Demystifying the Steps to ID Security
On Super Tuesday while waiting to cast my ballot at the polling place, it occurred to me. We are are an easily confused people.
As my fellow voters and I stood in line to cast our vote, the buzz in the room revolved around how complicated the entire Presidential primary process seemed to be.
It seems that every time I speak to groups on the subject of protecting themselves, I get the same predictable “dog in the headlights” stare.
You know the look. It’s the look that indicates either total disbelief or utter confusion. Inevitably, someone will approach me after a seminar and tell me another tale about how confusing the entire identity fraud landscape is. Partially true.
The good news is that while not foolproof, the process is manageable and doable with a modicum of distress. There are many companies which have surfaced in this emerging market for identity protection solutions. A few are quite good, the rest just want your hard earned cash.
Don’t reach for your wallet yet. There are many smart strategies that you can easily accomplish on your own. Here are 5 quick tips you can implement today for free:
- Never, use the red flag on your mailbox. It simply alerts thieves that your outgoing mail is unprotected and ready for pickup.
- Use a locked mailbox unless you want to leave your personal information unprotected from thieves and vandals. This is an easy way to deter opportunists.
- Attempt to redirect your own mail to a “new” address at the post office without showing ID. You would be amazed if you knew how often fraudsters attempt this!
- Consider using initials only on your return address labels. This helps keep your gender and marital status private from prying eyes.
- Opt Out of credit card and insurance solicitations for 5 years or permanently…your choice. This is accomplished by dialing 1 888 5Opt Out or 1 888 567-8688. This is a secure and automated phone system that will ask for personal information including your Social Security number. It will virtually eliminate these unwanted offers in short order.
Stay tuned for more ways to protect your privacy and save a few trees in the process.
