Tax Day ID Theft Expert Speaker Robert Siciliano www.IDTheftSecurity.com

18 Feb 2007 · 3 min

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3:05

In this interview, identity‑theft specialist Robert Siciliano explains why the period leading up to the April 15 tax deadline is a high‑risk time for personal data exposure. He notes that tax forms (W‑2s, W‑9s) travel through the mail and sit in home or business offices where they can be seen or stolen by coworkers, cleaners, vendors, or mail thieves. Siciliano recommends three core defenses for the average person: (1) use a cross‑cut shredder to destroy any document containing name, address, Social Security number or account information; (2) store sensitive paperwork in a lockable filing cabinet; and (3) install comprehensive security software (antivirus, anti‑spam, anti‑spyware) to protect computers from hacking and key‑logging. He discusses the pervasive use of the Social Security number as a de‑facto national identifier, warning that its widespread demand (e.g., by dentists) makes it a prime target for identity thieves. When identity theft occurs, Siciliano advises victims to visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website (ftc.gov) and download the “Good Name” packet, which provides a step‑by‑step restoration guide. He also points out that identity‑theft risks spike during other seasonal events such as Christmas, when large volumes of financial documents are discarded. The interview concludes with a reminder that documents like driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and Social Security cards can be reproduced digitally, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance.

Chapters

Tax Day, yuck, is a little more than a month from now. It's also a time when identity thieves are on the prowl. Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert. He's here with tips on how to keep your personal information safe and secure. Why are we more vulnerable in the time period leading up to April 15th than other times of year?
Well, this time of the year, obviously, you have all your W-2s, W-9s, all this tax information coming in the mail. Right. And all that information coming in the mail, A, can be stolen out of your mailbox, B, when it's in and around your office, home office, business office, it can be seen by employees, coworkers, even cleaners and vendors and contractors. It can be stolen out of your office as well.
What are the 2 or 3 best things that average folks can do to guard their identity from thieves, whether it's this time of year or any time of year?
The main thing is to head to your office supply store, pick up a shredder, a cross-cut shredder that destroys any and every document that has your name, address, Social Security, or account number. That's extremely important because what you throw away in the trash can compromise your identity. Next thing is to get a locking filing cabinet to secure all that information that you have in your office so that no one can get access to it. Also, making sure that you have security software, an antivirus, anti-spam, anti-spyware type program installed on your computer so that your PC can't be hacked into and your keystrokes can't be logged.
I'm very interested in the Social Security number. Are people still using the Social Security number as sort of a proof of ID? Like, you go to the dentist and the dentist asks you for your Social Security number. I don't want to give it. I don't think it's any of my dentist's business.
Well, great question. Unfortunately, the Social Security number has become our primary identifier. We have a national ID and it's your Social Security number. And the fact is, you're not 9 numbers. And the additional fact is that everybody has access to your 9 numbers. And once they have access to them, they can basically become you. So it is up to you to take responsibility for all of the stuff that you have in your control, and again, to shred it and to protect it.
Restoring your identity after it's been stolen. How do you do that?
It's a significant process. It's an administrative nightmare for most people. The best thing to do is to go online to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov. At ftc.gov, you can download their Good Name packet, and that gives you a step-by-step process on what you need to do to restore a compromised identity.
And things are worse this time of year, leading up to April 15th?
Tax season, a significant Annual events like Christmas leading up to the Christmas season, credit cards in transaction, a lot of stuff being thrown away, you know, again you gotta shred. Identity theft is going to continue to get worse because of the way in which we identify people in this country utilizing a Social Security number. Documentation including driver's licenses, birth certificates, and Social Security cards all can be compromised. They can all be recreated with a desktop computer.
Robert Siciliano, ID expert and author of The Safety Minute. Thank you very much.
Thank you.