Identity Theft

While new technology is increasingly part of our lives, hackers seem to be more and more devious. The result: identify theft is becoming more and more common. In 2014 alone, some 12.7 million Americans had their identities stolen.

            Gaining back your life after being victimized by identity thieves is extremely difficult, says Robert Elder, the CEO of Elder Insurance Services. He advises that prevention is key. Here are some of his suggestions for minimizing your risks:

<          - Only carry essential documents with you. Leave extra credit cards, birth certificate or passport at home while on daily outings.

<           - Be careful when giving out personal information over the phone. Identity thieves pose as bank personnel or government agencies to try and get information. Elderly people are especially vulnerable to these types of scams. Discuss it with the older people in your life.

<           - Your trash is their treasure. Be sure to shred receipts, credit card offers, bank statements, cancelled checks or any other sensitive information before throwing it away.

<           - Keep a list of credit card numbers as well as telephone numbers in a safe place at home so that if your wallet is lost or stolen you can quickly contact the issuers.

<           - Passwords and PINs should be a random mix of letters and numbers so that they are harder to figure out. 

<            - Get coverage. Many insurance companies now offer protection should you fall victim to identity theft.

               - Keep new checks out of the mail. After ordering them, it is best to pick them up at the bank instead of having them mailed to your home. It prevents them from being stolen, altered and cashed by identity thieves.

           Great advice indeed!