Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft in Georgia
In our last article, we discussed some of the statistics surrounding identity theft and also shared what it is. One of the biggest myths is that if you shop in a brick and mortar building or at a small or local store you are safe from identity theft. While that may help, criminals are everywhere – even in Douglasville, GA or at your favorite shop. Everyday new and ingenious tools are created with the purpose of nabbing your personal information.
Although identity theft is not always prevantable, there are some things you can do to minimize your exposure:
- Be diligent with your statements: If you don’t look each month at every transaction on your credit card or bank statement, you should. Criminals count on you being too busy to carefully review your statement for unauthorized charges, transfers or other activity.
- Know when your statements are due: Most banks or credit card companies notify you electronically via email when your statement is on its way (if you don’t receive this, ask them about it). If you know about when you should expect your next bank statement, and it doesn’t come, contact your provider. Thieves take statements from mailboxes or call up the provider, use your name and then redirect the statement, giving them access to your account information.
- Keep your personal information close: Never, ever give out personal information via email or over the phone unless you have initiated the communication. Identity thieves will often pose as official representatives of popular brands, banks or credit card providers, hoping you will give them what they need to pose as you.
- Use intricate passwords: Yes, this is a challenge, we know, but those hard-to-remember passwords for your email, PC, tablets and online accounts help keep you safe. Thieves use sophisticated programs to guess passwords when they are associated with other pieces of your personal data. Use a combination of upper case, lower case, numbers and special characters.
- Shred, shred, shred: Those old statements are a gold mine to would-be criminals. Simply tearing up a statement before tossing it in the garbage is not enough. Purchase an inexpensive shredder and ensure no one rifling through your garbage can piece together that account number and buy airline tickets to Europe.
- Keep your mail safe: Times have changed. Your mailbox is no longer a safe place for your mail. It’s very easy for thieves to pick mailboxes and pull bank numbers from checks and personal info from bills. Instead, drop off your mail at the post office.
- When shopping online:
- Regularly update your security software.
- Change your passwords often.
- Beware of entering online contests that seem sketchy (they could harbor trojan viruses that will infiltrate your PC and grab or track your personal data).
- Do not open emails and attachments from unknown sources.
- Don’t fall for phishing and vishing scams. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is and is a trap set for you by an identity thief.
- Be careful on social media. If you broadcast that you are not home, your home is a prime target for criminals.
- Watch out for your gifts when they are delivered to your home. Criminals will follow delivery trucks, wait until a package is delivered and then grab it, not only taking the package, but also any personal information on the packing slip.
Whoever said knowledge is power was right! We do not have to be victims of criminals who want to steal our identity and the things we’ve worked for all of our lives. Taking some commonsense precautions can help you have peace of mind during the holidays, whether shopping locally in Douglasville, in Atlanta or online. But, through no fault of your own, you may still find yourself a victim of identity theft or other financial fraud. If you have questions and are looking for assistance navigating this tough time, contact us today for more information. We’re here to help.
In part three, we’ll discuss how you can recognize identity theft.
