| |
|
 In
a day where families are overwhelmed by rising gas prices, increasing
food and product costs and general economic stress, the last thing
anyone wants to do is worry about someone taking the money that they
have worked hard to earn. Unfortunately the weakening economy has caused
the financial fraud industry to grow. Oftentimes scam artists prey off of
individuals’ fears and concerns over weakening financial situations to
attain the financial information that they desire. The results can be
devastating and take months to resolve.
Consumer.gov offers helpful
information on ways you can best protect your financial information and
keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
Protect your Social Security Number. Putting your social security
number (SSN) in the wrong person’s hands can create a messy identity
theft situation that can take months to clean up. Keep your social
security card in a safe place and do not carry it, or any other document
that lists your SSN, with you in your wallet or purse. Be careful of
where you post, display, or write your SSN. Make a habit of asking if
there is an alternative number you can use when someone requests your
SSN. Don’t use your social security number as a password or access code
on the internet or other electronic devices.
Guard your credit card and debit card numbers. In today’s world
of online transactions, it is becoming easier for a financial thief to make
charges on your credit card without ever having possession of the card –
all they need is your credit card number, so it is important to keep
this information safe. To ensure that your number is protected, don’t
leave your credit cards lying around, and refrain from writing your
credit card number on pieces of paper without personally shredding the
paper afterwards. When shopping online, look for the secure website
symbol (a lock symbol) located at the bottom of the screen that informs
you that your information is being protected by the company you are
doing business with.
Keep PINS and passwords confidential. This includes passwords for
online bank accounts and online bill-pay services. Keep your username
and passwords in a safe and secure place and not on pieces of paper in
or around your computer desk. This is one of the first places thieves
look for password information.
Be wary of unsolicited calls and emails. Telephone and internet
scams are often disguised as "deals" where you are required to pay money
upfront to receive the deal. "Congratulations, you've won a free
vacation!" and "We'll fix your credit problems--fast" are popular tricks
to get you to provide money or bank account information. Remember that
legitimate companies will never ask for passwords or other personal
information by email, or request that information in an unsolicited
phone call. Beware of any online merchant that doesn't list a telephone
number or physical address - that is a tell tale sign that the owners
may be fraudulent.
Shred sensitive material before you toss it. Keep bank and credit
card statements, tax returns, checks and other sensitive documents in a
safe place at home. You should shred these documents before discarding
them. “Dumpster divers” regularly go through trash to look for bank
statements and credit card offers.
Regularly review your credit card and bank statements for any
unrecognized activity. Look for small charges along with large
monetary charges. Sometimes financial scam artists will charge your bank
account small amounts like $10 and $20 every month, because they know it
is less noticeable. You should report fraudulent charges to your bank.
Monitor your credit reports for fraud. It is important to
regularly monitor your credit report for any unrecognized loans or
credit card charges. You can request one free credit report a year by
going to
www.annualcreditreport.com. Many insurance companies and banks also
offer credit monitoring services for various fees if you wish to monitor
your credit report throughout the year.
For more information on protecting your financial information, visit
www.consumer.gov. If you need to
issue a consumer complaint, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission
at
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
A Plan to Address Rising Gas Prices
Click the photo below to listen to Congressman Forbes discuss the energy
challenge facing the United States today, and the steps it will take to
reach energy independence and bring down gas prices. If you have
an idea you'd like to share on how we can address rising gas prices,
visit the Solutions Lab.
 |
