Identity Theft Doesn’t Just Happen To Other People
By Online Security Authority on Apr 27, 2009 in Banking Security
Here’s another interesting fact: most thieves still obtain our information the old-fashioned way, so keep an eye on your wallet and take cautionary measures with your snail (i.e., paper) mail. Remember it’s actually tougher offline without the spyware programs and password/security question protections we’ve come to expect on the web.
Like it or not, we all need to be consistently vigilant in our efforts to protect ourselves and our families, especially as these cyber and offline ID thieves are constantly finding new ways to take advantage of us. So, no matter how hectic our lives are, no matter how much of a rush we’re in, we should all keep these tips top-of mind on a daily basis. Furthermore, we urge you to share them with everyone you know.
1. Protect your Social Security number and keep it sacred. If your medical insurance or another account holder uses it as your ID number, ask to get it changed.
2. Don’t get caught in the ‘phishing’ net. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. An old adage, but so true in this day and age when scammers “phish” for victims by pretending to be financial institutions, government offices or other official organizations. Whether on the phone or online, don’t give out your personal information unless you initiated contact and, please, don’t verify full account numbers and passwords.
3. Shred papers with personal information before you throw them away. That includes credit card offers and convenience checks that you’re not going to use.
4. Be careful who gets to share your personal financial information. Read the fine print and opt out of information sharing (i.e., with affiliates …).
5. Protect the information on your PC. Use strong passwords that should be difficult to crack.
6. Practice safe shopping. Know how to insure that the site you are using is secure and uses encryption.
7. Stop pre-approved credit offers.
8. Ask questions, especially when they ask for personal information. Know why they want to share it and with whom.
9. Check your credit reports (for free).
Always remember reputable companies and banks will not ask you for personal information online.
Written by: OSAblogger / Bill Wardell - Please Read Our Latest OSA eZine Edition
Other Places You Can Find Me…
Digg - LinkedIn - OSA Community - Facebook - StumbleUpon - MyBlogLog
If you're a concerned parent, you may want to subscribe to the: OSA~RSS while your here, please JOIN our: OSA Forum... also Follow Me On Twitter Thanks for visiting!
OSA Related Posts -
Identity Theft Protection - In What Way are We Able to Perform This? Image via Wikipedia It is possible for us to get identity theft protection? Of course, there is always a chance for identity theft protection though the chances of being the next victim are quite high. Take into account that prevention is always better than cure. So, you can do...... -
What is Identity Theft? Identity theft: when your personal information is stolen and used illegally, to open accounts in your name. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. What techniques are being used to steal personal information? Phishing and spoof. Impersonating a well-known organization...... -
Everyone's a Geek Now: The Year in Technology By Paul Wagenseil, Friday, December 29, 2006 In 2006, geek culture went mainstream, for better or for worse. Video-game consoles became front-page news, Internet video clips affected politics and big business, millions of people joined social-networking sites and bought flat-screen TVs â and everyone feared hackers and online identity thieves.Still,...... -
RFID What is it? and why should we care? Hi and calling all OSA members, today is the day! Because tomorrow you have the opportunity to hear about a subject that you may have never heard about before, but, you are going to want to know more about. What are businesses, governments, and especially people of power planning for our...... -
Journal Entry: You Have My Permission to... NOT... "Click Here" Don't look now, but you just gave me your social security number. You shouldn't worry, though. I'm not the one who'll be doing anything with it. I just get the information. My customer uses it. Who am I, you might be asking? Well, I could be your average bored but......
OSA Related Websites -
Banking Reviews: HSBC Direct’s Online Savings Account When it comes to finding a place to store your savings, you have an amazing amount of options. You can put it in a mattress, take it down to the local bank or credit union, or if youâre technically savvy, you can open an online savings account. Many people...... -
What's Your ID Score? While watching a local news station, I came across a pretty interesting concept: an ID Score, which attempts to quantify your risk of having your identity stolen or your personal information misused. The goal, as noted on the main site, is to give you an idea of how much you...... -
Banking Reviews: Grand Yield Direct’s Online Savings Account There are a number of online savings accounts available to consumers. Thereâs a lot of competition around for your savings. Companies are offering all sorts of deposit bonuses and high interest rates for consumers who are willing to open a savings account with a bank that doesnât have a...... -
9 Steps for Establishing Credit Credit is the catch all term for the act of lending money. It can take the form of a credit card, in which the lender buys the things you want and you pay them back. Loans are where you have the money given to you with the promise to pay...... - Winning With Technology In Self Storage Technology may not be the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the self storage industry, but it sure complements the activity, adding to the capacity for generating a return in the business and expanding the possibilities in customer service. Long a dream for many self storage operators, the......
