A new survey from MasterCard includes what sounds like a bizarre round of “Would You Rather…” More than half (55 percent) of respondents say they’d rather have naked photos of themselves leaked online than have their financial info stolen or compromised.
So would I.
Nekkid pictures would be pretty darned embarrassing for a while, but identity theft is for-evah.
Folks would have to go looking for photos of you in the altogether, but apparently ID thieves sell and re-sell their ill-gotten info. You get one case of fraud snuffed out and another one pops up across town, or across the country.
Here’s where it gets interesting: A little over three-quarters (77 percent) of those surveyed are worried about financial info being hacked. Yet almost half (46 percent) of them seldom or never change the passwords for online financial accounts.
Almost that many (44 percent) use the same password for multiple accounts, and more than one-third (39 percent) say they’ve checked financial data via public networks.
This kind of thing leaves us – I have to say it – financially naked.
Not all hacks are cyber-based
It behooves all of us to be super-careful when putting info out there. Some of us are a little too casual.
Recently I wrote a post called “How to make an ID thief’s day,” based on an incident at the recycling center. A woman saw me harvesting Box Tops For Education (for my nephew’s school) and My Coke Rewards codes (to get freebies for me) from the mixed paper bins at the recycling center.
She told me she didn’t like seeing people in the bin where she’d tossed “kind of sensitive” material. When I told her that nothing “kind of sensitive” should be thrown away without being shredded, she sniffed audibly and drove away.
Cyber-hacking is on a lot of people’s minds. But identity theft from trashcans does still occur. Why make it easier for thieves to wreck your credit and your peace of mind?
Naked or financially compromised?
Earlier this week I ran into someone I knew (let’s call her “Babs”) at the recycling center. When she saw me pulling a Ziploc box out of the bin, Babs told me she’d upbraided someone for doing that. It made her nervous, she said, to have people rummaging around what might be some of her personal information.
I repeated what I’d said to the other woman: Never recycle anything that could be used to compromise your identity unless you shred it first.
For good measure, I also told her about a couple we both know who’d been victimized last year. Someone stole their mortgage payment out of the mailbox, “washed” the check and wrote themselves a nice fat amount.
Babs didn’t look convinced. Now I wonder if she uses the same passwords on all her accounts, or whether she’s ever checked her info or shopped on a public network.
Readers: Would you rather be naked than financially compromised?
Related reading:
- How secure is your identity?
- The 876 scam is back
- Got a credit card? Get another one
- Google wants to see me naked
I would rather have the naked pictures of me found, although I feel bad for the person that finds them. OK there really isn’t any but I’m just saying. Great info and definitely things to think about. have a good weekend and take care.
What you described happened to my brother and sister-in-law: someone swiped the mortgage check out of their mailbox, and made it out to themselves, instead.
We NEVER put items regarding financial stuff in the trash. They either get shredded, or go in the fireplace.
Nekkid pics, for sure! ;o) Seriously, I’m surprised that you encountered 2, count ’em, 2 supposed adults who don’t shred discarded sensitive info. What are they thinking?!?
They’re not thinking. That’s the problem. And they don’t like getting caught at it.
What Tina said.
Good reminder, Donna. Years ago I was leaving work, heading home, and cut thru a back alley to get to the parking lot. Scattered on the ground by a dumpster were a bunch of cancelled checks (that’s how long ago this happened!). I recognized the name on the checks as someone I worked with. It obviously left an impression on me as I still remember it 30 some years later. I always shred anything with our names on it as well as personal stuff with a cross cut shredder. Those TV shows where the detective tapes the strip shreds together kinda scared me too!
Definitely naked. As a federal retiree who may or may not have had my personal information compromised, I am very concerned. I shred any sensitive information and give it to BIL to burn after that. I can’t burn trash where I live.
Back in the day, I mistakenly shredded a workpaper and spent the weekend taping it back together after taking the shredding home. That is not the kind of shredder I own.
I vote for naked, too, although like Melissa, I feel sorry for the person who finds them, LOL. Seriously, should you shred EVERYTHING with your name and address on it? Please advise. THX.
Some people shred everything like that. I don’t know if it’s strictly necessary. I will say that when I recycle magazines I cut out the mailing label. If I got catalogues, I’d do that and also check the mailing thing inside because I believe that’s sometimes pre-printed.
