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