SIMPLE  STEPS  TO  PREVENT  IDENTITY  THEFT

Thieves will always look for an open window

Your security doesn't have to be impregnable

It just has to be better than the house down the road

Open a Post Office Box

Never give out your home address on forms unless absolutely necessary. Warranty Cards, Video Library Memberships etc all collect your personal details. What do these people do with this information and how secure is their data?

Take your Name off your mailbox

The Postman already knows who you are and where you live. Your friends will still find you. So why give this information out to anybody who simply drives by?

Never lose sight of your Credit Card

Never, never, never let a sales clerk take your Credit Card to another location to process it. Never let a restaurant hold it while you dine. If you use it for security in a Hotel, make sure the clerk tears up the imprint while you watch. A quick photocopy of your Card will give great access to thieves.

If you do any of these things consider having a second Card with a very low limit which you can also use over the Internet & phone. Nobody will complain if you use one Card for security but pay with another. Do not have this Card linked to your main one in any way!

Say NO to Phone Canvassers

Fraudsters may ring posing as legitimate businesses or charities to gain your personal details. The best approach here is to state politely "we do not conduct new business over the phone, please post this offer to me and I will consider it" then give your PO Box address and hang up.

Ignore Email Requests

We should all know by now about phishing where criminals send a letter supposedly from you bank asking you to confirm your details; these should be ignored, deleted immediately and reported to your Bank. But also be wary of any email asking for personal details even if it seems to be from a friend, confirm with you friend first before filling in details for address book updaters and similar.

Buy a Cross Cut Shredder

Before placing any paperwork with personal details (even your address) in the rubbish, shred it. If you cant get a shredder use scissors to destroy all discernable traces of your details.

Password Protection

Most of us use easy to remember passwords. Do not use something obvious like your childrens names as these are easy to guess for someone who has a little information about you. The more obscure & longer a password the better. Also remember to change your passwords often and never use the same one for everything.

Examine Credit Card Bills

Never pay your bill without first checking the bill against either you memory (not recommended) or your retained receipts. Always query even a small unrecognised amount as criminals may use small transactions to test your vulnerability.

Check Credit Reports Annually

Your Credit Report will list all enquiries made by Credit Providers. By checking this on a regular basis you will know who has inquired about your Credit. Any listings from businesses you are not familiar with are worth checking out.

WHAT  IF  IT  HAS  ALREADY  HAPPENED?

Contact us now for help!