subject: Key Tips To Prevent Identity Theft
[print this page] Most of you are aware of the situation of ever increasing identity theft attempts, these are paying far more attention to the detail, but there are still people getting emails like, ?your account is blocked, follow the guidelines?, ?congratulations, you have won the UK Lottery? and falling victim of these. Unfortunately not all scams are that obvious, it is becoming increasingly hard for people to spot the fraud before they become the victim.
It is not limited to the above-mentioned tricks. These ?cyber crimes? have made things more traumatic while tempting you to obtain your bank or credit card details. You see a large number of campaigns against these fraudsters, but some people still attempt to follow the instructions which, ensures that these scams continue.
The foremost step that you should take is not to follow the directions at all. But the message might be the right one. Yes, that?s true. Even, in this scenario, never ever track the information from the given links. Follow the Q & A links given on the actual resource. It will eliminate your risk of being caught out by the scammers. It is important to note that not all emails are attempts to steal your identity. Some simply set loose a virus program on your computer which will take effect on a simple click.
You will be amazed to know millions of people became prey to identity theft last year around the globe making people lose billions of dollars. What you should do is keep in mind the following helpful tips to avoid such circumstances.
Going virtual is safer, easy to use and free. Virtual card numbers are randomly generated and on-line shoppers use it once and then throw away. It is a much better way of doing your shopping. It?s linked directly to your real credit card account so purchases show up on your monthly bill.
Keep all the information like emergency contact numbers with you so if you lose your cards, you can immediately contact the emergency support and get them stopped.
Avoid checks. Always try to go for automated transactions. Writing a check may disclose your important account information, as it carries your account number, sort code and signature. Thus always try and avoid writing checks.
Be aware of debit card dangers. These do not enjoy the same protection as credit cards, thus their loss can have far greater implications. If you lose these, it is vital that you immediately report this matter; otherwise you are liable for all transactions until you do.
Be very careful with your mail box as it carries a lot of information, ranging from your bank statement to pre-approved credit card offers and bills. Thus you should ensure that it is emptied on a regular basis to avoid any problems in the future.
This may all seem like a lot to get right, but it is going to serve as the baseline for your safety, so make sure to follow these guidelines carefully. Identity theft can ultimately prove to be fatal and even if you avoid this, it can still result in great financial losses. Therefore, be careful in the use of your important information and always take preventive measures so minimize your risk of exposure to this trauma.
