One of the methods that criminal get your personal
information is through your mail, this can either be through stealing mail
out of your mailbox, or from the trash (known as dumpster diving). This
personal information can then be used to open accounts in your name, open
credit cards in your name and a number of other uses that fall under the
scope of identity theft. In this article we examine how you can fight
identity theft by protecting your mail from mailbox theft and dumpster
diving.The first way to fight identity theft
caused by dumpster diving is to shred all mail that is to be thrown into the
trash. Before throwing anything in the trash ensure that it has been
properly shredded so as to make any personal details that were on the mail
illegible. This applies to any paperwork which you may throw in the trash.
Fight identity theft by electing not to receive credit
offers in the mail. These offers can include a large amount of personal
information which criminals involved in identity theft would love to get
their hands on and which would put you in severe danger. Do not allow them
to get hold of this information by stopping it before it starts. Apart from
credit offers, also sign out from any other mailing lists that you know have
got your personal details.
Where possible elect to have
credit card statements and similar bills emailed to you instead of
mailed. Although the internet does come with its own set of problems, it is
usually safer to have these statements emailed to you and they are often
encrypted to help further secure them. You should also have a good
anti-virus and anti-spyware program on your computer to assist you in
computer security to fight identity theft. By having these statements
emailed you can also cut down on paperwork and so reduce the risk of
dumpster diving by not printing out your statements unless they are required
for tax purposes.
Another useful technique in order to fight identity
theft through dumpster diving is to try to keep your bins as close to your
home as possible. The closer your bins are to your home the less likely
criminals will go through them in this location. If you need to take your
bins to the road for collection then do so as late as possible so that there
is not a lot of time available for a criminal to look through your trash.
Mail and paperwork is a method often used by criminals
in order to get personal information which they can use in identity theft.
This may be done through stealing mail directly from your mailbox, or
through dumpster diving. In order to fight identity theft and cut down on
dumpster diving (or the useful information criminals can obtain from this
activity) you should shred all paperwork before it goes in the trash and
keep bins as close to your home as possible; also sign out of any mailing
lists which your name may be on and try to receive as many of your bills and
credit card statements through email as opposed to snail mail.
