These are dangerous times. People are seeking to obtain your valuable information. If you feel you don’t have any information of value, you would be wrong. Your personal information is of great value to those looking to steal your identity. It has become common to receive an e-mail message that looks very authentic claiming that it is from your bank, credit card company, PayPal, etc. The email message appears authentic because it contains the correct logos and may even be a copy of an e-mail the company had previously sent out. The message will often claim that your account will be locked unless they can verify your information. This request has not come from your financial institution. It is a scam. Reputable institutions will NEVER ask for your account information, Social Security number, or any other personal information in an email message. They already have it. If you receive such a message, look up your institution’s phone number from a known, reputable source and call them to verify the authenticity of the request.
Think you’re not vulnerable because you don’t use the Internet? Wrong again. Any time someone approaches you, whether it be on the Internet, on the phone, or even at your front door, be wary about giving out any information about yourself. If they claim they are from your bank or credit card company, call your bank or credit card company using a phone number from the back of your credit / debit card or from your last statement to verify. Never give out your personal information to a stranger. Always verify.
There was the well-known scam where you would receive a phone call from someone who identified himself or herself as an officer of the court, and would notify you that you failed to appear for jury duty. That person would then warn you that a warrant will be issued for your arrest, BUT if you give them your social security number, they can reschedule you and clear up the problem. DON’T DO IT! If this or something similar happens to you, call your court system and verify. Look up the phone number in the phone book. (Yes, they still publish them.)
You must always be on guard and keep all your personal information protected. To help protect yourself from identify theft, you may request your free credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion each year and check each report for any unusual entries. You can request the reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com, on the phone at 877-322-8228, or by mail (download the request form at www.annualcreditreport.com).
