A Fist Full of Tips...Identity Theft STOP BEING A VICTIM!

A Fist Full of Tips...Identity Theft STOP BEING A VICTIM!

Christmas the season to be cheerful, but for many it will end as tearful. Many of us will be on the receiving end of scary emails designed to rip off our private details and passwords. Email that arrives with urgent subject lines like: Your Account Is About To Be Closed, There's A Block On Your Account, Could You Help Me Claim My Funds, or "Congratulations You're the winner of blah, blah".

We are all blissfully shopping for gifts for family, friends and clients, and the last thing we need is a bank or credit card account to be in peril.


Stop being a victim, DO NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN OFFICIAL LOOKING EMAIL! Ignore such email, instead make a quick telephone call to your bank or check your account online on your PC but NEVER by clicking on a link supplied in an official looking (bogus) email.

Be wise, don't open the email, it may trigger a virus programme onto your computer by the act of being opened. Forward suspicious email to the spoof email address supplied by your bank, or credit card company.

Here is a fist full of quick tips to help you:

1.DEBIT CARDS: Many debit cards carry greater personal liability than credit cards, depending on how quickly you report the loss of the card. If you fail to report unauthorized use within 60 days of receiving your bank statements, you could lose all the money in the account and be held responsible for the amount of money that has been tapped from your line of credit.

2.CHECKS: As common as they are, they expose too much information. Experts advise against check writing because it exposes your address, bank account number, signature and licence number to strangers. And, there's no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Be wise try automating your bill paying.

3.SECURE MAIL: Loose mail can be mined for information. To avoid this have your postbox under lock and key, To foil dumpster-divers buy an inexpensive shredder and destroy important documents prior tossing in the dumpster.

4.VIRTUAL: consider virtual card numbers. These are randomly generated credit card numbers that are disposable and that on-line shoppers use once and throw away. It's linked directly to your real credit card account so purchases show up on your monthly bill. The service is a snap to use, and it's FREE! All you need to do is register with companies offering the virtual card.

5.EMERGENCY KIT: Create an emergency kit: Containg account numbers, expiration dates, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you're at it, make copies of your driver's license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. In the event of a catastrophe such as fire, earthquake, you are covered.

I think you'll agree, we all live in an age when it's better to be safe, than sorry!

Leon writes for home based entrepreneurs check out his somekeyword here:

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