Blue Ferret BlogTip 12-4-06 - Be Wary of Holiday Identity Theft

Think twice about ditching all those holiday offer envelopes unopened.

Identity theft, the nation's fastest-growing crime, is a particular danger during the holidays. We throw away more during this month alone than some countries do the entire year.

Think about all the mail you receive that gets dumped without a second thought - boxes you've received mail orders in, holiday sales offers addressed to you, etc. Harmless? Think again. One of the biggest sources of personal information is still your trash. Identity thieves are expert dumpster-divers.

Even if it's pure junk mail, if it has your name on it, shred it. Spread the shredded stuff out between your trash bin and recycling. If your city collects newspapers, slip some shredding in there. A little mindfulness this holiday season may prevent the next one from being a nightmare.

Here are some links with information on preventing ID theft, and what to do if you suspect you've become a victim:

Identity Theft Action Plan
Identity Theft - FTC
Identity Theft Resource Center