Criss-cross.
Posted: March 29, 2006 Filed under: Uncategorized 7 Comments »
I went to a presentation by the FBI about identity theft. Actually, I organized the presentation for a group around here. Mostly, it was attended by seniors. I learned one new thing. (I read a lot about this sort of thing, so it’s not that the speaker wasn’t informative!) The new thing I learned is that a cross-cut shredder is much more effective than a regular run-of-the mill shredder. So, surprise – we ordered one. (Note: I buy almost everything online. Did you know that Staples delivers the next day!?)
So as dinner was ending tonight, Andrew and I saw that the boys’ energy level was, how should I say, over the top? So Andrew announced that tonight, as a special treat, if they were really cooperative……..
He would let them shred.
Oh boy!
Advertisement
Ok. How much work would it be to give us a bulleted list about what you learned? How important IS to shred? I get laaaaaazy. The shredder is in THERE, and I have to plug it innnnnnn, wahhhhh.
I’m already motivated to get back with the program.
They can come over and shred any time. I think that I could give them hours of simple pleasure just by going through one of my office desk drawers.
Here are some stats:
The Cost of Identity Theft:
• Identity Theft costs almost $53 billion. The total loss to business and individual victims for all types of reported identity theft–both new account and existing account frauds is almost $53 billion dollars annually. More specifically, business victims experienced a total loss of $47.5 billion or an average of $4,800 per business victim per year. Individual victims account for a total loss of $5 billion and $500 per victim annually.
• Americans spent 300 million hours resolving issues related to identity theft. Between individual and business identity theft victims–an average of 30 – 60 hours per victim was spent on handling various matters related to identity theft including new accounts, existing account and other frauds.
The Perpetrators of Identity Theft:
• Victims know the thieves who steal their precious name. In over 25 percent of reported identity theft cases, the victims know or are related to the identity thief. Think twice about the people you share personal information with.
• Most identity theft cases start in the workplace. Studies show that up to 70 percent of all identity theft cases are an inside job–perpetrated by a co-worker or an employee of a business that you patronize. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that a large number of the identities were stolen not by an employee — but by the business owner.
This says to me that your stuff at home isn’t the big target, but it happens. All the time. Not to sound totally paranoid, but those credit card applications you get? The statements? Stuff with your SS# on it? (BTW – I never give out my SS# any more – now that the insurance companies changed their policies, there is no good reason! I think jury duty and 1099′s might still require them, but otherwise…. plus if you freelance, you can get a FedID# so you don’t have to use your SS#.)
So GNG – just send your stuff here. My boys will shred it
Miz Liz – they would love to!
I do most of my shredding on my guitar. The rest I do on my skateboard.
I always use my credit card for purchases because you’re only liable for about $50.00 if your number is stolen. Convenience store clerks can put trackers inside pay-at-the-pumps which record your debit card number (which has your account number in it), so do NOT use your debit card at self-pay pumps.
Plus, go over your credit card statement with a FINE-TOOTH comb!
What’s scary now is some of the retailers around here don’t even require a signature for a credit card purchase if the transaction is less than $50.00, maybe it’s related to the above policy.
DK-I didn’t know you skateboarded!
Junebee-You are a wise woman! I do that too!