9 Steps toPreventing Identity Theft After You Move
Friday, November 7, 2014
The previous blog about preventing identity theft during a move dealt primarily with precautionary steps to take from your old residence to thwart clever criminals. So you’re now safely ensconced in your new home. And you can breathe a sigh of relief, right?
Actually, no. Unfortunately, there are clever identity thieves waiting at that end of your relocation, also, and your efforts to outwit them must continue at your new address. Read on for more advice:
- Once you have reached your new home, check to make certain that you have all the important papers and documents you carried with you—and immediately put them in a safe, secured place.
- Locate and unpack the box containing your electronic possessions—tablet, IPhone, computers, etc. Account for each one and consider changing your passwords.
- Carefully look through your bank statements to make certain that there are no unauthorized charges. You might also think about requesting new credit reports to be sure that your status hasn’t changed significantly.
- Make certain that you are receiving your mail at your new address. If you are missing any statements, checks, and the like, report those losses immediately.
- Contact your old neighbor to verify that he/she is collecting any mail that arrives to the prior address. Arrange for it to be mailed to you or go by and pick it up, if possible.
- If you have to cancel any bank accounts or credit cards because of your relocation, close the account, cut up any cards associated with the account, and shred unneeded papers.
- Replace the locks on immediately- preferably before you even move in, as the old tenants could still have keys.
- Be diligent and cautious when providing personal information, especially your social security number, to new doctors, organizations, or schools.
- After the move set up a “safe zone” where you store important papers and can work on private matters away from the eyes of visitors to your new home, repairmen, utility workers, and strangers.
Although you may not be able to protect your identity 100%, you can go a long way in ensuring peace of mind by being proactive, diligent, and aware, especially during a move.
Information provided by Montgomery Realtor Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.
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information behind that others can use---mail that is not rerouted to our new address, important papers that aren't shredded but left in the trash, or through hiring rogue movers. The 
affected, it is only natural that we ask ourselves,” Would I be able to sustain such losses? Would my homeowners insurance policy cover the costs of rebuilding my home?
