Tag: ID theft

You or your spouse’s parents are more vulnerable to identity theft because they are more trusting and less aware of the increasing variety of scams. Although they may have no interests in the complexities of smartphones, computers, the internet and online banking, the many whom give it a try leave themselves defenseless against thieves.

The elderly—particularly those who need your assistance in living—can be easily targeted online or through the mail in old-fashioned schemes to steal their identity and ultimately their money.

Protecting the identity of a family member who has passed is one of the most overlooked tasks after all is said and done. On the contrary, obtaining the ID of the deceased is one of the more clever ways a thief can use it to harm you and your family’s good name. Here are five steps to take after a loved-one has passed away to make sure that their identity rests in peace:

1. Short obituaries. Make sure that you don’t include too much identifying information when you write the obituary.

Medical records are one-stop shopping for identity thieves. There is no need to slowly gather bits and pieces of someone’s personal information—it’s all packaged together: Social Security number, name, address, phone number, even payment accounts.

Crooks have received everything from medication to a liver transplant using a stolen identity. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg! More than just medical treatment is at stake. Once a thief’s medical information is entered into your records, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of that information.

You and your spouse have watched them grow. You’ve both experienced the ups and downs of living under one roof for the past 18 years together, but the time has come and they’re about to leave the nest for college—both an exciting and anxiety-ridden experience for most.

Often overlooked is the safety of your child’s identity. These young adults living away from home for the first time are particularly vulnerable to identity theft. In a 2010 survey, Javelin Strategy and Research found that young adults, aged 18-24, take the longest to detect identity theft—132 days on average

Since you can’t protect yourself and your family completely from identity theft, make sure that you monitor the signs! Heading into a new year people make many resolutions that they may or may not stick with, but protecting your identity should always be a top priority. Here are three effective tips to help discover and recover quickly if you, your spouse or anyone in your family becomes the victim of identity theft:

1. Create a Dossier: For these purposes, a dossier is a collection of documents that are stored in a fire safe that you regularly review and update.