Popular Identity Theft Scams and How to Avoid Them
One of the major difficulties in preventing identity theft is that there are so many different ways it can be committed. Identity thieves are always trying to come up with new ways to scam their unsuspecting victims and break safeguards we impose. Recent data shows that a technique referred to as “spoofing” has become increasingly popular. It generally revolves around a scammer sending out mass emails that appear to be from a legitimate company asking them to update their financial information, which the thieves then use. Another one of the always popular methods of identity theft occurs at your mailbox. Criminals simply take your bank account statements or credit card information then use it for their own personal gain. By staying vigil and understanding where you put your information, you can avoid every form of identity theft.
How Can I Avoid Them?
- In order to be generally safer with your identity, you probably shouldn’t keep all of your important information in your wallet or purse at one time. For instance, avoid taking all of your credit cards, your social security card, you insurance information, and your passport with you at once.
- As I stated before, one of the more common ways identity theft occurs is by stealing vital information that comes through the mail. You should strongly consider getting a lock for your mailbox if you don’t have one already, as well as shredding any pre-approved credit card offers you receive.
- Make sure you know who you’re giving your information to - online, over the phone, or else where.
- When you’re inputting personal information or making a purchase from a website, check your web address bar to make sure it reads “https.” The “s” denotes a secure website. If you’re not sure if a site is secure, send e-mail to the business or website to make sure.
- Finally, order a copy of your credit report at least once a year. It’s free and contains all of the important information regarding any credit cards you may have open. This way you can be sure you haven’t fallen victim to identity theft without your knowledge and fix any mistakes it may contain.
