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4 Identity Protection Habits Every College Student Should Have

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For some of us, fall is about to begin and the graduates of the class of 2014 are heading off to colleges across the country. It’s an exciting time—there’s a reason so many people call college the best four years of their lives. You learn so much about the world and yourself. You make lifelong friends. You are an adult without the full responsibility of being an adult.

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-identity-theft-red-words-binary-code-computer-monitor-image39907813It’s pretty easy to believe that because you are young and not in the “real world” yet that you are immune to identity theft or credit card fraud. But crime isn’t so choosy about age. College students are actually a prime target for identity thieves because of naiveté. According to University of Colorado—Boulder, only 21% of college students are concerned about identity theft. And lack of concern leads to lack of managing financial and personal data making college students vulnerable to identity theft.

Luckily, managing your identity doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a graduate student, here are four simple habits to help you protect your identity.

  • Check your credit card reports monthly. Many people believe that thieves will drain their accounts. Although that certainly does happen, in many cases, thieves will only take out small increments of money over time to avoid getting caught. By checking your credit card and bank statements monthly you can catch any suspicious charges and immediately alert your bank or credit card company.
  • Regularly change your passwords. Yes, it’s much easier to have one password for all of your accounts, but if hackers discover your password, they have easy access to all of your accounts.  Diversify your passwords and make it a habit to change your passwords every other month. To make this simple, you can use a password manager, like McAfee SafeKey, which comes with McAfee LiveSafe™ service. And to learn more about creating strong password, go to www.passwordday.org.
  • Cover the PIN pad when entering your PIN. Your PIN is the gateway to your bank account and thieves want it. This habit can protect you from skimming and video devices at automated teller machines (ATMs) or gas stations.
  • Think twice before giving out your personal information. Hint: Your fraternity or sorority does not need your identification or Social Security number. If you are shopping online, make sure the website is secure and not a fake before entering your credit card information.

Robert Siciliano is an Online Security Expert to McAfee. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked!  Disclosures.

Credit Card Fraud booming

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Online credit card fraud is flourishing, according to the U.S. Retail Fraud Survey 2014. One of the reasons is because online sales are ever on the increase, currently accounting for 6 percent of total sales, says the report, the most extensive of its kind. The projection is that within three years, retailers will be getting 15 percent of their sales online.

2CThe survey was carried out between April and May of 2014, and dealt with primary research into the processes, systems and strategies that were used by 100 of the U.S.’s leading retailers, representing 126,000 stores in the U.S.

The loss prevention manager or director for each retailer went through a detailed interview. Also interviewed was the e-commerce manager or director (if the loss prevention leader wasn’t available) regarding their prevention tactics for online fraud.

The survey has a few changes this year. Only the retailers who participated can see the detailed results. Plus, the report has an anonymous portion to help with quality and availability of the most critical data. These tweaks will assist retailers with their war against fraud.

Online fraud is higher on everyone’s radar due to so many high profile hacks. In fact, the study indicates that spending on online fraud prevention has gone up by 50 percent. Though this is good news, it hardly crushes the reality that credit card fraud continues to demonize retailers, requiring detection, prevention and management.

Protect your data:

  • Maintaining updated operating systems, including critical security patches
  • Installing and running antivirus, antispyware and antiphising software and a firewall
  • Keeping browsers updated with the latest version
  • Updating all system software, including Java and Adobe
  • Locking down wireless Internet with encryption
  • Setting up administrative rights and restricting software, such as peer-to-peer file sharing, from being installed without rights
  • Utilizing filtering that controls who has access to what kind of data
  • Utilizing Internet filters to block access to restricted sites that may allow employees or hackers to upload data to Cloud-based storage
  • Possible disabling or removing USB ports to prevent the downloading of malicious data
  • Incorporating strict password policies
  • Encrypting files, folders and entire drives

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to AllClearID. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video. Disclosures.

10 simple Ways Identity Thieves steal your Credit Card

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There are 10 basic ways a crook can easily rob your identity by getting at your credit card or open a new credit card in your name, but there are also ways you can prevent this from occurring.

2CSimple Thievery

Leave a window open and a thief can slide through, then steal your stuff. He can even slide an arm through your car’s open window while you’re filling the tank at a gas station. To prevent this, keep house windows closed as much as sensibly possible; keep important documents locked up; keep car windows rolled up and doors locked when you’re out; and keep your wallet/purse hidden.

Employee Records

Your employer has your private information and in some cases a credit card number, which an identity thief could get access to. To prevent this crime, ask your employer how your personal information is stored. Be on the lookout for things you’d never expect.

Change of Address

An identity thief may file a change of address form in your name. He’ll get all your credit card related mail or your Social Security number. To prevent this, watch for change-of-address notices in your mailbox. If you stop receiving credit card statements, call the company.

Social Media

Your online profile may have all the information a thief needs to steal your identity. Prevent this by deleting personal information. Give answers to the security questions of financial accounts that don’t appear on your social media pages.

