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Few scams are
as frightening as identity theft. When criminals gain access to your
personal information, irreparable damage can be done to your finances. Your
bank accounts can be emptied, your credit cards could be maxed out with
purchases you didn't make. Bank and investment accounts can be opened, bad
checks can be written, cars can be rented and not returned, and many other
major crimes can be committed...all in your name!
In this age of advancing hacker technology, digital credit, and global
communications networks it is vitally important to do everything that can be
done to avoid becoming an identity theft statistic. Here are ten suggestions
to help protect you from identity theft.
10. Install decent anti-virus and firewall software to be sure that
unauthorized users cannot access your computer.
9. Do not leave emails with sensitive information like passwords or account
numbers in your inbox at free email websites. Download them to your
hard-drive and encrypt them. Use encryption software on all sensitive data
on your PC. PGP is free and offers excellent privacy protection. It is nigh
un-crackable.
8. Use a secure web browser to surf the internet. Internet Explorer is
notorious for security holes. It seems hackers love to hack Microsoft!
Firefox with Google Toolbar is a good alternative choice as it's free and is
generally considered to be faster and more secure than Internet Explorer.
7. Do not leave receipts behind when you use your credit card.
6. Destroy all private documents that you no longer need. Never throw
financial statements in the trash! Use a data shredder to delete files and a
paper shredder to destroy the old fashioned kind.
5. Sign your credit cards in permanent ink as soon as you receive them and
always know where your credit cards are. Keep a list of your credit card
numbers and information somewhere safe so it can be given to your credit
provider in the event of a lost or stolen card. If your card is lost or
stolen report it immediately.
4. Get a copy of your
credit report and get frequent updates. Monitor it for suspicious
activity.
3. Pay attention to your monthly credit card statements and be watchful for
any purchases you did not make.
2. If you do your banking online be sure you log out of the bank's website
fully when you finish your banking session and then clear your computer's
cache to erase any temporary files which may contain personally identifiable
information. Firefox with Google Toolbar makes this easy to do by simply
pressing Ctr+Shft+Del or going to: Tools>Clear Private Data
1. There are hundreds of
scam emails in circulation that claim to be from a bank, or the IRS and
state that your personal information needs to be confirmed. Don't fall for
this fraud. Never give your SSN (SIN in Canada) to anyone other than the
government, financial institution or your employer. Know who you are
communicating with before giving out personal information. Organizations
that deal with your money will never send you such a request by email or
phone.
Its a shame to have to worry about online identity theft but if you are "on
your toes" and follow these guidelines, you are well on your way to making
your online experience a much safer and secure one.
About
the Author: Steve Greene publishes scam alerts and exposes
email scammers and internet frauds on his blog
Email Scams Info |
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