LifeLock provides identity theft services to more than a million Americans. During this holiday season, it’s more important than ever that you stay alert to identity theft risks and do all you can to avoid becoming an identity theft victim.
Take common sense precautions and let LifeLock do the rest. Visit LifeLock.com to learn more about how Life Lock can help protect your credit, finances and reputation. Enroll using the LifeLock promotional code Defense for the best LifeLock value.
“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there’s a feeling like Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you hear …
“Ho, Ho, Holy @!*%, My Identity’s Been Stolen.”
That’s the title of a recent press release with tips for avoiding identity theft from the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness and educate consumers about ID theft.
The Christmas shopping season is well underway, and the standard store Muzak has been replaced with Christmas carols. The mall parking lot is full. The food court is like a Marrakech market. Identity thieves are watching your every move and thinking to themselves, “I’ll be him for Christmas, just you wait and see.”
And another holiday tradition? The increase in calls to the Identity Theft Resource Center. Linda Foley, ITRC co-founder, said this year’s no exception.
“Calls about lost wallets and checks are already up,” she said.
Anytime you have large crowds in a contained area—whether it’s the Olympics, the Super Bowl or the mall at Christmastime—there’s an increased risk of picketpocketing. And people get distracted; they put down their purse or wallet and forget it. “
But because of the economic downturn things might be just a little bit different this holiday season
.
“We don’t know if the economy will affect identity theft rates, but because credit issuers have made credit tighter, there’s probably also going to be lower credit card usage.”
And, Foley said, that’s going to make things tougher for identity thieves who will have to jump through more hoops to steal your identity.
The ITRC recommends shoppers take only a single credit card when they go shopping, and never carry their Social Security cards.
Another point of access for ID thieves is mailboxes. Never leave bill payments in your home mailbox; take them to the post office instead. This time of year people are shoving hundreds of Christmas cards into those boxes, so be sure your mail goes into a box with enough room that it’ll be out of reach.
“While you cannot completely prevent yourself from becoming a victim, the tips above should help you from becoming an easy target.” (From the ITRC press release)
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I have seen a lot of people who were not being careful with their wallet or purse this holiday season. I remembered this post when I was checking out of stores and the number of people who are not careful is just amazing! Wallets full of credit cards; women putting their purse down to reach for something (or someone else – like their children).
It doesn’t happen just during the holidays. For me it was June, but it won’t happen twice. What a hassle and fright.