Identity theft is on the rise according to statistics published by the FBI, and the holidays can be especially perilous. You are stressed and busy, and thieves take advantage of this to steal your information to finance their own holiday shopping sprees. In addition, technology is ever-advancing, and while new technologies can be helpful to everyone, they are especially helpful to those who wish to steal your personal information. Between shopping online and shopping in local stores, your information can be stolen nearly anywhere. It is important to take the proper precautions to help you avoid identity theft.
Physical Security
The most important steps you can take are those that will protect your own personal security. Don't park in deserted parking lots, and if you must go out at night, park in a well-lit area. Keep your purse or wallet safe; purses with a cross-body strap are best for shopping, while keeping your wallet in a front pocket is better when you are out and about. Don't leave your card out of your wallet or in your hand while you are waiting in line to pay; a thief may be able to see your card numbers this way. Leave it in your wallet until it is needed. Be aware of your surroundings and try to shop during hours when others are out and about.
Online Security
There are many things you can do to protect your information while online. Don't store credit card and other billing information in a retailer's database. Many companies will ask you if you'd like to store your information on their website to make future purchases faster and easier; don't do it. It's easier to type in a credit card number every time you make a purchase, than to fight with a retailer over a purchase made with your card that you didn't make. You should also never provide a retailer with sensitive, unnecessary information that can be used to steal your identity. In a recent survey done by NBCNews, many shoppers had no qualms about providing their mother's maiden name to an online retailer. With that tidbit of information, someone can hack into your existing accounts or open new accounts with your name. Be careful and keep personal information personal.
Mobile Security
More and more people are turning to their smartphone or tablet to take care of holiday shopping. Don't get complacent and allow your information to be stolen via this method of shopping. There are apps you can download that protect your information when you are shopping online from your phone or tablet. You should also vary your passwords for each website that you use to limit the damage an identity thief can do if they gain your logon information for a website.
Other Considerations
Keep an eye on your credit report. There are free apps you can use on your smartphone to check your credit score and your credit report. If something shows up that you are unsure of, don't wait to investigate. Find out what the account is and where it came from. If it's not an account that you opened, start the dispute process. The sooner you tackle issues, the faster you can get them taken care of. And some credit issues can start as a small error on your credit report and snowball into a massive problem that involves collections agencies or court cases. Don't let this happen to you, especially over an account that isn't even yours.
If your information is stolen and used by another person, you should take steps to mitigate the damage immediately. Contact your bank and credit card issuers to get your cards closed and your accounts frozen so they cannot be used. Contact your local driver's license issuing facility to get a new license or identification card. Some credit monitoring companies will also take care of these steps for you as part of your membership. You should also keep a list of account numbers and contact information for the account issuer in a safe or other secure place at home, so you can easily make the necessary calls if your identity is stolen. Don't wait; take the necessary precautions today and enjoy your holidays!
This article was written by financial blogger and author Chase Sagum. Follow him on Google+ for updates and other important financial content.
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