Identity Theft in Progress

[Pogo]

Good friends who live in La Floresta just told us that they observed a woman standing at a garbage can and going through bags of garbage, selecting pieces of paper and stuffing them in her purse. When our friends took out their cell phone to call the police, the woman hurriedly left disappearing into a walkway that goes to another street.

Our friends then walked over to inspect the garbage can the woman had been rifling through. They found two small, plastic garbage bags open with discarded mail spilling out. There were bills and documents with names, addresses and account numbers on them.

It is clearly not safe to put anything in the garbage that has names, addresses, account numbers or any other identifying information. Doing so is just asking to have your identity stolen and your accounts ripped off. Best advice is to burn any discarded mail or documents.

[gringal]

And that's why paper shredders (the cheap kind that fit over a wastebasket) were brought into the world.

I hope that someone notified the resident that her papers had been stuffed into someone's purse.

[adafromhavana]

OMG! The same thing happened to me last week. Lucky for me I was driving out of my driveway and saw the lady digging in my trash and had all my old Insurance papers in her hand. I asked her what she was doing. She said in spanish she was looking for magazines. She didn't have any magazines in the pile she was saving. I took all the papers away from her. Now we just bought a paper shredder. Lesson learned.

[eagles100]

I just bought a chimenea to burn all my important outdated documents.

It might not be as ecological as shredding them but by gosh, nobody will get to them.

I'd rather be safe.

[doberwoman]

please, let´s know, what is the area where this lady "works"?

[ChrisB]

how about calling the police?

[TechnoNorm]

Eagles100 is right: burn the portions of those few papers

that have ID information.

Most of mail does not have ID information.

Paper shreders became popular once "burn barrels" contents were

not allowed to be burned. NOT the case here.

[Dr.Santiago]

I would also recommend doing a background check or at least "GOOGLE" the owners or operators of Lakeside businesses whom you are giving your personal information to. Information such as Social Security numbers, insurance records, Military I.D.'s etc. All this information can be sold and used for illicit purposes especially identity fraud. If an owner or operator of a local business has a recent history of illicit or criminal activity, it would be a good idea to keep a watchful eye and perhaps think about taking your business elsewhere.

Now these identity thieves have no need to go through garbage, they can readily access this information when you freely give it to them.

[Ginger]

please, let´s know, what is the area where this lady "works"?

If it's the same woman, she was a nicely dressed middle-aged Mexican woman & she was going through my trash in Riberas a couple of weeks ago.

[lakeside101]

as i passed the turn for Plaza Del Sol today..... saw a Mexican woman going through a trash bag on the street.

[Hernan Santiago]

Good friends who live in La Floresta just told us that they observed a woman standing at a garbage can and going through bags of garbage, selecting pieces of paper and stuffing them in her purse. When our friends took out their cell phone to call the police, the woman hurriedly left disappearing into a walkway that goes to another street.

Our friends then walked over to inspect the garbage can the woman had been rifling through. They found two small, plastic garbage bags open with discarded mail spilling out. There were bills and documents with names, addresses and account numbers on them.

It is clearly not safe to put anything in the garbage that has names, addresses, account numbers or any other identifying information. Doing so is just asking to have your identity stolen and your accounts ripped off. Best advice is to burn any discarded mail or documents.

Pogo, Do you really think that identity thieves are sending out Mexcian women to scour garbage cans in rural Mexico? Too funny. I have seen mentally ill folks scour garbage cans everywhere in the world and they really do not know what they are doing, as there is so little mental health help available to these folks. Of course they are going to scurry away when they are seen or confronted by someone. They do not know what they are doing, nor do they have any idea what they are looking for and a few shreds of paper could be something that they would value forever and if in the States, would go into their shopping cart and they would fight anyone who tried to take these "valuable possessions" away from them. Lighten up, folks.

[dcstroker]

Please get a paper shredder to destroy your documents and important papers! All we need is more people burning trash!

[eagles100]

Please get a paper shredder to destroy your documents and important papers! All we need is more people burning trash!

I do agree with you about using a shredder except that the portion of the paper/document that has my/our contact info, account #, etc., I will burn it. There will be NO chance of piecing together the shreds. That's what I do in Canada.

I will tear the private portion out and the remainder of the page, I will put for recycling (I'm presuming paper is recycled Lakeside?).

[Tingting]

Even if you haven´t had a "dumpster diver" incident yet, don´t forget that many times your information can be hacked. I had several Discover Card charges show up for stores in the States and I hadn´t used my card (other than a couple of recurring debits) in over 6 months. GET SOME FORM OF ID PROTECTION like Lifelock. While it´s not 100%, it´s definitely worth the $10-$25/month for peace of mind.

[joco69]

Please get a paper shredder to destroy your documents and important papers! All we need is more people burning trash!

How about your B.B.Q. to get the fire started?