Identity Theft in the Information Age 

by Asta Dido

Protecting your Social Security Number and Personal Information

You have probably heard over and over ad infinitum “be careful and guard your Social Security Number and don’t as the street hood’s say, during a robbery, “give it up!”

 Your identity is, or should be, one of your most precious possessions! I don’t want to be overly intellectual about this but, if you are a drama and literature lover, see to what extent the importance a name and an identity  was to Arthur Miller’s character, John Proctor  in “The Crucible” you would see “it was to die for!”

 Nowadays, you might not want to die to protect your name and identity but, you might wish you were dead when your “money in the bank” is no longer “ your money in the bank” and when your credit is massacred and you are in a mess that might take years to untangle; when bill collectors become so familiar they call you by your first name and when it takes countless phone calls and being put “on hold” for eternities it is then it becomes a living hell!

 You can’t protect yourself totally but, there a few prudent steps to take to safeguard your Social Security Number. For instance, make sure who you are providing that number to has the right to see and use that number. Don’t put it on so called “junk mail” or solicitations –those mailing lists are bought and sold and you just might as well advertised it on tv. If you are filling out an application for employment you don’t have to “give up” that number until you are employed. I know it’s on many older application but leave that line blank. You’ll get that job if they like what you offer; you can then you can give it to the human resources officer and the folks that write your paycheck! Ouch, there’s a deduction in that salary check for it but, pray tell, you’ll get it back if you live long enough.

 Make sure you shred all old paper work that contain that kind of information—shredders are cheap much cheaper than the garbage picker with an eye for a “quick score!” Also, make sure that if your social security number is being verified for a purchase or account that only THE LAST FOUR NUMBERS ARE GIVEN!!! Finally, if someone calls and asks for your Social Security Number, hang up or they will hang you! Thieves have become so cleaver and scams so sophisticated and enticing that you have to ask yourself “is this too good to be true then, say to yourself, forgeddaboudit!

 I remember a great line in an old movie-- I believe it was spoken by Melvin Douglas or Paul Newman—trivia buffs would know but, the line was “someday a gent will bet you any amount that he can make the jack of clubs jump out of a deck and spit in your ear and son, if you take that bet you’re going to end up with an earful of spit” I don’t think spit was the word he used or intended! ROTFL (As your kids know is roll on the floor laughing).

 Remember, when is the last time someone gave you something for nothing. I’m seventy four and I don’t recall ever receiving such manna! When someone knocks on my door or calls me on the phone it is as sure, as God made little green apples, they are asking for something! Come on now, I don’t have to tell ya you don’t get something for nothing on this planet.

 Why did I mention my age? I did because we Senior Citizens who have worked, sacrificed, scrimped and saved all our lives to enjoy our so called “golden years” are the biggest targets! Why? We grew up in  simpler times—when a man’s word was as good as his bond and a deal in the millions of dollars could be consummated with a handshake. If you shake somebody’s hand today you better check and see if it’s still attached to your arm…

 Finally, An old friend of mine, who lives in a neighborhood in Florida with so many New Yorkers’ that it’s called “the sixth borough”  sent me this email after reading my last article and although I believe he is being overly cautious (we differ about buying on the Internet) this 14^th Cavalry Vet, is right on target. He writes:

 “Hi, I agree with you 100 %  about the  problem of  identity theft!  It's  a serious issue here in Fla.  and it's discussed almost every month  in our Sheriff Dept. meetings. I try to protect mine by NEVER  buying anything on the internet and, never  listing any personal or financial info on the computer-- not that I have any  substantial  secret funds  that  some smart hacker can gain access to  but, I  try my best to hang on to  anything  that I do have.”

 “I  keep one credit card  with the minimum allowable line of credit  and I'll  use that  to buy gas or if it's  a purchase  that insists on a credit card  like  booking an airline  or hotel  reservation. I try to pay cash for everything else. Your article was excellent,  I hope someone publishes it; or at least reads your blog”                         

Protecting Your Driver’s License Information and Age Discrimination to follow.

Asta Dido is the Pen Name of Sam DiBernardo, Candidate for NY City Council, District 32 Queens