10 ways to protect yourself from identity theft
Who should read this article:
Anyone over the age of 18 with a good credit history should learn how to protect themselves against identity thieves.
Introduction:
Identity theft is a very widespread problem, especially since the advent of the Internet. It is very easy for identity thieves to find you, your credit card numbers, your social security number and other personal information.
Let’s learn how to make it harder for a thief to steal your identity and possibly ruin your credit rating.
Ways to protect yourself against identity theft:
Disconnected:
1. If you use your credit card at stores or gas stations, be sure to take the receipt home with you. Tear it up (or better yet, shred it) and dispose of it properly. Most credit card receipts no longer show your full credit number, but you still don’t want to leave anything with your name on it.
2. If you receive credit card offers in the mail, shred them immediately. If an identity thief gets hold of this offer, they can impersonate you and charge your new credit card.
3. Discourage your credit card company from sending you blank checks. This is especially true if you have an unlocked mailbox. What’s to stop someone from raiding your mailbox and finding those blank checks? If your credit card company insists on sending you blank checks, simply shred and throw them away upon receipt.
4. Seriously think about becoming a member of a credit protection agency. We are members of Lifelock. You’ve probably seen their ads on TV. In addition to Lifelock, there are three or four other reputable companies that you can consider. Simply type “lifelock” or “credit history protection” or “protect your social security number” into your favorite search engine. There are some sites that will give ratings for each company. Just keep in mind that the site owner is not an affiliate of every credit protection company!
5. Never provide personal information over the phone or online. If someone emails you with an offer, but you have to provide personal information first, don’t do it! If you have a lawyer on the phone, ask them to send you something in writing. Don’t buy anything over the phone.
6. Never carry your social security card in your wallet. If it’s stolen, your ssn can now be used to identify someone else! It amazes me that social security cards don’t have the holder’s photo, like driver’s licenses. Keep your social security card in a fireproof box in your home. The same goes for your passport, if you have one.
Online:
7. Beware of ANY “something for nothing” offers in your email. You’ll be easy prey if you’re out of a job and “business leads” start pouring into your email account. Take it from someone who knows: I’ve fallen for many of these “money-making opportunities” online and none of them have worked yet. Of course, no matter how rich the seller claims to have gotten, he still has to charge you. If you buy his “success kit”, realize that he now has your credit card number.
My credit card number has been stolen twice online: once from someone in Brazil and once from Russia. I had bought each of them something and they thanked me by buying computers, clothes and a nice watch for them using my credit card number!
8. If you’re trying to be an affiliate marketer online, make sure the affiliate owner has an account with Clickbank or Commission Junction. That way, every time you sell something, you get paid by Clickbank or Commission Junction, two reputable affiliate networks. It will also not have any of your personal data.
9. Make sure you have a good virus and phishing protection program running on your computer. I have Windows Live One Care. This program came with my computer and it is excellent. Fully protects against viruses and phishing sites without interfering with what you’re doing or slowing down your system. If I go to a site that raises a red flag, Windows Live will try to prevent me from accessing it and help me clean up my system right away.
10. Similarly, you may want to consider restricting “cookies” from websites you don’t know well or trust. Cookies can help the website track where you go online and you may not want to. In Internet Explorer, simply click “Tools,” then “Internet Options.”
Now click on the “Security” tab. Click on “Trusted Sites”. Now click on the “Sites” button and enter the addresses of websites that you know you can trust. Make sure your security level is set to “medium” at least.
Next, click on “Restricted Sites”. If you are not sure which sites can harm your computer, set the security level to “High”. Setting your security level to high will give you maximum protections and security features.
Third, click on the “Privacy” tab. Make sure it is set to “Medium” at least. A medium setting will block third-party cookies that:
A. Does not have a privacy policy
b. Save the information that will be used to contact or track you without your consent.
In this same tab, make sure that the option “Enable pop-up blocker” is checked.
Recommendations:
Use your common sense and good judgment, especially online. Do not provide any personal information except your credit card number if you are purchasing something. When you buy something online, make sure the site has a Verisign security rating. If you have any doubts, please do not buy the item on that site.
You can restrict your purchases to well-known stores with an online presence, such as Sears, Old Navy, Borders, and the like. There are also Internet stores with just an online presence that you may feel comfortable with, places like Amazon.com and HSN.com. No reputable online website or offline store with an online presence can afford any trouble with their customers.
Online or offline, remember not to offer any personal information that someone else doesn’t need to know. That includes your home address, your social security number, where you work, how much you make, etc. If someone tells you that they need your credit card number or social security number for “verification” or to “verify your identity,” hang up immediately.
For more information on how to protect your child’s identity, please read the two blog links below.