| |
| |
|
Holidays Information |
|
|
|
Holiday Spending: How to Keep Your Personal Information Safe
Holiday spending can be a wonderful time. We shop for our loved ones, friends, co-workers, and associates. Finding just the right gift and paying by credit card. Then, Ouch! Your credit card is declined. You know you haven't exceeded your credit limit, and the clerk can't tell you anything. How frustrating. Now begins the trek to uncovering the reason for the error. Calling the credit card company results in the discovery that some else has been using your credit. How could this have happened? We often become lax when we go shopping. And holiday time is a busy time for shoppers as well as retailers and thieves are prowling for the opportunity to take your information. In busy stores, rushed sales clerks and crowded lines we can loose track of our credit card or easily give shoulder surfers the information they want. In the midst of all the distractions we become a victim of identity theft. Take the time this year to protect your information. Pay closer attention to transactions and watch out for thieves causing distractions. * Shoulder Surfers. Pay attention to people who are standing close in your space. If you are using a PIN pad at a store, guard your information. Block the other persons view with your body and your hand. If you are using an ATM, pay attention to anyone who is too close for comfort. Put your body between them and the ATM. If you haven't started your transaction, step aside and let the other person go first. * Check the store's receipt. When the clerk hands you the charge card receipt for your signature, look at the copy you are signing-this is the copy the store will keep. Is your entire credit card number printed on it? If so, mark out all but the last five digits. If you leave the entire number on the receipt it is possible that a thief can copy the entire receipt, and on it is your full name, card number and signature. The store only needs the last 5 digits for reference, not the entire number. * Sales Clerks on the Phone. When making your purchase, don't hand your credit card over to a clerk who is on the telephone. Your card information could be relayed to another person. * Unorganized Sales Clerks. Sales clerks who seem overly rushed or unorganized could be using that to cover up the way they are copying your credit card information. Copying your card information by hand or by a skimmer. If the clerk seems too busy, wait until he/she is finished before handing over your credit card. * Keep sight of your credit card. Don't let anyone walk away with your credit card. This is common in restaurants. The wait staff will take your payment and return with a receipt. What happens with your credit card while it is out of your sight? You'll never know. Pay with cash or accompany the wait staff to the register than hand over your card. Stay with your card until the transaction is completed. * Watch for skimmers. Skimmers are used to record magnetic information. They can be hand held, attached to a belt or attached to an ATM or gas pump. When you use an ATM or gas pump, look for anything that looks like it's attached or not part of the original equipment. Attached skimmers will let you complete your transaction but will also copy your information for the thieves to use later. * Writing a Check. If you write a check, the clerk may ask you for identification. This is normal. What is not normal is for the clerk to write down your identification or information. They should not write it down on your check, or anywhere else. They are only allowed to look at it to verify you are the person named on the check. Always remember the clerk cannot write it down, anywhere. * Junk Mail & Pre-Approved Credit Offers. Holiday shopping is filled with flyers, advertisements, pre-approved credit and offers of increasing credit limits. Don't let these get into the hands of mail thieves. Pick up your mail daily. Shred anything that has your name on it, not just pre-approved offers. * Watch for Statements. With more mail delivered during the holidays, you may not be aware that your bank or credit card statements did not arrive. Know when to expect them and watch for them. Check your charges with against your statement. Notify them as soon as you suspect unauthorized activity. * Charitable donations. This time of year charities can be found everywhere. Make sure you know who you are donating to. Imposters may set up legitimate looking collection points. If you want to donate find out a local contact and make your donation directly. Don't make a donation by check or credit card if you are not familiar with the person or organization. * Parties. Holiday parties can be fun. It can also be a means for people to have access to your personal information in your home or at the office. Unlocked file drawers, documents or statements lying out on a desk, and outgoing mail can be an easy source for a thief to pick up. With party activities going on around you, you may not even notice someone slip into your office to steal information. Steps to guard our information should become second nature. It takes some getting used to because we have to change our thinking. Even though we want to trust people, we should be suspicious of everyone. Over 50% of reported identity thefts have been committed by someone the victim knew. Family, friends, co-workers, service people, sales clerks or associates could all be potential thieves if given the right circumstances. The holidays can be happy and hectic. Don't let your guard down or provide thieves with easy access to your information. Keep your identity safe this holiday season. Cindy Graham is author of the book, "Who Else is You?" In it, she outlines strategies on how to reduce the risk of becoming an identity theft victim. An expert who has studied current identity theft trends, Cindy understands the risks of business owners and consumers when it comes to the exposure of personal information. For more information on her speaking, consulting or book, please visit: http://www.whoelseisyou.com or call: 970-285-1581 or Cindy@EasyAs123.biz
