Can Thieves Steal Identities With Only a Name and Address?

Can thieves steal identities with only a name and address? 


In short, the answer is “no.” Which is a good thing, as your name and address are in fact part of the public record. Anyone can get a hold of them. However, because they are public information, they are still tools that identity thieves can use.  


If you think of your identity as a jigsaw puzzle, your name and address are the first two pieces that they can use to build a bigger picture and ultimately put your identity at risk.  


With that, let’s look at some other key pieces of your identity that are associated with your name and address—and what you can do to protect them. 


For starters, this information is so general that it is of little value in of itself to an identity thief. Yet a determined identity thief can do a bit of legwork and take a few extra steps to use them as a springboard for other scams. For example, with your name and address a thief could: 


Research public databases for further pieces of information about you. 


There are volumes of public information that are readily available should someone want to add some more pieces to your identity jigsaw puzzle, such as: 


How long you’ve lived in your current home, what you paid for it, and what it’s valued at today. 
If you’re a registered voter and if you voted in a recent election. (Not how you voted, though!) 
Also, if you’re a veteran or the owner of a cat or dog (through pet licenses). 

In the U.S., the ava ..

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