How to Prevent Identity Theft

Internet banking is a piece of cake for all those who know how to handle it. Free online bill-payment, the 'next day’ bank to bank funds transfer and much more, are some of its features that make your life so much easier. But, with this bliss you may also invite a serious trouble. One of the worst things that could happen to you is someone using your identity to borrow money from creditors and stealing money from your bank accounts. This is called Identity theft.

One would only need two pieces of your personal information to impersonate you: your date of birth (DOB) and your Social Security Number (SSN). Technically, these are the keys to your bank accounts, credit files, credit cards, health information and everything. No matter how fool proof banking might be these days you are ALWAYS at a risk of being a victim of Identity theft.

More Information at: www.ehow.com

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Protecting your personal information

Avoiding the phishers


"The vandals are becoming fraudsters and electronic pickpockets."
Identity thieves are using more sophisticated methods to get consumers to divulge their personal and confidential information.

Bill Rosenkrantz, group product manager for internet security firm Symantec, says that in the last seven years, the internet has gone from an information source to an ATM: "Thirty-five to 40 per cent in the U.S. use the internet for financial transactions."

"Historically, hackers and virus writers would attack systems for ego's sake. But now it's financial," according to Rosenkrantz. "The vandals are becoming fraudsters and electronic pickpockets."

How to avoid getting "phished" in

Don't respond to e-mails requesting your personal information.

Don't click on links inside e-mails-

If you're uncertain about a website address that appears in an e-mail, go to your browser and enter the legitimate address manually.

Protect your computer -Use updated anti-virus software,.

Report suspicious e-mails

Notify the legitimate company if you receive any e-mails that you think might be fraudulent.

More information at http://www.cbc.ca

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