Holiday Consumer Alert "Identity Thieves Don't Take a Holiday"

By Identity Theft Resource Center


May 3, 2007 - 12:00:07 PM
 
Every year ITRC gets more calls about lost and stolen wallets than any other time of the year. This is the season to enjoy, not to be stressed as an identity theft victim. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the biggest shopping season of the year. As we enter the holiday season, we would like to remind everyone to take additional precautions against identity theft. Identity theft is not just something you read about in the paper. About 10 million people fall victim to this crime every year. No one is immune – from birth to beyond death. Because of the distractions of the holidays and crowded shopping environments, conditions are ripe for identity thieves and pickpockets to take advantage of the situation. Who’s in your wallet?©

The following are the Identity Theft Resource Center’s Tips and Suggestions to be safe during the holiday season.

*Social Security Numbers: Never carry your Social Security card or its number with you on a daily basis. This is true not only during the holidays but year-round. That number is more valuable than gold to identity thieves. Only carry it on the single days you need it and keep it in a locked box at all other times.

*Mail Awareness: Watch for monthly bills. We all know that the holidays will cause some mailing delays. However, if you have not received your bills within a few days of their regularly scheduled dates, contact both the issuer and the Post Office. Failure to receive a bill could be as innocent as a delay, or it could be an indicator of mail theft. If this is a case of theft, let the Postal Inspector’s Office know. Remember- a locked mailbox is a necessity in today’s world. It is also a great family gift- the gift of protection.

*Mailing bills: Each year we see Post Office boxes filled to overflowing with outgoing mail. We recommend that you mail envelopes containing checks or sensitive information inside the post office before the last pickup of the day. During the holidays, make sure that the post office box is sufficiently empty enough that your mail doesn’t sit within easy reach of someone’s inquiring hands.

To read the entire article, click here - http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/m_press/Holiday_Consumer_Alert_Identity_Thieves_Don_t_Take_a_Holiday.shtml