Intersections Inc. Offers Advice on How To Protect Your Identity During Moving Season

CHANTILLY, Va., July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX), a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity theft risk management services that has protected 32 million consumers, urges consumers and homeowners to be aware of the identity theft risks associated with moving. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, more than eight million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2010.  Intersections recommends that consumers take precautions to protect themselves and is providing a list of useful safety tips that can help them minimize their exposure.  

Each year between the months of April and August, home buying and selling activity increases, and so does the risk of identity theft as personally identifiable information (PII) is shuffled around from one home to the next. During this busy time, buyers and renters become preoccupied with financing their new homes, closing and opening new banking and utility accounts, and packing and moving—all stressful tasks that can distract them and cause them to simply overlook protecting sensitive documents and PII.

"Identity thieves are pervasive and creative in finding opportunities to steal information, and something as simple as forgetting to forward mail can put a consumer in jeopardy of identity theft," said Steve Schwartz, Intersections' Executive Vice President of Consumer Services. "Intersections is dedicated to educating consumers about the risks of identity theft and the options they have to protect themselves. The details of moving can be stressful enough without worrying about becoming a victim of this invasive crime."

To help consumers stay on top of identity theft risks during a move, Intersections Inc. offers an address monitoring feature along with its credit monitoring service, NOTIFY EXPRESS®, to its IDENTITY GUARD® customers. This feature alerts customers of any address changes registered in their name, allows them to verify that their information has been filed correctly and helps them to quickly identify any possible criminal activity involving their address.

To help further educate consumers, Intersections has also put together a list of simple steps a homeowner can take throughout the moving process to help protect their identity.  

Top Safety Steps for Homeowners on the Move

1. Submit a Change of Address Form. Submit an official Change of Address Form through your local post office, and once the request has been filed, keep an eye out for a confirmation from the Postal Service. You'll want to use this to verify that your new information has been correctly updated.  You can expect your mail to arrive at your new address within 7 to 10 business days after filing.
2. Shred sensitive documents. All important documents and paperwork that will not be coming with you should be shredded to prevent thieves from finding any information in your trash. A small investment in a shredder is well worth it when you consider the headache it could be preventing.
3. Monitor financial statements. Watch over your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity. Consider enrolling in a service like IDENTITY GUARD® TOTAL PROTECTION(SM) that not only helps you monitor activity related to your credit, but also helps protect your computer, public records, and even mobile devices.
4. Use reputable moving companies.  Many Americans use a moving service to help pack and move their boxes, but mover fraud is becoming more commonplace in the U.S. Take the time to read reviews, research the company and ask trusted friends, family or real estate agents for recommendations. Always check the mover's reputation with the Better Business Bureau and  make sure the mover is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and has a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number before signing any agreements or obtaining an estimate.
5. Keep documents with you. Transfer all important physical documents that will be making the move, such as wills, stock certificates, bonds, etc., to a safe and secure place such as a locked box or an online secure vault. Keep the physical documents with you during the move and do not leave any secure receptacles for movers or others to transport.
6. Enroll in a monitoring service. NOTIFY EXPRESS® monitoring alerts from IDENTITY GUARD® send subscribers alerts to any address changes, whether it is an authorized change or an unlawful redirection of the user's mail.
7. Lock down your computer. Devote time and resources before your move to make sure all computers in your home are hack-proof and packed and out of sight before movers arrive.
8. Supervise the move. Make sure you are present for the entire duration of the move. Your presence could deter potential theft from occurring and you can rest assured that your personal belongings are being taken care of properly.
9. Check your credit report. Take a look at your credit report for several months after you've moved. Any suspicious activity on the report may be a sign that your information has been compromised and local authorities and banks should be contacted.
10. Verify mail is being delivered. After the move, verify that you are receiving all mail from the list of senders you identified and contacted beforehand.

About Intersections

Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX) is a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services. Eight million consumers are actively protected by Intersections' consumer and breach remediation services offered through North America's leading financial institutions, directly to consumers under its award-winning IDENTITY GUARD® brand (http://www.identityguard.com/), and through its exclusive partnership with ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center. Since its inception in 1996, Intersections has protected 32 million consumers.

For advice, opinions, and the latest news on identity theft for consumers, visit http://www.idguardian.com/. Twitter handle: IDGuardian.

SOURCE Intersections Inc.