Originally published June 29 2005
Identity theft protection starts at home
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Some citizens are taking identity theft threats to heart, shredding documents, freezing their credit and opting out of junk-mail lists.
With all the bad news about identity theft and privacy intrusions, it's no wonder many feel helpless about protecting their personal information from abuse.
Most recently, Boogaard tangled with her doctor's office after being handed a lab slip with her Social Security number on it.
Boogaard would make a good poster lady for the aggressive approach people should be taking to protect their finances and identities.
"If enough people do these things, it can make a difference," said Gail Hillebrand, senior attorney with Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.
Evan Hendricks, a credit expert from Bethesda, Md., agreed.
Fraud and identity theft are on the rise, with criminals becoming increasingly savvy about finding subversive ways to spend other people's money and illegally open credit in the name of others.
"Given the magnitude of this crime, aggressive vigilance and protection is appropriate," said Charlene Zettel, director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
In still other cases, Internet schemers are mining the vast store of personal information spreading on the Web.
In yet another disturbing trend, serious data breaches recently have placed at risk millions of consumers whose personal information was lost or stolen from financial firms, universities and government offices.
One of the best protections is a little-known California law that allows consumers to place a "security freeze" on their credit files for a small fee, unfreezing them when seeking personal credit.
It is a great way to stop credit thieves, Zettel said.
To stop receiving pre-approved credit or insurance solicitations, contact the three credit bureaus' joint notification system, at (888) 5-OPTOUT, or online at www.optoutprescreen.com.
Don't store Social Security numbers or other vital information on cell phones or PDA's such as Blackberries that can be misplaced or stolen.
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