How To Avoid Getting Into Identity Theft Trouble
The credit card industry seems to be growing at an unprecedented
rate. According to some statistical reports, the average
American household has at least one credit card. In fact, from
the total respondents in the survey, 81% of the households have
at least one credit card.
This goes to show that more and more people are enticed to get
their own credit card. The reasons for doing so are based on the
fact that credit cards offer extreme cashless shopping
convenience. Hence, everybody seems to be motivated to get at
least one credit card.
However, the travails of the credit card industry do not end
here. This is because the reality that evolves on the credit
cards does not just depend on the way people use credit cards
but with the way on how they use it and protect themselves.
What people do not realize is that the manner on how they use
their credit cards can greatly affect the way they live. For
instance, frauds and fraudulent activities are very prevalent in
the industry and the best targets of the culprits are those who
use credit cards whenever they are into shopping.
People should take note that one of the most prevalent credit
card scams in the society today is the identity theft. In fact,
it has been reported by the FBI that almost 350,000 up to
500,000 cases of identity theft are known to exist in the U.S.
every single year.
Basically, identity theft is when some unscrupulous people try
to get some information from you such as your social security
number and other pertinent personal and financial data.
These sets of information are used deceitfully by these people
for their own benefits. Hence, the poor victim does not realize
that his identity was stolen and that his financial future is
doomed.
For this reason, it is important to know how to avoid getting
into trouble. Here is how:
1. Protect your personal data and any financial information
Never entertain phone calls that require you to give any
personal data or information, even if the caller says he is from
the bank that issued your credit card and that the information
gathering is just some sort of verifications.
If this is the case, try to inform him that you wish to do the
transactions personally. Hence, it is important to very if the
caller is, indeed, a representative of the bank.
2. Avoid freebies and offers that involve credit cards
If you were offered with some promotions requiring you to give
some personal information, then, it would be better not to
entertain the promo at all.
Things like these will only entice you to try it. In the end, it
is too late to realize that you have just been a victim of an
identity theft.
3. Have a regular check up on your credit standing and bills
Most of credit card holders are so lazy to do regular check ups
on their status. If you do this, it will be easier for you to
detect any probable identity theft case on your part. Credit
reports can definitely tell you if there were purchases that you
know that you did not make.
4. Do not carry them around
The problem with most people is that they ten to carry their
cards wherever they are. This is a bad habit that should be
stopped. You will never know what will happen while you are in a
public place, where identity theft could just be lurking around,
waiting for its next victim.
The bottom line is that credit card users should be responsible
enough not to allow these fraudulent activities to happen. Keep
in mind that the reason why these kinds of frauds exist is that
there are people who are unconsciously victimized every now and
then.