Identity theft is a definite threat to us all, effecting hundreds of people everyday across the globe. There are a number of insurance products used to cover people against ID theft, but this is not always necessary, as you can significantly reduce the risk by following a set of measures, most of which are built on common sense.
ID theft is a technique used by criminals allowing them to benefit financially through claiming they are you, for example taking out loans, applying for credit cards etc. all in your name.
One of the issues in tackling this type of fraud is that the police have limited resources, especially as a large number of these criminals are not even in this country.
Doing all you can to avoid becoming a victim of ID theft is easier than you may think and being aware of the following points could save you a lot of grief.
- Always make sure any important documents and financial related documents containing sensitive information are kept out of sight in a safe place. These include official documents such as passports and driving licence documents, as well as financial documents such as bank and credit card statements, bank account details, insurance documents etc.
- Frequently monitor your bank accounts and credit card statements to ensure there are no suspicious transactions. If possible, set up internet banking for all banking products as this will allow you to regularly check statements without having to wait for your monthly statements. Online banking is also very secure, with many banks now providing customers with card readers which generate pass codes that must be used when logging in to your account, or making a payment. If you do notice anything that looks suspicious, contact your bank or credit card provider immediately.
- Buy a paper shredder. You can pick one up from £5 to £30 and you can use it to shred any official documents that you don’t need to keep. This includes obvious things like bank statements, but also any credit card or loan application forms, as well as junk mail containing reference to your details i.e. name, address, telephone number etc. Simply throwing these buy cialis online documents away could result in them falling into the wrong hands.
- It is a good idea to make a note of when your bills arrive in the post so you can spot if your bills don't arrive.
- Each year, get a copy of your credit file to make sure no unauthorized finance arrangements have been set up without your knowledge in your name.
- You should never give out sensitive information over the phone unless you made the call or you are 100% sure the call is legitimate. For example, you receive a phone call from somebody claiming to be your credit card provider and they request personal information such as your full name, DOB and Mother's maiden name. These are types of information that fraudsters will want to get hold of, so be vigilant.
- Never trust emails claiming to be your bank or Credit Card company. Some of these emails can look extremely convincing and the irony is that many of them claim to require your details to help tackle fraud. You can usually spot these emails as the URL that you are required to click may appear to be the official site, but on closer inspection you will see it is in fact close, by hovering your cursor over this link. You will then be re-directed to a spoof page that looks genuine but is actually used to steal your login details
- When moving house, subscribe The Royal Mail’s redirection service. This will ensure that any mail intended for you is delivered to your new address.
- Check your bills as soon as they arrive in the post. If there's anything suspicious contact your bank or Credit Card company immediately.
There are a few main techniques employed by criminals to carry out ID theft. These include:
Bin Diving
Going through your bins searching for bills or other documents containing your personal information.
Skimming
Used to steal credit/debit card numbers using a special storage device. This can be avoided by keeping your card on you or in view when making payments.
Phishing
Claiming to be a legitimate financial institution to gain your trust then push you to reveal your personal information.
Changing Your Address
Diverting your bills, statements and other sensitive documents to buy Bladder Support Dogs online another address by filling out a change of address form.
Old-Fashioned Stealing
Stealing wallets; mail etc. to get enough information about you.
Pretexting
Used to obtain personal information from a number of sources such as financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources by impersonating you
Once an identity thief has successfully acquired your personal information, they can use it for a number of different things.
Credit card fraud:
- A new generic cialis prices credit card can be applied for in your name. The card can then be used to get credit and all unpaid bills will appear on your credit report, damaging your credit history.
- By changing your address, they could run up charges on your account but you will be unaware as you are not getting the bills. It could be some time before you notice anything unusual.
Phone or utilities fraud:
- A new phone or wireless account could be opened in your name, or even utility services like electricity, water, or satellite television.
Bank fraud:
- Counterfeit checks made with your details.
- Bank accounts opened in your name.
- Credit or debit card cloned giving them access to your accounts.
- A loan taken out in your name.
Government documents fraud:
- Used to get official ID cards such as a driving licence under your name but with their picture.
- Use of your details to get government benefits.
- Fraudulent tax return made using your information.
Other fraud:
- Qualify for a job using your personal information
- Rent a property in your name.
nowadays, most banks have intelligent anti-fraud systems that are capable of recognising any unusual activity on your card or account, for example money is withdrawn from a cash point in the UK and later that a cash withdrawal occurrs in Australia.
Most credit cards offer some kind of anti-theft insurance, protecting you against fraud. But the fact is that ID theft is heavily promoted and sometimes over exaggerated to help sell the product.
According to a spokesman from the UK's fraud Prevention Service - the CIFAS, ID theft is still a relatively rare crime, but it is on the increase.
So as long as you’re cautious with who you give your personal information to, keeping it in a safe place, shred all unwanted documents containing your information, you should remain safe from fraud.
Posted under Miscellaneous Content
This post was written by admin on May 21, 2009
