Wednesday, January 22, 2014

10 Ways to Lessen the Risk of Identity Theft | Shop Online Safely

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Identity thieves are on the lookout for fresh credit reports even at the start of the year. To lessen the risk of having your identity stolen the whole year ‘round, here are 10 tips to follow.

1. Bring only what is necessary when out shopping

When going out shopping, lighten your wallet or purse. Only bring along credit cards, a limited amount of money, and a few identification documents - only those you really need. Remove items that are unnecessary. Before leaving the house, make an inventory of the things you plan to bring along and see if they are all intact when you return.

2. Don’t leave personal information inside vehicles

Vehicles are major targets for thieves. If you are used to leave credit cards, checkbooks, or other sensitive information in the glove compartment or any other place inside your vehicle, better think twice. These personal items are best left safe at home.
3. Guard your ATM PIN number

If you make frequent trips to the ATM station, be aware of anyone lurking around or standing close to you - they might be looking over your shoulder and memorizing your PIN number. In other cases, thieves install devices that read ATM information without you knowing. If you see anything unusual about the machine, report it to the bank and use another machine.

4. Don’t keep your credit card out of sight

Keep an eye on your credit card. Some thieves might pose as waiters and skim your information, later making another credit card for themselves using your credit status. Other clerks may also sell your information to thieves.

5. Shop online safely

Many individuals have become victims of identity theft due to unsafe online transactions. This holiday season, never use public computers or unsecure Wi-Fi networks when making financial transactions. Criminals can easily steal sensitive information from a computer infected with malware. Also, make sure the website you are shopping on is the real thing. If you are in doubt, verify by contacting the company.  Websites with “https” are more secure than those with only “http.”

6. Never leave sensitive information in the mail

When sending cards via US Postal mail, don’t include private information, as much as possible. But if it is unpreventable, make sure to drop it in a secure mailbox. Leaving it in an unlocked mailbox will likely lead to stolen identity.

7. Beware of disreputable e-card sites

On the other hand, if you are to send e-cards to friends and family, you should still do it with caution. Ensure that you send and receive it from a reputable website, as some sites can load harmful computer virus onto your computer. If you don’t recognize who the ecard is from, delete it before opening.

8. Secure your personal information at home

Unfortunately, some identity thieves are those we welcome at our own homes. If you are expecting guests (even if you aren’t), it’s best to keep all your valuable documents and personal items inside a safe or locked cabinet or drawer. Likewise, establish a secure area in the house for your guests’ personal belongings.
9. Do not announce travel plans

Broadcasting your travel plans on your social media profiles will only invite the thieves to steal your SSN, credit card statements, sensitive information, and anything of value in your residence while you’re gone. Instead of announcing it beforehand,  share your adventures when you return.

10. Check your debit/credit transactions

Ensure that no transactions were done in your behalf without your knowledge. You can either check them online or consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. This is to alert you anytime there is activity to your credit report. Some identity theft plans, like those from Legal Shield cover both identity monitoring and restoration in case of theft. 

Stay safe from identity thieves this 2014!

Melissa Page is a professional writer for over four years. She writes about business and finance, among other things. Follow her musings on Word Baristas

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