| Electronic Fraud and Identity Theft | | | | |
| | | | several recent scams, take a look at the |
| ----------------------------------- | | | | following Phishing |
| | | | |
| Human beings are pretty sensible when | | | | Scams page.Links |
| presented with an | | | | |
| | | | ----- |
| imminent threat or risk. That is, if it's | | | | |
| staring us | | | | good source of information on these types |
| | | | of scams |
| directly in the face. Many threats and risk | | | | |
| are presented in | | | | can be found at the State of NY Banking |
| | | | Department.Links |
| subtle ways, and it is these subtleties we | | | | |
| tend to | | | | ----- |
| | | | |
| overlook.It's The Little Things We Tend To | | | | Card Fraud |
| Overlook | | | | |
| | | | ----------------- |
| ------------------------------------------ | | | | |
| | | | Never place your credit card face up when |
| Thousands of years ago, it was the subtle | | | | paying for |
| things that caused | | | | |
| | | | something. Many people will simply place |
| us to take action, to error on the side of | | | | their credit card |
| caution and | | | | |
| | | | on the table, face up, when paying for a |
| protection. A good example, the reports | | | | meal, for instance. |
| regarding animals | | | | |
| | | | In the time it takes for the server to pick |
| seeking refuge early on during the tsunami | | | | up your check, |
| that claimed the | | | | |
| | | | someone walking by can visually scan your |
| lives of over 300,000 people this past | | | | card for |
| January. Over time, | | | | |
| | | | everything they need to go on an Internet |
| most people have lost the ability to | | | | shopping spree. |
| identify the signs, | | | | |
| | | | There are thieves that specialize in this |
| determine the probability, validity, and | | | | type of fraud.When paying for something, |
| impact of certain | | | | particularly at a restaurant, |
| | | | |
| threats and risk.Making Assumptions vs. | | | | check to see if the full or partial credit |
| Staying Vigilant | | | | card number is on |
| | | | |
| --------------------------------------- | | | | the merchant receipt. In most cases, only |
| | | | the partial number |
| At home, my family has given me the nickname | | | | |
| "Safety Dad". I | | | | is visible. However, when the full number is |
| | | | there, I cross |
| tend to be hyper-vigilant when it comes to | | | | |
| the safety and | | | | out all but the last four digits with a pen. |
| | | | The merchant |
| protection of my family, probably to a | | | | |
| fault. I take a | | | | has already scanned the card at this point, |
| | | | they should not |
| similar position on the security of my | | | | |
| computer systems and | | | | need a paper backup of the number.If your |
| | | | credit card is stolen, lost, or used |
| my financial well-being. On the other hand, | | | | fraudulently, |
| I tend to make | | | | |
| | | | you can call your card company and speak |
| assumptions about things when I should not. | | | | with the fraud |
| For the most | | | | |
| | | | department. However, I recommend you contact |
| part, I like to think that people are good | | | | your card |
| natured. I | | | | |
| | | | company's credit line department first. This |
| believe the majority of people would like to | | | | is the |
| think this way. | | | | |
| | | | department that can extend your credit |
| The sad fact is, this is an assumption that | | | | almost |
| can impact us | | | | |
| | | | instantaneously. They can also decrease it |
| greatly, and not in a positive manner.The | | | | within seconds |
| purpose of this article is to share with you | | | | |
| my thoughts | | | | as well. If you have a limit of $5,000, they |
| | | | can reduce it |
| and position on some of the basic things you | | | | |
| can do to | | | | to $100 immediately, then pass you to the |
| | | | fraud department. |
| protect yourself from several types of | | | | |
| threats. Particularly | | | | Call your card company and request the |
| | | | direct number to this |
| those that involve electronic fraud and | | | | |
| Internet fraud. | | | | department and make a record of it.If you |
| | | | notice someone swiping your card more than |
| Although some of these items are not | | | | once when |
| directly related to the | | | | |
| | | | paying for an item, ask them why. Regardless |
| Internet, the moment someone has your | | | | of how sensible |
| private or financial | | | | |
| | | | the answer is, call your card company and |
| information (identity theft), the Internet | | | | request a list of |
| will be one of | | | | |
| | | | the last few transactions, you might be |
| the first places they visit.(Protect | | | | surprised what you |
| Yourself Against Electronic Fraud)Automated | | | | |
| Teller Machines (ATM) & Skimmers | | | | find.If your card company sends you checks |
| | | | to use for cash |
| ------------------------------------------ | | | | |
| | | | advancements and you don't plan on using |
| Have you ever heard of a "Skimmer"? If you | | | | them, don't keep |
| haven't, you need | | | | |
| | | | them around, shred them immediately. We get |
| to be aware the risk this presents you. | | | | these all the |
| Skimmer's are | | | | |
