Use the clear button after you get your receipt when pumping gas at the gas station. It should be on the bottom left hand side. A dishonest employee could possibly use the stored info you leave at the pump if you don't. This has happened before to other people. I am going to start pushing the clear button from now on.
By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN
This page contains the following solutions.
On the "new cards", instead of signing my signature on the back, I put "ASK FOR ID" and it works fine for me. I don't believe a thief would try using these.
I now wrap my CC and debit cards in an aluminum foil wrap. This prevents anyone from downloading the numbers if they try to scan my purse. This practice is also good if you carry your Social Security and health cards.
Let's talk emails. You get the cute ones from friends , the important ones from work and family and then you get the ones that are disguised. These emails are set up to fool you and convince you to give information that sets you up for a fall. Possibly for identity theft.
If you're like us, chances are you know someone who's been taken for a ride by an identity thief. It's a bad ordeal, and when you're pinching pennies, it can be the last straw if someone invades your financial privacy.
Keep a pair of scissors near your paper shredder. Then you can cut the private information off of the page, and shred that. Keep the rest of that sheet for scratch paper.
Each year 8.4 million Americans are victims of identity theft. Ask around and it shouldn't be hard to find someone who can recant the tale of stolen identity.
Computers, tablets, and smartphones are a part of everyone's life these days. Therefore, it's vital that we understand the importance of protecting our data when online.
Those of us who have Medicare cards know our social security numbers are on them. I had always wondered about that, since it is not a good idea to carry your social security card with you.
Check your online banking frequently! Someone has stolen my debit card and has been taking $75.00 per day from our checking account. I have not used it at any unfamiliar places. They have stolen over $600.00.
When ordering checks, have only your initials printed in the heading with your address. When signing your checks, use your full name (first and last).
Beware if anyone is going thru your trash. I know a lady who isn't at home much during the daytime. One day the UPS man showed up at her house with a whole truckload of packages for her.
As with any crime, you can't guarantee that you will never be a victim, but you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information widely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My mother gets hundreds of the sticky return address labels, we have been cutting them up and trashing them. They destroy shredders, by gumming up the blades. How can we get them to stop sending them and what is an easier way to dispose of them?
By jeanne
One idea is to refuse the letter that contains the labels. Do not open the letter, just write refused on the face of the letter and return the letter to the postman. Another is to contact the folks sending the labels and ask to be taken off their mailing list.
Also, you may check out on google and look for web page that will put you on a do not mail list. I get labels in the mail from time to time but I use them on my mail that I send out.
If they gum up your shredder try using some rubbing alcohol on the sticky side to remove the glue before shredding.
I wouldn't worry too much about identity theft and address labels - anyone can look up your address in the phone book/internet and find your name and address. The library has city directories, too, and people can look up deed information in the town hall.
I use free address labels on my books, cds, and dvds to make sure I get them back if I loan them out. I also sometimes put them on my office supplies at work to make sure they don't wander too far. :)
