Protect Yourself from Online Scams and Identity Theft

How to Protect Yourself From Online Scammers and Identity Theft

How to Protect Yourself From Online Scammers and Identity Theft is critical for any online user. These crimes have become more prevalent in recent years because of the rise of social media and digitization. However, you can take steps to avoid being a victim of these frauds. Here are a few of them.

What Can You Do?

o Installing strong security software and regularly updating your operating system.

o Do not give out personal information over email, phone, or internet chat. Instead, contact your bank accounts directly and ask them to confirm. Similarly, do not keep your credit card information on unsecured email accounts. Never write down your passwords, even if they are secure. A password manager is an excellent way to keep track of your passwords. You should also avoid using public computers in cafes.

o Do not give out sensitive information to strangers. Often, these people pose as your bank, so always double check the contact details provided. In addition, do not provide personal information to websites requesting it. These scammers may use extra letters or numbers, grammatical errors, or even typos in their emails. To prevent yourself from falling prey to these scammers, you should not share your private information online.

o Don’t share personal information. Do not disclose your credit card number or any other personal information in emails.

o Avoid using the same passwords on different websites. Don’t give your passwords to anyone, even friends. And never provide your credit card or other sensitive information on websites that don’t have encryption.

Personal Information

o Never give your personal information over unencrypted websites. Only visit sites that begin with “https”, not “http”.

o Do not share any personal information online. Ensure that your bank’s contact information is correct and that you have not received a phishing email.

o Don’t provide your credit card number to a stranger.

o Make sure you don’t give your passwords in plain text. If your email says it’s OK, it’s probably a scam.

Sensitive Information

o Don’t provide sensitive information. Whenever you receive an email from a financial institution, verify the address and call it immediately. If it’s not, the message is probably a fake. Besides, you need to protect your personal information by shredding your personal documents. If you’re concerned, shred your personal documents. You can get a cross-cut shredder, and micro-cutter.

o Don’t share personal information. Don’t give out your credit card number and other sensitive information to strangers, and be careful about how you use wireless networks. When it comes to passwords, use them. Moreover, don’t give out your social security number and password. It is possible to steal your data by using phishing tactics. It’s vital to protect yourself and your personal information by following these tips.

Banking Identity Theft

o Don’t give out your bank account number. If you don’t know the identity of the person asking you for this information, it is a scam. If you receive a bank-related email, check its address carefully and make sure it’s a legitimate one. Delete the email and check the URL if it’s not legitimate.

o Don’t give out your personal information over the phone, via email, or through internet chat. Usually, scammers will contact you over the phone, and you’ll be able to find out their true identity after a few minutes of research.

o Don’t share personal information. If it’s asked for, don’t tell anyone. And don’t give your financial information to a stranger.

Passwords

o Use strong passwords. Remember that a weak password can be a potential identity thief’s dream. Having a weak password can be easily guessed, and the thief can use it to access your financial accounts. By changing your passwords, you can also protect your identity. It’s important to always change your passwords when you’re on the Internet.

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