 This day in time, we are sharing our personal and vital information with others daily, and perhaps we do not even realize we are doing it. Writing a check at the store, paying with a credit or debit card, purchasing products on line, those are all transactions that require you to share your personal information: the cards and the bank account numbers, your Social Security or W7 numbers, your name, address and telephone numbers. Identity theft, the fastest growing fraud in America, is a serious crime that occurs when someone without your authorization use your personal identification information, for example your Social Security or W7 number, date of birth or mother’s last name to open new credit accounts, order merchandise, or obtain loans. These are some ways that you can use to maintain your transactions safe and secure when you purchase on line or in the regular manner. Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your SS card in your wallet or print your SS number on your checks. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier, like your passport, for example. Always ask the people requesting it: Why do you need that number? Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know whom you are dealing with. Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spy ware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information. Utilize a safe and well-known browser when making purchases on line to protect the safety of your transactions. If you complete forms on line, make sure the address of the website is an https:// or displays an icon of a closed lock in the bottom bar of the browser. Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. Inspect:
Your credit report: Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history. The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies –Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion- to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1 877 322 8228, to order your free credit report each year. Or write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P O Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Your financial statements: Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.
These suggestions provided by
clear w’re
wireless broadband
Victor Manuel Quintero, 615 977 4261
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