Don’t Be Fooled by Convenience, Protect Your Identity All the Time

Online shopping provided us with maximum convenience as we can do it virtually anywhere. By simply entering credit card information, the items that we want can be easily delivered to the doorstep.

Indeed, everything seems to happen in just a split of a second these days. You click on a pair of shoes today, and you can be wearing it tomorrow. How sleek is that? But the ease of doing transactions online also paved the way for high tech crimes. Reports show that identity theft and other related crimes continue to increase each year, in the US alone.

So with these advancements of technologies, you also have to upgrade the protection of your identity and reputation online. You can hire the services of an identity theft protection provider as early as now to avoid regrets later. You need to be meticulous though, because you will be entrusting all your information to them.

This is more crucial when you have investments online; it should be well-guarded by a reliable identity fraud protection service. This will ensure the safety of your hard earned money and you will be quickly alerted if there are imminent problems in the future. Although identity protection may seem costly, it can actually save you tons of money in the long run, not to mention the peace of mind that it can offer.

Guaranteeing that you are safe from identity fraud is only one of the many benefits from hiring a reliable provider. In addition, your free credit score will be saved from thieves and will be well preserved. With the proper monitoring and documentation of the activities in your account, you will be provided with the proper identity fraud detection that you need. 

Learn the Ropes to Get Free Credit Reports the Right and Safe Way

All these times, you've been hearing about the importance of a free credit score in battling the crime of ID theft and in reinforcing your identity protection efforts. But the crucial questions are – Do you have a clear understanding of what a credit report really is? Are you well informed of the do’s and don’ts of requesting for one?

If you are not a 100% certain, then be sure to go over the following details:

What should a credit report include?

It should cover vital information which are as follows: your place of residence; your mode of bill payment; possible cases where you may have been sued; and your bankruptcy claims if there are. 

How should you go about in ordering your free report?

You may use the official website, the toll-free phone number, or the mailing address of nationwide credit reporting companies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. 

What should you be warned about?

Legally speaking, there is only one official website that is authorized to fill orders for free annual credit reports. And that is the annualcreditreport.com. Other sources may be fraudulent in nature.

What data should you provide to get the free credit report?

You are mandated to provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address. In the case where you have moved in the past two years, you may need to give your previous address. 

Why do you need to have a copy of your credit report?

A copy would help you ensure that the information on the report is complete, accurate, and recent. And, such copy would also aid you in protecting yourself against ID fraud. 

Speaking of ID theft, another smart move would be to take advantage of an identity fraud protection service. With experienced and knowledgeable experts, a trustworthy identity fraud detection program should come handy. 

Lovin' Public WiFi? Be Cautious! Your Identity Might Just Also Go Public

For sure, the attraction of it all is what draws you. Through it you can do banking transactions, shopping sprees, and private messaging while going out and about. But did you know that with the enjoyment that it brings also comes a serious risk?

The Shocking News...

Reports have been coming out identifying public Wi-Fi hotspots as rich playing grounds of identity thieves. Evidences of the said crime have so far been found in cafes, hotels, and even U.S. airports.

The Sneaky Tactic...

What basically happens is hackers set up a connection on their laptops on these public Wi-Fi hotspots and virtually “listen” to people's laptops.

So you may ask – How does this happen? You have to understand that whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi in a hotel or cafe for instance, your computer is basically “talking out loud” to the router to gain Internet connection.

Thus, any other computer that is also using the same Wi-Fi connection can virtually “listen” to your PC. Such computers can then find out about your own surfing activity which means others getting access to details about what websites you visit, your email addresses, and your passwords.

The Urgent Action Plan...

If you are someone who just can't resist using a public Wi-Fi, you may want to keep the following precautionary pointers in mind:

1. Avoid doing online activities that may expose your personal information. These may include filing tax returns, doing online banking, or checking email accounts.

2. If you travel often, you may wan to consider setting up your personal VPN or Virtual Private Network.

3. Do not choose other wireless networks that suddenly show up while you are accessing a public Wi-Fi connection. These connections can be from hackers.

Now that you know the dangers that a public Wi-Fi poses, an identity fraud protection service could really come handy. With an efficient identity fraud detection mechanism, you can be at ease knowing that your personal data are secured.

Moreover, you may also want to regularly request for a free credit score to monitor your credit transactions and immediately spot irregularities.

So, what's with the second thoughts? Invest in identity protection today! 

Identity Thieves Targeting ATMs? Do Something Now!

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are probably among the most widely used means when accessing bank accounts nowadays. And with millions of Americans relying on these machines for their immediate financial transaction needs, ATMs have also now become identity theft hot spots. 

So, how do you safeguard yourself from this imminent threat? Below are some bits of advice to arm yourself of:

• Carefully choose the ATM to transact with. As much as possible, find teller machines that are situated in well secured areas. Some smart choices are those in high-traffic or hugely populated places or those in bank lobbies whose premises are closely guarded. Thieves will most likely find it harder to play their tricks in these locations.

