Are You Steering Clear of Identity Theft Fraud?

In a world where many people find it a challenge to make ends meet, the last thing they need is identity theft fraud.

That said many individuals do have that issue steering them clear in the face.

No matter how identity theft fraud found its way into their lives, they their lives have taken a turn for the worse.

With that in mind, what are you doing to keep identity theft fraud from creeping into your life?

Although some practices work better than others, it is important to cover all your bases.

From not giving your identity out to monitoring your finances, you can never be too careful.

So, are you doing all you can to steer clear of identity theft fraud?

Be Pro-Active in Battling Identity Theft Fraud

To have the best chance of avoiding identity theft fraud, remember a few pointers:

1. Personal identity mistakes

There is never a good reason to give out your personal information unless it is necessary. Such examples would be getting an airline ticket, doing your banking etc.

One of the ways identity theft thieves con consumers is by leading them on.

Whether via the Internet or the phone, their goal is to get your information. Once they have the pertinent details in-hand, you’re at their mercy.

One scam is identity theft thieves contacting consumers during tax season. The former will pose as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. In doing so, they claim the consumer owes money. If the consumer makes the mistake of giving out their personal info, trouble can soon set in.

In the event you’ve received such calls in the past, did you follow up to investigate them?

By doing a free reverse phone search, you can see who in fact is calling you. If it becomes necessary, pass that information along to law enforcement. Although they may not be able to do anything about the call/s, they can issue a warning to the harassing party.

2. Safeguarding your receipts

Another mistake is leaving receipts and other sensitive information around for criminals.

An example of this is when you go out for a meal or other activity. If you leave your credit card receipt behind on the table, it doesn’t take much for someone to scoop it up. Even with only four numbers of your card at their disposal, a good thief can get to work.

Your best bet is to make sure you give that receipt to an employee and not leave it sitting around.

Another example is when you toss your receipts in the trash can without shredding them. It doesn’t take a thief much effort to go through the trash and come up with some information about your finances. He or she then takes that information and uses it against you.

Once again, safeguarding your receipts could have prevented this trouble.

3. Securing your computer

Much of today’s identity theft comes via computers.

Whether you use your home computer on a regular basis or only on occasion, make sure it has protection.

Along with installing the best security software, have a strong password. Using passwords that include your birth date, or name are not wise choices. Think of something that no one else could likely come up with.

Also be sure to avoid downloading any email attachments that could have malware in them. If you do not recognize the sender, don’t download anything. Even when you know the sender, be alert to any suspicious requests to download an item.

Steering clear of identity theft fraud is not easy, but do you have any other choice?