Before filling your sleigh with goodies, use these ID theft prevention tips
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, and with the growing threat of ID theft looming, consumers may not know their identities could also be for sale.
The intersection of commerce and cyber-crime could be a bumpy road for shoppers over the next month, so don't let the ID theft grinches steal your holiday cheer this year.
"Wherever there's information about a person, whether it's retained by a retailer, bank, credit bureau or database, there's someone out there who has the ability to steal it," said Dan Clements, spokesman for ID Secure, a sophisticated new tool that uses leading-edge public records, Social Security number and credit card monitoring technology to fight identity theft. "The more difficult you make it for someone to rip you off, the less chance you have of becoming a victim of identity theft. These criminals are not looking for a challenge; they're looking for an opportunity."
ID Secure, a leading-edge public records, Social Security number, credit card and cyber-crime chat room monitoring service, is distributing a useful tip a day from Dec. 7-24 using the "12 Days of Christmas" theme to help protect consumers against the fastest growing crime in America.
With the holiday shopping season in high gear -- retail sales are expected to hit $474.5 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation, and online shopping soared 37 percent on Cyber-Monday this year -- it is now more important than ever, to take steps to protect your identity.
Before you load up your sleigh with holiday gifts, remember these tips from the experts at ID Secure:
On the sixth day of Christmas my expert reminded me:
1. Shop smart ... When shopping, limit the credit cards you carry and
don't take extras. Leave your Social Security card, birth certificate
and passport at home.
2. Keep receipts ... For post-holiday statements, be sure to examine
every charge on your statement before paying. Your receipts provide a
great cross-reference check and guard against suspicious activity.
3. Protect computer prior to online shopping ... Make sure your security
patch and antivirus software is updated regularly. Consider purchasing
technology that protects against potential viruses that threaten your
identity. Always check for the lock icon on the website's browser
status bar, which signals a secure site that is safe for transactions.
4. Don't write a check ... When considering the gift of money, give cash
or a gift card. If you write a check, make sure that your Social
Security number is NOT on the check.
5. Give the gift of safety ... Buy a cross-cut shredder -- a great line
of defense for would-be ID thieves -- for that special someone on your
list. It is smart to purchase one to protect yourself, too.
6. Strengthen passwords ... Create passwords that will not be easily
cracked by hackers. Use strong passwords with at least eight
characters, including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols
that are easy for you to remember, but difficult for predators to
pounce upon.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America, with 27.3 million victims in the past five years, and nearly 20 million in the past two years alone, according to a study from Javelin Strategy & Research. This crime costs more than $56 billion, or $6,383 per victim, annually, and has become so prevalent, that an identity thief strikes on average every 3.5 seconds. In fact, ID theft has now surpassed drug trafficking as the No. 1 crime in America, according to the Justice Department.
