The official start of the holiday season is just around the corner. Yes, I'm one of those crazy coming out "Black Friday" shopping, and any of you who have ventured on Black Friday know how crazy it can be. At the end of the day shopping, I'm bleary eyes and my legs were about to give me (all in pursuit of a bargain).
I am also one of those who only shops with plastic. I never have money on me, and in the midst of the madness of the day, it can be easy to lose track of your assets - especially your purse (which contains all plastic)! The few times I have left my bag somewhere, I was fortunate to have an honest person back to me or call the store and tell me they found. However, Black Friday, with all the bustle of the day, an unattended bag or purse is an easy target for thieves.
To help protect your plastic, your accounts, and ultimately your identity, Black Friday and the rest of the holiday season, follow these simple rules:
- Cut the cards . Minimize the number of credit and debit cards you use. carry only one or two at a time.
- Cancel unused accounts . They are additional targets for identity thieves.
- Carefully review your accounts , including financial statements, bank statements and credit.
- Keep a list and / or photocopies of all accounts . Be sure to store this information in a safe place (not in your wallet or purse). Remember to include credit and debit card accounts, bank accounts and investment accounts. account numbers and list phone numbers for customer service and fraud departments so you can contact them quickly if cards are stolen or accounts are abused.
- Avoid using a debit card PIN for purchases when traveling or in a place where you are not familiar with the staff.
- with unknown merchants use credit card , which is better protected, or choose to use a non-PIN based transaction. PIN-based transactions are easily "skim", making your account checks vulnerable to theft.
- Run purchases with a debit card as credit . Never use a card as a debit unless absolutely necessary, for example to the bank or ATM. Why? Because more protections exist for credit cards, and credit card fraud claims are less likely to be decreased.
Despite your best efforts, it is still possible that an attacker could discover your private information. What should you do if you suspect someone has hijacked your identity stolen or your credit or debit accounts?
- Submit a detailed report with local law enforcement.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit file with any of the three major credit bureaus. A warning signal to potential creditors that you might be a victim of identity theft.
- Carefully review your credit report for unusual activity.
- Consider placing a security freeze on your credit report. A freeze locks access to your credit, so no one will be able to open a new account in your name. When you apply for credit, you can lift the freeze temporarily.
- existing creditors Contact your bank and corporate credit cards to tell them that you have been victim of identity theft.
- debit card fraud victims must do two things:
- notify their financial institution immediately. The deadline for contest fraud debit card is narrower than for credit card fraud.
- Stop the card and request a new one. This will prevent future fraud committed on the same account.
Identity theft can happen to anyone. Click on the above video link to hear a victim of real life and how it has resolved the situation. To learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself, visit our Knowledge Center or the "Protect yourself against identity theft" of our website.
I wish you a shopping season safe holiday season!
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