You may be surprised about what information you thought was private
is freely available on line to the public. Here are just a few examples.
| Database Type | Name | Link | |
| Addresses | White Pages | Link | Free |
| Back Ground Checks | Addresses/Phone numbers / background checks | Link | $$$ |
| Birthdays | Birthday.com | Link | Free |
| Mug Shots | Mugshots.com | Link | Free |
| Social Security Records (for deceased) | SSDI | Link | Free |
| Voter Record | |||
| Voter Records | FLVoters.com | Link | Free |
| Reverse Phone Number Look up (with # find name) | Zaba | Link | Free |
| Reverse Address | 411.com | Link | Free |
| Have you ever googled your own name? | Link | Free | |
| Employment Info | ZoomInfo | Link | Free |
| Public Records | CheckPeople.com | Link | $$$ |
| Public Records | FamilySearch.org | Link | Free |
| Public Records | Free Public Records | Link | Free |
| Real Estate Records | Zillow.org | Link |
Some Tips to Staying Safe online and avoiding Phishing - CLICK HERE
The Privacy Dilemna - CLICK HERE
Identity theft is a
crime that is estimated to affect over 9 million Americans per year. Every
individual must take measures to protect themselves from falling victim to this
growing crime.
Protect yourself from identity theft with these basic tips:
1.
Consider
subscribing to an identity theft protection service.
Several companies offer services to help you in the case that you become
victim to identity theft. For information on some of these services,
please see our reviews of identity theft products.
2.
Keep personal
documents in a safe. Consider keeping a personal safe for
your home as well as a safety
deposit box elsewhere. You can use your safe at home to
protect items such as your social security card, birth certificate and
passport.
3.
Protect your
purse or wallet at all times. The best purses are those
that can be zipped or closed shut. Try not to use bags that others can
easily see or reach into, and keep bags close to your body with a tight
grip at all times. Do not leave wallets or purses in the car, or if you
must, do not leave them exposed or in an obvious place.
4.
Photocopy the
contents of your wallet. Make copies of credit cards, ID
cards, and all other personal documents you keep in your wallet. Also,
keep records of phone numbers to contact in case you need to close
accounts or order replacement items.
5.
Examine your bank
account statements monthly to ensure that your accounts
have no unauthorized charges. If they do, contact your banking institution
immediately.
6.
Remove yourself
from promotional lists such as junk mail and pre-approved
credit card lists. This added clutter doesn’t do any good, and you at risk
of ID theft if a stranger gets their hands on your pre-approved cards.
7.
Cancel credit
cards that you aren’t using. There’s no reason to have
open credit for the taking. Besides, the less credit you have open, the
less you’ll have to monitor.
8.
Select passwords
that are difficult for others to uncover. An impersonal
combination of letters and numbers is the best.
9.
Protect your
computer with anti-spyware and anti-virus software. Make
sure you keep them up to date.
10. Do not reveal personal
information to unverified sources whether over the phone
or the Internet. Do not feel pressured to answer personal questions if you
do not trust the source. Feel free to request verifying information before
giving anything up.
11.
Monitor your
credit. Take advantage of your free credit reports and
consider purchasing additional copies throughout the year for continuous
monitoring. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit freezes on your
account for greater protection.
12.
Shred personal
documents before throwing them away. Dumpster diving is a
common method of stealing personal information for the sake of identity
fraud. Purchase a
shredder for your home and make sure you destroy paperwork
containing personal information before discarding. This includes mail, credit card
statements and even receipts.