SPECIAL REPORT: 10 Common Mistakes that Get Your Identity Stolen
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TRI-CITIES AND YAKIMA — When it comes to identity theft , Action News uncovered, it's the one precaution you didn't take that can hurt you for years.
That’s what happened to Tina Hernandez. Her identity was stolen more than ten years ago. She used to work for a bank so always shredded her documents, but she didn’t take special precautions with her mailbox.
"We were all nervous, you know stressed, my youngest would ask is someone watching us, are we going to be ok? And I would reassure her that we were, but deep down I really didn't have any idea as to what was all happening,” said Hernandez.
More than ten years later, identity thieves still haunt Hernandez and her family.
"It continued for years-- even to this day," said Hernandez.
The Pasco Police Department has the proof: fake identification cards with Tina's name, but someone else's picture.
And it all began so simply.
"Back then-- our mailbox-- there were quite a few across the street from ours. No one had locks. Come to find out later that they would pick and choose-- because it's not something you would miss from your mail"
1. A mailbox without a lock is more common than not. But identity theft mistake number one: using the flag. It is like a honing signal to i-d thieves. Just ask Norma Miller with the Better Business Bureau.
"Don't put any checks, or other personal information waiting for the mailman with that little red flag saying-- hey here I am,” said Miller.
Your mailbox isn't the only door to your identity. Identity thieves are also lurking all over the internet, waiting to take the information you put online, or even the information you store for safekeeping on your hard-drive.
2. Mistake number two: exposing your computer by not using a firewall, not running software updates, or not having enough protection against viruses.
3. Passwords bring a whole lot of other mistakes, like number three: using the same password for every site. Once thieves learn it -- they can access everything.
4. Mistake number four: using a simple password -- like something with your name or birth date. Easy to hack means easy to abuse.
5. Mistake number five: using old passwords. Change them regularly because you probably won't know it's been compromised until it's too late.
6. When you're shopping online, don't make mistake number six: using a debit card tied to your life savings. Instead, use a credit card with a small limit.
7. While you're online, watch what you're giving to the world, like on Twitter or Facebook.
Mistake number seven is giving away your own identity.
8. Treat your personal information like you do cash. Don't give it to anyone who asks for it over the phone or email. Revealing that to anyone who calls is mistake number eight.
9. Mistake number nine is letting thieves get their hands on your information. Pasco P.D. showed us four copies of a real social security number to rip you off.
10. Finally, mistake number ten, and what may be the most common one of all: not keeping track of your money and credit.
That's where Tina first noticed her identity was stolen.
"I received my statement from the bank- notice it-- called husband...immediately, I'm in the parking lot of the mall and I'm crying."
If you suspect the worse, here's a tip from the Better Business Bureau: put together a list of all your accounts -- including passwords and phone numbers. Cut it in half and hide each piece in two different safe places. You'll need that list to cancel accounts quickly, before identity thieves max you out. That can happen in about thirty minutes.
That’s what happened to Tina Hernandez. Her identity was stolen more than ten years ago. She used to work for a bank so always shredded her documents, but she didn’t take special precautions with her mailbox.
"We were all nervous, you know stressed, my youngest would ask is someone watching us, are we going to be ok? And I would reassure her that we were, but deep down I really didn't have any idea as to what was all happening,” said Hernandez.
More than ten years later, identity thieves still haunt Hernandez and her family.
"It continued for years-- even to this day," said Hernandez.
The Pasco Police Department has the proof: fake identification cards with Tina's name, but someone else's picture.
And it all began so simply.
"Back then-- our mailbox-- there were quite a few across the street from ours. No one had locks. Come to find out later that they would pick and choose-- because it's not something you would miss from your mail"
1. A mailbox without a lock is more common than not. But identity theft mistake number one: using the flag. It is like a honing signal to i-d thieves. Just ask Norma Miller with the Better Business Bureau.
"Don't put any checks, or other personal information waiting for the mailman with that little red flag saying-- hey here I am,” said Miller.
Your mailbox isn't the only door to your identity. Identity thieves are also lurking all over the internet, waiting to take the information you put online, or even the information you store for safekeeping on your hard-drive.
2. Mistake number two: exposing your computer by not using a firewall, not running software updates, or not having enough protection against viruses.
3. Passwords bring a whole lot of other mistakes, like number three: using the same password for every site. Once thieves learn it -- they can access everything.
4. Mistake number four: using a simple password -- like something with your name or birth date. Easy to hack means easy to abuse.
5. Mistake number five: using old passwords. Change them regularly because you probably won't know it's been compromised until it's too late.
6. When you're shopping online, don't make mistake number six: using a debit card tied to your life savings. Instead, use a credit card with a small limit.
7. While you're online, watch what you're giving to the world, like on Twitter or Facebook.
Mistake number seven is giving away your own identity.
8. Treat your personal information like you do cash. Don't give it to anyone who asks for it over the phone or email. Revealing that to anyone who calls is mistake number eight.
9. Mistake number nine is letting thieves get their hands on your information. Pasco P.D. showed us four copies of a real social security number to rip you off.
10. Finally, mistake number ten, and what may be the most common one of all: not keeping track of your money and credit.
That's where Tina first noticed her identity was stolen.
"I received my statement from the bank- notice it-- called husband...immediately, I'm in the parking lot of the mall and I'm crying."
If you suspect the worse, here's a tip from the Better Business Bureau: put together a list of all your accounts -- including passwords and phone numbers. Cut it in half and hide each piece in two different safe places. You'll need that list to cancel accounts quickly, before identity thieves max you out. That can happen in about thirty minutes.
