The Real Cost Of “Free” Money – Your Identity

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9 Responses

  1. It’s good that protection exists but I find it very unnerving how some people are very relaxed about inviting other people into the main home. A holiday house sure, but the main home where all of those possible details can be found..Mm.

    Lots of good tips there Tom. With Facebook and all the other places people happily put certain details up on the internet, if someone really wanted to, they could get your details and do bad things. Tax File Number is another thing people really need to keep secret and safe, you can do a lot of damage with the TFN.

    Tristan

    • tom says:

      Indeed, thankfully Australia seems to have some tighter restrictions on TFN, where as in the US it seems to be used as a unique ID for all sorts of things.

  2. Jef says:

    Great article and one that is starting to become more important..
    I must admit I’m probably a bit lax on this, although after listening to a few podcasts recently and considering how easy it is, I’d be keen to set things right..

    Thanks for posting Tom and hope all is well 🙂

    • tom says:

      Yeah – every time I read more about fraud and security I worry about things I do. I am also now the owner of a shredder 🙂

      • Jef says:

        Haha have an electronic shredder 😉 i.e. one to delete records online? That’s probably the biggest area of concern..
        Btw still need to get round to emailing you man!

        • tom says:

          Electronic shredder – I am sure many people wish one existed! Even if you do delete things that there are sites like the Way Back Machine (https://archive.org/web/), or even just Google cache that seem to save things forever!

          • Jef says:

            Time to invent one and become a trillionaire 😉 haha.. Yes the way back machine is a concerning tool for those who shall remain nameless have previously had blogs that may not have been so well designed!

            Looking forward to your next topic; they’re certainly unique!

  3. Peter says:

    Ouch! That is a very good point about renting the home. The guests have a right to be there, and plenty of time to look through everything to get the information needed for identity theft.

    As for online information: back when the Internet was a shiny new new toy I was advised to never put my date of birth online. Twenty years later my correct date of birth is nowhere to be found online, not the correct date of birth anyway. If I must enter a date of birth on any site I enter an incorrect date.

    • tom says:

      Indeed – my date of birth is normally quite vague when on the internet. I am sure I have messed up somewhere, but hopefully it will at least make it hard enough that they will choose someone else.

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