CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Agency released statistics on May 1st 2010 that identity theft is up by 19.86% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared with the same time in 2009. With an increased number of people on the Internet, so too is there a growing database of people’s identities, banking information, usernames, passwords, etc. Fraudsters have found ways to hack into systems and steal not only identities of innocent victims, but much of their wealth too.
With such crimes being a stark reality of modern society, it is critical that we all take certain precautions to protect ourselves. If you feel that you may have already been a victim, and have not yet reported the incident, do not hesitate to contact one of our criminal experts today.
To protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud, here are a few tips:
1. Carry only necessary information with you. Leave any unused credit cards and your national insurance card at home in a safe and secure location.
2. Always ensure that you have photocopies of vital information you carry regularly and store these in a secure place, such as a fireproof safety deposit box.
3. Check your financial statements regularly. Much financial crime is undetected for long periods because people fail to regularly check their statements.
4. Do not give your credit card number via email as it is typically an insecure method of doing so.
5. If you must give your credit card information over the phone, only do so when you have initiated the phone call.
6. Do not use the same password or PIN for two accounts, and occasionally; it is worth changing you PIN.
7. Keep your passwords in a safe and secure location, and avoid keeping them in your wallet or purse.
8. Destroy all unwanted paperwork with personal information on it. Shredding is highly suggested.
Crimes of fraud are constantly becoming more and more technologically advanced in the way that criminals are carrying them out. As such, we recommend that you update your knowledge on how to protect yourself from being duped. One place to look for updated information is the Identity Theft Organization which you can find here. When it comes to shielding yourself, it is always better to air on the side of caution, as in most instances, victims have not realized that in today’s society, we are all eligible victims of fraud.
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