Kroll Fraud Solutions Blog – A Dialogue on Data Security

Tip #4: Protect Your Home for the Holidays
Will you have guests in your home for the holidays? Once upon a time, the biggest concern you might have in hosting a get-together for friends, family or co-workers was the snoop who peered inside the medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, many identity theft victims know their perpetrator, or else have had personal interaction with him or her. It’s particularly alarming to think that the threat of identity theft could come from a friend, relative or neighbor, but there are several simple steps you can take to ensure your safety:

It’s once again the time of year when consumers are making plans to visit relatives, host festive get-togethers, and, of course, hit the stores (or computer) for some marathon shopping. In fact, if the sales circulars are any indication, it seems as though the holiday shopping season is starting earlier than ever –long before the traditional Black Friday kickoff that is familiar to most of us.  Unfortunately, the flurry of activity that goes hand-in-hand with the holidays presents a prime opportunity for a data thief to go unnoticed.  With that in mind, consumers and retailers alike need to be certain that they are putting the protection of sensitive personal information at the very top of their respective holiday to-do lists.

Tip #4 Think before you share. Whether on your social networking page, in casual conversations, or when completing a retailer’s customer information form, be careful about the type of information you share. Many people give away too much without even realizing what they’ve done. Know that just because a space for a particular piece of information (i.e. date of birth or Social Security number) exists on a social networking profile or a retailer’s preferred customer account, for example, you do not have to fill in that space with such personal information. Be stingy with the key components to your identity and don’t be afraid to ask why the requestor needs it.

On March 9, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement in its case against an identity theft protection services firm that we’ll refer to as “Defendants.” The $35 million judgment was suspended to $12 million, payable to the FTC and 35 state Attorneys General. We’ll all be watching as this unfolds, because if the conditions of the judgment are not met, the entire $35 million will be due.