Beating Identity Theft Fraudsters

Independent UK Credit Card Comparisons | Today is Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

RSS

You are here

"Beating Identity Theft Fraudsters"

By admin | June 23rd, 2009 | Featured

Fraudsters that steal your identity lurk in places where you would never expect to find them. These thieves can’t be seen and you only know that you have become an identity theft victim when you receive your banking statement or your credit card bill.

Fortunately, there are ways in which you can avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

If you change your address, make sure you advise all the companies you deal with of this change. Many people do not do this and when fraudsters intercept mail arriving at a different address, they can steal your identity.

When you move bills and offers for loans can pile up at your old address giving people an opportunity to take out a loan, receive a gas or telephone connection or rent a flat in your name.

Tell your neighbours if you plan to be away from home on holiday for a period of time. They can make sure that your mail is fully pushed through the slot in the door or can collect it for you from your mailbox until you return.

Shred all paperwork associated with any of your accounts before you put it in the trash. Fraudsters do go through the trash and bills that are not torn or shredded is a prime opportunity for identity theft. This applies to old receipts, bill statements and bank statements. Cut up your old credit cards before you dispose of them.

Watch for people standing close to you when you use your credit card or debit card. Many fraudsters have machines they can insert into automated tellers and card-reading devices in which they capture your card number. A small camera will give them the details of your PIN. Keep a watch for such devices and make sure you protect the PIN number that you enter.

Never give out your PIN to anyone, even a family member. You should also memorize this number as well as your password, and not have it written on paper in your purse or wallet. If your purse is stolen, for example, thieves have your cards and from the papers they can find out what you passwords and PIN numbers are.

Check your credit record on a regular basis. It is important for you to know what this file says about you. Check to make sure your address is correct and that all the accounts listed on the record are correct.

Choose a PIN that would be very difficult for fraudsters to guess. After several attempts to access your account using a different number, the bank will automatically place a hold on the account and contact you. Experts advise that you should never choose birth dates as a PIN because fraudsters who gain access to your personal information will try this number first.

Be careful when conducting any online transactions via wireless Internet. Through sophisticate spyware, fraudsters can gain access to the personal information you have stored on your computer. Having a firewall installed blocks such spyware from infecting your computer and your files.

Disregard phishing emails. These are messages you receive from sites that look almost identical to banks and lending institutions. Once you enter your personal information, fraudsters could wipe out your account.

By taking heed to this advice and tips to avoid ID theft and monitoring your credit accounts and statements, you can keep your identity safe from fraudsters.

More tips on decreasing the chance of identity theft and also for US residents AIPS.org has more tips on identity theft prevention.

Tags: chip and pin, credit card fraud, Credit Cards, identity theft, prevent identity theft

Useful Tips on Avoiding ID Theft

It has been said many times before but the saying is particularly true in this case the saying is most definitely true. Prevention IS better that cure. We will try to explain the cause and effect of the heinous crime and hopefully give you some tips on how to avoid being caught in the identity theft...
Avoid becoming a victim of identity theft

As many people already know identity theft is becoming a major problem and is already costing the UK close to £2 billion a year. Whilst consumers have become more aware of the dangers of certain actions that could increase the risk of identity theft, fraudsters have started using increasingly sophisticated technology in order to get...
How people increase the risk of becoming victims of identity theft and fraud

The issues surrounding identity theft and fraud have become increasingly serious over recent years, and many consumers in the UK have suffered a great deal of damage, both financial and personal, as a result of becoming the victims of identity theft and fraud. Thieves and criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in the methods that they...
Identity Theft – Some Precautions

Last year alone fraud cost the UK credit card business over £1billion – and it is estimated that identity theft accounted for approximately 10% of that sum! To try and counter this huge loss, credit card companies have been coming up with ever more innovative and technologically sophisticated cards. Notwithstanding this action on the part of...
Do Brits have a false sense of security?

Over recent years we have all seen – and some of us have experienced – the problems that can arise from the theft of personal documentation, such as bank statements, credit card and bank account information, passports, driving licences, birth certificates, etc. When a fraudster manages to get hold of such personal documentation the repercussions...

"Beating Identity Theft Fraudsters"

Related Articles:

Useful Tips on Avoiding ID Theft

Avoid becoming a victim of identity theft

How people increase the risk of becoming victims of identity theft and fraud

Identity Theft – Some Precautions

Do Brits have a false sense of security?

Post A Comment:

Other Recent Articles

Contactless payments welcomed by credit card companies

Orange to launch contactless credit card

Sneaky credit card charges land Ryanair in hot water

Skiers can still afford to hit the slopes by spreading the cost on a credit card

Strong spending on credit cards over Christmas period

Related Credit Card Article

"Beating Identity Theft Fraudsters"

Related Articles:

Post A Comment:

Other Recent Articles