With Hurricane Irene Looming off the East Coast, IdentityHawk Provides 7 Ways to Protect Your Identity During Hurricane Se

August 25, 2011

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A checklist helps disaster victims protect their identities as well as themselves. Advance planning can protect your identity, according to IdentityHawk, a leading identity protection service.

WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hurricane Irene is upon us, following a rare 5.9 East Coast earthquake. This year’s natural disasters have been more costly to the world economy than any other year on record. Japan’s tsunami and U.S. tornadoes claimed many casualties.

Hurricane season officially started on June 1 and ends on November 30. "During a natural disaster, the first thing you'll think about is your family's safety. Probably the last thing you think about is identity theft. Unfortunately, it's probably the first thing identity theft criminals think about, but a little advance planning can protect you," says Jeff Paradise, executive director at IdentityHawk^SM, a leading identity protection service.

IdentityHawk has developed a seven-point checklist to help natural disaster victims protect their identities as well as themselves:

Before a natural disaster strikes

1. Make copies of important documents for each family member, and secure them in a portable, fireproof safe or a waterproof plastic bag. If you have access to a computer and scanner, scan these documents, and keep electronic records on and off your premises. These documents should include:

Birth certificates
Driver's licenses
Social Security cards and statements
Marriage licenses
Adoption paperwork
Death certificates
Wills
Brief medical histories, including current prescriptions and dosage amounts
Health insurance or Medicare ID cards
Bank, credit card and brokerage account numbers
Insurance paperwork (home, health and auto)
Lease/mortgage paperwork
Past tax returns
Utility bills
Computer and ATM passwords
Motor vehicle VIN numbers
Photocopies of the content of your wallets
Passports

2. Identify who in your family will be responsible for grabbing the safe or bag of documents (or electronic file) during an evacuation.

3. Following devastating tornados, hurricanes, or windstorms, many items, including file cabinets, can be blown more than a half-mile from where they were stored, with papers strewn about for blocks. After Hurricane Katrina, the SeaWorld sign ended up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 70 miles from the Gulfport aquarium. To avoid this scenario, scan all proprietary and personal identifying information into your computer, and encrypt the files so no one else can view them without the encryption key. Copy all information onto a disk, and store the disk in your safe/waterproof bag.

4. Shred older documents, like credit card or bank account statements that are more than seven years old. Remember, the more you eliminate now, the less you'll need to safeguard. Law enforcement may prevent you from returning to your home after a hurricane, which can allow looters to sort through old paperwork you've accumulated.

After a natural disaster

5. If you stay at a shelter, don't let these documents out of your sight. Guard them even if you're staying with friends. (In most cases, the identity thief knows the victim.)

6. Be wary of phone calls or emails from anyone claiming to represent a company you do business with. Get their name and call the company back, using your own contact information to do so. Never provide bank account numbers, credit card information or Social Security numbers when you have not initiated the call. Don't respond to solicitations for donations from supposed relief groups unless you initiated the contact.

7. Monitor your credit for at least several months by periodically ordering a credit report from one or more of the three credit bureaus to ensure that no one has assumed your identity. Review it for accuracy, and follow up on any accounts or questionable data you're not familiar with. It's best to use a credit reporting services that provides reports from all three major credit bureaus.

Concluded Paradise, “Natural disasters can be utterly devastating to physical property. But, if your identity is stolen, it can take years to reclaim it. Being prepared and vigilant after a storm can help avoid devastating identity disasters.”

About IdentityHawk

IdentityHawk is a leading identity protection service that aggressively zeroes-in on potential threats to help consumers safeguard their identity. Members are warned of potential identity risks so they can take better control to stop fraud before it starts. IdentityHawk is a product of FYI Direct, Inc., a leader in direct-to-consumer credit and identity protection services. For more information, go to www.identityhawk.com.