Moving can be a headache. For thieves, though, it’s a target. Strangers are in and out of your home for days and your worldly possession — including personal documents and electronics — are left unprotected, leaving you vulnerable. Moving may be a hassle, but here are ways to keep it from becoming nightmare. Break out the shredder. In the frenzy of packing, it’s tempting to toss old bills, documents and mail in the trash. Resist the urge to get the job done as quickly as possible and take the time to shred anything with information a fraudster could use, including your full name, birthday, address and Social Security number. If you’re hosting open houses or have contractors in and out of your home, gather anything you wouldn’t want others to find and take it to a safe place. Consider renting a safety deposit box at your bank to store personal documents or purchasing a safe if you don’t already have one. Complete a change of address form. Don’t let mail pile up at your old address. Alert the U.S. Postal Service of your upcoming move, ensuring financial statements and the like won’t find their way into the wrong hands. It takes up to 10 days for the request to be processed. Alert your bank, insurance company, utility company and any other providers as well. Want to stay even safer? Make your accounts paperless before the move. Be present. It’s tempting to scram when the movers show up. Your job is done, right? Not so fast. Stick around to keep an eye on those responsible for transporting your possessions. That alone could deter a would-be thief. Protect your devices. Set passwords or pin codes on your electronic devices (think laptop, cell phone and tablet) to protect them from wandering eyes. Power down anything you can during the move, and keep whatever electronics you can in your possession. If you’re discarding any electronics before your move, be sure to thoroughly wipe them of all sensitive data. Choose movers carefully. Dishonest movers can make your relocation a nightmare. Do your research and select a trustworthy company. Check online reviews for any red flags, and ask friends and family members for referrals. Do an inventory. Make a list of all your sensitive documents, electronics and anything that shouldn’t make it into strange hands. After you’re settled, double check everything is in your possession. Keep an eye out. Monitor your credit card statements for any unusual activity during and after your move. The faster you notice a fraudulent charge, the sooner you can stop a thief in his or her tracks. Hold on to documents that need safekeeping. Keep anything difficult to replace — birth and marriage certificates, passports, Social Security cards — in your possession. Double check the mail. Ensure all your mail made it to your new home. Within your first month, verify you’re receiving everything you typically get by mail. If you’re missing a bill or statement, contact the associated company as soon as possible.