MORE RESOURCES:
Holidays - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Simplify the Season Let's take a look at a typical Christmas To-Do list: bake cookies, buy and make gifts, attend office party, church commitments, address and mail cards, clean the house for guests, decorate.. Halloween Costumes...for Pets! One of the best things about Halloween, is wearing a costume. If you have animals at home, why not consider a Halloween costume for pets? A Halloween costume for pets is usually made for an animal of the canine kind. 10 Reasons Santas Broke This Year 1. Santa Spends More Than He MakesSanta's paychecks are nothing to sneeze at, but he stays focused on his next raise. Reduce Waste This Christmas - Christmas is responsible for more waste and consumption than any other holiday. North American's trash increases by 25% over Christmas - which equates to 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. Terrible at choosing gifts? Need help with gifts? Not everyone is good at choosing them. But there's more to gift giving than getting gift ideas from someone else. Romance on a Budget Valentine's Day is often synonymous with lush velvety looking red roses and spending big bucks on your sweetie. You're blinded by advertisements touting the latest luxury jewelry, over-priced flowers, and exquisite five star dining. Birthday Journals Last year, as I turned 50, (FIVE-OOOH!!!), I decided to give myself a birthday party. Part of the party was to have a birthday journal, or diary. Cashless Gifts Sometimes gifts that are truly from your heart have no cash value. But the value to the recipient can be more than any amount of money could provide. Its Party Time - Lets Decorate! Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your guests an occasion that will forever remain etched in their memories. New Years Resolutions Ah, the start of another year! In a groggy haze on New Years Eve, I promised someone (or was it myself?) that I would be good this year. I said I would draw up my New Year's Resolutions - particularly after the roller-coaster year I had last year. Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating You're tired. You've worked hard all week. Ready for Christmas? Enjoy an Organized Holiday This Year 1. Keep a stack of directions TO your place for people who need to know how to get to your home or office. Corporate Holiday Gift Ideas Start With a Possibilities List Plan ahead this year for your corporate clients and associates holiday gifts.Now is the time to prepare for this year's corporate holiday gift ideas. The Truth about Mistletoe You can call it the emasculator of the old king, a sexual symbol, latent with fertility or a good luck charm for a dairy herd. It's been used as an antidote for poison, a fire suppressant, a protection against evil spirits, a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and as a gift of peace between warring neighbours. The History And Origin Of Valentines Day The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans, at the time a prisoner in the Tower of London, to his wife. The Duke's Valentine's card is now preserved and displayed in the British Museum. Mothers Day is coming-Dont Blow It! Mother's Day is May 8th. And, you do realize all of the things that the Mom in your life has done for you and your family, right? Then you must know that a bouquet of flowers and card, though very sweet, are not all it takes to make Mother's Day a true holiday. The Thanksgiving Blessing "Wouldn't you just know it," muttered my husband, Randy.We had already been driving for a couple of hours in a pickup truck that we had borrowed from a friend, and now it was completely dark. Why July 4th ? On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. On this day they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent states, not subject to the government of Great Britain. A Medieval Story for Valentines Day, Bonne & Charles The general word on the Internet is the first Valentine card was sent in 1415. It's not accurate and it's not true. 2 Inexpensive Halloween Costume Ideas Did you know that you can make your own Halloween costumes without spending lots of money? You many already have many of the supplies needed to put these together. Here are 2 neat Halloween costumes that you can make yourself:SkeletonAll you need to make a skeleton costume is a black sweat suit or a black turtle neck and pants, a piece of chalk, white fabric paint (preferably glow-in-the dark, or uv reactive), and an image of a skeleton.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
