| In order to avoid the increasing problem of | | | | |
| identity theft, you need to be aware of the | | | | How to Help Reduce On-line Identity Theft |
| tell tale signs and take as many measures as | | | | |
| possible to reduce this type of fraud. A few | | | | In this day and age we nearly all use the |
| helpful points are mentioned below. | | | | internet as a convenient means of purchasing |
| | | | goods along with carrying out our regular |
| Remember to check your credit reports on a | | | | banking transactions. It's a good idea to |
| yearly basis. This not only helps you to keep | | | | install a recommended anti-virus software on |
| track of your credit rating but most of all | | | | our computers and to scan the content of our |
| it can be the first indicator of fraudulent | | | | files at frequent intervals. We should |
| activity taking place in your name. You are | | | | maintain this security level by updating the |
| entitled to one free credit report per annum | | | | software as and when necessary. Links and |
| plus additional reports may be available if | | | | attachments received in the in-box of your |
| you have previously been a victim of identity | | | | email account, should not be opened unless |
| theft. | | | | you know for sure where they have originated |
| | | | from. On-line identity theft is becoming more |
| Keep all personal information and | | | | and more prevalent. Fraudsters are |
| identification private and if you are in any | | | | persevering with fresh ways to gain access to |
| doubt as to how personal information will be | | | | your details, resulting in ongoing research |
| used, then simply do not give it out. Any | | | | being carried out into new methods of |
| documentation displaying your name, address, | | | | protection. A Firewall program is just one |
| credit card account numbers and pin numbers | | | | solution to protect your computer from these |
| should be destroyed thoroughly prior to being | | | | fraudsters, along with a secure browser to |
| discarded, especially supermarket receipts | | | | protect on-line transactions. |
| where you have settled the bill by credit | | | | |
| card payment. If you need to keep it, then | | | | It is important that we all help each other |
| keep it somewhere safe. If you don't need to | | | | to combat identity theft. Reach out to |
| keep it - shred it! | | | | others, the young and the vulnerable, family |
| | | | and friends, show them where information can |
| Most of us use passwords on a daily basis for | | | | be found to keep updated on issues relating |
| various personal accounts we hold. Make sure | | | | to identity theft, in order to make sure we |
| you use a different password for each account | | | | are all doing as much as we can to keep our |
| and make the password a combination of | | | | identities as safe as possible. |
| numbers and letters, lower and upper case, | | | | |
| the more complicated the better. Its sensible | | | | Take steps to safeguard your private and |
| not to use your birth date - remember, the | | | | personal information. Help reach out to |
| more unusual the combination the less chance | | | | others you know to alert them to this info |
| of someone working it out. Try to commit | | | | for their safety. Print out helpful articles |
| passwords, pin numbers and social security | | | | like this and share copies with others, even |
| numbers to memory instead of keeping a record | | | | emailing them as well to help others stay |
| on paper. | | | | safe online and off. |