8 Proven Ways To Foil An Identity Thief
While it's possible to become a victim of identity theft through no fault of your own, many people make life easier for fraudsters by failing to take simple precautions. Identity protection is best achieved through vigilance and a proactive approach to guarding your valuable personal details.
It's not that difficult to thwart the intentions of identity fraudsters, as long as you know how they operate and what they're after. The more steps you take to reduce your risk, the more likely a potential identity thief will give up on you and look for an easier target. Here are eight proven methods for deterring an identity thief:
1. Regularly check your credit records:
Checking your credit history on a regular basis is a good habit to get into, because you're more likely to spot unusual transactions. This is easily accomplished by contacting any of the UK's credit reference agencies (Equifax, Callcredit or Experian). The cost is £2 per agency.
2. Don't use the same password for everything:
Yes, it's easier to remember just one password rather than thirteen different ones, but it's also very dangerous to use a single password for all your online activities. By discovering your lone password, fraudsters gain instant access to all your online information.
3. Look at every financial statement carefully:
Often, the first inkling a person has that they're a victim of identity fraud is when they notice a strange transaction on their card or bank statement. Any unfamiliar transactions should be reported to your bank immediately. A cursory glance at your statements isn't enough - you must study each transaction carefully. If you fail to do this, fraudsters will just keep spending your money.
4. Don't trust in-room hotel safes:
Some types of in-room hotel safes are easily accessed by anyone knowing the appropriate universal security code. According to Interpol, passport fraud is a huge problem, with over ten million lost or stolen passports currently in circulation around the globe. You may be better off safeguarding yours by hiding it on your person or storing it in the main hotel safe.
5. Keep track of your mail, and buy a paper shredder:
While online fraud gets more publicity, some criminals still use low-tech methods. To obtain personal information, they'll steal your mail or sift through your rubbish. If a financial statement or new bankcard seems to be taking too long to arrive by post, contact the sender - it may have been stolen from your letterbox. Alternatively, invest in a lockable security letterbox that can't be so easily emptied. Also, always make sure you shred any vital documents before you throw them away. Cross-cut shredders work well.
6. Don't fall for 'phishing' scams:
Have you just received an email from a Hong Kong finance manager informing you of a £1.4 million windfall? Does a Nigerian prince with poor grammatical skills want all your banking details so he can transfer a huge amount of money into your account? Has someone claiming to be from PayPal just emailed you to advise that your account will be frozen until you provide your PayPal password? Welcome to the world of 'phishing', where criminals try any means possible to relieve you of your PIN, your passwords and, if they can manage it, all your money.
Phishing isn't just an online phenomenon - attempts to elicit financial information happen by snail mail and over the phone as well. Your real bank won't ask for PINs or passwords by phone. If some pretender calls you up and asks you to divulge this information, you know you've got a scam artist on your hands.
7. If you have changed homes, have your mail redirected to your new place for a full year:
When you move house, you don't want mail piling up at your previous address, where anyone can snatch it. Make sure you have your mail redirected for a period of no less than six months (and preferably a whole year).
8. Whenever your credit card leaves your hands, watch it like a hawk:
Be wary of shop retailers who turn their backs on you while swiping your card, or briefly disappear from view. They could be skimming your card with a reader, or quickly photographing both sides. Card machines should always be clearly visible, where you can keep an eye on things.
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