Financial Education

Identity theft happens when a person steals your personal information to use it for illegal activities. This mostly happens electronically, however it also happens through methods as simple as stealing sensitive mail out of your mailbox (bank statements etc..), or someone breaking into your home.

There are many things that you can do to prevent identity theft and fraud:

• Protect Your Passwords- Use a different password for each online account. Keep them protected using an online password manager.  The most secure passwords contain at least 8 characters and a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Use Cash- Debit and credit card information is always being stolen. I prefer to use cash for most of my transactions.  Cash is king!
• Never Give Information to Unsolicited Callers- Although there are some legitimate businesses that sell over the phone, many aren’t.
• Keep Your Smartphone Protected- Use an antivirus app. Also use a password lock and a data deleting app that you can access from a computer if your phone is stolen.  Only download apps from a trusted app store.
• Secure Your WiFi at Home- Use secure encryption on your home network so that it can’t be easily hacked.
• Don’t Click the Links- If an email is suspicious, don’t click any links. If you do click a link, run a full scan with your antivirus software ASAP.
• Keep Your Operating System Up to Date- Keep your Operating System and web browser up to date. Enabling automatic updates in your settings achieves this very well without having to constantly do it yourself.
• Use a Firewall and Antivirus Software- You can also set these up for automatic scans to consistently keep your computer clean from viruses and other problems.
• Check Your Bank Accounts Frequently- The more often you check your accounts, the more likely you are to spot suspicious activity.
• Only Buy From Online Retailers You Trust- There are tons of scam sites out there offering incredibly low prices on desirable items. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Never Use a Public Network When Accessing Sensitive Information- Wait to get onto a secure network before checking your bank account or accessing other private information.
• Use an Identity Protection Service- Services such as Life Lock and Identity Guard can provide constant monitoring and keep you protected if your identity is compromised.

Reference: https://www.cfinancialfreedom.com/15-ways-prevent-online-fraud-identity-theft/