Identity Theft-Simple protection tips

Identity Theft-Simple protection tips

Identity theft is one of the most reported type of thefts. If a history of recorded identity thefts was to be collated, the last 3-4 years has seen almost 300,000 to 400,000 victims every year. The direct impact of identity theft is on the credit rating and the time and sum of money required to repair the credit. Like most of the scams and thefts, there are no remedies or precautions that can guarantee a 100 percent safety

. But this also does not mean that we ignore the subject or do not employ basic precautions to safeguard our identities. Below is a list of protection tips that will ensure that identity thieves do not find you as easy pickings:
1.Papers and hard copies of investments and finance related documents should be shredded and not sent for recycling.
2.Do not carry more than one credit card with you, unless absolutely necessary. Do not scribble down passwords or PIN numbers on pieces of paper and carry them along.
3.Subscribing to a credit report once-a-year is a sure way to check for transactions which are ambiguous or unauthorized.
4.Being specially careful while providing any personal information over the internet, will definitely prove to be beneficial.
5.Deleting spam emails

wherein you are asked to provide personal information is also a identity theft protection method.
6.Providing personal information over the phone can be as dangerous as providing it on the internet.
7.Keeping telephone numbers of banking companies and credit card companies will always be a wise option.
8.Lastly, and the most important of all identity theft protection practices is to report the matter to concerned authorities irrespective of the amount of loss that you have incurred. Even suspecting an email or a phone call which can lead to identity theft should be reported.
These are just some of the tips which can help you save yourself from a possible identity theft. Following these guidelines does not guarantee a cent per cent guarantee against identity theft, but as the saying goes “precaution is better than cure”.

 

5 Top Tips to Identify Scams

Identifying fraud is getting trickier by the day. Scams and frauds are coming cleverly camouflaged. With sophisticated technology at their disposal, fraudsters are able to trick people more effortlessly. They are also tasting more success after making their scams focused.
Scams are now targeting specific groups in our society. The vulnerable cross-section of the society is threatened with a death-threat scam. Loan defaulters are enticed with foreclosure scams. The student community is duped by phishing frauds.

It seems to be part of their new game plan to target only those who are most likely to fall victim to their scams. Since the scam would appeal to the targeted individuals, they may be reluctant to question its authenticity. This prevents word about the scam from spreading around.
But, enough said, about fraudsters and their guile. Here go, the five top tips that will reveal any and all of their scams:

1. Take time before committing anything on an offer. If you are asked to respond immediately to an impossible offer, then take it as an indication that the individual/company is pressurizing and counting on you to make a hasty decision. Well, Don’t!
2. Discuss the offer with friends. They might be aware of the offer being a scam. If that is not the case, then, being unaffected, they might at least be able to read between the lines better.
3. Search for the company, the individuals or the offer on the internet. If it is a scam, chances are you will find all about it online.
4. If the offer is from a popular company, then confirm the offer with them through independent means. Do not use phone numbers/links/addresses that came with the offer for this purpose.
5. Use an analogy described in a previous post: Before revealing any personal information to an online request, think whether you would reveal the same to a stranger you met on the street. There is no reason to treat an online request differently.

The proliferation of scams on the internet commonly leads us to view even genuine offers with suspicion. But straining any offer you get, whether online or offline, through these tips will help you to separate the genuine offer from the scam.

Beware of fraud email Notifications

Beware of fraud email Notifications

Beware of fraud email Notifications “Please Restore your bank account access”

Many Internet users don’t believe the fact that there are online crooks who are always ready to steal their money

from their accounts. Sometimes fail to comply with the repeated notifications and complete bank information certainly leads to identity frauds resulting not only financial loss but mockery of your personal information.
We at 419 legal strictly advice our readers to follow the safe online banking

tips but in the same way be alert and beware while using online banking . Also to remember one thumb rule that any trusted bank will never ask you to restore your account or will never ask your personal information.
In this article we will discuss how fake email notifications ask you to do and what you should not do.
Email asks you to confirm/update/verify your account data via link provided or attached You will be taken to a spoof /fake website where your details will be captured for the phishers/hackers/cyber criminals.
Once you click the link, they will provide the pop window for passwords reset ,to sign online which when you will enter they will gain your actual password (old password) . Now you can imagine if this happen the chances are very bleak that your accounts will be not misused .
Latest Fraud Email example Representing from Scotia Bank under the subject “Please restore your Scotia Bank account access !
From: Scotia Bank <tkxyvm@yahoo.com>
Subject: Please restore your Scotia Bank account access !
Dear Valued Customer,
We recently have determined that different computers have logged in your Online account

,
and multiple password failures were present before the logons.
We now need you to re-confirm your account information to us, if this is not completed in 48 h,
we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely, as it may have been used for fraudulent purposes.
To unlock your account, please Sign-on to OnLine:
Thank you for your cooperation.
This is required for us to continue to offer you a safe and risk free environment.
Please do not reply to this e-mal as this is only a notification.
Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.
© 2010 Welcome to Scotiabank

IMPORTANT NOTE : Please avoid replying such fake email notifications . Moreover note down their email address from where it appears. Sometime you can also note their IP address from where it originates. Avoid discussing about personal information over internet.