Identity Theft is Escalating: Protect Yourself
Losing your personal information or identity is extremely violating and increasingly common.
One reason is that so many people use the internet to make purchases, do their banking, and other activities that require the sharing of personal information. We often don’t realize the exact paths that this information takes to get to its destination.
This leaves the sender with only the ability to hope it will land in the right hands. All too often, however, this information falls short of its location and rolls off into the hands of criminals.
There are ways to prevent this interception, and it begins with you and the way you expose your information.
Begin by recognizing potential trouble spots. For instance, automatic payments are increasingly popular because of the ease and convenience they offer. But are they safe for you to use?
They can. Thieves are easily able to intercept your banking information, and once they have this, they are able to begin making purchases with your money.
E-checks provide thieves with all the information they need to make fraudulent purchases. A good policy may be to limit your use of checks to stores you visit in person.
Online bill payment through secure websites, rather than using checks, will also cut down on a criminal?s chance to steal your information.
Because everyone is experiencing a money crunch in this tumultuous economy, identity theft is only going to grow more prevalent. If you haven’t been taking active measures to protect yourself, now is a good time to start.
Do not assume that if you throw away material with personal information, no eyes will ever again look upon it. One of the most common methods of identity theft is rummaging through trash.
Whenever you receive credit card or bank statements, as well as other mail that contains personal or financial information, read it carefully. When you’re finished, shred it. This takes only seconds and can prevent a horrible invasion of your personal and financial life.
When you do make purchases or provide your information online, make sure you are doing so through a secure site. You can tell by the little lock icon on the address bar. Check your bank and credit card statements regularly so you can detect any unauthorized activity. Also, as a precautionary measure, check your credit report now and again to make sure there aren’t any fraudulent accounts or charges.
You will easily and quickly spot any irregularities that may be caused by identity theft. Take advantage of your free annual credit report for this purpose. You can also opt to receive monthly updates or alerts when something changes. For a minimal fee, it provides great peace of mind.
Also, by knowing which secured sites you use, if your information is stolen, you can contact them immediately to retract your information. You must be proactive to protect your identity.
