Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft During a Move
It’d be great if moving was limited to simply packing up and hauling all of your belongings from one place to another,
It’d be great if moving was limited to simply packing up and hauling all of your belongings from one place to another, which is enough of an undertaking on its own. But as anyone who’s moved before knows, the entire process also includes creating new accounts for utilities, updating addresses with your bank and credit card company, and a laundry list of other tasks that involve sharing your personal details with a variety of individuals. It’s easy to understand how moving puts you at greater risk of identity theft.
With summer being the most popular time of year to move, it’s important to know how to protect your identity. Some tips to keep in mind:
- Pay close attention to your bank and credit card statements: While this might seem daunting with all the extra expenses stemming from your move, it’s important to regularly scan your financial accounts to see if there are any charges you can’t account for.
- Order a credit report: By law, everyone is allowed one free report from the three major credit bureaus each year. These reports list all credit accounts in your name for you to see if there are any fraudulent ones. Each bureau also allows you to add a fraud alert if you believe you’re at a higher risk of identity theft, which stays in effect for 90 days.
- Update mailing address: Be sure to properly notify organizations you do business with (banks, doctor’s office, magazines, etc.) of your move and new address.
- Vet your moving company: Movers have access to many of your belongings that might have personal data that could be used against you. It’s important to research your moving company to ensure it’s reputable and trusted (like Hilldrup).
If you’d like an additional layer of protection from identity theft while you move, United Van Lines offers an Identity Theft Protection service in all of its Straight Talk Advantage packages. Some of the features the protection service provides include:
- Credit monitoring
- Full restoration services
- Legal and emotional care
- Reimbursement for expenses and lost wage
- Member resources
With all of the other things to keep in mind during a move, letting someone else protect your identity might be a reassuring solution. If you’d like to sign up for United Van Lines’ identity protection program, give us a call.