Mailbox Theft

A crook can easily abscond with mail (incoming and outgoing) relating to your credit cards and bank account. To prevent, get a locking mailbox and don’t delay retrieving new mail. When mailing letters, use an official Post Office mailbox or go to the post office.
Dumpster Digging

If you see someone foraging through the trash, they’re not necessarily looking for food or cans or metal. They can be searching for paper: a credit card statement, credit card offer or anything with your important numbers on it. To prevent, use a shredder, and go to electronic statements when possible.

Shoulder Snooping

The thief will peer over your shoulder to see your transaction (credit card number, password, whatever data is there). To prevent, cover your card number at a cash register and mask your PIN as you enter it in a keypad or ATM. When using your laptop for ecommerce, sit against a wall. If this isn’t possible, keep the screen at an angle that only you can view or get a 3M Privacy Filter. Google it.

Phony Call

The thief calls you, claiming to be a rep from your credit card company, asking you to confirm personal information. The thief then contacts your credit card company and poses as you…Please just HANG UP!! Call back the credit card company using the number on the back of your card to confirm any potential issues. Never give personal information over the phone if that person has called you.

Pickpocketing

These snakes slither in and out of crowds, often without being noticed, non-violent but very efficient. Prevent being their target by keeping your wallet hidden and not easily accessed.

Cloned Cards

Once all the damage is done and your card number is stolen, criminals can create exact duplicates of your card using foils and laminators burnt onto blank cards that can be purchased online.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.

13 ways Protect your Credit Cards from Fraud

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Here are a number of ways you can protect your credit cards from fraud.

2C1. Keep a sharp eye on your credit card accounts. Read through the purchases for every monthly statement to see if any unfamiliar or odd items show up. Don’t just skip past small purchases; a charge for $9.95 could still be fraudulent. A crook knows you’re less likely to pay attention to small numbers. Consider checking your statements online weekly or even better, download your banks mobile app and check them daily.

2. Immediately contact your bank. By law, credit card companies have to give you 60 days to refute unauthorized charges. And with “zero liability policies”  fraudulent charges are often squashed as long as a year later. However the sooner you contact the bank upon suspecting fraudulent activity, the more likely the credit card issuer will reverse the fraudulent charges. The compromised account should be closed and a new card and account issued and opened, respectively.

3. Credit card monitoring services. These are free or fee based and often included in identity theft protection services and will keep an eye on your credit score as well as inquiries for new credit, and balance charges.

4. Implement activity alerts. Your accounts should have these; the alerts can come via e-mail or text for various card related activity, such as based on amount or frequency. You can text messages for every card present (in person) and card not present (online) transaction.

5. Go virtual. If your bank offers it, use a virtual credit card number online. These are card numbers that change every time you use them.

6. Skimming awareness. Credit card skimming is when a thief sabotages the card reader (such as an ATM’s), allowing him to get your card’s data. Look for signs of tampering like loose parts on the keypad or a camera looking down on the console. Conceal the keypad with your other hand when you enter your PIN. A skimmer can also use a handheld device and skim your card right in his hand. Be very careful whom you give your card to for a purchase.

7. Don’t save. That is, your credit card information with an online merchant. Instead, manually enter it every time you shop. The hassle of this means more security.

8. Financial tracking apps. These are free and can alert the cardholder to odd activity, such as an unusually large purchase. I like Mint by Intuit. BillGuard is great too.

9. Be alert. In addition to unauthorized charges showing on your card’s statement, be on the lookout for strange bank account withdrawals, collection notices for debts you’ve never heard of, being rejected for credit applications, among other red flags.

10. Shop securely on Wi-Fi. Use an encrypting software such as Hotspot Shield VPN. VPN is virtual private network and will prevent snoops and crooks from spying on your online activities.

11. Use reputable sites. Make purchases only from reputable sites you’ve already shopped at or otherwise trustworthy sites like eBay (check sellers ratings) and Amazon.

12. Updates. Set your computer’s or device’s critical security patches to automatically update; these patches help correct newly-discovered vulnerabilities. And speaking of updates, make sure you update your antivirus and your browser to the latest version, to correct vulnerabilities.

13. HTTPS.  The HTTPS at the beginning of the browser before the URL, means that the site is secure. Never input your credit card number on a site that does not have the HTTPS in the URL field. The HTTPS means there’s encryption on that particular page.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

10 Credit Score Truths and Myths

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If your personal information gets compromised, a thief will open up financial accounts in your name. However, they will not pay the bills, and this will ruin your credit.

2CWhether bad credit results from the legitimate credit holder’s irresponsibility or from identity theft, your ability to buy a car, rent a nice place, purchase a home or even get employment can be severely stifled.

1. Credit reports aren’t always accurate. Most have a big error or mistake: 80 percent, actually. Regularly check your credit report.

2. Pulling your credit score will lower it. A “soft” pull is done yourself for personal reasons; it will have zero effect. A “hard inquiry” is when a lender pulls it up for loan approval. It will have a negative impact, but small.

3. A higher income = higher credit score. Income is not relevant to credit score; paying bills on time (or not) is what matters.

