UPDATED 1/28/2010

I know that this doesn’t have anything to do with Imaging, but I thought that I would put down some tips to help protect you from identity theft. Identity theft is now the number one crime and it’s getting worse. Working in the retail business FOR 23 years I see countless people getting their informaion stolen and they say “I JUST DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THAT” Never get an attitude that you know everything there is to know about protecting yourself. That’s how thieves get you.

1. EMAIL SPOOFS. A credit card company will never send you an email telling you that you need to update your info. NEVER RESPONED TO THESE. When in doubt, call the credit card company. Save the email because the credit company may want you to forward the email spoof to them so they can track them down if possible.

2. Never give financial info over the phone. Don’t give out credit information to someone posing a credit card company. Again the credit company’s have your information so they will not ask you to verify that kind of stuff. The best thing to do in this situation is, hang up the phone and call the credit card company back.

3. GET A SHREDDER! Don’t tear up credit card offers, SHRED THEM. Even when they are torn up they can be taped together and mailed in. Some credit company’s will still allow a torn up application that’s taped up. The chance of that happening is about 30%. Also shred any financial info as well. Any kind of papers telling anything about you, where you live, SSN# the works.

4. TRASH. Never put out the trash the night before. You will be amazed at the amount of people that will drive around at night digging through trash to get financial information. Stick a note on the door to remind yourself to put out the trash in the morning. Most thieves like to attack at night; however some will dig through trash in broad daylight. That’s why you get a shredder.

5. Bill PAYMENTS. If you have bill payments that need to be mailed, don’t put them in your mailbox. Again, thieves will drive around and pull those payment envelopes out and get your financial info. Drop you mail off at a USPS drop box so they can’t get to it. I can’t stress this enough.

6. Verify your information trick: When a scammer calls up posing as your credit card company they will ask you to verify your information by having you tell them your personal information. Your credit company will not do this! They will ask you to verify the information they have in their records and proceed to tell you your personal information. Not the other way around. Remember, when in doubt hang up the phone and call the company back. Don’t tell them your going to hang up JUST HANG UP!!

7. Firewall and Spyware – Make sure you have firewall and spyware software on your system even if you have dial up. If you have firewall don’t think that you are immune to hackers. They can still get in by using spyware that is attached to software that you purchase or download. One last thing. Don’t store credit card numbers, account numbers, passwords or anything on the computer. Write them down on paper or commit them to memory. If you log into yahoo and they ask you if you want to save your password – DON’T. It may be easier but it could cost you in the long run. Clean out the cookies in explorer and the history at least once a month. You should do a full scan every month and a simple scan every day IMHO

8. Get a paypal Account - Using a paypal account is safer because credit information in not sent. Many company’s accept paypal such as Stark labs, CCD Labs, Scope Stuff just to name a few and the list is growing. If your interested in purchasing a product from a merchant... Ask them if they accept Paypal... It doesn’t hurt to ask.

9. Don’t save passwords on the computer... For example... When you log into the internet.. You are given a choice to save your login password... Don’t do it!!! Write them down on a piece of paper. Remember... anything that is saved on your computer... can be stolen...

10. If your a net chatter or a member of a group.... Don’t start aurguments (glory seeker)... this too will draw attention to yourself.... Some like attention and will get it where ever they can.... This can lead to trouble. Hackers will start to track you and follow your every move.....

11. Be careful of links in group messages.... Sometimes these can lead to trouble.. It’s OK to click on a link of someone you know... But.... Be careful of someone that offers a link and you don’t know them... Haven’t heard of them..... or they don’t sign.... THIS CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS

12. Don’t offer your email to everyone.... this too can lead to problems of hackers tracking and getting data that you don’t know about.... They can build trust then provide links that you click on and cookies are installed on the computer unknowing to you... these cookies can pull data off including CC....

13.BE CAREFUL OF THE EMAIL VERIFICATION SCAM!! This is a scam in which a hacker will send you an email that appears to be from your email provider… They will ask you to verify your email and password as well as other things. That’s one of the first clues that it’s a scam when they are asking for your password. Your provider is not going to do this. If you come across one of these it’s best (if you can) to let your provider know about it so they can shut it down. Check your internet provider to find out where to send emails like this…