In order to know what to do to protect oneself from identity theft, one must know how these thieves access your information. By knowing what to watch out for, the individual can protect himself or herself from frauds and opportunists.
Oftentimes however, the methods identity thieves employ in stealing other people’s information are very simple. This accounts for how lightly some people treat identity theft.
- Your credit card information, ATM pin or other private pins may also be simply observed and taken noted of by thieves. Be sure to always watch your back or surroundings when punching your pin in ATM machines or writing down your credit or debit number.
- Your cell phone, laptop or similar gadget is a gold mine of personal information, and when stolen, you better be prepared. Take good care of such gadgets. Also, your wallet, always very tempting to thieves, may give you extra trouble if you carry all or most of your cards in it. It is thus wise to carry only a single credit card, or better yet, leave them at home. Memorize your SSS number instead of carrying the card with you.
- Your information may also be stolen electronically by phishing software and malware. Equip your computer with effective anti-virus and anti-phishing software. Also, be wary of websites asking for personal information such as your SSS information or credit card number. Always call the company first and confirm if they have such a website asking for such information. It is always safer to do your business transactions in person.
- Be careful as well of fake job offers requiring an individual to submit resumes and the like. Resumes, as we know, teem with personal information, and when put in the wrong hands, may spell disaster.
- Your mailbox is a very accessible thing not only to yourself but to potential thieves as well. Do not let important documents or mail such as checks be delivered to your mailbox. Have them delivered to the Post Office instead. The next best alternative is to put a lock on your mailbox.
- Thieves may obtain information from public records, such as government official records, searching in garbage or trash bins (for instance, in waste baskets provided in ATM booths or in offices). Also, thieves may obtain information from hardware such as CD-Rs, DVDs, computer hard disks, usb sticks which are not properly disposed of. Therefore, be sure to destroy or break any such hardware before dumping them in public waste cans. Documents carrying sensitive or important information must be shredded before thrown.
- Never carry your passwords with you, whether they be written on paper or stored in any electronic device. Memorize them instead. In the first place, be sure your password is strong and known only to yourself. Using your mother’s maiden name or your maiden name has long been disapproved because of its commonality, and hence can be easily guessed by thieves.
You may never know when an identity thief will strike, and so it is always best to be safe. Taking that extra effort and constantly being vigilant will keep you safe and protected from identity theft.
