Moving & Identity Theft

As if moving isn’t stressful enough, know that moving can make you vulnerable to identity theft if you don’t take measures to protect against it.

When changing your addresses, it’s important to have a plan of action in making sure your mail finds you, and not a scammer.

Realtor.com suggests you do these things:

• Inform governmental agencies of your address change (Social Security Administration, IRS, and Department of Motor Vehicles)
• Forward your mail from your old address to your new address – but be warned, forwarding only lasts for about 60 days, according to realtor.com, which is why you want to update everyone who sends you mail on your address change.

Not sure where to begin? Realtor.com has also come up with a list of some places that will need to know your new location, lest your mail fall into the wrong hands:

• Utility companies
• Internet & phone services
• Newspaper and magazine subscription services
• Your employer
• Your health insurance provider
• Your life insurance provider
• The schools you attended, alumni associations
• Other insurance policies (car, renters, catastrophic, etc.)
• Your kid’s schools
• Financial institutions
• Credit card companies
• Medical professionals
• Pet-related contacts

For more on how to identity-theft proof your move, check out this link.