Do you know what details should be kept private to prevent identity theft or credit card fraud? I suppose the initial response is obvious: the details of your credit card. You receive your statements in the mail, right?
So your goal should be to reach your mailbox as soon as the mailman arrives, if at all workable. It’s true that there are persons who will steal your mail from the mailbox to get your information. They will go to any lengths—I’m not joking—to get someone’s information and use it for their own gain. Unfortunately, it works against you.
By understanding how to avoid identity theft and credit card fraud in the first place, you can and will save a lot of time, energy, and money. In the event that your identity is stolen, the first thing you must do is notify all your credit card providers. You can also choose to cancel all your cards at once and request new ones from the card issuers. Check your statements, and challenge any unauthorized charges you notice. Any charges that were not made by you are not your responsibility.
Next, give the credit bureaus a call and report any fraud. that if you contact one, they will inform the other two that an alert has been filed and they will both take the appropriate action. Ask them for a copy of your credit report so you may examine what’s been occurring with your credit and dispute any and all unauthorized accounts. You may stop any possible issues before they grow into significant issues if you maintain your credit report up to date.
What other data is so vulnerable to theft? Your social security number, the details of your bank accounts, and any PINs or passwords connected to these accounts make up the “big three.” Keep your account PINs and passwords apart from your cards and other sensitive information.
Make it as difficult as you can for someone to take your identity. Your social security card shouldn’t be kept in your wallet. If you want to keep it safe and know where it is, keep it at home. memorize the number if not. Keep things as straightforward as you can to avoid stress.
Do not dispose of critical documents, such as bank statements, in the trash. As I before stated, thieves will stop at nothing to get your information, and this includes searching through your trash. I know it’s disgusting, but they do. So, do yourself a favor and shred any paper that contains sensitive information using a crosscut shredder. Whatever it is, destroy it, even if it’s only your phone number.
Remember to use the internet. Nowadays, identity theft is simpler because of the internet. Hackers will resort to all means necessary to get your information. Unless you can confirm that the site you are on is secure, avoid using any insecure websites for purchasing or disclosing sensitive information like your social security number or credit card number. Be especially cautious when you are out there in the trenches doing your holiday shopping since identity theft and credit card fraud are more common over the holiday season.
