Identity Theft An Internet Problem? Hardly!
Everybody talks about identity theft, but not many people can tell you what to do about it. Most people I’ve talked to say the Internet is to blame. But my investigators deal with numerous identity theft cases each month, and in reviewing them, I found that few originated from the Internet. That got me thinking, so in order to coin a phrase for my 10-year-old grandson, I had to “Marinalo” him. He always says that when he’s thinking about something, he’s marinating it. I have learned not to ask! Also, like all good managers, I’ve learned to delegate most of my tasks and that can free me up for more important things like research and napping of course.
My point is that you should know how the enemy thinks before you attack him.
So I went on my search and found some interesting facts. It appears that the majority of identity theft, 30%, comes from lost or stolen credit cards, checkbooks and wallets. The next largest percentage, 15%, is stolen from their home by friends, relatives, and guests of their children, now that was a surprise. Another 15% by corrupt store staff or our own employees. 8% is stolen from our mailboxes and fake forwarding change of address forms. (I always wondered about the forms) 6% is stolen from the Financial Institutions. Only 5% is stolen from Spy-ware or Hackers. Phishing, where someone sends you an email pretending to be your bank, is only 3%, with 1% coming from our trash and less than ½% coming from online computer transactions.
Well now I know who I am fighting against and now I can tell my clients how to defend themselves. Using my “Johnny Six” techniques
01. Open a checking account and get a new debit card, just keep the minimum balance on it. Before going out to dinner or buying an item on the internet, simply transfer the amount you are going to spend. Even the bad guys can’t spend money that isn’t there if they’re using your card, it will be declined.
02. My wife and I went to the store and bought a shredder and found it for $25.99, but since I’m making a little more money now in my old age, I bought the bigger one for $49.99, it even chews up credit cards. Use it folks, you can prevent yourself from being a victim, destroying anything with an account number, credit card number, license number, or social security number.
03. Stop using your mailbox and buy a small post office box, they are much safer.
04. Take your bills to work and mail them from the office or even a mailbox, just stop sending letters from home. Look, now we’re making the bad guys work harder and they’re going to find an easier target.
05. Never do business on your computer using an analog line (phone), go out and get cable or satellite, they are safer.
06. Finally, just use common sense when evaluating your employees and housing contractors. Keep a mail drawer and keep all mail away from prying eyes. On the back of all your credit cards, write Please Verify ID instead of your signature. When you get a check from someone, write it for deposit only on the back right away.
As my grandson says; “Time to stop marinating and start cooking dad” I just don’t know where he gets these things. Don’t worry, by the way, Sprout will continue to marinate this for even more ways to protect us.
Good luck and remember “FEAR NO EVIL”
John L. Snider Sr can be contacted at his website www/silentprotocol.com or [email protected]