• Check for possible signs of tampering prior to using a teller machine. One commonly reported tactic that identity thieves use is attaching some kind of device to ATMs to steal information from your card. Watch out for damaged, loose, or odd-looking card slots or keypads which may indicate traces of tampering.

• Be watchful of the people who are around you when transacting on an ATM. Someone who stands too close next to you or who attempts to peer over your shoulders while you are transacting is definitely suspicious. If you notice people who behave like these, opt not to pursue your transaction and transfer to another ATM instead.

Also, you may want to initiate a request for a free credit score to be able to keep track of your credit reports. In most cases, this is where primary evidences of identity theft would initially show up.

Most importantly, the best way to safeguard your identity is to employ an identity fraud detection service. This way, you will be assisted by knowing and experienced experts in fighting identity theft.

And to ensure that you seek help from people who can really deliver reliable results, make it a point to hire a qualified and well-referred identity fraud protection company.

At the end of the day, you should learn how to take charge when plagued by matters threatening your very own identity. So, investing in an identity protection program is the smartest action that you can take. 

Your Identity is Not a Commodity: Entrust Your Protection to the Right Company

Identity theft is no longer new but why do a lot of people still end up getting caught?

The truth is, one of the reasons why many still end up victims of this huge trickery is that the tricks and maneuvers that are used by thieves are also continuously evolving. While a lot of experts are doing their best to combat such attempts, such fraudulent techniques are also becoming fiercer.

So what then? Would you just sit by as you wait for these thieves to make you their next target?

Your answer would normally be a big ‘NO’. Thus, you need to do something to ensure your security. And, if you are a man gifted with the right discernment, a wise decision would be to invest in an identity fraud detection service.

But the crucial question is – How do you choose the right identity fraud protection company? Here is a simple formula:

Reputation Always Matters

Make it your commitment to go for a firm that has already established a good name in this specific line of industry. Given how crucial the matter of safeguarding your identity is, you could not leave it to chances. Thus, you have to favor the establishment that is already proven and trusted.

Customer Feedback Should be Treated with Value

What the other customers have to say would give you a good idea about the company. Try to ask around from previous customers and simply get their comments or feedback regarding the quality of service that they have received.

The Features of the Service Are Most Valuable

What are the kinds of protection that are offered by their particular identity protection program? What sorts of alerts, notices, or mechanisms are in place? How does their process exactly proceed when dealing with identity theft cases? The specifics are of most critical importance.

So, are you now ready to make a choice? 

Let’s Get Serious: Identity Theft Trends to be Cautious About this 2013

If there is one thing that a modern consumer should be particularly careful about nowadays, it is none other than getting his identity stolen.

Identity theft is indeed one of the most long standing problems that have been spreading throughout the globe. In fact, thousands of people may have already turned out to be poor victims of this crime over the past years.

And this year is no exception. With the positive vibe that 2013 brings also comes some forecasts on the newest tactics that may be used to commit this illegal activity.

Here are some identity theft trends predicted to surface this year that you better take note of:

Social Media Identity Theft

With the soaring popularity of social networking sites also comes the heightening interest of cyber criminals to steal people’s identity through them. These intruders particularly know that you really trust your friends so they can easily use their profiles to possibly mislead or cause you harm.

Search Engine Poisoning

Identity thieves are also targeting search engines this year. They create rogue web pages and get them ranked on search engines. Once you click on these sites, you will then be automatically directed to a malware infested page that can infect your PC and possibly steal valuable info.

Mobile Payments

With payment processing already made possible through the use of smartphones, opportunities for thieves and scammers are also increasing. Given that these phones can store huge amounts of personal data, the information they contain can easily get exploited when they get stolen or lost.

These only make the importance of an identity fraud protection service more compelling. This will enable you to set up an identityfraud detection mechanism to efficiently spot such deceptive attempts.

One good way of also shielding yourself from the danger of identity theft is by requesting for freecredit scores. This way, you can keep track of your credit and ensure that you do not incur credits for purchases that are not even made by you.

Knowing all these, there is no reason why you should not consider investing in identity protection. Have one up as soon as possible.

Tips for Protecting Yourself against Online Scams

The internet has undeniably made the lives of many people more convenient nowadays. It allows them access information fast and easy as well as get the products and services that they need conveniently. However, the internet can also be used by other people who want to exploit others for their own gain, especially in the financial aspect.

If you are planning to get a loan, you might need to access websites that can let you check your free credit score (FCS). The FCS analyzes your creditworthiness to help financial institutions determine if you are qualified for a loan or not.

Although these websites are very helpful, they can also be risky. This is due to the fact that you will be required to provide personal and financial information in the site to get your FCS. When you do this, you must ensure that you know some steps for identity protection. This will let you avoid the chance of your identity being stolen by scammers.

This identity fraud protection will also allow you to avoid different kinds of scams. It is essential for you so you will not be tricked into handing over your money. This will let you avoid scams that might rob you of your money in the form of car or apartment sales, online dating, and charity. Through this, you can also avoid phishing or the act of fraudsters using your account information to purchase things and commit financial crimes.

Protecting yourself against all these scams is essential and this can be done easily with the right information in your hands.