According to the 2010 Javelin Strategy & Research Identity Fraud Survey Report, names and home addresses continue to top the list of critical personal data stolen by identity thieves. April through July has historically been the busiest time of year for home buying and selling. During these months, neighborhoods across the country are filled with moving trucks as homeowners, renters and their families move on from the old to the new. A lot goes into packing and moving a home and often times certain things can get overlooked – like the safety and security of a mover’s personally identifying information (PII).

Something as simple as a misdirected bank statement could end up in the wrong hands resulting in a compromised identity. Most homeowners don’t think twice about installing a security alarm in their new home after a move and often times activating the system can be done in a few simple steps. Along the same lines, if homeowners would take the same steps required to help protect their identities, they would be providing themselves and their families with invaluable protection.

Here are a few simple steps a homeowner can take to protect their identity from fraudsters before, during, and after a hectic move:

1. Before your move, make a list of all personal mail you receive on a regular basis. Notify banks, financial institutions and creditors of the move and redirect all paper statements and sensitive financial mailings to your new address, or, consider switching to online statements. The 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report from Javelin Strategy & Research found that consumers who utilized electronic statement monitoring took less time to detect incidents of fraud and paid lower mean consumer costs ($116 vs. $274) than those monitoring paper statements. Make a checklist for:
   • Retirement accounts/Banking Institutions/Credit Card Companies
   • Utility companies (electric, gas, water, cable, etc.)
   • Insurance companies (medical, property, renters, fire and auto)
   • Local government agencies, federal agencies & the IRS
   • Healthcare providers
   • Schools
   • Suscriptions (magazines, newspapers, etc.)
   • Memberships
2. Submit a Change of Address request through the post office. Once the request has been filed, be on the look-out for a confirmation from the Postal Service and use this to verify your new information has been correctly updated. Mail should start to arrive at your new address within 7 to 10 business days after filing.
3. Shred all important documents and paperwork that will not be coming with you. Thieves will often go through garbage in search of things like pre-paid credit card offers that they can alter and use to create new accounts in your name. A decent shredder can cost as little as $50 and can be a very worthwhile investment. Make sure you are properly disposing of your shredded materials yourself – do not leave the task for anyone else to complete on your behalf.
4. Monitor bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity. Consider enrolling in an identity protection service that not only helps you monitor activity related to your credit, but also helps protect your computer, public records, and even mobile devices – all things that could have been impacted by the move.
5. Mover fraud is becoming more commonplace in the U.S. To avoid becoming a victim, do your due diligence and thoroughly research moving companies in your area. Ask for recommendations from trustworthy friends, family members, and real estate agents. And check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure the mover has a solid reputation. You should also make sure the mover is registered with the Federal Moto Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and has a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDDOT) number before signing any agreements or obtaining an estimate.
6. Transfer all important physical documents that will be making the move, such as wills, stock certificates, bonds, etc., to a safe and secure place such as a locked box or an online secure vault. Keep the physical documents with you during the move and do not leave any secure receptacles for movers or others to transport.
7. Lock down your computer. Devote time and resources before your move to make sure all computers in your home are hack-proof and packed and out of sight before movers arrive. Take all computers, hard drives, and other external storage devices with you during the move.
8. Make sure you are present for the entire duration of the move. Your presence could deter potential theft from occurring and you can rest assured that your personal belongings are being taken care of properly.
9. After the move, verify that you are receiving all mail from the list of senders you identified and contacted beforehand. If something is missing or does not start arriving at your new address, contact the company immediately to confirm the address change and make sure that nothing is going to the old address.
10. Take time after the move to create a secure zone for the storage of secure data and to serve as a place where sensitive transactions like book keeping takes place. Update your computer security technology and consider tightening the physical security measures on the premise.

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1. Making Gains in Fighting ID Theft
2. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Credit Profile (Part II)
3. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Profile (Part III)