Identity theft incidents are becoming so common and happening in so many different places that it’s giving us all reason to feel that we just can’t trust anyone any more.
For example, the owner of a Fayetteville, N.C. pizza parlor has pleaded guilty to stealing his customer’s credit card numbers. Mark Pinella, 38, will face up to 12 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He owned Dino’s Pizza, and he used the credit card numbers from more than 183 customers to ring up extra purchases.
So do we now have to be afraid to buy a stinkin’ pizza…all because of identity theft?
While we shouldn’t live our lives in fear or be afraid to place an order for our favorite pie, we should be careful. Don’t wait for identity theft to happen to you. Be proactive and take steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
• Never give your Social Security number to anyone, unless the agency asking for it can guarantee confidentiality.
• Take your Social Security number off your driver’s license and checks.
• Cancel and cut up unused or extra credit cards.
• Check your credit card statements for any purchases that seem odd to you and keep track of what you do buy.
• Watch your phone bill, cable bill, Internet bill, etc. for any increase in charges.
• if your credit card bill is late or you suspect it is lost, call the issuer immediately.
• Check with your creditors regarding their policy for stolen cards or fraudulently accessed accounts to see if you’re liable.
• Mail your bills from the post office or official postal box instead of your home.
• keep important documents like your passport, birth certificate and stocks looked in a safe or file drawer.
• Shred all documentation that contains your personal information.
•Keep a photocopy of all of the contents of your wallet so that you have contact and reference information if your wallet is lost or stolen.
• Create passwords on your computer that make sense to you but are difficult to crack for thieves. Use letters and numbers, and don’t use obvious personal information as part of the password.
• Use only Web sites that are encrypted and have a privacy policy in place.
• Be sure to regularly check your credit report to be sure there are no unauthorized or fraudulent entries.
It’s ludicrous to think you’ll never give out your personal information – but knowing where we give it out and to whom is helpful. The key to quick recovery from such a disaster is to discover it quickly and take immediate action.
