Identity theft can often feel more personal than a theft to your home. It can be detrimental to your assets. The theft of your personal information can allow thieves to apply for jobs, credit cards and purchase products in your name without your consent. Knowing how to protect your sensitive information is the first step to protecting yourself from identity thieves. Here are the 4 most common causes of stolen personal information and what residents of Houston can do to avoid it.

Here are the 4 Typical Causes of Identity Theft

1. Lost Items
Losing your wallet or leaving your credit card at a restaurant is the most common type of information theft in Houston, Texas. An unattended credit card has all of the items a thief needs to steal funds from your bank account and tracking down your address and other sensitive information isn’t hard to find from there. Keep a close eye on your personal belongings and always make sure you’ve remembered your credit card before leaving any business establishment to protect yourself from theft.

2. Mail Theft
Unattended mailboxes are another common cause of stolen personal information. Mail from bank or insurance agencies can be stolen and account numbers easily compromised. Get a mailbox with a lock or purchase a P.O. Box to keep your mail safe from criminals.

3. Unsecured Waste
Dumpster diving is still one of an identity thief’s go-to methods for stealing your sensitive information. Leaving unsecured trash including receipts, bank statements or business transactions is an invitation for criminals to peek into your life. It’s important to secure your trash and shred sensitive documents before letting them leave your property. Businesses should consider hiring a secure document shredding company to dispose of private documents safely.

4. Imposters
Persons posing as a legitimate business entity or scammers, may also steal your personal information. Never give out credit or banking information via phone or email to unsecured sources. If it seems fishy, it probably is.

The good news is residents of Houston can take precautions to protect their private information from prying eyes. Keeping a close watch on your belongings and securely shredding any document that contains private, confidential information is the best step towards protecting yourself.

Get in touch with DSS Houston to discuss how our document shredding will assist you in securing your information. Call 1 (713) 597-4812.