Identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the U.S. – it occurs when con artists gain access to personal information they can use to hack into the victim’s bank account, run up charges on their credit cards, get medical treatment on their health insurance, use their airline miles, or commit other scams.
While identity theft can happen to anyone and at any time, the risk is greater for people on the move. During the relocation process, a lot of information is disclosed to strangers (movers, homebuyers, contractors, etc.), old documents are thrown away, and mail isn’t always forwarded to the new address in time – which makes it easier for identity thieves to get hold of sensitive information and use it for fraudulent purposes.
To prevent this from happening during your move, you need to be extra careful and take every measure to protect your personal data from prying eyes. Here are some essential tips to help you prevent identity theft when moving:
Destroy unneeded documents
When preparing for a house move, you’re strongly advised to sort out your possessions and get rid of unneeded items. Documents make no exception – moving is the perfect time to organize your papers and dispose of outdated ones.
When doing so, though, make sure you don’t just toss out your old files – you never know who could rummage through your trash can when you leave. Dumpster diving is one of the most common ways identity thieves get personal information – they comb through the garbage, looking for old bills, tax returns, mortgage documents, insurance policies, and other financial records that may contain valuable information (contact details, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and even Social Security numbers).
So, when discarding unneeded files, be sure to destroy them completely, so no one can extract any information from them:
- Shred all documents containing sensitive information and mix the pieces with other useless paper materials;
- Burn your old documents in the fireplace and throw away the ashes.
You need your old files to disappear without a trace.
Keep your important documents with you
Once you’ve sorted your documents, put all important papers in a small lockbox and be sure to keep it safe during the move – lock it in a separate room together with your essentials and valuables on moving day (so that no one has access to your files and they don’t get accidentally loaded on the moving truck) and make sure it travels with you. (See also: What items to move yourself)
It’s crucial that you keep your documents with you at all times – not only to reduce the risk of identity theft, but also to have access to your papers during the trip to your new home and immediately after arrival, when the rest of your items won’t be delivered yet. Besides, if you box up your files and have them loaded on the moving truck, something may happen on the road (traffic accident, robbery, fire, etc.) and your papers may be lost or damaged – which will cause great inconveniences and will cost you plenty of time, money, and headaches, even if your documents are not stolen for fraudulent purposes.
Related useful information: How to organize documents when moving
Safeguard electronic information
Since so much sensitive data is stored online and on electronic devices in our digital age, it’s important to safeguard not only your paper files, but your digital information as well.
1) Make sure no one has access to your computers, tablets, and smartphones during the moving process:
- Keep your electronic devices in a locked room on moving day (together with your most essential items and most valuable possessions, as mentioned above), so that no one can tamper with them;
- Take smaller electronic devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) with you – transport them in your car or take them in your carry-on on the plane;
- Protect desktop computers, external storage devices, and other heavier electronic devices you can’t move yourself with strong passwords. Don’t forget to log out of all your accounts before packing your larger electronics for moving and to delete any files that may contain wanted information (log in information, credit card numbers, etc.).
2) Delete all personal information from electronic devices you’re giving to someone else:
- If you’re donating or selling old electronics before your move, be sure to wipe all personal data from them;
- Do not give flash drives or other memory storing devices to anyone without formatting them first.
3) Change all your passwords the day after you move. It is enough to change only one number or letter – your accounts will be safe.
Keeping your sensitive information safe is your best protection against identity predators. Yet, there are other efficient ways to prevent identity theft you need to consider as well.
Find trustworthy movers to work with
Your hired movers will have access to your property, your belongings, and your private information, so it’s crucial that you choose a reliable and reputable moving company to work with.
Dishonest movers can rip you off and turn your relocation experience into a real nightmare – and, needless to say, disclosing sensitive information to a shady business can do you a lot of harm too. (See also: Common moving frauds)
You need to find movers you can trust – licensed and insured moving professionals with rich experience and excellent track record. Ask family and friends for recommendations, read online reviews, and check movers’ ratings to narrow down your search to several reputable businesses. Once you find three or four trustworthy carriers that seem to suit your relocation needs and preferences, ask them for in-house estimates of your moving costs and research the companies in detail – interview the movers to get as much information as possible, verify the companies’ USDOT numbers, check their ratings with the BBB, research their complaint histories, etc. Compare the offers (not only the final price, but also the included services, expected timeframes, and special conditions) and choose the best movers for you.
Bonus tips:
- Be careful not to reveal any unnecessary information to the movers;
- Do not leave any documents containing personal information out in the open when the movers come to survey your home;
- Check the identity of the moving company representatives who come to inspect your belongings – they may be frauds who are trying to get personal information. If they start asking irrelevant questions or making inquiries about personal stuff, or seem to be unfamiliar with the information you have already provided to the moving company – or anything suspicious at all – raise your guard and call the moving company immediately;
- Never sign blank documents!
Be present on moving day
You may have found reliable movers – and you can trust experienced professionals to do a good job – but you still need to be there on moving day. Make your plans so that you’re present when the movers arrive and stay around so you can personally oversee the entire process. Give the pros space to work, but be there for them if they have questions or need clarifications and pay attention – there is a lot of stuff to relocate, so it’s easy for something to be misplaced – or stolen – without anyone realizing it until it’s too late.
Your presence will discourage any attempts for identity theft on moving day because no one will dare to meddle with your personal items – and no strangers will dare to enter your home – when you are around.
Now you know how to prevent identity theft before and during your move. All that is left to do is to ensure that no one gains access to your personal information after you’ve already left your old home.
Re-direct your mail to your new address
Records and documents mailed to the wrong address greatly increase the risk of identity theft – sensitive information may fall in the wrong hands, papers containing personal data may be improperly discarded and found by identity thieves, etc.
So, make sure you change your address with the USPS in due time and have your mail forwarded to your new address (your mail will start being delivered to your new home about seven to ten business days after you submit the change of address form).
Don’t forget to notify all people and institutions you have dealings with of your new address, so they can send your mail to the right place.
Monitor your credit reports and bank statements
Even after your move is over, there are still some precautionary measures you can take to protect yourself from identity theft – check your banks and investment statements for several months after the relocation, carefully monitor your credit score, and be sure to report any suspicious activity as soon as possible.
It is a good idea to get a copy of your credit report about three months after your move – it will list any inquiries made to your credit, so you will know if an identity thief is trying to open an account in your name (look for inquiries using your old address).
You may also want to invest in a credit freeze so nobody can check your credit (lenders are unlikely to grant anyone a new line of credit under your name without access to this information).
If you have reasons to suspect you’ve been a victim of identity theft, call one of the credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your credit report immediately.
Remember – Never trust anyone with items containing personal information.
When you know how to protect yourself from identity theft, con artists won’t have the chance to steal your personal information and use it for fraudulent purposes – you can have your peace of mind and focus on your move. Good luck!
