Play it smart against identity theft
March 9th, 2010
Having your identity stolen by a credit thief or scam artist is frustrating. And if someone opens a bunk account or runs up false charges in your name, it can have a negative impact on your credit score. Get “in the know” about which scams to watch for, so you can keep your identity — and your credit score — safe.
Watch out for:
Phishing. If you get an email that looks like it’s from your bank or another agency asking you for account details, it’s probably a crook waiting to cash in. Real companies won’t ask you to verify information by email or phone. Think it might be real? Call the agency using the number on your card to check.
Smishing: This is the same scam as phishing, but with text messages sent to your cell. Keep your eye out for texts from “5000” instead of a real number, and texts that ask for your “immediate attention.”
Vishing (voice phishing): An automated voice message tells you to call your bank or credit card company at a certain number. When you do, they ask for account info. and boom — they’re in. To protect yourself, keep a list of toll-free numbers handy so you can call your agencies and make sure the problem is legit.
Pharming: You’ve heard of this one. It’s where hackers take you from a real website to a fake site where they grab your personal data. Watch out for it on Facebook and Twitter, in particular. Red flags are sites you’ve never heard of and urls without “http” in the address.
Skimming: How low can they go? Here, crooks use an altered ATM slot and cameras to snatch your pin. It’s a red flag when it looks like an ATM machine has been altered. Stay safe by covering the keypad when you’re typing at stores and ATMs.
Spyware: Spyware is software that gets downloaded when you open an email attachment, click on a pop-up window or download a song or game. It then grabs your personal information and uses it to make charges or open accounts. One fix is installing anti-spyware software on your computer.
More ways to protect yourself:
• Always check credit card and bank statements for bogus charges.
• Review your credit report for errors or surprises. You can order one free report per year at www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Shred paperwork and receipts with account info.
• Keep your Social Security card and credit cards stashed somewhere safe.
When it comes to scams, nothing is foolproof. If you think you’ve been hacked or scammed, contact your credit card company, bank and other agencies right away to let them know. If a scammer has opened a false account, ask for the name of the issuing creditor and let them know you’re the victim of identity fraud.
For more great tips on protecting your credit and finances, visit whatsmyscore.org.