November 2011 Newsletter

Protect your ID during the holiday season

The holidays are upon us once again. It's time for getting together with friends and family, parties and, of course, shopping. But before you start making your list and checking it twice, you might want to take a moment and think of ways to protect yourself from identity theft. Making a few wise decisions can help keep your information safe and put your mind at ease.

Shopping Online
Traditionally, the biggest shopping day of the season has been the day after Thanksgiving. But in recent years, more and more people choose to shop online the following Monday — Cyber Monday. As this method gains popularity, thieves are unfortunately coming up with more cunning ways to steal your identity. But making a few smart decisions up front can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.

• Never open e-mails or click on unfamiliar links from an incoming e-mail that you think is suspicious.

• Take care when shopping with unfamiliar online vendors. Double check the site you are shopping on to verify it is a legitimate site and not a dummy site created to fool shoppers. Find out about others' experiences before you purchase by searching site reviews.

• Make sure the site you're shopping from is on a secure server. You can tell it is secure when the web address starts with "https" instead of "http."

• Before you start shopping online, update your antivirus software to the latest version.

• It's a good practice to change all of your passwords once a year, and make sure you're not using the same password for a number of sites.

• Your information can remain on your hard drive long after you delete it. So if you plan to donate your computer, make sure your hard drive is completely cleared.

At the Mall
With all the crowds, decorations and excitement of the holidays, it is easy to become distracted. If you're not keeping an eye on your surroundings, you can become an easy target for thieves. Make sure your purse and belongings are never left unattended. If you like to keep your wallet close, it might be a good idea to carry it in a front pocket to avoid pickpockets. Never carry your social security card with you, and make sure none of your other identifications have your social security number on them.

Whenever you are using your credit card or debit card, try to make sure it is scanned in your view to make sure nothing out of the ordinary occurs. Some credit thieves use a method known as "skimming": when your card is swiped, the information is stored and later used fraudulently. You should also keep a close eye on your statements from your credit card and bank during this time to make sure all of your purchases are accurate.

ATMs
Taking precaution when using an ATM is always a good idea, but around the holidays you might want to be a little extra vigilant. Always make sure no one can see you enter your PIN, even if it means covering the keypad with your hand. At night, use an ATM that is brightly lit and, ideally, in an area that has good visibility. Also, if the machine looks like it has been tampered with or there appears to be a device attached to it that doesn't belong, it's always better to be safe than sorry and find another ATM. Thieves can place devices on machines that can "skim" your card and get information that allows them to access your account without having your card.

Charity
Everyone is in a giving mood around the holidays and thieves use this to their advantage. Never give your information to someone posing as a charitable organization over the phone or someone who approaches you while you're out shopping. If you're looking to give to a charity, it's always safer to contact them directly.

Taking the time to be cautious can help you have a safe and secure holiday season.

Featured Products:

From the Blog: Avoid Identity Theft: Get in the Habit of Protecting Your Personal Information

Written by Diane Moogalian

You lock your door when you leave your house; you hold your purse tightly on a busy street. You probably ask the neighbors to pick up your newspapers when you're out of town.

We all have certain habits to protect our personal possessions and avoid theft, but what about everyday practices to protect against identity theft?

Most of these preventive measures come down to common sense. The goal is to keep your personal information safe and stop unauthorized people from getting access to it. Identity theft is scary, and having your identity compromised can cost you a lot of money and time. Follow these best practices and get in the habit of protecting your personal information to avoid identity theft:

• Don't carry more credit cards than you need.
• Shred all mail and account statements that contain personal information.

• Record all personal and account information electronically and keep a hard copy in a safe, secure place.

• Create strong passwords (don't use your pet's name or your birthdate or other easily guessed combinations) and change your passwords regularly.

• Don't share your passwords.

• Record your passwords in a secure location, or in an encrypted file on your computer. Don't write them down and keep them under your keyboard or in a desk drawer.

Whether you're performing simple account maintenance or dealing with the mess of identity theft, you'll find it helpful to have the following details easily accessible:

• Account numbers

• Name/personal information on accounts
• Authorized users
• Issuing company and/or bank
• Phone numbers to report lost or stolen cards
  

Once you've recorded all this information, make sure you keep it stored in a safe, secure place.

Unfortunately, no matter how much you do to protect yourself against identity theft, your identity may be compromised in a way that's out of your control. In addition to getting in the habit of protecting your identity, you can also sign up for a  credit monitoring product, like Equifax Complete™ Premier, that will alert you to changes in your credit. And, if you spot any changes that seem unfamiliar, it's possible you may have been a victim of identity theft. These early warnings could be critical, as the sooner you know that your identity may have been compromised, the easier it should be to clean up the mess.

Equifax Complete™ Premier and other credit monitoring products from credit-reporting agencies monitor activity on your credit report and credit cards. You can receive alerts when new accounts are opened, when balances change and for other kinds of credit activity.

The key to protecting yourself against identity theft is getting in the habit of safeguarding your personal information and receiving real-time information about activities related to your credit.

VISIT THE EQUIFAX FINANCE BLOG »

Interactive Tool: Equifax Places

Tip of the Month: Keep an Eye on Your Information

Finding out if your idenity was compromised and traded on the Internet is made easy with WebDetect. It can search through suspected underground trading sites for your information to see if it has ever turned up.

WebDetect^‡ is included at no extra charge with Equifax Complete™ Premier. Once you're signed up with the plan, you can activate scanning by entering your personal information in the Member Center and you'll receive alerts if your information is found.