Moving can be a stressful time of your life, even when everything goes according to plan, and it can also be a time for opportunistic criminals to engage in identity theft. Fortunately there are a few tips to help you to protect your identity.
You need to make sure that you have changed your address when you move with all financial institutions, magazines, companies and any other organizations from which you regularly receive mail. Identity theft can be achieved by stealing someone else’s mail. It is not usually the people who have moved into your former home that do this; however, they often simply throw away such mail without shredding it, providing an opportunity for enterprising thieves. Make sure to notify the United States Postal Service of your mailing address change before your relocation.
Making a move is a good time to rid yourself of items that you no longer have any requirement for, including old documents. These documents should not simply be thrown away, however, but should be shredded so that no one else can get their hands on sensitive personal information.
Another good tip is to keep a close physical eye on your identity. Whether you move with the help of a professional moving company or by yourself, your important documents should be kept with you in a secure location at all times. When it comes to protecting your identity, it is a fact that there is no such thing as too much security.
Lance Grooms
