8 Smart Ways to Protect Against Identity Theft
With hackers and data breaches making headlines around the world, protecting your sensitive personal and financial information is more important than ever. But safeguarding your name, birthday, Social Security number, passwords, and credit card numbers can be a big job. Here are eight smart ways to protect yourself against identity thieves who want to steal your information to rack up purchases, open acｃounts in your name, or file fraudulent tax returns.
1. SIGN UP FOR MOBILE BANKING ALERTS.
Besides regularly reviewing your credit card and banking monthly statements, sign up for alerts. Most financial institutions will contact you by email or text when an uncharacteristically large withdrawal or purchase above a certain amount occurs. Download your bank’s official mobile app so you can monitor your acｃounts from your phone. And if you spot any unauthorized purchases, contact your financial institutions immediately.
2. MONITOR YOUR CREDIT REPORTS.
Every 12 months, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Read your credit reports to make sure that they don’t contain any incorrect addresses or acｃounts that you didn’t open. If you see something suspicious, contact the credit reporting agencies and your bank, stat.
3. DON’T BE LAZY ABOUT PASSWORDS.
Saving passwords to your computer’s password keychain may save you time, but doing so can make you vulnerable to a security breach. Besides using complex usernames and passwords (random strings of letters, numbers, and symbols), you should change your passwords regularly, especially for your banking logins. And only sign in to banking websites when you’re on a private, trustworthy Wi-Fi network.
4. BE WARY OF UNSOLICITED EMAILS.
Identity thieves can trick you by sending you an email that looks as if it came from a legitimate company with which you do business. If these phishers send you an unsolicited email from what appears to be your bank, be careful. Don’t click on any links in the email, or you run the risk of getting malware installed on your computer. Scammers may also call you, claiming to be an employee of your bank and asking you to reveal your acｃount number, Social Security number, or other personal information. Instead of responding, contact your bank directly (using the number on the back of your card) to find out if the email or call is legitimate.
5. USE A CROSS-CUT SHREDDER.
The internet allows plenty of fun new opportunities for hackers to steal your identity, but low-tech identity thieves aren’t yet a thing of the past. Because these thieves steal your trash, looking for mail or other documents that contains your personal information, it’s important to get in the habit of using a cross-cut shredder. Before you throw them out, shred any credit card offers, bank statements, utility bills, receipts, and even the labels on your prescription pill bottles.
6. LIMIT WHAT YOU SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Identity thieves love over-sharers. Whether you share your birthday on your LinkedIn profile, your phone number on Facebook, or your pet’s name on Twitter, you’re making yourself vulnerable to identity thieves who may be on the hunt for answers to your security questions. For all your social media acｃounts, make sure your privacy settings are strong, you aren’t friends or connections with people you don’t know, and you haven’t unknowingly shared too much personal information.
7. SECURE YOUR MAILBOX.
Some identity thieves steal mail from mailboxes, hoping to find bank or credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, and other sensitive documents. To safeguard yourself against this type of identity theft, put a lock on your mailbox and retrieve your mail as soon as possible after it’s delivered. If you have outgoing bills to send, ｄrop them off at the post office (or a secured ｄrop-off box) instead of leaving them in your unlocked mailbox. And when you leave town, get a mail hold from the post office so your mail doesn’t pile up.
8. KEEP IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE.
Putting all your important documents in a safe can protect your information from getting into the wrong hands. Keep your Social Security card, passport, birth certificate, extra checks, copies of your health insurance cards, and a printed page of your important passwords in a safe. Just make sure to bolt your safe to the ground, otherwise a thief can take the safe with him.
Article Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85047/8-smart-ways-protect-against-identity-theft
Image Source: http://www.dreamstime.com/identity-theft-thumb4396892.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
Hacker n. : A programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal, change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism
Breach v. : Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
Fraudulent adj. : Intended to deceive
Financial institutions n. : an establishment that conducts financial transactions such as investments, loans and deposits.
Suspicious adj. : Openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
Vulnerable adj. : Susceptible to attack
Complex adj. : Complicated in structure consisting of interconnected parts
Unsolicited adj. : Not asked for
Trick v. : Deceive somebody
Legitimate adj. : Based on known statements, events or conditions
Phishers n. : A person who attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details
Cross-cut shredder n. : a mechanical device used to cut paper into chad, typically either strips
Prescription n. : Directions prescribed beforehand the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions
Pile up v. : Collect in one place, esp. growing to a large number or quantity
Check n. : A written order directing a bank to pay money
Bolt n. : A discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. From the 8 Smart Ways to Protect Against Identity Theft, which is most effective for you?
2. Do you think it is important to secure and protect your identity? Why? Why not?
3. Have you or anyone close to you experienced identity theft already? What measures or actions did you take to catch the culprit?
4. Why is it important to keep our identities secure?
5. How do you protect and secure your identity?
