According to The Identity Theft Council, there are an average of 25,000 new identity theft victims in the US each day.
Neal O'Farrell, executive director of The Identity Theft Council, Walnut Creek, Calif., says he's seen a surge in every type of identity theft, from low-tech methods like mail theft to professional online hacking.
Daniel Ingevaldson, chief technology officer of Easy Solutions, Atlanta, an anti-fraud company that works with credit unions and banks, says mobile and smartphone fraud is on the rise as well.
Here are just a few steps you can take to stay ahead of the statistics:
* Monitor your credit card and GPFCU statements "like a hawk," for unauthorized charges-even small ones.
* Shred unneeded receipts and statements with a cross-cut shredder instead of throwing them directly into the trash.
* Protect personal electronic devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets with multiple layers of security like password managers, Wi-Fi security, and "keylogger" protection.
* Before banking or purchasing online, verify that the Web address starts with https:// -the "s" is a "secure" designation-and that there is a padlock logo present.
* Only make online purchases from your home computer on a secure Wi-Fi connection-never from a public computer or from a public Wi-Fi connection.
* Create complex passwords for website logins. Combine numbers, symbols, and letters-in upper and lower case-of at least eight characters. Avoid using personal information such as mother's maiden name or a pet's name.
* Be wary of phone calls or emails that sound fishy and delete urgent emails requesting personal information. Be suspicious if someone claiming to be from [name of credit union] or another financial institution asks for confidential information. We already have your information on file.
* Check your credit report for errors. It can act as an early warning system. You can get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies once a year for free. Always make your requests from the www.annualcreditreport.com website, the only site sanctioned by the Federal Trade Commission. Or, you can call 877-322-8228. Make one request every four months in rotation among the three credit agencies so you can monitor your credit report year round.
* Consider freezing your credit. Doing so prevents identity thieves from opening new cards under your name by locking the process under an additional layer of security-a personal identification number. Victims of identity theft often take this precaution, and non-victims often can sign up for a fee. If you choose to apply for credit, remember to unfreeze access.
Immediately report any suspicious activity to GPFCU. We can help you stay one step ahead of ID thieves. Stop by or call today at 412-621-6800.
