It’s easy to view identity theft as something that only happens to other people. Even if you never shop online, never open an online banking account, and are extremely careful about giving out personal information, there’s one big threat to identity theft that lurks at every single office, business, or government agency. It’s called a garbage can. Unless employees are being careful to shred, not throw away information such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, you could be vulnerable to identity theft.
The key to avoiding identity theft is to be on the lookout for potential problems. Ask the businesses you visit how they get rid of personal documents. Do they shred them? Is your information locked in a cabinet? Do they use a secure socket layer (SSL) system to protect their online customers? It’s okay to ask questions. The best way to protect yourself against identity theft is to get as much information on identity theft as possible.
