ID Theft

Avoiding ID theft?

I am very concerned about Identity theft, given my young age and excellent credit. These are the steps I have taken to insure my good name: - checked my credit report (I'm getting "free trial offers" every few months to determine the best permanent service) - called the opt-out number so I don't get offers in the mail - using online banking to avoid a paper trail. Is there anything else recommended? Anything in particular that I should avoid doing? Yes, we do have a paper shredder...Mom bought one a few weeks ago. I intend to put it to good use tomorrow.

Public Comments

1. Even online bankin can leave a paper trail, but if you are shopping online and using online banking make sure the site uses a secure protocool like https:// (it will be at the beginning of the url) You should also invest in a paper shredder to shred all them bank and credit card statements you recieve in the post before putting them into the rubbish.
2. Another thing you need to do is make sure your card numbers are not stolen for use on a fake credit card. Fake credit cards often use real credit card numbers and this means that your accounts might be at risk for theft or fraud. A surprising number of people are not aware of this. We often assume that just because a con artist is making a bogus card, they are also somehow creating a fake bank account and identity as well. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from having your numbers stolen and put on a fake card: Being careful with your actual credit cards themselves is the most important tip. Many fake credit cards with real numbers are made from cards that have been stolen, or are skimmed when taken for payment in busy restaurants. Some cities like Miami are notorious for this. It is amazing how many people are too paranoid to shop safely online but will happily give their card to strange server in a busy restaraunt and not notice it is 20 minutes before their card is back at their table. Leave your cards at home when you don't need them, rather than always having them in your wallet or purse. Remember, some thieves put a lot of thought and effort into figuring out how to get the real cards. They know that people leave their wallets in a locker at the gym, in their desk at work, or don't keep an eye on them when shopping. It's not unusual for those who make fake cards to spend a lot of time at the mall before they've made the cards - looking for those who aren't paying attention to their purses or wallets, and so are an easy target for pickpockets. It is excellent that you have a shredder and plan to use it. Many experts believe this is the most important thing to do to protect your card numbers.
3. Here's a few more things: -Don't carry your social security card -Don't write your PIN number on your ATM or Debit Card -Never click on a link in an email that claims it's from your bank or paypal, etc. It's probably a phishing email. -Create complex passwords for your email addresses and bank accounts - change them regularly and don't share them with anyone.