Identity Theft Prevention
When it comes to identity theft prevention/protection, anyone who has credit cards, a bank account and a credit score wants to do whatever they can to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Luckily, there is much the average citizen can do to keep their personal information out of the clutches of thieves. This often means consistently using the simple but highly effective concept of common sense.
At the same time, even when one is vigilantly doing all the right things, thieves can still end up with a person’s private information. This has been proven with the recent cases of sensitive information being stolen via credit card processing companies merchants use to process check, credit and debit card transactions. Thieves have been known to pass background checks and surreptitiously do their work harvesting data from the inside. This means one will be wise to have their own identity theft monitoring service to go with their prevention.
For the most part, keeping sensitive information safe means never letting thieves get their hands on anything that will help them reach their goal. This means taking anything tangible that has a credit card number, social security number or other information and keeping it safe. This can mean destroying credit card statements with a shredder; or better yet, opting for paperless statements from credit card companies. Securing mail at the mailbox is a must these days. No longer should an individual mail bills from their own home mailbox lest they risk having their bills and checks stolen. Opting for a post office box with a lock in a secure location is a best bet.
Keeping a social security number safe means never carrying the card personally. Thieves love getting their hands on this special piece of property because it makes it much easier to open accounts both online and in person. A social security number should be written or recorded nowhere, especially on checks. Because of the vast number of bogus online impostors, legitimate companies now refrain from asking for social security numbers and bank account information in emails.
Many times, insurance companies and other services will provide or sell customer information to third parties. It is a wise idea to ask if this is a common practice with companies requiring this type of information. In general, most consumers have an option to opt out of having their information shared or sold.
When transacting business online, one must always be sure to use secure websites only. Fraudsters are well known for using websites that look familiar and have a familiar name; however, upon closer examination, one will find the website posted in the search bar has an extra or a missing letter in the name. A secure website means the little lock symbol will appear in the lower right hand corner of the computer screen. When in doubt, it is better to avoid or halt all transactions immediately.
If there is one place where suspicious activity will show up right away once an individual has become a victim of fraud, it will be on their credit report. It is for this reason that an individual should monitor their report on a fairly consistent basis. For a small monthly, quarterly or yearly fee, a credit monitoring service will alert an individual immediately of any changes, such as credit inquiries or new accounts. It is well known that the sooner an individual is alerted to a discrepancy on their record, the sooner they can swing into action and put a stop to any further damage. It may even be possible to catch the fraudster red handed and stop them from victimizing others.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Is it against the law for an entity to photo copy an person’s social security card. is a federal or state law?
January 18th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Good information, thanks for sharing. In my opinion, identity theft will only continue to rise, especially during these difficult economic times. I use an identity theft protection service and think it is a good idea for others to consider too.