Crime Prevention and Security Tips - PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY
E-mail, the Internet, automated teller machines (ATM), computer banking, long distance carriers, even credit cards make our lives more efficient. However, as our lives become more integrated with technology, keeping our private information confidential becomes fore difficult. Electronic transactions can leave you vulnerable to fraud and other crimes. Following a few simple tips can help keep your code from being cracked!
Credit Card Security Measures
Fraudulent use of credit cards it not limited to the loss or theft of your credit cards. A criminal only needs to know your credit card number to fraudulently make charges or cash withdrawals against your account. The following tips are provided to you to guard against the illegal use of your credit card(s):
- Keep a master list in a secure place at home with all credit card account numbers and the phone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards. This will help you cancel your credit card as soon as possible if it is lost or stolen.
- Endorse all credit cards as soon as they arrive.
- If your credit card is lost or stolen, notify the company immediately. Most issuing institutions can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember, most purchases made on a stolen card are done so within 48 hours.
- You, the consumer, are protected from fraudulent use of your credit card by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA). The FCBA states if you report the loss of a credit card before it is used, you cannot be responsible for any unauthorized charges. If your card is stolen and the thief does make charges before you report it, the maximum amount you are responsible for on unauthorized charges is $50.00.
- Only give your credit card account number to make a purchase or reservation you have initiated.
- When you write a check and must provide a credit card for identification purposes, never allow the sales clerk to write down your credit card number. If you are paying by credit card, never let the sales person write down your drivers license or social security number.
- Never give out your credit card number when using a cellular phone.
- Unless you are absolutely sure you are dealing with a reputable company, never give your credit card number over the telephone or over the Internet.
- Always check catalogs to be sure your credit card number is not on the cover or mail order form. If it is, contact the company and tell them to remove it immediately.
- Destroy (shred if possible) unused credit card applications like those you receive in the mail advising you have been pre-approved for xxx.
- Open billing statements immediately and check your card charges each month. Keep copies of your credit receipts and check them against the monthly billing statement. Report discrepancies immediately.
- If you receive a letter stating you should have received a credit card in the mail and you have not received it, call the company or lending institution immediately, whether you have applied for the card or not.
- Beware of telemarketers calling and attempting to sell you merchandise over the phone. Don't give them your credit card number.
- Watch your credit card after giving it to store clerks to protect against extra imprints being made.
- Destroy all the carbons so no one can obtain your account number.
- Notify your credit card companies well in advance of a change of address.
Finally, don't be fooled by a scam where a con artist wants to verify your credit card number because you have won a prize. One scam involves a “telemarketer” making random calls. The thief informs the victim that if their VISA card begins with the number four, the victim has won a prize. All VISA card numbers begin with the number 4, and all MasterCard numbers begin with the number 5. DON'T GIVE OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS!
A Word on Passwords
Whether you are on the Internet or an online banking program, you are often required to use a password. The worst passwords to use are the ones that come to mind first – name, spouse's name, maiden name, pets, children's names, even street addresses, etc. The best passwords mix numbers with upper and lowercase letters. A password that is not found in the dictionary is even better. There are programs that will try ever word in the dictionary in an effort to crack your security.
The weakest link in a security system is the human element. The fewer people who have access to your codes and passwords, the better. Avoid breaks in your security by:
- Changing your password regularly.
- Memorizing your password. If you have several, set up a system for remembering them. If you do write down the password, keep it at home or hidden at work. Don't write your password on a post-it note and stick it on your monitor or hard drive.
- Setting up a special account or setting aside a different computer at work for temporary help and other unauthorized users.
- If you have the options of letting your computer or a Web site remember a password for you, don't use it. Anyone who uses your machine will have automatic access to information that is password protected.
Don't send confidential, financial, or personal information on your E-mail system.
Shopping In Cyberspace
Ordering merchandise from the Internet is the trend of the future. You can prevent problems before they occur by:
- Doing business with companies you know and trust. If you haven't heard of the company before, research it or ask for a paper catalog before you decide to order electronically. Check with the state consumer protection agency on whether the company is licensed or registered. Fraudulent companies can appear and disappear very quickly in cyberspace.
- Understanding the offer. Look carefully at the products or services the company is offering. Be sure you know what is being sold, the quality being specified, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation policy, and all the terms of any guarantee.
- Using a secure browser that will encrypt or scramble purchase information. If there is no encryption software, consider calling the company's 800 number, faxing your order, or paying with a check.
- Never giving a bank account or credit card number or other personal information to anyone you don't know or haven't checked out. And don't provide information that isn't necessary to make a purchase. Even with partial information, con artists can make unauthorized charges or take money from your account. If you have an even choice between using your credit card and mailing cash, check, or money order, use a credit card. You can always dispute fraudulent credit charges, but you can't get cash back.
Spam – unsolicited e-mail. Report it to your online or Internet service provider.
Using ATMs and Long Distance Phone Services
Protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- The PIN is one method used by banks and phone companies to protect your account from unauthorized access. A PIN is a confidential code issued to the cardholder to permit access to that account. Your PIN should be memorized, secured and not given to anyone, not even family members or bank employees. The fewer people who have access to your PIN, the better.
- Never write your PIN on ATM or long distance calling cards. Don't write your PIN on a piece of paper and place it in your wallet. If you wallet and card are lost or stolen, someone will have everything they need to remove funds from your account, make unauthorized debit purchases, or run up your long distance phone bill.
Protect Your Privacy and the Privacy of Others
- Be aware of others waiting behind you. Position yourself in front of the ATM keyboard or phone to prevent anyone from observing your PIN. Be courteous while waiting at an ATM or pay phone by keeping a polite distance from the person ahead of you. Allow the current user to finish before approaching the machine or phone.
Protect Your ATM Cards
- An ATM card should be treated as though it were cash. Avoid providing card and account information to anyone over the telephone.
- When making cash withdrawal at an ATM, immediately remove the cash as soon as the machine releases it. Put the cash in your pocket and wait until you are in a secure location before counting it. Never use an ATM in an isolated area or where people are loitering.
- Be sure to take your receipt to record transactions and match them against monthly statements. Dishonest people can use your receipt to get your account number. Never leave the receipt at the ATM site.
Lost or Stolen Cards
- Always report lost or stolen cards to the issuing company immediately. This limits any unauthorized use of your card and permits the company to begin the process of issuing a new card.
Crime can be random. But there are steps that limit your chances of becoming a victim. Being aware of the threat of crime, and alert to what you can do to prevent it will go a long way toward making your electronic transactions safe and private.