3 Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

It seems with it being such a hot topic today, everyone is exploring ways for preventing identity theft. Look online and they send you in a variety of directions. Even then you’re left hunkered down expecting that dreaded phone call.

So then what are the easiest things that you can do right now to tighten things up? Things that you don’t have to be tech savvy to accomplish. Well the following is a list of three common sense tips that you can check out and incorporate into your life for greater security.

• Tip #1 for Preventing Identity Theft

Your first bit of advise, is to never co-sign for anyone on anything. All you have to do is watch court TV to see that these types of deals have a very high failure rate. Also remember that the very reason that they’re coming to you is because they have already screwed up their own credit.

You don’t have to be a jerk when you say no either. But do bear in mind that you’ve most likely been fingered as a soft touch. If it’s a young relative who perhaps is in need of a car and you do want to help, consider loaning or giving them some money to build up their down payment so they wont need a co-signer.

Now you may not consider co-signing to be identity theft. However; once you look at it more closer, there are very close resemblances. The first one is that you’re convinced to hand over your personal information. The second similarity is that you end up being stuck with someone else’s bills and wreckage.

• Tip #2 for Preventing Identity Theft

Your second tip is to buy and have installed a secure locking mail box. Now so much of the advise that’s handed out today for preventing identity theft involves actions that you can take over the phone or computer. So if you think about it, this is the one thing that involves actual physical labor.

Identity Theft Protection: See My Personal Recommendation Here

That alone is what stops most people in their tracks and it’s a shame too. This is because so much of your vital personal information is left sitting right out in the open, day in and day out this way until you go out and retrieve it. Anyone who really wants to can open it.

You can pick one up down at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s outlet, along with a bag of ready mix concrete. Just dig a hole, plug the post in, pour in the concrete and level it up. You can even pour the cement in dry then add some water with your hose. Remember that you can’t even even trust your neighbors these days.

• Tip #3 for Preventing Identity Theft

Buy a paper shredder and use it. You see what many people fail to realize is that once they toss their private papers in the trash, it’s only the beginning of a long journey for them. I’ll bet you think that the garbage man picks them up and takes them to the dump and buries them. Well you are wrong!

Today in most instances, your trash is taken to a recycling center that in many cases employs convict labor from a local jail or state prison. That’s right! Felons and even convicted identity thieves will be thumbing through your documents and deciding what should be done with them. Now that’s a comforting thought!

Now even if they make it past their pockets and into a proper paper recycling bin, that’s still not he end of it. This is because eventually they’ll be baled up and sent off to be sold to a wholesaler. They can even be shipped overseas and end up in some shady, mob run recycling operation.

The Sad Truth About Identity Theft

Truth is we all have about a 1/20 chance each year of being affected by identity theft. Yep, about 5% of the population each and every year and rising. Keep yourself protected, see exactly what I use for identity theft protection