just start writing out your blank checks and cashing them."

Credit Cards

"A lot of people put all their cards in their wallet and carry them at all times," says Lin. "But if your wallet gets lost or stolen, that means you’re going to have to sit and cancel every single one, and wait a week without any credit cards before you receive a replacement." Only carry the one or two cards you use on a daily basis and leave the others at home.

Cash

For people on a "cash diet," Lin recommends carrying only as much cash to cover the day’s expenses.

USB Devices

USB devices such as a disk-on-key can be bad news in the hands of thieves if they contain confidential files. I bought a large capacity disk-on-key the other day and backed up my computer onto it. I carry it on the ring with my car keys. Mistake!

Tags: Credit card security, ID theft, Pass codes, Pin numbers, Wallet
Posted in Credit Cards, Economy, Finance, Identity Theft, Money, Personal / Internet | No Comments »