Protecting your identity

In the past several months, we’ve read a number of stories about identity theft — some Carpentersville residents having been victims.

Well, there is a guy who has posted his social security number on the internet. And, he even had his name and social security number put on a mobile billboard that was driven around the streets of New York.

So who is this fool? His name is Todd Davis. He is the CEO of a company called “LifeLock”. For a monthly fee of $10, LifeLock offers to protect your identity. They even back it with a $1 million guarantee. If at least one member of your family is an annual member, they will also protect your children for $25/year each.

Doesn’t seem like a bad deal, does it?

But, should this service be necessary? How careful are you with your social security number and other information that could be used to obtain credit cards, jobs, mortgages and other loans?

Do you have your social security number on your drivers license? Take it off!

Do you carry your social security card with you in your purse or wallet? Take it out and leave it at home.

Do you give your social security number to any business that requests it? Think before you do so? Why do they need it? Are they offering you credit? Do they need to run a credit check? Are they offering you a job? If not, then there may likely not be a good reason for them to have it.

Here is some additional information on how to protect your social security number.

In terms of your credit report, you should check it at least once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com (as opposed to “freecreditreport.com” which is a pay service from one of the credit agencies). At AnnualCreditReport.com, you will be able to get a copy of your credit report once per year for free from each of the 3 credit reporting companies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

A credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, provides you with all of the information in your credit file maintained by a consumer reporting company that could be provided by the consumer reporting company in a consumer report about you to a third party, such as a lender. A credit file disclosure also includes a record of everyone who has received a consumer report about you from the consumer reporting company within a certain period of time (“inquiries”). The credit file disclosure includes certain information that is not included in a consumer report about you to a third party, such as the inquiries of companies for pre-approved offers of credit or insurance and account reviews, and any medical account information which is suppressed for third party users of consumer reports.

Protecting yourself and your social security number/credit information can go a long way to saving you time, money and frustration, so that you will be less likely to be a victim of identity theft.

Halloween Safety

Safety is mostly about common sense. But, the excitement over Halloween can make both kids and adults less careful, leading to accidents and injuries. Here are a few things to keep in mind this afternoon and evening as you and your children are trick-or-treating, or you may be driving around town:

Designated hours for trick-or-treating in the Village are between 3pm and 7pm.

Excerpt from the National Safety Council:

• Stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never enter a stranger’s home. It’s also recommended to stick to your own neighborhood, since you know it. It’s best not to load up all the kids into the van and cart them all over the town.
• Establish a return time. (Let them know when they must be home, and when you’ll expect them)
• For smaller children, under around age 12: Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
• Make sure kids can see and breath adequately if masks or face coverings are worn
• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks available (as in a few areas), walk on the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic.
• Inspect all treats, telling kids not to eat any treats until they get home. “When in doubt, throw it out.”
• Temperatures are expected to drop in the late afternoon to early evening hours. Make sure kids are dressed warmly enough.
• Motorists are also reminded to watch for kids running out between parked cars or walking along the sides of streets, etc.

And, here are a few words about courtesy:

• Say “Trick or treat”.
• Say “Thank you”.
• Use the sidewalks and driveways. Don’t cut through yards. (Important for safety as well)
• Take one or two pieces if the person holds out the bowl for you to choose a favorite; don’t grab a handful (although, if you hold out the bowl, expect some kids to take a bunch).

Finally, a note to treat givers: Give something pre-packaged (unless you’re famous in your neighborhood for giving out something special); if you give out ziploc baggies of popcorn, apples or other such things, expect that some will end up on your roof, lawn, etc. — Kids, just dispose of these at home, if you don’t want them.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!