| Technology today has made our world much | | | | Shred any documents that you do not need any |
| smaller, and has given us amazing tools such | | | | longer instead of just tossing the paperwork |
| as the Internet, high speed Personal | | | | into the trash. |
| Computers [ PC's ] and medical technology | | | | |
| that we could only dream about no so very | | | | Identity thieves will also try to dupe you |
| long ago. | | | | into giving personal information either in |
| | | | person, over the phone or by using fraudulent |
| With the good comes the bad. Many today have | | | | official sounding e-mails. And of course, |
| their privacy invaded by unscrupulous groups | | | | today's personal computers can hold plenty of |
| and individuals in our society intent on | | | | information useful to fraudsters. It is very |
| obtaining personal information by whatever | | | | important that we use proper firewalls, use |
| means. These thieves have the tenacity to use | | | | reliable and up to date anti-virus software |
| the very technology that has been truly | | | | and programs that can identify and weed out |
| beneficial to everyone and use it against the | | | | spam, trojans or other mal-ware. |
| unsuspecting public. The identity thieves | | | | |
| trick the unsuspecting public and gain this | | | | It is in your best interest to be wary. Be |
| personal information via such methods as | | | | suspicious of anyone seeking too much |
| hacking personal files on the Internet and | | | | personal information, and don't be afraid to |
| using rouses like spam and other tricky | | | | challenge them by asking "why do you need |
| techniques such as phishing to steal your | | | | those details?" - a legitimate enquirer won't |
| identity. | | | | mind you asking. Make sure you store all |
| | | | important documents and details, such as your |
| Understanding how the unscrupulous obtain | | | | birth certificate, national insurance number, |
| this private information help us to look at | | | | receipts and bank statements, in a safe |
| ways to make it harder for these low-lives to | | | | place. |
| play their game. | | | | |
| | | | As mentioned earlier, anything containing |
| Thieves can use even the most mundane of | | | | personal information that you intend to throw |
| personal details to help them "verify" that | | | | out should be destroyed before it is put in |
| they are someone they aren't. One of the most | | | | the trash bin. Using a household paper |
| common ways of obtaining personal details is | | | | shredder is not taking things too far. If you |
| "trash bin raiding". This tactic is | | | | think you have become the victim of an |
| surprisingly common in affluent areas and is | | | | identity thief, report it to the police, |
| spreading out of towns to the countryside; | | | | local authority and relevant government |
| with 75% of local authorities now admitting | | | | departments or companies immediately. |
| it happens regularly in their jurisdiction. | | | | |
| | | | We should also keep personal information |
| An exercise carried out with the support of | | | | stored on computers in "encrypted" folders. |
| the English Nottingham City Council and | | | | Encryption scrambles the contents of your |
| Nottingham Shire Police analyzed the contents | | | | chosen folder so it cannot be read by anyone |
| of hundreds of household bins to see what | | | | else. You can "unscramble" the contents using |
| people were throwing away. It found that a | | | | a password. Many well-known software |
| whopping 86% of domestic rubbish contained | | | | companies offer free downloads to help you |
| information helpful to fraudsters. | | | | with encryption, or encryption can be an |
| | | | option under your standard operating system. |
| Three quarters of the bins that were checked | | | | |
| contained the full name and address of at | | | | Making sure that all our private information |
| least one person from the household, while | | | | is kept from roaming eyes may not sound too |
| 20% of trash bins contained a bank account | | | | hard to do. But there are many people who are |
| number and other data that could be linked to | | | | aware of this problem, know how to protect |
| the name and address of a person from the | | | | their data, but either through neglect, |
| house. | | | | laziness or just not taking the time to do |
| | | | what is suggested, are sitting ducks for the |
| So don't keep all of your bills, receipts and | | | | personal data thieves. |
| other personal documents in an obvious place | | | | |
| and if you can lock it away, do so… If | | | | Please....don't let you or anyone in your |
| you don't have anywhere to lock it, try and | | | | family be that person. Thoughts and |
| keep it somewhere out of the way, or separate | | | | intensions are great but without action there |
| it out. | | | | is no accomplishment. Put these |
| | | | recommendations into effect today! |
| Consider investing in a good paper shredder! | | | | |