Really? Oh dear. This makes me laugh.
Found it in my local news website.
It’s National Protect Your Identity week – and knowing how to do that may be more important than ever before. Identity theft is a crime that is on the rise and recent statistics show Georgia is seventh in the nation in rates of citizens falling victim. Crime statistics show about 10-million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2008. Skye Taylor with Consumer Credit Counseling Service Of Savannah says, “A lot of people think that identity theft is becoming more prevalent because of electronic information, but most of the identity theft that actually occurs is pretty low-tech.” In fact she says – the area in which you’re most vulnerable to identity theft may be right outside your back door, “All of the promotional offers for credit and info that comes in through the mail – even things like your credit card statement – if you just throw this away and you don’t shred it or rip it up – then somebody could easily go through your recycling and get a lot of personal info about you.”
Another thing Taylor says can get you in trouble is something many of us do…carrying your social security card around, “If you have your social security card in your purse or wallet – you probably also have another form of id that has your birthday and your address – right there is just about everything that someone needs to open up an account in your name.” Something Mandy Ownley of The Coastal Bank says they’re on the lookout for, “Whenever someone either comes in to open an account or apply for credit, we actually are looking for 28 red flags of potential identity theft to verify that the person who’s opening that account, who’s requesting that line of credit, is truly who they say they are.” They also warn against email phishing schemes – if you get an email from someone claiming to be your bank and asking you for information – don’t fall for it. Banks, as a general rule never ask customers for info through email.
As part of National Protect Your Identity week – the Coastal Bank and Consumer Credit counseling service of savannah have teamed up for two days of events that are free and open to the public. On Thursday – from one to three – there will be a mobile Shredex truck offering shredding of personal papers at the Bull Street Library. That will be followed from 3 to 4:30 with free advice from financial crime and identity theft experts on how to keep your information safe and what to do if you fall victim. Credit counselors will also be on hand to conduct mini credit reviews for you. Then on Friday – Seacoast Shredding will be at the United Way office at 428 Bull Street from nine to 11:30 am – with the experts and credit counselors on hand again from 11:30 to one.
