All your personal information, such as your Social Security number, your mother's maiden name, your birthplace, and your birthday, are valuable tidbits to criminals looking to commit identity theft. With an ever-growing concern to guard your personal information, it can be hard to discern which requests for personal information are legit and which are not.
Sometimes Giving Information is LegitCertain companies have a legitimate need to ask you for your Social Security number in order to do business with you. Most medical providers identify patients this way in order not to mistake people with similar names. Any place where you apply for credit credit will want to look at your credit history and will identify you by this same number. Employers too will need the number to report your wages to the IRS.
However, no one should call you and ask you for this number. To verify your identity, the most you should be required to offer are the last four digits of your social security number.
Managing Your Credit CardThis is something you will have to show many people for legitimate reasons. However, every time you allow the credit card to leave your hand, that information is vulnerable.
The most common way credit cards are "stolen" is by skimming. The waiter or hotel clerk will swipe your card in a special small machine designed to steal the information off the card's magnetic strip.
The second most common way credit cards are "stolen" is by something happening to the card itself, such as being switched or the receipt being taken or replaced.
Try to watch the merchant as much as possible when you use a credit card. Also, try to use a card that has your photo. In addition, always sign your card as soon as you access it. Managing Your Passwords And PINsNever give out your passwords or PIN numbers. Authentic company representatives will not ask you for either.
When choosing passwords, be careful about choosing something that is too obvious. Try to avoid using your birthday or address. Never use your social security number for a password.
Most online businesses now give you the option of creating a password that uses both letters and numbers. Ideally, you want to put the numbers inside the letters, not at the end.
Memorize your passwords and PINs. Don't write them down and store them in your wallet or purse. If you want to record them somewhere, be sure it's a safe place. This is absolutely essential to avoiding scams and identity theft. A final note: it's important for you to order a copy of your credit report to check it for any fraudulent activity. Even being vigilant about the above activities is not enough. Likewise, just have protection on credit card accounts is not enough, as identity thieves will use your personal information for more than just putting fraudulent charges on a credit card.
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