Five Identity Theft Jackpots (and How You Can Safeguard Against Them)

Identity theft is nothing new, and yet it still manages to cost its victims billions of dollars (yes, that’s billions with a “b”) globally each year—not to mention the time and hassle involved in recovering a stolen identity.

The good news is there are tons of things you can do to deter identity thieves. The bad news is that many of us do little beyond choosing a decent password (and some people don’t even bother doing that!). Here are the top five information jackpots for identity thieves, along with
helpful tips on what you can do right now to protect yourself.

1. Your Trash Can

Even if you’re really careful about the information you put online, your trash bags and recycling bin can still be an easy target for identity thieves. Dumpster diving may sound old-school, but it’s still an easy way for identity thieves to get access to your personal information.

• Purchase a shredder (a basic model will run you $20 to $30 at a big-box store) and use it!
• Get into the habit of shredding things before throwing them out, especially things like bank statements, expired credit cards, utility bills, cell phone bills, pay stubs, old boarding passes and travel itineraries, and ATM receipts.
• Don’t forget to check your envelopes! Anything with your name and address on it needs to be shredded, too.
• Did you know your local credit union may host an annual shred event? Fox does! In fact, we have two of them coming up this August 2020. Check out our calendar of events for details.

2. Your Phone

Odds are you’re carrying a lot more in your phone than just your contact list. With smartphone theft on the rise, protect yourself:

• Have a password-protected lock on your home screen. This is a standard feature on all smartphones for a reason, so take advantage of it! Bonus points if your smartphone also has location tracking (also known as the “find my phone” feature).
• Public Wi-Fi networks are not secure, so avoid checking your bank accounts or doing your online shopping from the local coffee shop or during your layover at the airport.
• Do not store sensitive information on your phone–storing passwords or login information in a note taking app is bad news.
• Fox Communities mobile banking app features the ability to login with your fingerprint or 4-digit PIN. It’s our way of making your account even safer. To utilize the fingerprint login feature, you mobile device will also need to have the capability for fingerprint scan.

3. The PIN Pad

It seems like every few months a new point-of-purchase scheme emerges– skimming devices, keystroke loggers, ATM hacking… the list goes on! Here are some good practices for when you’re out and about:

• When making a purchase, keep your debit or credit card in sight at all times.
• Use your hand to block the buttons when entering your PIN, even if there’s no one immediately behind you.
• Choose a good PIN. Avoid PINs derived from your personal information, like your telephone number, address, or birthday. Avoid easy-to-guess pins, like the dreaded “1234.”
• Change up your PIN, especially if you use the same combination to unlock your phone as you do for your debit card.
• With Fox you can easily change your PIN, as often as you would like, by calling 1-800-992-3808.

4. Your Mail Box

Like the trash-picker approach mentioned above, mail tampering is a low tech but relatively easy way for identity thieves to compromise your personal information. Here’s what you can do:

• Familiarize yourself with your billing cycles. A late credit card statement or a bill that never shows up could be a sign of mail tampering.
• Identity thieves will sometimes request a change of address to illegally reroute your mail to a different location. If you suddenly stop receiving mail, check with the post office to make sure
  this isn’t the case.
• Use a mailbox with a locking system to deter thieves.
• It’s important you make sure the credit union has your current contact information. This will help to communicate any information to you, including important notifications about your account. Contact us to report any changes.

5. Your Computer

You think this one would be common knowledge by now, but every so often a virus or scam comes along that trips us up. Stay one step ahead of scammers:

• Keep your firewall, anti-virus and operating system software up to date. No matter how new and fast your laptop is, it still needs protection.
• Enable spam filters on your email accounts.
• Look out for sketchy links and emails. Ignore any suspicious password reset requests, unexpected mail tracking numbers, or anything that asks for your personal information over email.
• Don’t over-share on social media. Do your Facebook friends really need to know what year you were born? Can people tell when no one is home based on your Instagram feed? Keep your accounts private and make sure you’re not accidentally broadcasting sensitive information.

By being aware of top five information jackpots and implementing these simple strategies, you can help keep identity thieves at bay.

Brought to you by It’s a Money Thing

Learn more about identity theft protection here.