| | | | time in the mail. As far as shredders go, |
| devices that appear to be a legitimate part | | | | everyone should |
| of an automated | | | | |
| | | | have one. You can pick up a small one for |
| teller machine but are in fact, fake card | | | | under $30 and it |
| readers. They | | | | |
| | | | is well worth the investment.Any statements |
| capture all the information stored on the | | | | or correspondence you have regarding your |
| magnetic stripe on | | | | |
| | | | credit cards should be in a secure place or |
| the back of the card. Skimmer's have been | | | | shredded.Credit Reporting & Monitoring |
| around for quite | | | | |
| | | | ----------------------------- |
| some time but their use is on the rise | | | | |
| again. The following | | | | Thoroughly review your credit report at |
| | | | least every 90 days, |
| link will show you what a skimmer may look | | | | |
| like and how it | | | | more frequently if possible. It's better to |
| | | | find out sooner |
| is used.Links | | | | |
| | | | than later if someone else's actions are |
| ----- | | | | negatively |
| | | | |
| you know the cost to a bank or ATM vendor | | | | impacting your credit report, trust me. |
| is minimal if | | | | There are three |
| | | | |
| their machine is compromised, but to you it | | | | major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, |
| may be severe? | | | | Experian, and |
| | | | |
| The company that owns the ATM only has to | | | | TransUnion. They all have reporting and |
| worry about the | | | | monitoring solutions |
| | | | |
| cost to replace the machine, plus the amount | | | | available. Some of these services may be |
| of money | | | | free of charge.Links |
| | | | |
| inside. You, on the other hand, stand to | | | | ----- |
| loose not only your | | | | |
| | | | |
| bank account funds, but possibly your | | | | |
| identity.Phishing and Web Site Redirection | | | | |
| | | | |
| --------------------------------- | | | | you find something strange on your credit |
| | | | report, contact |
| This type of electronic fraud comes in many | | | | |
| forms, and is | | | | the credit reporting agency immediately. In |
| | | | addition to |
| one of the most popular ways of collecting | | | | |
| private | | | | calling them (if possible), send them a |
| | | | certified letter |
| information, and money from the masses. Why? | | | | |
| Because it is | | | | describing what you have found. It's very |
| | | | important to |
| simple to do and very effective.If you | | | | |
| receive an e-mail from your bank, credit card | | | | document any and all correspondence on these |
| | | | matters.Conclusion |
| | | | |
| company, or other online merchant like, or | | | | ---------- |
| | | | |
| Amazon.com, requesting information such as | | | | I am sure this information may be old news |
| passwords and | | | | to some. |
| | | | |
| financial info, delete it and report it | | | | However, if just one person reads this |
| immediately. Many of | | | | article and learns |
| | | | |
| these e-mails link you to web sites that | | | | something new, then my objective has been |
| look exactly like | | | | met.One of the best ways to protect yourself |
| | | | from electronic |
| that of the real company but are in fact | | | | |
| fakes. Take a look | | | | fraud and identity theft is to ask |
| | | | questions. Primarily, ask |
| at Ebay's Online Security and Protection | | | | |
| section to get an | | | | yourself whether or not the particular |
| | | | situation you are |
| idea of what you need to do in order to | | | | |
| identify scams like | | | | faced with makes sense? Why would your bank |
| | | | request |
| these.Links | | | | |
| | | | information from you via e-mail? Why would |
| ----- | | | | someone in |
| | | | |
| you receive an e-mail from someone | | | | another country be willing to give you |
| promising you millions | | | | millions of dollars |
| | | | |
| of dollars if you assist them with their | | | | to assist them with their banking woes?There |
| finances, delete it | | | | is a certain percentage of our population who |
| | | | has |
| immediately!. Some of these scams have been | | | | |
| running for | | | | absolutely no morality when it comes to the |
| | | | acquisition of |
| years and new ones surface frequently. I | | | | |
| recently saw one | | | | wealth. These people know the risk of |
| | | | getting caught is |
| supposedly from the wife of the late Yasser | | | | |
| Arafat, | | | | minimal. In many cases, even if they do get |
| | | | caught, they are |
| promising millions of dollars if someone | | | | |
| would help her | | | | willing to deal with the consequences given |
| | | | the potential |
| establish a trust fund in the US. The | | | | |
| reasons these types of | | | | monetary payoff. Stay vigilant and educate |
| | | | yourself on these |
| e-mail scams are so wide spread is because | | | | |
| they are highly | | | | matters. It really is the best way to |
| | | | protect yourself |
| effective and relatively easy to do. | | | | |
| Thousands of people get | | | | against the myriad of threats and risks we |
| | | | are presented |
| ripped off by these scams every day. To see | | | | |
| examples of | | | | with everyday. |