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“Identity theft is one of the most pervasive and insidious
crimes of today,” Weisman says; in fact, more than 12
million people became victims last year.
So what can you do to avoid joining them? Weisman lists the
ways…
Online, use strong passwords and encryption and beware of
sites you visit. Never open a link in an email unless you’re
certain it’s “legitimate,” and have your antivirus program
up-to-date at all times. By the way, Mac users shouldn’t
feel safe anymore; hackers are purposefully creating Mac
viruses now.
Also, be cautious when clicking on links you see online.
“Curiosity killed the cat,” says Weisman. “Let the cat
live.”
When answering the phone, remember that your bank will not
ask you for debit card or PIN numbers. Neither will the FBI
or the IRS; the general rule of thumb is not to release
any personal information unless you initiated the call.
That’s especially true if the person on the other end of the
line seems to have half of your information. Chances are
they’re only waiting for you to get flustered and fill in
the rest.
Monitor your credit rating and your monthly bills with
eagle-eyes. Keep those eyes on your credit card as much as
possible when it’s not in your possession. Know where the
safest ATMs sit and why you should never use public copiers
for important document duplication. And finally, remember
that it’s almost impossible to guarantee complete
safety of your identity – even after you’re dead…
Though it sometimes seems a little sensational, and though
it leans toward repetitiveness, I found the information in
“Identity Theft Alert” to be overwhelmingly good.
Part of the reason is that, while you’ve been warned at
great length about identity safety, author Steve Weisman
offers tips I doubt the average person would generally
consider. Weisman is, after all, an expert in this category
– something you’ll notice, once you get past the
commonsensical and into the quieter threats that exist.
It’s also helpful that Weisman doesn’t assume anything about
his readers; instead, his advice is methodical and simple to
understand. The info is especially senior-friendly, although
beware that the print-size isn’t.
I think this is a book to read and refer to often. Buy
“Identity Theft Alert,” highlight it, flag it, heed it, and
you may avoid the worst this season. Why would you decline? |
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