Identity Theft & Natural Disasters

Natural disasters can strike at any moment, and if you live in certain parts of the country hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and floods can seem routine even if you have never experienced them personally. Although the thought of losing everything tangible that you own can seem like the worst case scenario, there is something that could be even worse—losing your identity along with everything else.

During a time where you might need to prove your identity more than ever before—to obtain government aid or to file insurance claims—looters and thieves will be on the lookout for ways to cash in on your tragedy. Although it may be tempting to think a natural disaster will never happen to you, you have nothing to lose by being prepared (and everything to lose by choosing not to).

Here is a six step identity theft protection plan that can help you ensure that your identity remains in your possession should a catastrophe strike.

1. Invest in a quality safe. Many people keep their important personal documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security cards, passports, etc…) in file cabinets or file boxes. Although this does provide an element of organization for these papers, there is literally no protection from the elements should a disaster strike. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, file cabinets and important papers that had gotten caught up in the whirlwind landed literally blocks away from where they once rested. Investing in a quality safe will help keep all of your documents protected—and together (for easy grabbing on your way out the door)—should a disaster strike. Certain safes have been made to even withstand the brutal heat of fire. High quality safes may seem expensive, but losing your identity could be even more costly.

2. Keep only the documents you need to. Organizing your important paperwork before a disaster strikes will make your life much easier (and significantly lower your risk of identity theft). Go through all of your files and shred any bank, credit card or other similar statements that are more than seven years old. You also only need to keep your tax returns for seven years. Minimizing the number of papers with personally identifying information about you makes it easier to store everything in one safe. Make sure you shred all important documentation that you intend to dispose of in order to protect yourself from dumpster diving identity thieves.

3. Encrypt and back up all electronic files. If you store important financial or personal information on your computer, make sure all of your files are encrypted. This not only protects you from computer hackers and technologically savvy identity thieves, but it also protects your information if your computer falls into the wrong hands during a natural disaster. Once you’ve encrypted your information, make sure you back it up on a flash drive or disk that can be stored inside your safe with your other important documents. If you lose your computer in the disaster, you will still be able to access your important files if you have them backed up.

4. Take your important documents with you when you evacuate. In the frenzy of trying to evacuate before a natural disaster strikes—or in the initial aftermath that follows—people usually tend to think about taking items like photo albums and family pets with them when they escape. But it is important that you remember to take your important papers with you as well so they aren’t subjected to being stolen by looters or to being lost by the elements. In the event that your home is destroyed, you will need to prove your identity countless times in order to get the help you need. Identity theft and credit fraud usually increase during national crises as people are willing to fraudulently pose as someone they aren’t in order to obtain financial assistance they aren’t legally entitled too. So, one of your top priorities during a natural disaster should be making sure you are able to prove that you really are you while also ensuring that no one else has the information they would need to pose as you. If you are temporarily placed in some sort of shelter housing, make sure you don’t let your important documents out of your site as identity thieves are constantly lurking about waiting for the right moment to take advantage of the situation. 

5.  Learn to recognize the scams that will follow a natural disaster. There are countless scams that follow natural disasters. Beware of anyone claiming to be a creditor, financial institution, government agency or anyone else who calls and asks for your personal information. Unless you have called them, or paid them a visit in person at their office, do not give your information to these people. If they call you, ask if you can call them back and contact them through a number advertised on the institution website to ensure they are legitimate. A company calling to tell you that they have lost your account information during the disaster should raise red flags. If they lost your account information, how did they know how to get in touch with you?

6. Consider investing in ID Secure. Because some things about protecting your identity in the midst of a natural disaster are just beyond your control, purchasing a product like ID Secure might greatly increase your peace of mind as well as the level of protection guarding your identity. For just $12.99 a month a professional identity monitoring company will use advanced web crawling technology to search the internet and public records to make sure that your social security number, credit and ATM cards and other personal information isn’t being fraudulently used in any way. ID Secure makes sure your identity is being monitored 24 hours a day seven days a week helping to keep it safe. If fraudulent activity is suspected, you will be informed immediately. You can learn more by clicking here.      

Nobody likes to think about natural disasters and all of the negative things that can result from them. But in a world where between 9 and 10 million people fall victim to identity theft each year, learning how to prevent identity theft is a necessity. Make sure you put an identity protection plan in place before the next disaster strikes.