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You Don’t Have to become the Next Identity Theft Victim

Identity Theft

Identity theft has grown by leaps and bounds on a national and international level over the last, few years and, by the looks of it, 2011 may be just as challenging for individuals trying to protect their identity and their credit.

You don’t need to stand idly and helplessly by, however, as there are a number of things you can do to reduce the likelihood that 2011 will be the year your identity is stolen and your credit is ruined. Here’s what to do:

• One of the most common types of scams involves “phishing,” which is essentially thieves who fish for your confidential, personal information and credit card account information. Phishing works when a thief sends an email to you that appears to be an email from your credit card company or bank. These phishing emails usually are warnings that there is something wrong with your account; a problem that needs immediate attention.  The email will encourage you to click on a link that will supposedly take you to the institution’s website, but will instead take you to a phony website. The website will then encourage you to enter your personal information to verify your account. It is then that the thief captures your confidential information, which is then used to access your good credit.

Your best bet is to never, ever respond or open a warning email that claims to be from your bank or credit card company. If there are any problems with your account, you can be assured your institution won’t contact you through email. If in doubt, delete the email and immediately contact your bank or credit card company.

• Because many scam artists are quite good at what they do, they have been known to fool people using fake websites. Therefore, it is always best to type in the web address of your favorite websites instead of simply Googling them before making a credit card purchase. Also, be aware that all security safeguards are in place before making any credit card purchase or entering any personal information via the Internet. And never make any credit card purchases unless your anti-virus/firewall protection is up to date and active!

Fighting Credit Card Fraud: What you need to Know

Identity Theft

A sobering fact in today’s technology-driven society is that fraud – particularly credit card fraud – is an increasingly serious problem that many of us will fall victim to at one point or another.

From stealing your credit numbers to your identity, credit card thieves are craftier than ever, which can cost you big.

The following are the most frequent types of credit card fraud, and what you can do to prevent it:

Skimming –

• What is it – Skimming is a fairly new type of credit card fraud that happens when you hand your credit card over to make a purchase. The thief takes your credit card and, in a matter of seconds, steals your credit card numbers using a small, handheld device called a “skimmer.”
• What you can do – Pay close attention to anyone that takes your card for a purchase, particularly those individuals that must walk away in order to complete your transaction.

Phishing –

• What it is – Phishing is credit card fraud that happens via email. Phishing are usually bulk emails that are sent to consumers. These emails, which usually disguise themselves as the individual’s bank or credit card company, ask consumers to provide their personal information. They may appear to be legitimate, even possessing the company’s logo or replicating the company’s web site.
• What you can do – Never, ever respond to an unsolicited email requesting your personal information. Banks and credit card companies will never ask for your personal information via an email message. If in doubt, contact your credit card company or bank directly to inquire about the validity of the email. In addition, make sure you type your bank’s address so that you aren’t re-routed to a fake website who can gain access to your credit card number or other personal information.

It is important to understand that, although credit card thieves are finding new ways to steal consumers’ identities every day, you can protect yourself by never responding to emails, by never providing your personal credit card information to anyone over the phone unless you have initiated the call, and by always paying close attention whenever you pass off your credit card to anyone.