Every year, more than nine million people say that their identity has been stolen in some way. As long as fraudsters keep coming up with new ways to steal money, we must also keep working hard to keep our personal information safe.
As more and more people use credit cards and debit cards to shop and pay bills, it's getting easier for thieves to steal sensitive information and completely take over someone else's identity. Here are four easy ways to keep your identity and the money you've worked hard for safe.
- Use common sense.
Never give out your debit card number over the phone, especially if you didn't start the call. The only time you should do this is if you are dealing with a company you know and trust.
Don't carry too many cards with you, and keep your receipts in a safe place. Don't throw any kind of receipt in the trash near an ATM or public trash can.
- Sign up for online banking.
Sign up for online banking at your bank so that you can always get to your accounts quickly and easily. The sooner you tell your bank about fraud, the sooner you can put a freeze on your accounts and stop the thieves from doing more damage with your debit card.
- Be careful when you shop online.
Even though there are thousands and thousands of trustworthy online stores, you should still be careful when using your debit card to shop online. Of course, you should be careful with your debit card any time you use it, not just when you shop online.
Some shady store owners and employees have been known to use something called a "skimmer" to read the information on the magnetic strip of your debit card. The information about your account is then sent to a computer, where thieves make new accounts in your name and use your money to buy things.
- Every year, look at your credit report.
Federal law says that each of the three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—must give you one free credit report per year. If you think your identity has been stolen because your debit or credit cards were lost or stolen, your credit report is a great resource because it gives you a lot of information, such as accounts that weren't opened by you and charges and inquiries that you didn't make.
When you check your credit report often, it's easier to take care of any problems that might come up and keep an eye out for fraud. And sign up for helpful blogs that cover news about identity theft so you can stay up to date on the latest warnings and news to stay safe and stay safe.
You can also help people you know online. Send links to helpful sites and blogs and articles that can help people. Help each other stay aware and watch out for each other. Keep yourself safe. It's all about stopping identity theft.
