Helping Seniors Prevent Identity Theft – Part 3
This is the third in a series of articles [See: Part 1 and Part 2] that cover some of the risks that exist – and some of the precautions that can be taken – in connection with protecting your identity both online and in the real world.
What’s important to know is this: It’s not difficult to protect your information – but it does take vigilance. It requires being protective of who gets access to your established accounts, and being aware of the activity that takes place in them.
Here are some additional pointers that focus on safeguarding against the inherent risks:
Changing and Varying Passwords
It’s an often-repeated piece of advice that online passwords (to email accounts, online purchasing accounts, online banking sites) should be difficult to guess, and should be changed frequently. But one overlooked tip is that the same password should not be re-used over and over, from one spot to the next.
It’s tempting to use a single, easily-remembered password, but it’s also the surest way for fraudsters to get access to not only one, but all of your accounts, financial information, and personal information. Instead, use a different password for different kinds of online activity: One password for your online banking, and a totally different one for email, social media and logging onto Skype.
Also, be sure to change the factory settings on various tech devices that are out-of-the-box, so that the pre-programmed passwords and security codes are no longer valid. These can include wireless routers, garage door openers, wireless heart monitors, and baby monitors that you may have set up for visiting grandchildren.
Checking Unauthorized Transactions and Online Activity
As a senior who may not get online frequently, it is especially important that you monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity; otherwise it could go unnoticed for long periods of time. This includes checking bank statements and credit card statements for any transactions that seem out of the ordinary, or any charges, withdrawals, or purchases that are not authorized.
On a related point, avoid doing your online banking while in public places using free Wi-Fi, such as at the public library, in coffee shops, and in airports. Using open wireless networks in such public spots could mean that your information is at risk of being compromised.
Guarding Valuable Information by Phone and Online
When it comes to identity theft, some of the most frequently-targeted information takes the form of credit card numbers, which of course can be used to rack up unauthorized charges. It’s vital to keep a close watch on who gets access to this data. Especially if you are giving information over the phone, makes sure it’s a trusted recipient – ideally on the other end of a phone number that you yourself dialed. The same vigilance should naturally apply to websites that take credit card information.
But even beyond charge card information, consider how broadly you want to share some of your more general personal details. Especially when shopping online, setting up a profile with a merchant, or applying for new services, always decline to provide any optional personal information that is not necessary for the transaction. You may even want to investigate or inquire about the privacy policy that the organization uses.