Beware of Identity Theft

[thetrailboss]

After some high profile cases of identity theft and credit card/personal information data that has come up missing, I figured I would start this thread to share pointers as to how to prevent your info from getting out there.

In a training a few weeks ago, a peer told me a horrific story of how someone had stolen her identity and had used the info to get credit cards and run up a bill. They were so good that they even were able to change addresses when she moved (she was in college and moved QUITE often). She now SHREDS everything and has double passwords for everything.

This story, the news coverage, and seeing guys in my neighborhood going through people's trash for cans (trash that was literally UP BESIDE the houses...), I've started SHREDDING everything...credit card applications, bank statements, etc.

Also, do NOT use your social security number freely. ONLY use it for business transactions with folks that you trust and don't give it out freely. Destroy anything with that number on it. Do not use it as a password.

Even with these precautions things can still happen. I got a call from my bank yesterday regarding my "debit card," connected to an account with $2.03 in it. I just got off the phone with them and they are cancelling the card because a merchant I had dealt with has LOST the data which includes my debit card #. Thank god that they are giving me a new card and that the account had a whooping $2.00 in it. :roll:

So beware...

Any other tips?

 

[skijay]

NEVER click a link in an email from a bank or credit card company. If it is some type of verification, go to the company's website directly by typing their address on the address line of your web browser and then sign into your account. Most likely you will find out that you did not need to make any updates or verifications as the email was no legitimate.

There are too many of those fake emails going around.

Watch out for phone surveys and those "you can win a trip" sweepstakes at the mall.

Do not use your last 4 digits of your SS# or your DOB for ATM pins or other passwords.

Sign up for a credit awareness service such as the one American Express offers for $7.99 a month. It alerts you if anything changes in your credit profile, such as inquiries and new accounts opened.

EDIT: For online purchases, call your credit card company and open a NEW account with a low credit limit such as $500. Put in writing that UNDER no circumstance is your credit limit on this new card to be increased unless it comes in writing from you. If that card was stolen, at least it will get maxed out faster than your credit card with a $10,000 limit. I even use that card at questionable stores.

 

[Stephen]

My parents were travelling from NH to NY. Somewhere along the way they stopped at a Denny's. Gave their card to the waitress to pay for the meal.

By the time they got to NY, there was a $5000 charge from China on their card. Apparently it was either a "double-swipe" scam or a hack into the system. Either way, they now ALWAYS pay up at the front coutner in the resturaunt, or they use a low-limit card if the card is going to be out of their sight.

-Stephen

 

[thetrailboss]

Actually, the low-limit card idea is a great one...will have to look into that myself.

 

[ctenidae]

Just be aware of finance charges, interest rates, "membership" fees, etc on the cheap cards.
Other than that, prett snappy idea. Unfortunately, all my cards are low limit...

 

[skibumtress]

My parents were travelling from NH to NY. Somewhere along the way they stopped at a Denny's. Gave their card to the waitress to pay for the meal.

By the time they got to NY, there was a $5000 charge from China on their card. Apparently it was either a "double-swipe" scam or a hack into the system. Either way, they now ALWAYS pay up at the front coutner in the resturaunt, or they use a low-limit card if the card is going to be out of their sight.

-Stephen

I had the same problem, except mine was Africa. :-?

Totally maxed out my card.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Today in my mail I got some of those Low apr checks the credit card co gives you. When I opened mine there were two sets. One was mine and then some other persons :blink: Account number Credit line amount ect :blink: I just put it in the shredder.

 

[smitty77]

My wife keeps getting e-mail from PayPal saying her account may be compromised and to supply information to verify the account (or something like that). She was about to start filling in fields when I told her it seemed a little Phishy. Sure enough, the e-mail header said it came from some odd e-mail address, not PayPal.com. PayPal's website has a full section devoted to the reporting of such scams because it is such a problem. In the last 2 months she has gotten 4 e-mails, all exatly the same, all from dirrerent hosts and addresses.

BTW, in case some of you weren't aware and use a program such as Outlook to check your e-mail: Right-click on the message in your inbox and select "properties" from the menu. This will display all of the routing information for that message. The user it was from, how it was routed to you, and the reply address (if it is different).

Smitty