How to Avoid Identity Theft
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StolenID Search CNBC – Identity Theft Prevention
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ID Theft And Social Networking Sites
http://www.squidoo.com/id-theft-and-social-network-sites This video directs you to a lens that will help you recognize social network id theft scams. In addition, this video will help you keep your identity safe while on a social networking site.
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Cyber Identity Theft and How to Prevent It
Cyber Identity theft has become a major problem in today’s electronic cash and Internet shopping world. It seems that whenever banking and online security advances to keep out the baddies they go and improve the types and variety of their hustles. Sometimes however it is not the breaching of electronic security but the complacency and misplaced faith of the individual that allows these transgressors to get away with your money.
While the loss of the initial money removed from your bank accounts or credit cards is enough of a shock what is often worse is the proceeding problems that you may face long after the actual crime. Things such as your credit history will have a record of unpaid bills or bad credit associated with the theft that can be far harder to overcome and create ongoing problems and stress.
The best way to combat identity theft is prevention. By being alert regarding transactions made on your credit cards or bank accounts, and taking action quickly you can limit your losses if you notice any fraudulent transactions. If you do notice any questionable transactions on your accounts then there are a few steps to take to limit your losses.
Notify your bank or credit card company’s fraudulent claims department immediately that there are debatable transactions on your account. You may be liable for the cost of fraudulent transactions on your account until the time you notify your bank so vigilance is the key, however many credit cards have a $50 maximum liability.
If necessary close your accounts and open new ones with completely new passwords etc. Request that the accounts be closed via phone initially and then in person to ensure that your request has been acted upon.
Contact the main credit reference agencies (such as Equifax, Transunion and Experian) and place a fraud alert on your file. This will help to prevent further fraud by the criminals who have your information.
Report the fraud to the authorities who will issue you with a crime number. This number is required to make any claims against insurance etc.
Advise the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and report the details of the fraud. This helps the police to keep up with any new methods being used by criminals to commit ID theft and thus helps to stamp it out.
Apart from the steps to take if you are a victim of ID theft there are some simple measures to take to help prevent it in the first place. Simple things such as never carrying your PIN number in your wallet or purse with the card are too often forgotten giving criminals easy access to your cash should you lose your wallet. Never respond to emails that require you to log into your bank account from a link within the email that appears to be from your bank. This kind of account password harvesting is known as Phishing and catches more people that it should by gaining access to their account details and then clearing the account of all funds before the owner knows it.
Cyber Identity theft and other types of fraud are all too common and will always be a danger to the electronic banking system we have today. Unfortunately that danger is the price we pay for convenience and access to our credit. Despite these risks however if you remain vigilant and take some common sense measures to protect yourself from this type of fraud you can limit your losses and sometimes escape relatively unscathed.
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McAfee Identity Protection, 12 Scams of Christmas www.CounterIdentityTheft.com
Identity Thieves and Cybercriminals Take Advantage of the Holiday Season, Aiming to Steal Consumers’ Money, Identities and Financial Information. As cybercriminals begin to take advantage of the holiday season, be cautious.
Scam I: Charity Phishing Scams
Hackers take advantage of citizens’ generosity by sending e-mails that appear to be from legitimate charitable organizations.
Scam II: Fake Invoices from Delivery Services
Cybercriminals often send fake invoices and delivery notifications appearing to be from Fed Ex, UPS or the U.S. Customs Service.
Scam III: Social Networking Scams
Cybercriminals send authentic-looking “New Friend Request” e-mails from social networking sites.
Scam IV: Fake Holiday E-Cards
Cyber thieves cash in on consumers who send holiday e-cards in an effort to be environmentally conscious. Worms mask as Hallmark e-cards and more.
Scam V: “Luxury” Holiday Jewelry
Scam campaign that leads shoppers to malware-ridden sites offering “discounted” luxury gifts from brand names.
Scam VI: Practice Safe Holiday Shopping — Online Identity Theft on the Rise
Researchers predict online holiday sales will increase this year, as more bargain hunters turn to the Web for deals. While this is the season for giving, don’t give away your identity. Cybercrooks promote fake gift card offers and other schemes with the goal of stealing consumers’ money and information, which is then sold to marketers or used for ID thefts.
Scam VII: Risky Holiday Searches
Hackers create fraudulent holiday-related websites for people searching for a holiday ringtone or wallpaper, Christmas carol lyrics or a festive screensaver.
Scam VIII: Job-Related E-mail Scams
Scammers are preying on desperate job-seekers with the promise of high-paying jobs and work-from-home moneymaking opportunities.
Scam IX: Auction Site Fraud
Buyers should beware of auction deals that appear too good to be true, because often times these purchases never reach their new owner.
Scam X: Password Stealing Scams
Thieves use low-cost tools to uncover a person’s password and send out malware to record keystrokes, called keylogging.
Scam XI: E-Mail Banking Scams
Cybercriminals trick consumers into divulging their bank details by sending official-looking e-mails from financial institutions.
Scam XII: Ransomware Scams
Hackers gain control of people’s computers then act as virtual kidnappers to hijack computer files and encrypt them, making them unreadable and inaccessible.
Protect yourself:
1. Never Click on Links in E-Mails: Go directly to a company or charity’s website by typing in the address or using a search engine.
2. Use Updated Security Software: Protect your computer from malware, spyware, viruses and other threats with updated security suites.
3. Shop and Bank on Secure Networks: Only check bank accounts or shop online on secure networks at home or work, wired or wireless. Wi-Fi networks should always be password-protected.
4. Use Different Passwords: Never use the same passwords for multiple online accounts. Diversify passwords and use a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
5. Use Common Sense: If you are ever in doubt that an offer or product is not legitimate, do not click on it.
6. Get Identity Theft Protection: McAfee Identity Protection includes proactive identity surveillance to monitor subscribers’ credit and personal information and access to live fraud resolution agents who can help subscribers work through the process of resolving identity theft issues. For additional tips, please visit http://www.counteridentitytheft.com.
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