Pre-approved credit card apps? You bet. I shred ’em and then shoot the bag with a silver bullet* for good measure. I’ve had these things, addressed to other people, land in my mailbox by mistake. Good thing I’m honest, huh?
*No, I don’t.
As to the shred strips (sorry, probably drank too much caffeine this morning), buy a cross-cut shredder. Staples frequently has them on sale. We can’t burn trash, either, although I know people who use their gas/charcoal grills for this purpose.
I once saw a guy leaving a paycheck stub at an ATM after depositing his check and admonished him about it. He probably thought I was nuts, but he ended up taking the stub with him.
Yeah, add me to the naked picture column. With naked pictures, you always have the option of denying any connection. “Yeah, the resemblance *is* remarkable…wonder who she is?” But as you say, identity theft is forever.
We try to shred everything, though I’m woefully behind and our little cross-cut shredder needs to be oiled. One more chore to add to the list…
We (I mean Hubby) shred anything that can be used in identity theft. We just recycle catalogues and advertising, but credit card offers go in the shred pile. Our son doesn’t even see those addressed to him. IMHO, he has too many credit cards now, but that’s the best way to learn, from experience. Old CC receipts, decades-old tax and pay documents, all in the shredder. And cross-cut is the way to go.
Well, there wouldn’t be any nekkid pictures of me. Not even when I was a baby. 🙂 That said, it isn’t just unchanged passwords or trash that put you at risk for Identity Theft or fraud. Remember Target’s fiasco of a few years’ back? When their readers got hacked and the payment information of many thousands was stolen? That sort of thing is on the rise in a BIG way. Just last month I got a call from my bank’s fraud protection dept. about suspicious activity on my credit card…
No, I hadn’t used it at various shops in L.A. to the tune of $300 at a boutique, $400 at Banana Republic, or $12 at a parking garage. In fact, I’d been in the house sick. The fraudulent purchases in question were attempted using an actual (fake) credit card with my number. Thankfully, the last two purchases were declined, but the first is still being dealt with by the bank. My account was closed while I was on the phone, and a new account started. I receive e-statements and make e-payments. I change my passwords regularly. My computer has reliable security, as it’s been part of my DH’s career as a programming wiz to maintain firewalls and security measures. He believes the card number was stolen via a card reader at a store or shop, thus the (fake) card being made. It’s why many banks are issuing cards with security chips embedded in them.
I’ve had quite a few cards compromised that way. My favorite was the person who attempted to buy $18,000 worth of fire extinguishers in Great Britain. Nope, that wasn’t me.
My hubby had his identity stolen about 15 years ago. Someone almost got through university in another city on his name until it was caught by the police. Regardless he was never allowed to have a credit card for a very long time ( a blessing he thinks) and for this and other reasons he legally changed his name. This has made him very, very paranoid about passing on his personal info to anyone especially people like new employers. Recently he was asked by a new employer ( who took over from his previous employer) for his birth certificate !!! The other staff did it freely. This is the first time I have ever heard of this and he refused point blank. Who knows who works in HR in a big head office somewhere. They thought he was being difficult yet they have never had their identity stolen. I just asked him and he said nude pictures online would be his preference.
I’ve had office staff at dentists’ and doctors’ offices ask for my Social Security number. When I ask why, they don’t really know. Point is, you don’t have to give it. So I politely decline to do so.
Been a bit paranoid about this for some time. I shred EVERYTHING…and save it for “firestarter” for the woodstoves. Then sift the ashes and use it just like lime on the lawn in the spring….works great…and pretty green.
Thank you for posting this. My family and I had a long talk about this and it was quite the interesting and in-depth talk. I was the only one that didn’t want my fat @$$ on the internet but wasn’t completely sure about it. Everyone else was fine with being naked. Can I air-brush?
Naked pictures for sure!
I am part of the OPM hack. I cant wrap my mind around what is means to have a ridiculous amount of my personal info stolen by a foreign government. I guess that makes me one of a million(s).
So even if you do all the right things your data is not safe.
Sadly, that’s true these days. All we can do is what we can do.
I’m now asking myself how I can establish an alternate identity without doing too many illegal things. I need a new identity, to confuse the enemy.