5 Crucial Tips on How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious problem both online and offline so much so that 4.
6% of Americans who responded to a survey conducted by the FTC (Federal Trade and Commission) said they had been the victim of identity theft within the past year.
That is about 10 million people who have fallen victim to this crime.
Tips on how to protect yourself make it a crucial part of defending yourself.
Email Scam.
There are a number of email scams that you need to be aware of.
There is the 'Nigerian' style email where you are told you are the recipient of a rather large sum of money -- a lottery win or inheritance.
While this is not necessarily to steal your identity as such it does expect you to provide your account details and will help to relieve you of some of your cash in the process.
It has spawned many scams that ask for your personal information and identification details.
One of these is where 'your bank' advises that your account has been suspended due some technicality and you must go to a link that they provide.
You are instructed to enter personal details to identify yourself and even provide your PIN and password.
Another variation is supposedly from PayPal giving you a reason to click on the link that they provide.
Your protection is to delete the message and do not respond.
If you reply then the thieves know your address is a genuine one.
Do not click on any links they provide.
You could be clicking to a site that may have a virus, spy-ware or just a place that you are giving your details to thieves who will then have access to your account details.
A way to identify them as a scam is by how you are addressed...
usually 'dear customer' or 'dear account holder'...
inheritance and donations may be 'my dear' and 'my beloved'.
Also note the address that it is sent from as they may use extensions such as.
co.
nz rather than the true address which may be.
com.
If you are concerned contact the sender direct who will be able to put your mind at rest.
Personal Computers.
You need to be aware that any old computer that you are throwing out or selling may hold information on the hard drive even when you have deleted it.
Your solution is to keep your passwords safe and offline.
You can also use a program that stores your passwords under a password protection.
When disposing of an old computer use a program called a 'file shredder' which will help delete those files.
You can get free file shredders online to use.
Telephone Scam.
You receive a call from someone who says they are with XYZ company and have been asked to give you a call because you have an infection in your computer and they are there to help fix it.
They will ask you to sign in to your computer and go to a web page.
They then provide a number to key in and the next thing you know they are accessing everything on your computer by remote access.
Usually these people sound foreign but tell you that they are phoning from within your country.
If you were to ask them for a number they would give you a bogus one and the phone would not ring.
Checking with your telephone provider will identify that the number that they called you from was an overseas one but they can't see the number...
shows as 0000.
The solution.
Tell these people that you are not interested and hang up as soon as possible.
I received four of these calls in one week.
Telecom told me that by asking for a phone number and indulging in conversation they thought I might be interested.
My only defense was to lodge a nuisance call at that stage.
Hang up folks! Continuous Credit Card Charge.
You are told that if you pay for the postage you will get a free CD.
Naturally you must put your credit card details in for the postage.
The CD arrives and is a total load of rubbish.
Lo and behold charges start coming in every month - as much as $150! You search the sales letter, print it off and find buried in page 23 there is a note that if you don't cancel within 30 days you will be charged $xx each month.
The phone number goes on to message and the messages you leave are never returned...
and your credit card keeps getting charged.
How you cancel after 30 days is a mystery as you can't get hold of anyone.
The protection.
Only accept these offers from people you know are genuine and that you trust.
Search the person on the web using 'scam' and see whether others have been duped.
If you have become a victim contact your credit card company and get your account stopped.
Unsecured Online Transactions.
Shopping at a site that is not secure can potentially put your details at risk of being stolen.
They may also collect your information and sell it without your knowledge.
The solution.
Check for a privacy policy statement and make sure you are happy with what they say.
Look for a phone number and address details...
some way that you can contact them if needed.
If you proceed to the checkout have a look to see if the browser address has https:// the 's' denotes a secure site.
There should also be a picture of a padlock.
For the sake of your personal and financial wellbeing protect yourself against identity theft by using these crucial tips.
6% of Americans who responded to a survey conducted by the FTC (Federal Trade and Commission) said they had been the victim of identity theft within the past year.
That is about 10 million people who have fallen victim to this crime.
Tips on how to protect yourself make it a crucial part of defending yourself.
Email Scam.
There are a number of email scams that you need to be aware of.
There is the 'Nigerian' style email where you are told you are the recipient of a rather large sum of money -- a lottery win or inheritance.
While this is not necessarily to steal your identity as such it does expect you to provide your account details and will help to relieve you of some of your cash in the process.
It has spawned many scams that ask for your personal information and identification details.
One of these is where 'your bank' advises that your account has been suspended due some technicality and you must go to a link that they provide.
You are instructed to enter personal details to identify yourself and even provide your PIN and password.
Another variation is supposedly from PayPal giving you a reason to click on the link that they provide.
Your protection is to delete the message and do not respond.
If you reply then the thieves know your address is a genuine one.
Do not click on any links they provide.
You could be clicking to a site that may have a virus, spy-ware or just a place that you are giving your details to thieves who will then have access to your account details.
A way to identify them as a scam is by how you are addressed...
usually 'dear customer' or 'dear account holder'...
inheritance and donations may be 'my dear' and 'my beloved'.
Also note the address that it is sent from as they may use extensions such as.
co.
nz rather than the true address which may be.
com.
If you are concerned contact the sender direct who will be able to put your mind at rest.
Personal Computers.
You need to be aware that any old computer that you are throwing out or selling may hold information on the hard drive even when you have deleted it.
Your solution is to keep your passwords safe and offline.
You can also use a program that stores your passwords under a password protection.
When disposing of an old computer use a program called a 'file shredder' which will help delete those files.
You can get free file shredders online to use.
Telephone Scam.
You receive a call from someone who says they are with XYZ company and have been asked to give you a call because you have an infection in your computer and they are there to help fix it.
They will ask you to sign in to your computer and go to a web page.
They then provide a number to key in and the next thing you know they are accessing everything on your computer by remote access.
Usually these people sound foreign but tell you that they are phoning from within your country.
If you were to ask them for a number they would give you a bogus one and the phone would not ring.
Checking with your telephone provider will identify that the number that they called you from was an overseas one but they can't see the number...
shows as 0000.
The solution.
Tell these people that you are not interested and hang up as soon as possible.
I received four of these calls in one week.
Telecom told me that by asking for a phone number and indulging in conversation they thought I might be interested.
My only defense was to lodge a nuisance call at that stage.
Hang up folks! Continuous Credit Card Charge.
You are told that if you pay for the postage you will get a free CD.
Naturally you must put your credit card details in for the postage.
The CD arrives and is a total load of rubbish.
Lo and behold charges start coming in every month - as much as $150! You search the sales letter, print it off and find buried in page 23 there is a note that if you don't cancel within 30 days you will be charged $xx each month.
The phone number goes on to message and the messages you leave are never returned...
and your credit card keeps getting charged.
How you cancel after 30 days is a mystery as you can't get hold of anyone.
The protection.
Only accept these offers from people you know are genuine and that you trust.
Search the person on the web using 'scam' and see whether others have been duped.
If you have become a victim contact your credit card company and get your account stopped.
Unsecured Online Transactions.
Shopping at a site that is not secure can potentially put your details at risk of being stolen.
They may also collect your information and sell it without your knowledge.
The solution.
Check for a privacy policy statement and make sure you are happy with what they say.
Look for a phone number and address details...
some way that you can contact them if needed.
If you proceed to the checkout have a look to see if the browser address has https:// the 's' denotes a secure site.
There should also be a picture of a padlock.
For the sake of your personal and financial wellbeing protect yourself against identity theft by using these crucial tips.
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