TECHNOLOGY TIPS - DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
SOME HELPFUL HINTS TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT!
So I'm having a grand time this weekend. I went out to a great dinner at Mirai Sushi - which by the way if you love sushi, you MUST go! I went out to a fun concert with some friends. The night was still young so we decided to head out to go dancing and enjoy the weekend.
Then disaster struck. We all piled out of our cab, headed straight to the ATM because who uses cash anymore, right? Yep, I forgot the entire purse. The contents were somewhat minimal (in hindsight anyway) as it was a clutch, but it really got me thinking. What would happen if someone decided to try and steal my identity?
First, let's go with some statistics that are out there. In 2004, there were over 635,000 consumer fraud and identity theft complaints - in the US alone. Let's compare that with a fun fact. There were a total of 12,994 people struck by lightning from 1954 to 1994. And in 114,300 credit card theft cases the victim knew the assailant. Look we all like to trust the ones we love, but sometimes temptation can get the best of people. Be safe, not sorry. Remember to lock away information when hosting a party or don't carry important information/keys when attending an event or party.
Second, I know this is not really extremely technical information this week, but right now it is resonating with me because of the effect it will have on my day to day lifestyle. For example, I have no credit or debit cards for up to 7 business days. I have to get a new ID - which requires other identifying information about me and my address. I had several discount cards that I lost - not as big a deal, but still not happy about it. You know that cell phone you were going to donate? I had an extra and was able to use it as my new phone to re-connect within 15 minutes.
Finally, think disaster plan. Losing your information can be a major time drain and you don't want to get caught not having all the necessary information to cancel cards or call customer service. For this particular scenario, I do not recommend putting this information on-line. (My own stats make me a cautious person.) You can, however, put all the important information into a binder or better yet, into a water-proof container. Think of all the people you pay either electronically or via check. You should have your account number, phone number for emergencies and any answers to security questions on one sheet. Then all you are doing is going down the list like a checklist.
DO YOU HAVE A SECURITY SUGGESTION? Let me know.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
