Too Much Information!
By Kimberly Smith

Like everyone else in the world, the second I reach into my mailbox I’m already dreading what junk mail I’m going to have to throw right back out (don’t worry, I recycle!).  I love to read…just not advertisements for decorative checks or sky-high loan solicitations.  It’s one thing to fill up my mailbox with things that I’ve never asked for, but it’s a whole other thing to dial up the number to my house and expect me to want to talk to you. 

It’s fair to say that I’m generally respectful and polite to the overexposed telemarketer.  He/She is out there earning a paycheck; putting themselves through school; feeding the family; passing the time.  Whatever the case may be, they know way too much!

Not only do these complete strangers know my address and phone number, but many of them have access to information I never realized was tangible for them:  For example, my household’s annual income alongside whatever our particular spending habits may be—and that’s just for starters! 

I’m sure (but I don’t want to point too many fingers here), that my social security number is floating around in the enormous, swirling pit known as the “identity theft nightmare.”  Those nine magical numbers, intended to signify that I am indeed me, is required for just about everything!  So how are law-abiding individuals, following all of the rules, supposed to protect themselves against the inevitable rape of the one, numeric label assigned to them since birth? 

Gotcha thinking--haven’t I?

Now if I could only produce a foolproof solution convincing Republicans and Democrats alike to accept and create, I could end this editorial right now and from this moment on--we could deem ourselves safe from identity stealing criminals that keep people like me ticked off!

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, I’ll tell you how to protect yourself:

If ANYONE calls your house and requests your social security number--for ANY reason--they’re not who they say they are.  Hang up and contact the company that they are “supposedly” working for and report the inquiry.  Many times companies aren’t aware that scammers are using their name to hook, line, and sink unsuspecting victims.

Be secretive about USERNAMES and PASSWORDS. Especially with your credit cards and bank information.  Never keep a copy of your pin numbers with your plastic.  That’s just asking for it!

Shred documents that contain personal information about you.  So long as you don’t need them, of course.  If you need to hold onto something for a while (i.e., tax information), put it in a safe place. Preferably in some sort of locked compartment.

Trust no one!  Yeah, I said it.  That boyfriend or girlfriend that you’ve been seeing for the last month could have a dark side that you have yet to meet.  Don’t risk it!  Time is by far the most reliable tool in a successful relationship.  If your credit is all messed up, you won’t be able to by that house with your real true love!

If you happen to lose or misplace your wallet/purse, make sure to (again in a SAFE place) have a list of all of your creditors with their phone numbers.  Contact them immediately.  The sooner you discontinue your missing card(s), the better off you’re going to be.  You don’t want the credit card companies to feel suspicious.  Oh no, you really don’t!

I think that I’ve covered a decent chunk of ground here, but I’m sure that I must be missing something.  That comes hand in hand with old age…doesn’t it?  See, there I go again.  All the more reason for someone like me to take the necessary precautions mentioned above.  I don’t want to be one of the mounting statistics getting taken for a financial ride and I don’t want it to happen to you either.  Now that we know basically everything that we were completely clueless about just 100 years prior, maybe we’ll find another way to successfully safeguard what’s left of our privacy.

But for now, I’ll cover my hand as tight as I can over the screen at the ATM machine and hope that I’ve escaped another day of identity theft; potentially spiraling me and my family into financial torture and a most predictable headache.  Too much information is exactly that…too much information!