Do you have a bank, credit card, email, social network, or credit card account? Almost everybody does these days. It is not surprising that many unscrupulous parties and scammer’s target unsuspecting account holders so they could loot money or defraud people. Here are five important and easy tips you could observe to safeguard your accounts.
1. Safeguarding your credit card number
If hackers and scammers get to access your credit card number and use it to make their own purchases, you could expect the worst. This is becoming a common security problem these days. Credit card companies are often bombarded by complaints and reports of such cases. This scam practice also happens all around the world.
To protect yourself, try to refrain from using your credit card for purchasing items or downloads especially at unsecured Websites. Make it a practice as well to scrutinize each billing statement you receive monthly. Immediately report every suspicious charge you get.
2. Safeguarding your social security number
The social security number is one of the main accounts you have to protect personally. If scammers obtain access to your social security account, they may apply for and obtain loans without your knowledge. The sad consequence is that you would be required to repay the loan amount.
Aside from keeping your social security card securely, you must protect your account number at all costs. Do not easily give out your social security number to anyone especially when making unsecured purchases or online transactions.
3. Safeguarding your debit card number
It is not surprising that scammers victimize owners and users of debit cards. Just like in fraudulent credit card transactions, you could give scammers a chance to access your account if you purchase items or goods through unsecured Websites.
Debit cards could not be possibly used without your personal identification number or PIN. That is why it is usually considered more secured than credit cards. If you could always safeguard your PIN, you could almost be sure that your debit card account is protected. One important tip is to refrain from using your debit card PIN when making purchases anywhere. Use it only when transacting with a bank, a secured cashier, or an ATM.
4. Bank passwords
Online banking is very common these days. Online scammers are rampant today. They take chances that some online bankers may be too comfortable not to safeguard their online bank accounts. You surely would not want to even imagine what could happen to your online bank account if scammers get to access it.
Again, do not make online transactions unless you get certain the website is secured. This is easy. When making online transactions, check the Web address bar. Secured online sites usually start with ‘https’ instead of just ‘http.’
5. Online email and social network accounts
Just recently, a popular email service provider has encountered countless cases of hacked email accounts. This is also becoming a rampant problem over at Facebook and Twitter. Always protect your passwords especially if you keep important data in your email and social network accounts.
Do not open just about any email or social network message you receive. If you open such messages, do not click any link provided as doing so is like giving up your account to hackers or scammers. Never trust messages even if they come from people you know; their email accounts may already be hacked or attacked by viruses.
Andrew Black is a regular blog contributor, specializing in personal finance. When not writing, he helps people with debt consolidation solutions.