It could wipe out your savings and destroy your credit. Identity theft is one of the scariest things that could happen to someone. When your personal information becomes compromised in some way, there is no telling just what a clever crook can do with it. Take these steps to prevent identity theft.
1. Check Bank Statements: It is absolutely essential to go after your bank account activity and credit card statements on a regular basis. The sooner that you find a problem, the quicker it can be dealt with and the damage limited.
2. Protect Your Social Security Number:You have probably heard this before but do not provide your social security number to anyone on the phone and do not use it as part of your password or user name on any web sites.
3. List Only Your Name on Your Checks: Often times, crooks can get important personal information from the checks that you present for payment. Do not have your address or phone number printed on a check, only provide it if the seller asks.
4. Only Deal with Secure Websites: When you are making a purchase online make sure that the web site you are dealing with uses some kind of software to encrypt your credit card number and other personal information. The industry standard to look for is 128 bit SSL encryption.
5. Protect Your Passwords: When you are checking bank statements or credit card charges online make sure that there is not anyone around who could be watching as you enter your password. Be careful as well entering your PIN at the ATM. It is also important if you write down your passwords that you keep them in a secure location where only you can check them.
6. Clean Hard Drives Before Disposal: If you are getting rid of your old computer make absolutely sure that your personal information is not left behind on the hard drive. Deleting the files is not enough; the disk should be thoroughly cleaned.
7. Shred All Documents: Before throwing away any bank statements or credit card bills make sure that you shred the documents so someone who goes through your trash is not able to obtain your numbers or other sensitive information.
It could wipe out your savings and destroy your credit. Identity theft is one of the scariest things that could happen to someone. When your personal information becomes compromised in some way, there is no telling just what a clever crook can do with it. Take these steps to prevent identity theft.
1. Check Bank Statements: It is absolutely essential to go after your bank account activity and credit card statements on a regular basis. The sooner that you find a problem, the quicker it can be dealt with and the damage limited.
2. Protect Your Social Security Number:You have probably heard this before but do not provide your social security number to anyone on the phone and do not use it as part of your password or user name on any web sites.
3. List Only Your Name on Your Checks: Often times, crooks can get important personal information from the checks that you present for payment. Do not have your address or phone number printed on a check, only provide it if the seller asks.
4. Only Deal with Secure Websites: When you are making a purchase online make sure that the web site you are dealing with uses some kind of software to encrypt your credit card number and other personal information. The industry standard to look for is 128 bit SSL encryption.
5. Protect Your Passwords: When you are checking bank statements or credit card charges online make sure that there is not anyone around who could be watching as you enter your password. Be careful as well entering your PIN at the ATM. It is also important if you write down your passwords that you keep them in a secure location where only you can check them.
6. Clean Hard Drives Before Disposal: If you are getting rid of your old computer make absolutely sure that your personal information is not left behind on the hard drive. Deleting the files is not enough; the disk should be thoroughly cleaned.
7. Shred All Documents: Before throwing away any bank statements or credit card bills make sure that you shred the documents so someone who goes through your trash is not able to obtain your numbers or other sensitive information.
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