Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

My grandfather used to say, “It’s pointless to dig the storm-shelter after the tornado hits your house.” Our increasingly complex and dangerous world seems to offer many threats as devastating as a tornado. None, however, seem quite so nightmarish as the theft of your entire identity.

A few years ago, some of my colleagues made a presentation about identity theft at a Building Owners and Managers Association meeting. The Chief of Police for the city attended and confirmed that their PD receives about 40 calls a day on identity theft. But, he said, they simply don’t have the manpower to investigate each case. Additionally, the thief is often located in another country, which means the thieves and hackers are very likely to get away with their crimes.

This Chief of Police agreed with me; Identity Theft is a nightmare. Adding to the nightmare, he said that in such cases, the burden of proof is on the victim to prove their identity. In our increasingly electronic world, the frequency of ID theft suggests that most people are facing the possibility of falling victim to ID theft.

What do I recommend to my family, friends and clients?

1. First and foremost, do not ignore or naively disregard the problem. Be aware and remain vigilant about your personal information. Thieves don’t want your money; they want your identity!
2. Remove your social security card, passport, and birth certificate from your wallet.  When it comes to this personal data, leave home without it!!!
3. Make copies of everything in your wallet in case you lose it or it’s stolen.
4. Limit what you post on social media. Remain guarded with your personal information and activities!
5. Be prepared for scam artists who attempt to use emails, phone calls and texts to trick you into giving out your personal data. Learn to Turn The Question Around (TTQA).  When you’re asked for sensitive data, always verify the source, ask who will be using the data and for what purpose. Again, BE VIGILANT!
6. Make sure your passwords are strong, and consider using two-step verifications for all of your sensitive login accounts.
7. Finally, check your benefits package at your place of work. Increasingly, more employers are adding legal and ID protection benefits to their employee wellness programs. If your employer offers a legal and/or identity theft program, take advantage of that program!  If not, ask them to add it!

In our increasingly complex and dangerous world, more people are learning to guard against the nightmare of ID theft.  It is similar to having homeowner’s insurance before the tornado hits. Remain vigilant, create your shelter, and you will survive the storm!

For additional information about identity theft, visit: https://www.identitytheft.gov/
To contact Beth Lasseter, LegalShield Independent Associate/Employee Benefits Specialist, visit: www.bethlasseter.com

Beth Lasseter has been an Independent Associate and Employee Benefits Specialist with LegalShield/IDShield for the past four years and has been a customer for fourteen years. Beth’s background in teaching and event planning makes her uniquely qualified to work with groups of employees, teaching them how to make better decisions for themselves and their families. Beth and her husband are the parents of 5 children, ages 19 to 6. She is also a breast cancer survivor, and a professionally trained singer. When she’s not working with her clients, Beth enjoys time with the family, Jane Austen movies, strength training and reading inspirational books. Beth can be reached at 763-438-3187 or blasseter@legalshieldassociate.com