Tips to avoid identity theft
Identity theft is an ongoing problem and as the bad guys get smarter and their scams more sophisticated, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant with every aspect of your security, both online and off.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, 6 million Australians are exposed to scams and fraud each year and around 800,000 fall victim in some way.
However, by observing some basic commonsense behaviours, you can minimise your chances of becoming one of these disturbing statistics.
Here are 10 great tips from AVG to help protect your identity from unscrupulous scammers:
1. Don’t throw away anything that contains personal information unless it has been shredded or ripped up to make the document illegible. So shred the following: bank statements, utility bills, application forms, chequebook stubs, card receipts and letters that have personal details. Today a smart burglar wouldn’t bother breaking into your home and taking household goods and personal items. Instead they’d just steal identity-related documents. An even smarter one wouldn’t even break in. They’d just go through your mailbox and rubbish bin.
2. Be aware of phishing phone calls – if someone asks you to give away personal information over the phone, check their details and get a phone number to call the organisation back to check they are legitimate.
3. Be very alert online – phishing attacks are a growing problem. Keep your email address as private as possible and don’t fall for emails asking you for personal information like bank account details, usernames, passwords or credit card details. A legitimate bank or financial institution will never email you asking you to follow a link or asking you for personal details. Report these scam attacks to www.scamwatch.gov.au.
4. Be careful when using social networking sites, as these can be an easy route to snatching your data. You could be giving up your personal details to the bad guys, crooks with fake profiles, or the friends of your friends who you can’t possibly know and trust. When you next log on to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, check and set the privacy settings on your accounts so that you’re only divulging information to those you truly trust. Please be very circumspect as to what personal information you post on social media web sites.
5. Always go directly to web sites asking for personal information rather than clicking on links in an email or web site page.
6. Only conduct an internet transaction if you are sure the web site is valid and secure. The rise of the internet has created a playing field for fraudsters – always ensure a web site is secure before providing personal details or account information.
7. Remember to set strong passwords. Last year, 20,000 Yahoo, AOL and Hotmail passwords were hacked only to find the most popular password was 123456. Try to use a combination of letters and numbers and change your passwords regularly.
8. Monitor your credit card and/or bank statements and look for suspicious transactions. Also check your credit status regularly; this way you’ll be aware who is doing credit searches on you and if any new accounts have been set up in your name. Contact Veda Advantage or Dun & Bradstreet to get a copy of your credit file.
9. If you move house then have your post forwarded for at least six months to prevent important mail with personal details landing on someone else’s doormat.
10. Go with your gut feel. If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If you’re suspicious as to whether an offer or request is genuine then get independent advice from a trusted advisor, family member or friend.
Gail Lipscombe has worked for some of Australia's hottest tech magazines for over 10 years. In her blog, she focuses on demystifying technology, gadgets and the web for average consumers.