Thanks to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and even MySpace, keeping in touch with friends and family online has never been easier.
But as the popularity of social networks continues to rise, such services are beginning to appeal to fraudsters looking for ways to steal peoples’ identities and information that’ll help them fraudulently apply for credit.
The chances are, unless you frequently check your credit report you won’t realise you’ve become a victim of identity theft until you find yourself refused credit or have a purchase declined.
But there are a few precautions you can take to help keep you and your personal details safe while you socialise online.
1. Be aware of what information you reveal about yourself
Be vigilant as to what personal information you display on your networking pages. For example to leave your email address, date of birth, telephone numbers or your pet’s or family names clearly visible. If fraudsters can get hold of enough different types of your personal information, it makes it that much easier to successfully set up a new credit account in your name or even to make a guess at your private banking or credit card card accounts. How many people have their mothers maiden name or pet’s name as a security question?
2. Look out for phishing email and messages
By now everybody should be deleting emails from banks and other official looking organisations that are requesting passwords and login details in order to ‘restore access to your accounts”. But similarly you should also be on the look out for any unexpected pop-up boxes or windows that request your personal information too.
3. Don’t share your passwords with others
It does sound like a fairly tip, but you’d be surprised how many people do indeed share their passwords with others.
4. Regularly check your personal information is safe
Just because you’re careful with the information you share online, it’s important not to just assume that your personal info is safe.
For added peace of mind you should be regularly checking your credit report to look for any unusual or fraudulent applications. Your credit report will contain your personal history of credit such as loans, credit cards, store cards, mortgages, and mobile phone contracts.
Most importantly, your credit report will also include details on any new credit applications. A potential new Lender will search and leave a record on your credit report whenever you apply for credit, so should anyone try to borrow money or make purchases on credit in your name, you’ll be able to notice the fraud and stop is quickly.
