Identity theft has quickly become a serious problem, not only in the United States, but also throughout the world. Some of the recent cases of stolen personal data are staggering in size. LexisNexis, which specializes in people’s personal and financial data, had the personal data of more than 300,000 customers stolen.
In another case, MasterCard had more than 400,000 personal files of credit card customers stolen. The list goes on and on.
With the explosive growth of the Internet in the last 10 years, many people believe that conducting online transactions can put them at risk of becoming victims of identity theft. The truth is completely the opposite. Approximately 10% of all reported identity theft cases involved Internet fraud. The highest percentage of cases occurs due to telephone scams and documents left in garbage cans.
In fact, the Internet can help protect you from identity theft in several different ways.
o Use online banking and credit card reporting whenever possible. Almost all banks and credit card companies use secure Internet websites that give you access to your statements and accounts online. This allows you to have up-to-the-minute access to your bank accounts and credit cards. If you see something suspicious, you can immediately take action and report it.
Make sure you only use secure sites that have a lock icon on the screen. Another important point is to never click on a banking or credit card site from a link in any email you receive. Don’t be fooled by emails asking you to “verify” your personal information. If you do, your identity will be stolen and your account will be deleted.
Always type your credit card or bank website address into your browser. By doing this, you will never have to worry about this problem occurring.
o Know what is on your credit report. By taking a close look at your credit report, you’ll know if there’s any fraudulent activity going on. If someone has stolen your identity, you’ll see new accounts on your report that you didn’t know about. You can then take action and report the activity.
There are three main credit reporting companies; Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. You can use the Internet to check your credit history with these three agencies at no cost to you. The government has made it a law that everyone can get a free copy of their credit report annually.
o Consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service. You can find several of these services by doing a simple web search. These companies will monitor your credit activity regularly and report any unusual activity to you immediately. Of course, you’ll also have access to your credit report on a daily basis. Most of these companies will give you a 30-day free trial to try out their service before you pay the regular monthly fee. The cost of this service must be less than $10 per month. It’s a very safe and convenient way to keep track of your credit.
Take your personal credit information seriously. Keep track of your credit report and protect yourself against identity thieves. It can help prevent you from becoming the next victim.