Personal Finance: How to Protect Yourself Against Credit Fraud

Because of the staggering increase in the number of consumers who got ripped off by identity thieves, more and more individuals today are looking for information on how they can protect themselves from credit fraud and identity theft.

Now, do you belong to the set of consumers that we have just described above? If you do, then, we suggest that you pay close attention to the pointers that we have provided in the remainder of this piece. We believe that by employing these suggestions you can succeed in shielding your identity from organizations and individuals who may use it for their personal gain.

Five Tips for Credit Consumers

??? Research for information about the popular schemes and machinations employed by scam artists. Always remember that knowledge is power. The more you know about the illegal activities of fraudsters, the better chances you would have of avoiding them. So, try to look for helpful information about credit fraud and identity theft. This way, you can equip yourself with the right information that can help you safeguard your personal and credit identity.

??? Learn from the mistakes of other consumers. We also encourage you to read the accounts of people who got ripped off by identity thieves. After all, you can gain insights from their experiences, which you can use in developing action plans for you to avoid dealing with fraudsters. At the same time, the personal stories of these individuals can help strengthen your resolution to protect your personal and credit information, at all costs.

??? Use strong passwords. Make sure that you use a strong password or PIN code for your credit or debit card account. Always remember that the security of your personal and credit details will depend entirely on the strength and complexity of the password that you will select. So, make sure that you choose a code that cannot be easily deciphered by trained individuals and the software they use. To do this, you have to see to it that your password or PIN code is not related to your personal information nor to the dates or phone numbers that you share with your immediate family members.

??? Keep personal and credit information confidential, at all times. You also need to keep your passwords, PIN codes, personal and credit information to yourself. Never discuss them with other people, most especially those who do not need to know them. And before you disclose your personal, contact and credit details in an online form or in a business establishment, see to it that the website or the enterprise offers adequate security features, so as not to compromise the confidentiality of the information that you will share with them.

??? Use the latest versions of anti-malware. Consumers are also reminded to keep their anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware programs up-to-date. After all, these software offer excellent protection against the computer programs that hackers and online fraudsters employ to rip off consumers, especially those who love to shop via the Internet. We also encourage you to install in your home or office computer programs that block pop-ups and spam mail, as these normally contain malicious software.

Melanie Mathis is a credit analyst and a writer for 8 years. She has been participating in the programs of http://www.newhorizon.org such as their continuous effort in giving out Free Credit Repair and Building Ebook. NHBS also has a list of recommended Credit Reports Online.

Source: http://thefinalredoubt.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-protect-yourself-against-credit.html

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