Originally published October 15 2005
Stop identity theft by taking several easy precautions
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As the number of identity theft victims continues to rise, experts recommend that people adopt several precautions, including destroying credit car offers, not using your full name on checks, investing in a locked mailbox and taking your social security number off of your driver's license.
They use it to obtain credit, cash checks, take out loans, get professional licenses, even cross international borders.
As Tribune business reporter Jo Dee Black reported in Sunday's newspaper, identity theft is quickly overtaking other crimes in frequency.
Montanans victimized by identity theft tell horrific stories of having their credit ruined and their lives overwhelmed with trying to restore their good name.
A 19-year-old University of Montana student was arrested twice, strip-searched in jail and forced to hire an attorney to help her sort through her legal woes after her purse --- and identity --- was stolen.
Lots of institutions, from banks, to employers, to insurance companies, collect personal information.
Recent high-profile lapses, including a major security breach at a bank that put millions of credit card numbers at risk, must be dealt with quickly and forcefully.
The first line of defense, however, lies with the individual.
Too many Montanans, for example, still use their Social Security numbers on their drivers' licenses.
Consumer advocates say these are all potential targets for thieves.
To stay on that low end of the ladder, we must all be vigilant about sharing our personal information.
Half of all ID theft victims are targeted by a friend, family member, neighbor or in-home employee.
Folks shouldn't live in a state of paranoia.
But there's a good case to be made for investing in a shredder and a locked file cabinet.
ID theft victims spend an average of $800 and 200 hours to clean up the messes caused by the crime.
And they're never quite sure that their personal information isn't still in circulation.
It's far easier to be stingy with that information --- and to insist on the same from those with whom you do business.
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