IDENTITY THIEF – WAYS TO SAFEGUARD

YOUR CREDIT AND PRIVATE INFORMATION

What is the basic identity theft?

Identity theft is when someone tries to steal and use your personally identifiable

information to defraud or harm you. This information, or ‘data’, is anything that

helps to identify who you are or how to find you. Many businesses need your

personally identifiable information for legitimate communication.

What do you mean by identity theft?

Identity theft definition and protection | ESET

Identity theft is a crime in which an attacker uses fraud or deception to obtain

personal or sensitive information from a victim and misuses it to act in the

victim’s name. Usually, perpetrators of such crimes are motivated by their own economic

gain.

Identity Thief – ways to safeguard your credit and private information

Identity theft happens when someone obtains sensitive personal information, such as

credit card data or personal identification numbers to commit fraud or other crimes.

With so many services and products moving online, you may not remember every store

 you’ve shopped at or the websites you’ve signed up for, but thieves and hackers can

strike any where and at any time.

While no measures can guarantee protection against identity theft, there are ways you

can take to safeguard your information and have a strong line of defense. Here are some

tips stated by experts to prevent identity theft.

Keep track of your paper trail

If you prefer checking your ATM, credit card, or gas station receipts on paper, then make sure

you destroy them after you’re done checking. Shred credit card statements, salary information

or documents that contain private financial information often.

Safeguard your Social Security number

Avoid carrying your social security card with you all the time, keep it in a secure place.

This is very secure information that identity thieves target first as it will give them access

to your credit report and bank accounts.

Watch your mail

Stolen mail is one of the easiest paths to steal an identity. Use a locked mailbox or ask

a trusted source to fetch your mail held if you’re out of town. USPS also has an informed

delivery service that can give you a preview of your mail so you can tell if anything is

missing.

Track your bank and credit card statements

Check your account statements periodically to see if all purchases and credits are valid.

If you recognize irregularities in purchases that you didn’t make, contact your bank and

cancel your cards immediately. Also make sure you recognize the merchants, locations,

and purchases listed.

Be cautious when asked for personal information

Even if you’ve signed up for phone banking, ensure that you read through your bank’s

verification procedure and do not divulge any unnecessary information. If salespeople

or signup sheets require information such as Social Security, driver’s license number, or

any personal identification, only reveal it if it is absolutely necessary.

Lock down your hardware

Since we use devices so often throughout the day, set up password protection for your

phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices, Even if you trust the people at home or at

work, there are threats of break-ins putting your data at risk. Downloading anti-malware

apps and software are also good to have as they can prevent criminals from stealing

your data.

Social Media Safeguards

Secure your social media profiles (Facebook, Google, Dropbox, Apple ID, Microsoft,

Twitter) with two-factor authentication. That means that whenever you log in, you’ll

need a code that the site sends to your mobile phone along with your password to

 enter. Although it may seem time-consuming, it is better to be safe than sorry.

While social media is a great tool to share things about your life, the more you share,

the easier it will be for someone to get their hands on your information. Keep

your social media profile as barren as possible and try not to divulge your birth

date, email address, and phone number.

What describes identity theft?

Identity theft happens when someone takes your name and personal information

(like your social security number) and uses it without your permission to do

things like opening new accounts or using your existing accounts to obtain medical

services.

What is an example of identity theft?

Examples Of Identity Theft: The Ultimate 20

Today, phishing is one of the most common types of identity theft. Phishing is

a type of online fraud in which criminals pose as legitimate companies or

organizations in order to trick victims into disclosing personal information,

such as credit card numbers, bank account information, or Social Security numbers.