Jing-a-Ling…Watch Your Bling
Identity theft typically rises around the holidays. Don’t get snowed by an identity thief this Christmas. We’ll give you safety tips to make your shopping experience merry, bright…and safe.
The Holidays are Prime ID Theft Time
With the holidays upon us once again, American consumers are being advised to “spend, spend, spend”. And it’s not greed alone that’s the motivating factor: economists insist that increasing the flow of cash in the U.S. is vital to the recovery most citizens have been hoping for.
But these efforts to jump-start a flagging economy are a veritable treasure trove in the eyes of criminals waiting to catch the fallout (such as receipts left behind or non-secure sites being surfed). There’s a darker side to this M.O. as well: record unemployment rates and recession fears may be driving otherwise good citizens to consider petty theft crimes, experts say.
Add to this a season where making purchases is highlighted virtually everywhere one looks, and you have the perfect recipe for identity theft.
A Few Easy Precautions
Does this mean the average U.S. citizen should curtail spending until after the holidays? Absolutely not, according to theft prevention programs. But shoppers need to be careful about how and when they buy…and who’s getting a hold of their information.
Online shoppers should do their purchasing at home; you never know who might be looking over your shoulder and watching you enter your information at that bustling shopping mall or café.
In addition, since theft in general tends to escalate during the holidays, taking your laptop out in public at this time is less advisable; a sticky-fingered hacker might grab and make off with your computer, particularly in crowded situations.
Shopping from Home
Meanwhile, online shopping at home can be a safer experience if you only surf secure sites, buy from reputable, well-known companies and steer clear of offers that seem a little too good to be true (hint: they probably are).
Most importantly, NEVER click on unknown links or offer personal information, such as your credit card or PIN number, to any organization online without being absolutely certain of its source first.
ID Safety at the Store
Keep a few tips in mind for store shopping as well. Start with this smart budgeting idea: Make your shopping list, including the stores you’ll need to visit, BEFORE leaving the house. Impulse shopping is more tempting than ever at holiday time; don’t break your own budget by going out without a solid shopping plan.
If you need to visit the ATM machine, make this trip before going to the store (or stores). Routinely banking at one ATM makes it more obvious if a stranger has obtained your identification and a withdrawal shows up on your bank statement from an unfamiliar locale.
Take your time at the checkout line. Yes, people behind you are pushing impatiently, but when it comes to your identity and your money, just a few extra seconds can mean more security for you. Cover the keypad with one hand while entering a PIN number, and this time only, if the store asks for your phone number for marketing purposes, politely refuse. Quickly scan the receipt once it’s handed to you…and then put it away in a place it won’t fall out and be picked up by an ID theft in the waiting.
These simple steps can mean a simpler and more secure holiday shopping experience for you.
We here at www.creditidentitysafe.com would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry holiday season and a healthy (and safe!) new year. Please continue to visit us in 2009 for more information and tips on how to keep your identity secure.
