Q. What steps can people take to prevent identity theft?
A. Washington County Sheriff Department Cpl. Jim Holsinger, an adviser with SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together), highlighted one overlooked idea.
Most people are careful with their personal information - their Social Security number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and so on. But there is one place where these numbers are sometimes readily available: the curb in front of their house.
"Your trash - until it's buried in the landfill, it's a vulnerability," Holsinger said. "It's not just trash on the curb. Shred it. That makes you a harder target."