IDENTITY THEFT

Dolans.com has a few tips of identity theft which I find interesting.

Remember the television series "Angela Bennett"? How the lady tried to convince others of her lost identity? How she was deleted and given another identity?

An identity theft incident occurs every TWO SECONDS in the US.In Malaysia you hear of it once in a while. Here in Malaysia, normally it happens because you lose you identity card and end up as a borrower in car loan agreements and other legal complications follow.

The Malaysian identity card and birth certificates are very valuable. It they are stolen, they fetch a very high price in the black market. With the identity card and birth certificate, one can get a passport issued. For a multi-racial country like Malaysia, its citizens' identification papers could be sold to foreigners like the Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Chinese (from China or Taiwan) who work either legally or illegally in this country.

Malaysians are wary of using their credit cards on the Internet due to the suspicion that some unscrupulous characters will steal their information and clone new credit cards in their name for sale to others.

There ARE things you can and must do to protect yourself.

The following may be useful:

Shred your bills and credit card or bank statements!

If an identity thief wants to find your credit card number or even your identity card number, he can do it-easily – by simply running through your rubbish especially if you throw all your bills unshredded?!
So shred any and all solicitations you receive- not just credit card bills and personal papers. The smaller the pieces, the less likely would a scavenger find your bank account number and credit card information.
Even if you have never lost a credit card or had your wallet snatched, your personal information-identity card number, bank card number, birth dates and more-could end up in the wrong person’s hands.

Identity thieves are lurking EVERYWHERE.

Ever worry when you give your credit card to a waiter at a restaurant or cash teller at a supermarket?You’d better start because more and more crimes happen during normal everyday shopping and dining then you may imagine.
Sift through your receipt with a fine tooth comb and do NOT, under any circumstances, accept a handwritten note as a receipt. It must be run through a machine for you to know its genuine.
Check your credit card bill THE MINUTE you receive it.
Check each charge listed to make sure they are all yours. If you don’t already have an online account with the credit card company, it’s time to open one! You can check your statement throughout the month.
Remember: The less thorough you are, the more likely a thief will infiltrate at the “holes” you have opened in your life.

Become a computer thief’s worst nightmare.

It is very easy these days for a computer whiz to hack into your PC files and grab your PC passwords, bank account information, credit card numbers and more!
Always, SHUT DOWN your PC daily when not in use and make sure you have a security program installed and working at all times. Plus, don’t forget to update your software patches, firewalls and virus protection on a regular basis.
The more rigid you are about these protective measures, the tougher it will be for an intruder to steal your private information.

Are Your Computer Passwords Safe?

Have you ever changed your computer password? You should automatically change the password every 6 months to a year for security purposes.
Experts advise that the safest passwords don't use common words or personal information like birthdays, family member names or family pets. Hackers can easily guess and then gain access to your files.
The best and safest computer passwords combine numbers, letters and characters like ampersands and dollar signs.
Try to create something you can easily remember that a hacker would find difficult to guess.
But it had better be easy to remember because you should never write your password down. And under no circumstances should you store it in your purse or wallet. Also avoid taping it to the underside of your keyboard.

It is better to be vigilant than to cry over spilt milk. It's time to start protecting yourself before you become a sad statistic.