If you have been a victim of identity theft, then you can understand how this crime can seriously ruin your life. If you haven’t, then you either have no idea, or only have a faint clue to what it feels like.

The consequences of identity theft are very real and are very distressing. It doesn’t matter for what purposes your identity has been stolen, serious damage can be caused. If somebody has found your details, they can use them for a number of things. For example, next time you throw away an old bank statement or credit card receipt, just think of what could happen if somebody were to find those scraps of paper. Not only will they contain your name and address, but they also contain details of your bank, and credit card details. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that these sorts of information can be used for. (more…)

If you were already worried about the increasing rate of identity theft, and the costs caused to both the companies and the individuals themselves, then you are in for an even bigger worry, and that is the new type of identity theft that is coming about, commonly called pretexting. (more…)

A lost or stolen wallet or checkbook is the most common source of information used to commit identity theft. Wallets and checkbooks contain a number of items that are sensitive to the owner and a goldmine for identity thieves.  (more…)

With the increasing prevalence of phishing cases, we have learned that it’s best to protect ourselves from falling victim to this scam. We know now how to identify a phishing email and we’ve realized that it’s wise to just ignore it and not click on any links. However, there’s also a more proactive way to further combat this scam and that is - to report phishing.  (more…)

Most financial institutions offer online banking services now. However, not all of them are safe. And not all online entities who claim to be financial institutions - and safe ones at that - are, in this world of online theft, especially identity theft. So remember these safe practices for your online banking.

1) Check out financial institutions online thoroughly before pursuing any type of online banking with them. Begin by searching the About Us or Contact Us web page on the site to find street address (not a P.O. Box), phone number and other complete info. Then check the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org  to make sure there are no or very little legitimate complaints filed against the company’s website link and address.

2) As you register for accounts, you should be prompted to click a confirmation link inside a reply email. So watch for it. And afterwards, always log in to the site from your browser, not any email links. Too many thieves and unscrupulous people pose as financial entities in fake emails, inviting you to click their links and submit your access info (user name and password). Then they log in the real banking site and steal your identity and funds. So beware! And when in doubt, call the bank direct - -not from the number on the email, but from the real website or other documentation you have on file (like an invoice or statement that arrived in the postal mail). (more…)