Privacy laws limit the amount of information you can find on a given individual, especially those who are living. Most states censor birth, marriage, death and divorce records for at least fifty to one hundred years. It is important to protect your information and keep you identity as private as possible. In the age of credit card fraud and cybercrime, you can never be too careful.
Social Security numbers and mother’s maiden names are the most covenanted information for criminals so few local governments or credit card companies use them anymore. People are typically assigned a driver’s license number, instead of using their Social Security on that critical piece of identification. They also advise us not to carry your Social Security card on your person. If you wallet or purse is stolen, little damage can be done with your driver’s license number alone.
As strange as it sounds, genealogist and family history buffs need to be careful how they share research. Giving out your date of birth and you mother’s maiden name to a fellow researcher may seem harmless but it can come back to haunt you. In the wrong hands, someone could possibly use that information to access private accounts, such as credit cards or store charge accounts. With this in mind, also be careful what you list in a loved one’s obituary by limiting the use of maiden names and specific dates.
We need to be especially careful with the information of our children. If a criminal were to get hold of a toddler’s vital information, they could do irreparable damage to that child’s credit. If a baby’s Social Security number were stole at birth, a criminal would have upwards of twenty years to destroy that child’s credit – without notice. Until the child was old enough to apply for credit, no one would realize what damage had been done.
Social networks like My Space and Facebook are great. They are places to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Just remember that whatever you put on the Internet stays on the Internet. Giving out too much personal information can be more harmful than your parents seeing you risque pictures from Spring Break in your online photo album. Avoid posting your full name, address, phone number, current school and similar information. The last thing you want is some weird-o showing up after your chemistry class who knows everything about you. Have fun online but be careful.
Social Security numbers and mother’s maiden names are the most covenanted information for criminals so few local governments or credit card companies use them anymore. People are typically assigned a driver’s license number, instead of using their Social Security on that critical piece of identification. They also advise us not to carry your Social Security card on your person. If you wallet or purse is stolen, little damage can be done with your driver’s license number alone.
As strange as it sounds, genealogist and family history buffs need to be careful how they share research. Giving out your date of birth and you mother’s maiden name to a fellow researcher may seem harmless but it can come back to haunt you. In the wrong hands, someone could possibly use that information to access private accounts, such as credit cards or store charge accounts. With this in mind, also be careful what you list in a loved one’s obituary by limiting the use of maiden names and specific dates.
We need to be especially careful with the information of our children. If a criminal were to get hold of a toddler’s vital information, they could do irreparable damage to that child’s credit. If a baby’s Social Security number were stole at birth, a criminal would have upwards of twenty years to destroy that child’s credit – without notice. Until the child was old enough to apply for credit, no one would realize what damage had been done.
Social networks like My Space and Facebook are great. They are places to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Just remember that whatever you put on the Internet stays on the Internet. Giving out too much personal information can be more harmful than your parents seeing you risque pictures from Spring Break in your online photo album. Avoid posting your full name, address, phone number, current school and similar information. The last thing you want is some weird-o showing up after your chemistry class who knows everything about you. Have fun online but be careful.
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