1. Never place outgoing mail in a curbside, unlocked mailbox with the “red flag” up. This is an open invitation for thieves to steal your mail. As for incoming mail, it is wise to go to your local Post Office and rent a small box (most cost around $40.00 per year) for all bills that you receive, such as charge cards and telephone bills, as well as bank statements. This will prevent your incoming mail from sitting in an unattended, unlocked mailbox while you are away.



2. Shred all statements from your financial institution and credit card companies. Thieves will often “dumpster dive”, or go through your trash to obtain personal information, therefore it is better to THOROUGHLY shred all personal information you discard rather than just tearing it in half.



3. When ordering new printed checks, provide only a minimum of information to be printed on the checks. Generally speaking, only print your name and address (the PO Box suggestion is also good here. If a thief steals your checks with your street address, he knows right where to go to find you). Avoid placing your Telephone number, Drivers License, and Social Security Number on your checks. If you write a check at a merchant, and they want to check Identification, you can always show your drivers license, rather than have the number on the checks.



4. Use precaution while online! When registering on a website, use the PO Box when they ask for an address, and a business telephone number rather than a home phone. Never, NEVER put your Social Security Number online, unless it's on a known encrypted site that you trust (Even then be cautious.)! Otherwise, you do not know who has access to this information. Ordering merchandise online may be quick and easy, but there are hackers out there who can get to this information, so always err on the side of caution. And remember, e mail is NOT secure! Do not e mail someone your personal information.



5. Beware of telemarketers. If you did not initiate the call, never give someone your bank account numbers and personal information over the telephone.



6. Contact law enforcement, the credit bureaus, and your financial institution with the first sign or suspicion that your information was compromised. Be as proactive as possible, but if you are victimized, time is of the essence. If you stop the bleeding as soon as possible, that will save you work down the road.

Wayne Willams, Coastal Risk Management
919 420 8282 (800 868 4262 ext 8282).