Did you know that it is widely estimated that eight out of ten people are routinely leaving themselves open to identity theft by binning personal information? And even though the vast majority of us fear we might be at risk from the fraud, less than half of us know how to protect ourselves against it.
Here are some points and extra precautions to help protect yourself from identity fraud.
What is Identity Fraud?
- Identity theft occurs when an individual or a company's personal information is obtained in order to assume their identity.
- Fraudsters are getting their hands on personal information by rifling through rubbish bins, intercepting mail and sending out fraudulent emails.
- Fraudsters are also increasingly using the internet to obtain personal information with online shopping and social networking considered high-risk activities.
People need to be more vigilant and follow the simple steps needed to help safeguard their identities:
- Check your mail for unusual transactions.
- Report missing post immediately.
- Never give out information to people unless absolutely sure and, importantly, shred anything you wouldn't want in the hands of a stranger.
- Report the loss of documents such as a driver’s license or passport straight away.
- Get into the habit of checking bills against receipts.
- Always remember that your identity is the most important thing you have, never be complacent with your identity, and help join the fight against identity fraud.
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