Since the beginning of the internet,” identity theft protect yourself” has been an issue for anyone who surfs for pleasure or business, and even those of us who don’t go online for any reason. Thieves who plan to steal our identities for their own profit have developed a number of scams and tricks designed to fool us into giving out personal information.
Everyone should know the most common tricks, so we all have at least a basic understanding about how identity theft works, both on and offline, in front of the computer, as well as in our everyday lives.
One of the most popular scams is called “phishing”, pronounced “fishing”, and that’s exactly what it comes down to. Thieves fish for information. Protecting yourself from identity theft means being able to decide when one of these criminals is trying to reel you in to get your personal information.
Have you ever received an email urging you to reply, otherwise your bank account or credit card may be suspended? If so, you’ve just been solicited by a technique known as “phishing.”
These emails request you to submit information like your card number and your PIN to confirm your identity. However, most emails […]
Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles
Signs of identity theft can come in different forms, so be aware and report identity theft as soon as you can. They can appear as bank statements from unknown accounts, credit reports with cards or loans you don’t know about, or calls from a collection agency looking for money you don’t recall owing. All tips can lead to financial ruin and tarnishing your name because you were a victim of identity theft.
The first sign of theft could be a change in your billing cycle and act as a red flag to tell you it’s time to report identity theft. When your bills stop arriving on schedule, you need to find out why.
Contrary to popular belief, not all the criminals working to steal your name and money use online theft. You need to be concerned when there’s a change in your billing cycle.
The one thing we can count on is that bills always arrive on time. Late bills are a warning sign and you should report identity theft immediately. Contact any companies as soon as you realize a bill is late so you can verify your actual billing date with them.
This can tell you if a thief has […]
Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles
Identity theft prevention has been a very real issue in our society for some time now. There are plenty of cases of online identity theft and fraud, but not all the scams are online.
Not all thieves are working through computers to steal your identity and take you for a financial ride. Some of the most dangerous possible identity theft scenarios don’t involve computers at all, but they can still clean out the unaware consumer.
One of the oldest and most devastating scams involves the ATM machine. Thieves can install equipment on otherwise legitimate machines that steal ATM card and PIN numbers. An attachment fits over the original slot and is used to capture the information from the card as the ATM is used.
The thieves usually hide nearby and receive the wireless transmissions from the doctored ATMs. With the stolen information, they can commit identity theft and fraud worth thousands by withdrawing from the accounts. Theft prevention relies on consumer awareness.
Watch out for ATM machines that appear out of place or any machines that look like they could have a card reader attached to them. A lot of these are so cleverly made, you may not notice anything different, […]
Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles
