| For some battered women, disclosing their residence | | | | You can take telephone privacy to even more |
| could be a death sentence. For some high profile | | | | extremes. Spoofing is a new trend in the |
| executives, disclosing their residence would make | | | | communication industry. Companies like spoofcard.com, |
| them a target for kidnappers. For every lottery winner, | | | | and others offer privacy services while you travel. If |
| unless they learn how to hide their whereabouts, they | | | | you ever need to make a cellphone call to someone |
| will quickly become the target of every scam known | | | | who will misuse your information, you can call through |
| to mankind. Some of us, however, just want to be left | | | | any of these "spoof" companies who will hide your |
| alone. | | | | cellphone number. They even offer voice disguising |
| As any spy will tell you, there is much more to "going | | | | services. As claims, "Spoofcard offers the ability to |
| underground" than you think. There are hundreds of | | | | change what someone sees on their caller ID". |
| trails that lead pests to your doorstep. The following | | | | Step 3: You may be in a database without your |
| information will help you to take the bull's eye off your | | | | knowledge, such as, |
| forehead, but every program requires regular | | | | Denise Chao of warns her clients, "Many employers |
| maintenance. Ignore any of the following steps at your | | | | unload your personnel information to outsiders, such as |
| own peril. | | | | These third parties may sell your personnel information. |
| Step 1: Obtain two new addresses (not post office | | | | It's a growing trend where employers throw |
| boxes). The first will be abandoned after six months. | | | | ex-employees to the wolves. We help those |
| The second will become your final permanent home | | | | ex-employees who are left picking up the pieces." |
| address. Any Mailbox Etc., UPS Center, or private | | | | Some unsuspecting employees have ended up in the |
| mailing service will suffice. All will encourage you to use | | | | database of Employers Mutual Association United. |
| a "PMB" (personal mail box) number, but don't. It is | | | | Their own literature described their private database, |
| perfectly legal to put a number sign in front of the box | | | | "Employees or job applicants are screened against a |
| number, thus hiding the acronym PMB. | | | | file comprised of information submitted by subscribers. . |
| Pick a mailing service outside of the city you live in. If | | | | ." Who are the "subscribers?" Their membership list |
| you live near an adjoining county, you can further | | | | looks like a who's who of American big business. They |
| confuse snoops by getting your new address in a | | | | can be stopped with a cease and desist. |
| neighboring county. For instance: If you work and | | | | Step 4: To hide all your property you will need to set |
| commute far from home, get your address near your | | | | up a trust. The name of the trust can be traced. So, |
| work. It will be convenient to check your mail, but far | | | | make sure you name the trust something other than |
| from your private life. Always get an address that | | | | your family name. This will make a public records |
| allows you to have a key for after-hour pick up. | | | | search extremely difficult for those you are avoiding. |
| Then, start forwarding all your utility bills, checking | | | | Now, make sure that all your property is owned by |
| information, driver's license and any other written | | | | your new trust. Property would include homes, cars, |
| correspondence you receive by mail. Don't forget to | | | | boats and time shares. |
| notify your employer and your local Post Office of | | | | Step 5: Finally, you need to fix your litigation information. |
| your, "change of address." Methodically erase any | | | | The courthouse where you divorced, resolved |
| trace of your previous address. | | | | employment issues and settled neighborhood disputes, |
| Now, after several months, repeat the entire process | | | | has extremely personal and private information. They |
| and have everything "forwarded" to the second (and | | | | usually contain your social security number, home |
| final) new address. When the first address expires, | | | | address and wild accusations made against you that |
| just let it expire. You will never need it again. | | | | you wouldn't want anyone to see. Go to the court and |
| Step 2: Get a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) | | | | file a motion to seal your records. |
| account through your cable company, Vonage, or any | | | | These steps are not easy, but more than enough to |
| similar service. They will give you the option to choose | | | | ensure reasonable privacy. The most common way to |
| a new number with a different area code. Pick an | | | | unravel a well designed strategy is when we need a |
| area code near you, but not your normal area code. | | | | "rush" delivery and allow a company to deliver to our |
| Once again, make sure your home address is never | | | | doorstep; subscribe to a magazine; allow a service |
| listed by your telephone provider in any of their public | | | | contractor for our home to put us in a database. Most |
| information resources. Have you noticed lately that | | | | marketing departments will automatically put you in |
| insurance companies, banks and accountants ask for | | | | their client database and there goes your privacy. |
| your permission to share your "contact information" | | | | Unless you explicitly prohibit the sale of your data, go |
| with related marketing divisions? | | | | back to step one. |