| It's that time of year. | | | | checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts |
| This is when we all start getting those emails that | | | | advise that you look into automating your bill paying. |
| want to steal our secret codes and passwords. You | | | | 3. Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of |
| know the ones: "Your Account Is About To Be | | | | information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those |
| Closed," "There's A Block On Your Account,", | | | | pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded |
| "Congratulations - You've Won The Lottery (that you | | | | with personal data which identity thieves can use to |
| never entered)."and my favorite "Could You Help Me | | | | easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you |
| Claim My Funds?". | | | | diligently check your credit report, you may never even |
| This is also the time of year when we start shopping | | | | know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your |
| for gifts and the last thing you need is for your bank or | | | | mailbox under lock and key, but most of us in Santa |
| credit card accounts to be stolen by "cyber grifters". | | | | Clarita have our mailboxes at the curb in front of our |
| They are counting on some of us to follow the | | | | house and the postman frowns on carrying dozens |
| instructions in the email. | | | | and dozens of keys around. The other solution is to |
| First and foremost, DON'T FOLLOW THE | | | | have a rented mailbox, or to foil "dumpster-diving" |
| INSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMAIL! If you think there | | | | thieves by buying a shredder and destroy documents |
| might be a problem, access the account in question as | | | | before discarding. |
| you normally do on your PC and not with the link | | | | 4. Go virtual: For shopping online, there are "virtual" card |
| supplied in the phony email. | | | | numbers. These are randomly generated credit card |
| I've had some very authentic looking email supposedly | | | | numbers that are disposable and that on-line shoppers |
| from banks, that even went so far as to copy the | | | | use once and throw away. It's linked directly to your |
| colors of the bank logo and stationery style. But, don't | | | | real credit card account so purchases show up on |
| fall for the scam. In fact, don't even open the email, | | | | your monthly bill. The service is easy to use - and it's |
| because many are just set to loose a virus program | | | | FREE! All you need to do is register with companies |
| on your computer by being opened. Simply forward | | | | offering the virtual card, and they are MBNA, Discover, |
| the suspicious email to the "spoof email" address | | | | and Citigroup. |
| supplied by your bank, or credit card company. | | | | 5. Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know |
| Identity Theft is a worldwide epidemic. According to | | | | how to contact your credit card company in an |
| the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Research, | | | | emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: |
| almost 9 million Americans fell prey to identity theft this | | | | your account number, expiration date, issuing company |
| year with fraud costing businesses and individuals over | | | | name, and emergency contact number for each card |
| $56 billion dollars. | | | | you own. While you're at it, make copies of your |
| There are ways to reduce your chances of identity | | | | driver's license, social security card, birth certificate and |
| theft: | | | | passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, |
| 1. Understand debit card dangers: When it comes to | | | | or a safe deposit box. I like the safe deposit box best, |
| fraud, debit cards carry much greater personal liability | | | | because this gives you protection in the event of a |
| than credit cards, depending on how quickly you report | | | | catastrophe such as fire, earthquake, etc. |
| the loss of the card. If you fail to report unauthorized | | | | This may all seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but |
| use within 60 days of receiving your bank statements, | | | | if you're ever the victim of identity theft - even just |
| you could lose all the money in the account and be | | | | once - you'll realize that it's well worth the effort. |
| held responsible for the amount of money that has | | | | Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry |
| been tapped from your line of credit. | | | | in our wallets or in our purses, we're all John and Jane |
| 2. Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has | | | | Doe's if we can't speak due to injury or are |
| way too much information. Some experts advise | | | | unaccompanied by someone who knows us. How |
| against check writing because it gives away your | | | | much less stressful is it to know that in a bank box, no |
| address, bank account number, signature and license | | | | matter where you are, there are items that can verify |
| number to complete strangers. On top of that, there's | | | | your identity. Better to be safe, than sorry! |
| no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged | | | | |