Identity fraud takes place when criminals get hold of enough sensitive
data to impersonate you, clear your accounts, borrow money and run up
debts in your name - and it's a booming business, according to
Experian's Victims of Fraud service, which saw a 66 per cent rise in
reported cases during 2007. Ten ways to keep your ID safe
It's one of the fastest-growing crimes of the 21st century. These tips could help to protect you: 1. Shred sensitive information. Shred financial statements, offers
of loans and credit cards, catalogue account details or anything else
that could be used to impersonate you before binning them. Thieves go
through rubbish to see if there is anything useful - a practice known
as bin raiding. 2. Check your statements carefully. Go through your credit card and
bank statements every month. Unexpected entries can be the first
indication that somebody is stealing your money. 3. Learn to love your credit report. Your credit report is such an
effective tool in the fight against ID fraud that the government
recommends regular checks to protect yourself. It gives you a
snapshot of your borrowings and repayment record, so you can easily
spot unfamiliar accounts and suspicious balances. 4. Limit your social networking. It's tempting to include basic
information such as your full name and date of birth in your profile,
then add interesting details such as your pets' or children's names
and nicknames. Don't - these are the kind of detail that you probably
use for passwords and PINs, so leave them out. Your cyber-friends
might be fraudsters looking for enough data to steal your ID. 5. Don't risk important documents. Don't carry your passport,
driving licence or even credit cards unless you know you'll need them
and never write down your PINs and passwords. If your bag or wallet
is stolen, you could be handing the thieves your identity as well as
your cash.
6. Report thefts. Always tell the police, your bank, credit card
issuers and anybody else who might be affected if you suffer a theft.
That way, your loss is on the record and organisations who might be
approached by the thieves will be forewarned. 7. Keep an eye on your post. If mail goes missing, tell the Post
Office immediately - someone may be intercepting it, especially if you
live in a building with a communal hall where mail is delivered. 8. Register to vote at your current address. Lenders use the
electoral roll to check that you live where you say you do. If you're
not registered, a criminal could register you at another address.
When you move home, always deregister at your old address and
re-register at the new one. That way, the people who move into your
previous home can't offer apparent proof that they are you. 9. Don't respond to cold calls and e-mails. Never reply to e-mails
and cold-callers asking for details such as PINs, passwords and
account numbers - and don't fill in your details on any unfamiliar
e-mail or website. Telephone the organisation that is allegedly
behind the approach, using the number in the phone book or in previous
correspondence - and warn them what is happening. 10. Keep on checking your credit report. You need to check your
credit report regularly, because ID thieves could target you at any
time.
AllanJames
(the StartBusinessMentor)
http://www.StartBusinessMentor.comMaking money on the web: Free Affiliate Training and Guides Free website traffic: How to drive 1000's of free targeted visitors to any website or offer. --------------------------------------------------------
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data to impersonate you, clear your accounts, borrow money and run up
debts in your name - and it's a booming business, according to
Experian's Victims of Fraud service, which saw a 66 per cent rise in
reported cases during 2007. Ten ways to keep your ID safe
It's one of the fastest-growing crimes of the 21st century. These tips could help to protect you: 1. Shred sensitive information. Shred financial statements, offers
of loans and credit cards, catalogue account details or anything else
that could be used to impersonate you before binning them. Thieves go
through rubbish to see if there is anything useful - a practice known
as bin raiding. 2. Check your statements carefully. Go through your credit card and
bank statements every month. Unexpected entries can be the first
indication that somebody is stealing your money. 3. Learn to love your credit report. Your credit report is such an
effective tool in the fight against ID fraud that the government
recommends regular checks to protect yourself. It gives you a
snapshot of your borrowings and repayment record, so you can easily
spot unfamiliar accounts and suspicious balances. 4. Limit your social networking. It's tempting to include basic
information such as your full name and date of birth in your profile,
then add interesting details such as your pets' or children's names
and nicknames. Don't - these are the kind of detail that you probably
use for passwords and PINs, so leave them out. Your cyber-friends
might be fraudsters looking for enough data to steal your ID. 5. Don't risk important documents. Don't carry your passport,
driving licence or even credit cards unless you know you'll need them
and never write down your PINs and passwords. If your bag or wallet
is stolen, you could be handing the thieves your identity as well as
your cash.
6. Report thefts. Always tell the police, your bank, credit card
issuers and anybody else who might be affected if you suffer a theft.
That way, your loss is on the record and organisations who might be
approached by the thieves will be forewarned. 7. Keep an eye on your post. If mail goes missing, tell the Post
Office immediately - someone may be intercepting it, especially if you
live in a building with a communal hall where mail is delivered. 8. Register to vote at your current address. Lenders use the
electoral roll to check that you live where you say you do. If you're
not registered, a criminal could register you at another address.
When you move home, always deregister at your old address and
re-register at the new one. That way, the people who move into your
previous home can't offer apparent proof that they are you. 9. Don't respond to cold calls and e-mails. Never reply to e-mails
and cold-callers asking for details such as PINs, passwords and
account numbers - and don't fill in your details on any unfamiliar
e-mail or website. Telephone the organisation that is allegedly
behind the approach, using the number in the phone book or in previous
correspondence - and warn them what is happening. 10. Keep on checking your credit report. You need to check your
credit report regularly, because ID thieves could target you at any
time.
AllanJames
(the StartBusinessMentor)
http://www.StartBusinessMentor.comMaking money on the web: Free Affiliate Training and Guides Free website traffic: How to drive 1000's of free targeted visitors to any website or offer. --------------------------------------------------------
***Here are some FREE gifts you should check out***1. FREE Instant Start Income.
http://www.12path.com/StartBusinessMentor/InstantStartIncome/
2. Easily Create Professional Graphics in Minutes!
http://www.12path.com/StartBusinessMentor/InstantGraphics/
3. FREE Big Listbuilding Lie
http://www.12path.com/StartBusinessMentor/BigListbuildingLie/
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