Mail theft is still one of the most common forms of identity theft out there today. The reason this is such a target is because of the amount of information that remains unprotected by so many people. With pre-approved credit card mailers, bills that come on a frequent basis and financial documents that are mailed (bank and credit card statements) criminals can obtained all the information that they need to to form "identity packets" that they can either use or sell to others to use.
However, on top of this many people also use their mailboxes so that they can send out their bills. This is like gold to criminals because it gives them access to all of your check information. A check not only contains you name, address, and phone number, but also your bank account number and the routing number for the bank on the bottom of the check. This is more than enough information for someone to create counterfeit checks, use your account information to their own ends, or simply "wash" the check so that the check is written to the name of the crook.
Mail is extemely important, but luckily there are more ways to protect yourself. I suggest that if you have a mailbox that is not secured that you contact you local post office and ask them for a list of approved locking mailboxes. These mailboxes will allow you to receive mail, but keep unwanted hands away from your bank statements and personal information. Also, if you must send your bills through the mail then drop them off at the post office; however, I would suggest using online bill pay. Some people fear this because they are afraid of hackers. Please note: If there is a hacker good enough to get into the banks, which is HIGHLY unlikely, it wouldn't matter if you use their online services or not when they steal information.
This is a small glance at security of mail, but this is also what can commonly be done to inform people about possible dangers and remedies. If you have the desire to learn more you can find out more with the United States Postal Inspectors website:
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Christmas Season is here....beware
As Christmas is approaching everyone is shopping more and more, the more you are out there shopping the more you expose yourself to scams. Of those scams that are out there is one you may never even know have happened. Mainly because those that you are giving presents may be too polite to let you know the truth. The truth is that you may give someone a gift, even in person, and they may never receive a thing.
One of the most popular things to do in this season, and easiest, is to buy a friend or family member a gift card. Most of these gift cards can be redeemed online by their recipients because they have a code on the back that you can use at the appropriate website; however, there are many retail stores that don't protect these cards from the prying eyes of crooks.
The old scam was that a criminal would, in the times before cell phones, hang out at airports and steal phone card numbers from unsuspecting travelers. Then sell that information to someone that would want to make cheap phone calls. The evolution of the scam has changed only slightly. When gift cards are placed in areas of a store that are open to the public it gives criminals a chance to observe them, record their numbers on the back, and store them for later. As time goes by that same criminal goes online and checks to see when a balance is made available on the card numbers that they have.
Many people will buy gift cards 1-2 weeks prior to giving them to someone. The person that receives them will wait as least as long to use the cards. Which means that a month could go by before anyone realizes that a crook has used the card first. A lot of people will not even mention the loss because they just don't want to embarass or worry the person that gave them the present. In order to prevent this from happening please be aware of where the gift cards are located before you are buying. Only buy cards that are behind the register and only accesible by employees or cards whose numbers are securely hidden and have not been tampered with at all. If you happen to be at a store that has gift cards that could easily be compromised let the managment know. Chances are that they did not know about the scam and they will be willing to protect their customers. Most customers looking for gift cards go straight to the registers anyway. So, it would not hurt them to move the gift cards to a secure location.
One of the most popular things to do in this season, and easiest, is to buy a friend or family member a gift card. Most of these gift cards can be redeemed online by their recipients because they have a code on the back that you can use at the appropriate website; however, there are many retail stores that don't protect these cards from the prying eyes of crooks.
The old scam was that a criminal would, in the times before cell phones, hang out at airports and steal phone card numbers from unsuspecting travelers. Then sell that information to someone that would want to make cheap phone calls. The evolution of the scam has changed only slightly. When gift cards are placed in areas of a store that are open to the public it gives criminals a chance to observe them, record their numbers on the back, and store them for later. As time goes by that same criminal goes online and checks to see when a balance is made available on the card numbers that they have.
Many people will buy gift cards 1-2 weeks prior to giving them to someone. The person that receives them will wait as least as long to use the cards. Which means that a month could go by before anyone realizes that a crook has used the card first. A lot of people will not even mention the loss because they just don't want to embarass or worry the person that gave them the present. In order to prevent this from happening please be aware of where the gift cards are located before you are buying. Only buy cards that are behind the register and only accesible by employees or cards whose numbers are securely hidden and have not been tampered with at all. If you happen to be at a store that has gift cards that could easily be compromised let the managment know. Chances are that they did not know about the scam and they will be willing to protect their customers. Most customers looking for gift cards go straight to the registers anyway. So, it would not hurt them to move the gift cards to a secure location.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Debit Card Skimming
Over the past several years people have become more used to paying for items with plastic. Credit cards have been used over the years, but as debit cards have become more popular new opportunities have risen for criminals. The security measures that seem to make debit cards safe have created a weakness that is being exploited. Skimming devices are used by criminals to capture your information so that a crook can use it to take your information, make their own cards, and use them to take cash directly from your bank account.
There are two types of these skimming devices: internal and external. The external devices can be discovered by most anyone because it is visible on the outside of the device that you are using to pay. If you have a suspicion that there may be a skimmer at a bank or business you should inform that location in order to stop the crook from getting anyone's information.
Internal devices are harder to discover because they are...well...internal. As skimming has become more prolific criminals have gone out of there way to place devices on the inside of POS (point-of-sale) devices. The businesses themselves are your only line of defense to stop your information from being obtained.
I have discovered that there is a way to prevent the crooks from achieving their goal of collecting your debit card number and PIN. Most debit cards have VISA and Mastercard logos on them. This means that they are credit cards too. This means that when you make a purchase at a store and they ask for your debit card number all you have to do is press "cancel" and you will be given the option of canceling the purchase or processing the transaction as credit. Without your PIN the crooks can't use your debit card to obtain cash from your bank account. Checking on your account on a regualr basis is best way to make sure that your account is not being taken advantage of.
There are two types of these skimming devices: internal and external. The external devices can be discovered by most anyone because it is visible on the outside of the device that you are using to pay. If you have a suspicion that there may be a skimmer at a bank or business you should inform that location in order to stop the crook from getting anyone's information.
Internal devices are harder to discover because they are...well...internal. As skimming has become more prolific criminals have gone out of there way to place devices on the inside of POS (point-of-sale) devices. The businesses themselves are your only line of defense to stop your information from being obtained.
I have discovered that there is a way to prevent the crooks from achieving their goal of collecting your debit card number and PIN. Most debit cards have VISA and Mastercard logos on them. This means that they are credit cards too. This means that when you make a purchase at a store and they ask for your debit card number all you have to do is press "cancel" and you will be given the option of canceling the purchase or processing the transaction as credit. Without your PIN the crooks can't use your debit card to obtain cash from your bank account. Checking on your account on a regualr basis is best way to make sure that your account is not being taken advantage of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)