It’s that time of year again – busy shoppers will frantically line up at the doors of shopping malls and department stores in hopes of getting that 60” TV for half the price. You’ve got everything you need to be prepared, including your wallet, credit cards, checkbook, cell phone and a plethora of coupons. Even though you have everything you need to do some serious holiday shopping, you might not be as prepared as you think. Identity thieves are lurking behind every corner, waiting to take advantage of your groggy 3 a.m. Black Friday purchases.
This holiday season, take extra precautions to make sure that you’re not buying more than what you intended. If you do become a victim of identity theft, check out our bonus tip to take immediate action.
Leave the checkbook at home.
It’s a good idea to leave the checkbook off the list of things to bring with you to the mall on Friday. The last thing you want is for an identity thief to get a hold of your checks and deposit slips, which contain your bank account information. If you insist on using a check for your purchase, use a pen with non-erasable ink so that the check cannot be altered easily. We recommend bringing your credit card instead.
Speaking of credit cards, limit the amount of plastic you bring with you.
Before you head out to the mall, decide which credit or debit cards you want to use for your spending that day. The more plastic you carry, the more options a pick-pocketer has to choose from when snatching cards from your wallet. Additionally, using multiple cards will increase the likelihood that you misplace a card or leave it in the store. Try to limit your spending tools to one or two cards if possible.
Stay alert and keep your eyes open.
Identity thieves know all the tricks, and crowded shopping malls are their ideal locations to steal information. You may not realize it, but someone could be glancing over your shoulder as you dig through your debit/credit cards, driver’s license, social security card and checkbook at the counter. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted; always have eyes in the back of your head and pay attention to anyone who seems to be lingering around you.
Avoid talking on the phone about private information.
Just like shoulder-surfing, identity thieves also like to eavesdrop on your phone conversations. Don’t talk about your social security number or credit card number on the phone while standing in line to pay for something. Someone could be listening intently.
Keep your purse/bag close to your body.
Carrying a purse can be like carrying a giant target on your body while you do your holiday shopping. To keep your purse secure, make sure all zippers are closed and hang the strap across your body so that it can’t be pulled off easily. Don’t push the purse behind you to keep it out of the way; you want to keep it in front of you at all times.
Beware of Cyber Monday.
Online shopping can also be a Hay Day for identity thieves. To keep your financial information secure while making online purchases, be sure to check the website URL to make sure it is authentic. Website addresses that begin with https:// indicate that the website is secure. Many victims will click on a website that looks extremely similar to the real company’s URL, but it does not contain an ‘s’ at the end of http, which indicates the address is not secure. You can also look for a yellow padlock icon that indicates a secure website when the padlock is closed. We also suggest that you use a credit card instead of debit card when making online purchases.
Take Action.
If you do suspect fraudulent activity on your account, there are a few steps that you should take immediately to protect yourself.
1. Call a credit reporting agency and ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit file. Placing the alert is free and will stay on your credit report for 90 days. You may also want to request a credit freeze.
2. Order credit reports and look for fraudulent charges on them.
3. File an identity theft report and submit an Identity Theft Affidavit to the FTC.
4. File a police report.
5. Keeps records of every action you take so that you have detailed information in case of a civil or criminal lawsuit.
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