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How to Prevent Identity Theft (KIFI Idaho Falls)

A local tax preparation company held a Shred Day event Saturday in an effort to help people learn how to prevent identity theft.

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Local Tax Company Holds Shred Day To Prevent Identity Theft (WSPA Spartanburg)

Credit card fraud is something that’s on the mind of
consumers across the globe. It transcends age, gender and
socioeconomic status. Anyone, anywhere can become a victim.
Fortunately, these five tips can help you protect yourself
from the crime.

1. A Need-To-Know Basis

Treat your credit card number like the confidential
information that it is and only provide it on a need-to-know
basis. Are you making an appointment at your local salon or
doctor’s office and they want your credit card information
to hold the appointment? Even though you plan on paying
cash? Flat out refuse to provide it.

Nowadays too many people have access to the average person’s
credit card number. If you want to protect yourself from
credit card fraud, reduce the number of people who ever know
what your credit card number is. Sometimes that will mean
putting your foot down and maybe even being stubborn. As
they say — it’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Watch For The “S”

For most people, online transactions are inevitable.
Fortunately, credit card fraud doesn’t have to be.

Sooner or later, you’re going to make a purchase online (if
you haven’t already). Before you enter your credit card
number into any online payment form, make sure the form is
hosted on a secure site.

The best way to prevent credit card fraud online is with
secured web pages. You can tell a secured web page from an
unsecured web page by the little telltale “s” locate at the
end of the “http” letters. If a web page is secured, it will
say “https” in your browser bar. If it’s not, it will just
say “http” and you’d better not put your credit card number
in.

3. Use Virtual Numbers Whenever Possible

Because online transactions are becoming more and more
popular, credit card companies are now offering “virtual”
numbers to help reduce credit card fraud.

If your credit card company offers “virtual” or
“one-time-use” credit card numbers, you will be able to
access the feature by logging in to your online account.
Simply sign in using your personal information and then
prompt the website to generate your temporary credit card
number.

Once you have been given the temporary credit card number,
you can use it for your online transaction. This way, you
are able to pay for your purchase with a credit card, but no
one really has your actual account number which greatly
reduces your chance of credit card fraud.

4. Don’t Use Public Computers for Financial Transactions

If you use public computers that other people have access
to, don’t ever enter your credit card number into them. If
you do, you may signficantly increase your chances of credit
card fraud.

There are programs that people can use to track everything
typed into a computer. If someone has installed one of these
applications into the computer you are using and you enter
your credit card number into it, they’ll gain access to the
information.

5. Shred Those Statements

Perhaps one of the most important ways you can reduce the
risk of credit card fraud is to properly dispose of your
monthly credit card statements. File your statements for as
long as you want to, but once you decide to dispose of them,
put them through a cross-cut or diamond-cut shredder.

While it’s true that credit card fraud is a growing concern,
these five steps are a great way to protect yourself from
the possibility of becoming the next victim.

In today’s day and age, credit card fraud is a growing
concern. Everywhere you turn you hear about another person
becoming a victim. Fortunately, there are things you can do
to reduce your risk. Follow these 5 tips and make sure you
protect yourself from becoming a victim of credit card
fraud.

Republished by Old Post Promoter

Continue here: Chief Shults tells Lions Club of identity theft, fraud threat (The Newport Plain Talk)

More here: Bucks County resident sentenced for identity theft (The Reporter)

Half the time, people with credit cards are either too
careless or too busy to bother about how they use them. That
is, until they find out they’ve become victims of identity
theft and credit card fraud.

While those who are already victims have probably learned
their lesson, it’s never too late for you to maintain a
little more caution when it comes to credit card usage. Here
are a few pointers when it comes to credit card usage:

1. Always keep your credit in check – Having a good credit
score is very advantageous. Credit card companies and loan
companies use your credit score as a basis for your
applications. The higher the credit score, the better
benefits you get.

2. Be wary of your credit card usage – When using your
credit cards, be sure to keep a close eye on it-literally.
When using it online, be sure that you see a padlock icon on
the bottom part of your browser window, or that the web site
address has an https:// prefix instead of the normal
http://. Both of these are assurances that you’re in a
secure site, not a fake one or a phishing site.

Also, if using a credit card in places where you have to
give the card to somebody in order to process a transaction
(like in a restaurant), observe the person you give it to.
Make sure he/she goes straight to the cash register or
cashier, and no place else. This eliminates the chances that
your credit card might be used in identity theft and fraud.

3. Be a wise spender and credit card holder – If you can pay
the amount in cash, do not use your credit card. Do not max
your card either. A lot of Americans are left in debt
because of unwise usage, and lack of knowledge as well. At
the moment, a low-interest credit card is the best choice
because of the way the economy is in the country.

Also, be sure not to have too many credit cards. Having two
is ideal. In fact, one is already enough. Having three or
more is just too much. You’ll have too many bills to think
about, too many interest rates, and too many pay dates.

Half the time, people with credit cards are either too
careless or too busy to bother about how they use them. That
is, until they find out they’ve become victims of identity
theft and credit card fraud.

Republished by Old Post Promoter

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2 charged with identity theft after arrests at Dartmouth banks (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)

A man and a woman appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Friday to face multiple charges of identity theft after Halifax police were alerted by two local banks about suspicious activity.

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Man, woman face identity theft charges (CBC Nova Scotia)

Continue here: Man, woman face identity theft charges (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)

A Columbia woman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday, to one count of aggravated identity theft.

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Woman pleads guilty to identity theft in loan scam (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)