Posts Tagged as “mail”
11-19-09 | Katie | No Comments
envelope
Unless you happen to be home all day, the odds are that your mail will sit in the box for a few hours. How can you keep it safe.
1. Get a locking mail box. Be sure that it only opens on one side. A locked front with a unlocked back won’t fool anyone.
2. Put your box on your house. This may not be possible is all areas, consult with your city clerk before you switch to a house style of box. Also, be sure to inform the postmaster before the switch.
3. Reduce your junk mail by calling to unsubscribe to catalogs. Let’s be honest, they were annoying anyway, bad for the planet and tempted you to over spend. You won’t be missing anything. Just call the customer service number on the catalog.
Three ways to make life hard for a would be mail thief.
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06-11-09 | Katie | 1 Comment
It is a fact that sometimes your identity is stolen right from your own mailbox. If you want to prevent that you will need to buy a good locking mailbox, but what should you look for in a good locking mailbox?
1. Metal construction. Plastic models do exist, but how hard is it to pry open plastic? All you need is a flat head screwdriver.
2. A model with the lock built into the box. Some have loops where you can put on a padlock, but anyone with bolt cutters can get past this model.
3. One wit a slot (or door) that is too small for a human hand to fit in. That way only mail goes in.
4. One without an unlocked back side opening. This theory relies on human stupidity, but if you are going to buy a locking box you shouldn’t leave a gaping security flaw.
Happy shopping.
(Image Credit)
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05-8-09 | Katie | No Comments
Most of us do not give much consideration to the things that we throw out. After all once we are done with it, it is trash right? Not to everyone.
Dumpster diving, or the pratice of going through your trash to get your personal information is a common pratice. After all you just threw out that shiney credit card application didn’t you? If a pay stub or bank statement is in the same can then you just gave someone else a free card. I bet that you never knew you were so generous!
How to you advoid being a victim of dumpster diving? It’s simple, don’t leave whole pieces of information in the trash. You can:
1. Save your old mail and make recycled paper out of it. (Eco-bonus if you choose this one!)
2. Shred your mail.
Choose one and go for it. Remember that small steps can keep you safe.
(Image Credit)
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05-8-09 | Chris | No Comments
envelope
There are many ways that your identity can be stolen. Most people believe that staying safe online will help them avoid this crime. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The mail that arrives everyday in your box may be targeted by criminals. Is this something that you have thought about in the past?
Here is the most common way that your identity can be stolen through the mail:
A criminal takes your mail from the box or out of the trash. Believe it or not there are people who will go through your garbage in hunt of important documents that list your credit card info, social security number, birth date, etc. Protect yourself against this by purchasing a mailbox with a lock, and shredding any and all important papers before disposing of them.
This sounds so far-fetched that many people never think twice. If you get lazy you are leaving the door wide open for your identity to be stolen. With so much confidential information being mailed to your house on a regular basis it is important to keep a close eye on your mail. Even though identity theft via the internet has picked up steam over the past few years, there are still many criminals who will rely on the postal system to get the information they need to ruin your life.
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