Prevent Identity Theft

Just like burglars and thieves, cyber criminals have many different ways to steal personal information and money. Just as you wouldn’t give a burglar the key to your house, make sure to protect yourself from fraud and online identity theft. Know the common tricks that criminals employ to help you protect yourself from online fraud and identity theft. Here are a few simple tips.

 

Don’t reply if you see a suspicious email, instant message or webpage asking for your personal or financial information

 

Always be wary of any messages or sites that ask for your personal information, or messages that refer you to an unfamiliar web page asking for any of the following details:

• Usernames

• Passwords

• Social Security numbers

• Bank account numbers

• PINs (Personal Identification Numbers)

• Full credit card numbers

• Your mother’s maiden name

• Your birthday

 

Don’t fill out any forms or sign-in screens that might be linked to from those messages. If someone suspicious asks you to fill out a form with your personal information don’t be tempted to start filling it out. Even if you don’t hit the “submit” button, you might still be sending your information to identity thieves if you start putting your data into their forms.