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Identity theft?


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My dh called this morning and wants me to look into options to protect our identity. His employees are less than stellar and he has had to let half of them go for theft. One came in and ask him outright for his SS#, and then sent in another person to ask the same. This individual is very street smart, so dh wants to have something in place to protect our identities. I am paranoid that this or other individuals will find out where we live. I don't think they would be that vindictive, but I don't want to take that chance.

 

Sorry for rambling..

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They don't sound smart enough to figure out where you live. :glare:

 

I might invest in a small safe. They sell them at Staples and places like that. You can keep any important documents in it, and even hide the safe at the back of a closet or something.

 

Make sure you don't have your SS# in your wallet, either on the card or on your driver's license or on your health insurance cards. There's no reason to put your SS card in your wallet, and if it's on anything else call and get the number changed.

 

Good luck: I hope that everything is okay. Obviously he can't give them a good recommendation, but perhaps it will make them less vindictive if he tells them that he'll tell any potential employers that he doesn't give recommendations, only confirms dates. Many places do that.

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You can call the three credit bureaus and ask for an alert to be put on your account. If anyone tries to use your social security number for new credit, the bank or credit issuer will not approve the new credit without you speaking to them and answering a series of security questions about your previos credit history. We have had alerts on our numbers for about four years when our home was broken into. Never had any problems with the credit that we wanted to obtain.

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IdentityTruth and LifeLock advertise services to help protect you from identity theft, but I have no idea how effective they really are. Also, for exisiting credit cards, you can request your card company notify you of any charges exceeding a certain dollar amount. Working with the credit bureaus is a good idea, too.

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If you make backups of your home computer, move them to another room (ie, removable hard drives or cd backups might be in an upstairs closet).

There was a breakin here a couple years ago and they swiped not only the computer but all the software and papers from the computer area. Within 24 hours, someone was trying to access their online banking.

Hopefully, it won't come to anything like that for you guys.

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make sure you shred anything w/ account numbers on it. Password protect any computers. Get rid of credit cards that allow you to carry a big balance. Or call the cc company, and tell them you want to lower your available balance. We only allow $4,000 on ours. (we've been victims of id theft) Some people I know keep it to $500.

 

Put soc. security cards/birth cert. in a safety deposit box, or keep them in the bottom and back of your freezer. NOT in your closet or dresser- it's one of the first places thieves go. Don't leave windows/doors unlocked when you're not at home- even if it is for a short trip to the neighbors.

 

Keep a close eye on your acct. statements/ both at home and at the business- and report anything right away.

 

OH, and if you do anything on the computer-banking, bill paying, etc.- don't use a wireless router, and don't do it near a window that someone could see into.

 

HTH- and I hope you don't have anything to worry about!

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