|
Becoming a victim of credit card fraud can be enough reason for a consumer to lose all that he has worked hard for. You earned your present credit status and it helps you live with less stress. Every day, you use your credit to avail of products and services. Being able to get loans and utilities because of your good credit is also helpful in establishing a good future. With all these going on, you know that you have to protect your credit. Credit protection can help prevent credit scams. Most consumers think that they have to pay a significant amount of money just to have a secure credit. To monitor your credit, you really don’t have to pay a lot of money. It’ll be mostly your hard work that will keep your credit safe. It’s true that what many credit protection companies out there offer includes credit insurance or daily credit monitoring. However, you could elevate the level of safety just by being prudent and persistent in checking your credit. Pocket-Friendly Tips in Credit Protection When you protect your credit, you protect your present and your future. To secure your credit, you don’t have to spend a lot at all. Given are some tips on how you can protect your credit the pocket-friendly way: - Cancel your paper statements.
Paper statements can be intercepted in the mail. It would be much safer for your account if you just check your statements online. You could also set up for online payments for your bills. - Don’t carry your important documents with you all the time.
Have a document vault at home. Never bring your SS card or Medicare card with you. Just have them photocopied and leave the original copies at home. This is to make sure that your information is safe even when your wallet or purse gets stolen. - Don’t carry your password/PIN list with you.
Never have your list of passwords or PINs inside your wallet. This would be much like giving free access to your finances, especially if your wallet gets stolen or lost. - Never let others access your accounts.
Half of known identity thieves are either family or friends of the victims. It takes a lot longer to set right if the credit fraud is committed by a relative or a close friend. - Get your mail immediately.
Mail thieves get information from your paper mail and use it to access your account. If you have to send mail, go directly to the secure outgoing mail box. - Shred financial documents.
You should shred the financial documents before discarding them. There are dumpster divers that get into your trash bins to gather used up documents that are still intact. These trashed information sheets are good sources of data to hack into your account. - Protect your computers and gadgets.
Make sure to update your firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware so that hackers can be blocked. Many credit scammers use technology to steal from you. Counter their attacks with technology as well. - Use complicated PINs or passwords.
The combinations of your PINS and passwords should be a complicated mixture of letters and numbers. This will help make it difficult for credit scammers to access your accounts. - Always carry your purse or wallet with you.
You should not leave your personal belongings in your car or gym locker. Your wallet or purse could be easily stolen by persistent thieves. - Don’t be predictable.
Scammers love to target people who follow a strict routine. Change your routines so that they may not have an idea of your daily activities, lowering your risk of getting victimized.
Credit fraud is a rampant white collar crime that you could easily avoid, especially if you follow the simple tips listed above.Kedy is an active blogger who is fond of sharing interesting finance related articles to encourage people to manage and protect their finances. Follow her and discover how enhanced identity theft protection can help in protecting your credit from theft and fraud.
Related Articles -
credit protection, prevent credit scams, credit card fraud, monitor your credit, what credit protection includes,
|
