| One of the greatest fears that many people have is | | | | popular choices. |
| that they'll become a victim of identity theft. Most | | | | #4: Keep A List of Cards |
| people just have the "oh, well, it won't happen to me" | | | | Keep a detailed list or photocopy of all of your cards |
| attitude. For 1 out of every 5 people, that's the wrong | | | | (front and back). Know the account numbers, |
| attitude to take. Which one of those five are you? The | | | | expirations, phone numbers for reporting, etc. Keep this |
| most common type of identity theft is credit card | | | | list is a very safe and secure place in your home or |
| fraud, usually through account takeover. In this type of | | | | bank. If your wallet is stolen, your house robbed, or you |
| crime, the thief gains access to a credit card and then, | | | | otherwise have one or more cards stolen, this list could |
| quite simply, starts making purchases with it. | | | | mean the difference between a few minutes to report |
| What makes this type of fraud an identity theft is that | | | | the theft and a few hours while you find the |
| often the perpetrator will call the credit card company, | | | | information and the thief goes on a shopping spree... on |
| bank, etc. and attempt to gain more information about | | | | you. |
| the account's owners using a technique called "fishing." | | | | #5: Keep Your Social Security Number To Yourself |
| With this technique, which is old hat among private | | | | Don't ever give out your Social Security or account |
| investigators, the thief poses as the account's owner | | | | numbers on the phone or through the mail if you aren't |
| and attempts to change the account information, | | | | 100% sure that the person you're talking to and the |
| upgrade the account for more credit, make a cash | | | | business they represent is legitimate. When in doubt, |
| withdrawal, or otherwise manipulate the account. With | | | | don't give it out! If a business calls you, say the utility |
| enough information, many thieves can use one | | | | company, and asks for personal information for |
| account to get into several more. A debit card could | | | | identification, tell them you'll call them back. Use the |
| lend access to checking, savings, and even mortgage | | | | phone number in the phone book or printed on one of |
| accounts through the bank. | | | | your bills to call them-not a number the person on the |
| Most banks and institutions have safeguards in place | | | | phone gave you. This verifies that the person is who |
| to prevent this total takeover of one of their | | | | they say they are and eliminates "fishing." |
| customer's accounts, but the best prevention is to stop | | | | #6: Keep Your Receipts |
| the thief before he can attack to begin with. To do | | | | When you make purchases by credit or debit card, |
| that, you need to follow these 10 ways to prevent | | | | keep your receipt. Do not throw it away in a public |
| identity theft by credit card. Most of them are easy, | | | | trash container or even in your home garbage can |
| no-nonsense security measures that you likely already | | | | without first marking out the account number or |
| take everyday as a part of your lifestyle. Others are | | | | shredding the receipt. Most stores now print only the |
| just small habits you need to practice to ensure your | | | | last four or five digits of your account to protect the |
| credit's safety. | | | | information, but you only know if they did when you |
| #1: Carry Fewer Cards | | | | look to see that they did! |
| Sounds pretty simple, but it's amazing how many | | | | #7: Do Not Write Numbers on Checks |
| people walk around with five, ten, or more credit and | | | | When paying bills, DO NOT write your credit card |
| debit cards in their wallets. This is excessive and is | | | | (account number) on a check when paying the bill. If |
| tantamount to wearing five pounds of gold and | | | | the check falls into the wrong hands, a thief now has |
| diamond jewelry. Eventually, someone will decide to | | | | two ways to take advantage of you (check plus |
| mug you. The more cards you're carrying, the easier it | | | | card). Checks preprinted with your driver's license |
| will be for a thief to take over your identity and fleece | | | | number are also a bad idea. |
| you for all the money they can. Reduce the number of | | | | #8: Watch the Mail |
| cards that you carry to two. If at all possible, do not | | | | When a new card or fresh checks are coming, make |
| use a debit card at all as they're the easiest to use by | | | | sure you know when they're expected and are there |
| thieves to get cash quickly and easily. | | | | to receive them. Better yet, have them sent to a |
| #2: Watch Your Card | | | | secure box like a PO box or similar. |
| When you use your card at a store or restaurant | | | | #9: Read Your Account Statements |
| where it's handed to an employee or waiter to | | | | Read your account statements thoroughly and every |
| process for you, keep your eye on the card at all | | | | time they come to you. Some thieves (especially |
| times. Never let the employee walk away with your | | | | online) will steal a card number, use it once, and then |
| card and then come back later. It's not as uncommon | | | | forget it. This results in the much lower likelihood of |
| as people might think for people like this to take | | | | them being caught. Many of the frauds never even |
| advantage of their situation to copy card information or | | | | get noticed as account holders often look only at the |
| do a "false swipe" into a reader to record the | | | | "total owed" line on the account and don't read through |
| information for later retrieval. | | | | line items. |
| #3: Never Use a Debit Card Online | | | | #10: Order a Credit Report |
| When you shop online, never use a debit card | | | | Order a credit report from the three bureaus yearly |
| attached to your bank account. No matter where your | | | | (at least). They are required by law to give you one |
| shopping is taking place, debit cards are the primary | | | | free report per year, so take advantage of it. Read |
| target of thieves. Instead, use a closed account like a | | | | through it and make sure that there are no credit |
| pre-paid card, a credit card (they're better protected), | | | | accounts you are unaware of, no claims on your file |
| etc. Companies like PayPal and others that offer cards | | | | that you didn't authorize, etc. |
| that are separate from your checking account are | | | | |