4. Credit scores and credit reports are the same. The three big credit reports are Equifax, Experian and Transunion. But there are too many various calculations of credit score to even list here. What matters is your credit managing skills and making sure all 3 large credit bureaus have similar information and scores.

5. Debt settlement removes debt from your credit report. But debt settlement doesn’t fix bad credit. Late payments, bad information and other smears remain for up to seven years following the first “infraction” date.

6. Cash-only payments will improve credit score. You can’t build good credit unless you use credit—and wisely. Get a couple small loans or credit cards and pay them off as you use them.

7. Improve your credit score by closing your credit card accounts. Closing a card lowers your amount of disposable income: the ability to pay off other debt. You don’t want to lower “credit utilization” by closing out a card.

8. Smart management of your various banking accounts will reflect in your credit score. These are not reported to credit bureaus and thus have no impact.

9. Dispute accurate (but negative) information to remove it from your credit report. You can dispute only mistakes. A valid dispute will result in deletion of inaccurate information. A dispute of negative, but accurate, information will achieve nothing.

10. Missed payments that aren’t reported to credit bureaus won’t affect credit score. Any missed or late payment can be reported to a credit bureau.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.

8 Tips to prevent post Holiday Credit Card Fraud

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With your cards being used online, over the phone and in person it’s easy to lose track of purchases. The key is keep good records and be diligent about your security. Here are eight great tips that will go a super long way in preventing post holiday account takeover in the form of credit card fraud.

2C#1. To ensure your best chances of escaping fraudulent activity involving your credit card (which can occur even if the card isn’t stolen), follow these tips:

  • Go over every transaction online and account for it. Inquire about unfamiliar purchases with family members who are permitted to use your card.
  • Immediately phone the card issuer if you spot a suspicious transaction.

#2. Document order confirmations. Screenshot the final confirmation page of your purchase, and save the confirmation e-mail.

#3. Personal information protection. Before you buy online, review the website’s privacy policy regarding personal information requests and how this will be used. Consider it a red flag if you can’t find this information.

#4. Online purchase security. A secure website will have an icon of a padlock, followed by https:// before the website address in the URL. There are also many toolbars that offer a greet/red color code this is usually a feature in most browsers.

#5. Phishing scams. If any e-mails come your way requesting your personal or financial information, don’t click the malicious link inside; delete immediately. Some scam e-mails try to convince you there’s a problem with your order. Contact directly the site of purchase to verify whether or not there’s an issue with your order. Do not investigate this through the e-mail message.

#6. Beware of skimming. Carefully observe employees whom you hand your credit card to for purchases. A crooked employee may scan the card to obtain your number.

#7. Always take the credit card receipt, no matter how small the purchase.

#8. If you think your identity has been stolen in regards to new account fraud then you need to step it up.

  • If you suspect fraud, contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to issue a fraud alert on your credit reports.
  • Pull your credit reports from these three bureaus to check for any suspicious accounts in your name. Check your credit reports again in six months.
  • Pull your credit reports for inspection (it’s free) every 12 months as a smart measure.
  • Get a credit freeze
  • Invest in identity theft protection.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.

Online Gamers Risk Credit Card Fraud

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The Sony Corporation has been providing consumers with stellar electronics since before the introduction of the Walkman. The past six months have been harsher for Sony, with attacks by hacktivists and numerous breaches of clients’ data.

Many recent breaches involved usernames, passwords, email addresses, and in some cases, credit card numbers. Each compromised data point is another opportunity for a criminal to steal your identity and make money at the expense of your good name.

If a company becomes aware that usernames and passwords have been compromised, they should notify users and prompt them to change their passwords. Users should change passwords every six months, regardless of whether a breach has occurred. Passwords should include upper and lowercase letters and numbers, and should not be used across two or more accounts. I have 700 different accounts and 700 different passwords.

Beware of spear phishing emails. When hackers get your email address from a breached gaming account, they will send emails that look like they are coming from the company that has been breached. Never click on links within an email. Instead, go to your favorites menu or manually type the correct address in the address bar.

Pay close attention to credit card accounts. I monitor my accounts weekly for all activity. Simply log in, look at each charge, and refute unauthorized charges immediately. A new free service called BillGuard scans your credit cards daily and alerts you to hidden fees, billing errors, forgotten subscriptions, scams, and fraud.

If you have provided a credit card number to your child for online gaming, beware of purchases they may make that you have previously approved. Many gaming sites try to upsell their users, and will charge the credit card on file. Spend some time with your child discussing appropriate online behavior, and look for parental controls that will send you email alerts when your child makes a purchase.

McAfee, the most trusted name in digital security, includes proactive identity surveillance to monitor subscribers’ credit and personal information, as well as access to live agents who can help subscribers resolve identity theft issues. For additional tips, please visit CounterIdentityTheft.com.

Robert Siciliano is a McAfee consultant and identity theft expert. See him explain how a person becomes an identity theft victim on CounterIdentityTheft.com (Disclosures)