Identity Theft
If you have a credit or debit card, you should protect your personal information against identity theft, which is a crime that occurs when someone uses another person’s personal information. Carefully guard your social security number, credit or debit card numbers and PINs, bank account numbers, passwords, and any other identifying information that might enable someone to pretend to be you.
Identity theft can result in financial loss, ruined credit, or a harmful reputation. In some cases, the person who takes over the victim’s identity may use funds in his or her accounts, apply for a credit card and use it, get loans, and even commit a crime. It is very costly for a victim to get the money back and rebuild his or her reputation. Here are a few tips to avoid identity theft:
- Shred documents that have your personal information when discarding them.
- Change your passwords frequently, and do not use your date of birth, mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your social security number as a password.
- Review your bank, debit, and credit card statements closely, and immediately report any charges you do not recognize to your bank or your credit card company.
- When viewing personal information online, make sure your Internet connection is secure. When checking your bank account, paying bills, or shopping online with a credit card, avoid open networks such as those often available at airports and coffee shops. Only secure networks are appropriate for tasks such as these.
- Use computer virus protection, and update it regularly.
