Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVConsumer Federation of America Offers Tips on Keeping Personal Info Safe

Consumer Federation of America Offers Tips on Keeping Personal Info Safe

With the holiday season here, the Consumer Federation of America is offering tips for consumers to keep their personal information safe from identity thieves.

Susan Grant, director of consumer protection for CFA, said the holiday season is a prime time for identity theft because consumers are sharing so much information.

"Consumers share a lot of personal information during the holidays as they shop for gifts, online and offline," Grant said. "Many people also chat about their holiday plans on social networking sites. It's important to remember to guard your privacy during what can be a frantic time for many people."

CFA outlines 10 steps consumers can take to safeguard their privacy and ensure they don't become the target of identity thieves:

n Keep your computer safe. Regularly update anti-virus and anti-malware software on all of your computers to keep identity thieves from stealing personal information, such as account numbers, that you use online. Use smart passwords—not your date of birth or other personal information that could be easily guessed.

n Take care with contests. Online contest to win cash cards or computers can be a source of computer viruses. Many contests, both online and offline, are designed to collect personal information for marketing purposes.

n Check your credit reports. The end of the year is a good time to request your credit reports. Under federal law, everyone is entitled to a free report from each of the credit bureaus once a year. Review these reports carefully and inform the credit bureaus if there are any inaccuracies or signs of fraud.

n Beware of email scams. Don't open emails or attachments from individuals or organizations you don't know or trust. Many unsolicited emails are for bogus products or services. Some are phishing scams in which the senders pretend to be someone from a financial institution, retailer or organization you know and trust asking for personal information. No legitimate company or organization will ask for this information via email.

n Keep an eye out for holiday packages. Thieves follow delivery trucks and grab the packages before the intended recipient can retrieve them. Not only will you lose your package, but this can lead to identity theft if the contents of the package contain personal information or account numbers. You should require a signature upon delivery or have a neighbor accept the package on their behalf if you know you won't be home.

n Get off marketing lists for pre-approved credit. Crooks may steal these offers out of your mailbox and use them to obtain credit in your name. You can opt out of receiving these pre-approved offers.

n Be a savvy online shopper. Do business with companies you know and trust. If you're unfamiliar with an online business, research the company by searching for complaints about it. Also, read the company's privacy policy so you can understand how it will use the personal information you provide. Paying with a credit card rather than a debit card attached to a checking account gives you the most legal protection in case the goods or services are misrepresented or never delivered. When you provide your payment information, see if the address bar at the top of the browser changes from "http" to "https" or "shttp." That means your account number is being encrypted — turned into code so no one can see it.

n Shred it and forget it. Buy a cross-cutting shredder and use it to dispose of any documents you no longer need that contain personal information. For documents you want to retain, keep them in a locked drawer or cabinet.

n Be careful what you share. Using social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and relatives, but don't post your address, Social Security number, birth date or personal information. Be aware that digital photos may have geocoding features that reveal the locations where they were shot, such as your home. Use the privacy settings to limit the personal information that you share.

n Be wise when you use wireless Internet connections. Identity thieves can hack into unsecured wireless Internet networks and see what you are viewing, such as bank account information. Only connect to wireless networks that require a network security key or certificate. The information sent over these networks is encrypted, which can help prevent unauthorized access. If you use a wireless Internet connection at home, be sure that the security features are turned on and you set your own password rather than using the default password.

To stop pickpockets from stealing your personal information while you're shopping, tuck your purse under your arm or place your wallet in your front pocket. Be extra careful when you need to set down your purse or wallet.