IDENTITY THEFT
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!
OVER 9 MILLION AMERICANS WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR!
IDENTITY THEFT CAN AFFECT CONSUMERS IN SEVERAL WAYS
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT
AND CATCH IT BEFORE THE DAMAGE BECOMES DETRIMENTAL!
IF YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR SSN;
BE SURE THAT WHOEVER YOU GIVE IT TO
WILL BE PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION,
IF YOU MUST USE YOUR SSN ONLINE;
MAKE SURE THE SITE IS SECURE
IT ALWAYS HELPS TO CHECK OUT THE BETTA BUSINESS BUREA (BBB)
TO GET BACKGROUND HISTORY ON SITES/COMPANIES/PERSONS
IF A PERSON/COMPANY/SITE HAS ANY COMPLAINTS,
THEY WOULD BE ON FILE WITH THE BBB.
IT ALSO HELPS TO GOOGLE A PERSONS NAME,
ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY
BEFORE TRUSTING YOUR INFORMATION WITH THEM.
IF A PERSON HAS BEEN RECORDED ONLINE,
THE COMPLAINT WILL SURELY BE
LINGERING SOMEWHERE IN CYBERSPACE.
*SITES LIKE CRAIGSLIST ARE COMMON FOR SCAMS*
THESE SCAMS CONSIST OF JOB SEARCHES,
INQUIRIES ON PRODUCTS FOR SALE,
AS WELL AS HOMES FOR SALE OR RENT.
IF A PERSON CLAIMS TO BE “OUT OF TOWN”
AND PROMPTS YOU TO SUPPLY YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
SUCH AS; NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT INFO, EMAIL
OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION
WITHOUT CONTACTING YOU BY PHONE FIRST
****IT IS A SCAM!!****
NEVER GIVE SOMEONE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION:
WITHOUT CONFIRMING THAT THE PERSON
IS ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN WHATEVER SERVICE
OR SALES YOU ARE SOLICITING!
CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS FREQUENTLY!
DO NOT USE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR EVERYTHING!
IF A PERSON AQUIRES YOUR PASSWORD,
THEY CAN USE IT TO ACCESS ALL YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNTS!
MAKE SURE PASSWORDS ARE ORIGINAL & HARD TO GUESS
BIRTHDAYS, LAST NAMES, OR NUMBER SEQUENCES LIKE 1234
ARE OFTEN EASY TO FIGURE OUT.
DO NOT COUNT YOURSELF OUT!
SCAMMERS & HACKERS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
TO ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNTS!
MAKE SURE TO BE ALERT ABOUT ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS
& PERSONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE!
IF YOU HAVE A SMARTPHONE – YOU CAN DOWNLOAD APPS
THAT MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO BE ALERTED
WHEN A TRANSACTION HAS OCCURRED ON YOUR ACCOUNT!
THIS METHOD IS HELPFUL TO FIND FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS/CHARGES
AND DISPUTE THEM BEFORE THEY BECOME A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR YOU!
