Hello all In the news over here at the moment are reports on 'Identity Theft'. Stories of people who have lost everything they own including their credit rating due to this 'new' crime. I say 'new' because over here in England I don't think many people are aware of it and therefore don't take any precautions to guard against it.
Its been happening for years but now it is big 'business' for those unscrupulous fellows who prey on others. I have for many years destroyed, either by shredding or burning, anything that I need to get rid of that contains my name, address or other personal details. I've made a point of asking for the receipt the cash register pours out each time I buy something when I have used my debit card. I have been looked at a little oddly by several people who have witnessed me either asking for the receipts or seen me destroying the 'evidence'. Even my DH has thought me a little strange for my 'odd' behaviour, especially when I insist that the junk mail is either burned or the personal details striped from it and then shredded. When the first report came on the news we were having our evening meal, DH listened intently to the report and then looked at me and apologised. The following day at work several people asked me for more details of the things that I destroy and which bits of information are important. It seems finally after all these years one of my 'silly little ways' has been seen for what it truly was all along LOL. I am not as 'strange' as they first thought. I started shredding or burning stuff many years ago after receiving a letter from an American friend who related a story of a neighbour who had suffered from 'Identity theft'. When I related the tale to friends their response was 'it couldn't/wouldn't happen over here'. I know a lot of people throw paper away without a second thought but I would advise everyone to at least strip out the stuff that contains personal information and destroy it either by shredding or burning. Louise Whose not at silly as she appeared to be !
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