Unless you take special steps to keep yourself safe, you could be a victim of identity crime. Your personal financial records are very attractive to criminals. And they are learning more and more sophisticated ways to steal it from you. The best thing you can do is outsmart them so that they cannot get their hands on your private information.
The convenience of using ATM's comes with a price. Thieves have been known to put out-of-order signs on ATM's, and then set up a fake ATM nearby. These fake ATM's are equipped with 'skimmers,' which read information from your debit or credit card as you scan it. Be sure the ATM you are using is familiar and legitimate.
Do you carry your debit card pin number with you? Some people do; it is easy to forget that number. However, carrying it with you is dangerous, because if someone steals your wallet, they can easily use your debit card because the pin number is included. Write the number in code if can't memorize it, so that if anyone else sees it, they cannot decipher it. Also, when you type your pin number into a key pay, shield the pad with your hand so others cannot see what you are typing.
When you fill up with gas for your car, do not throw your receipt away at the gas station. Doing so leaves a paper trail that could lead someone to your financial information. Rather, take your receipt home with you and dispose of it by shredding or burning.
Another way your identity may be stolen is by keyloggers. Keylogging allows another person to watch every key you press on your computer keyboard. Keyloggers may be either software or hardware devices, but their purpose is the same: to record or log your every keystroke.
There are some good uses of keylogging, such as watching over children's computer habits. But crooks can install the software on your computer when you are not aware of it and then steal your identity.
The convenience of using ATM's comes with a price. Thieves have been known to put out-of-order signs on ATM's, and then set up a fake ATM nearby. These fake ATM's are equipped with 'skimmers,' which read information from your debit or credit card as you scan it. Be sure the ATM you are using is familiar and legitimate.
Do you carry your debit card pin number with you? Some people do; it is easy to forget that number. However, carrying it with you is dangerous, because if someone steals your wallet, they can easily use your debit card because the pin number is included. Write the number in code if can't memorize it, so that if anyone else sees it, they cannot decipher it. Also, when you type your pin number into a key pay, shield the pad with your hand so others cannot see what you are typing.
When you fill up with gas for your car, do not throw your receipt away at the gas station. Doing so leaves a paper trail that could lead someone to your financial information. Rather, take your receipt home with you and dispose of it by shredding or burning.
Another way your identity may be stolen is by keyloggers. Keylogging allows another person to watch every key you press on your computer keyboard. Keyloggers may be either software or hardware devices, but their purpose is the same: to record or log your every keystroke.
There are some good uses of keylogging, such as watching over children's computer habits. But crooks can install the software on your computer when you are not aware of it and then steal your identity.
About the Author:
You can find the best alarm system by reading alarm system reviews. Mark Mahaffey knows how to keep you and your family safe. Visit his site to learn more about products that get great alarm system ratings.
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