Simple Steps to Protect Your Identity this Holiday Season
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) November 17, 2011
The busiest shopping time of the year is here. Deal-seeking shoppers will hit the stores early to take advantage of massive Black Friday sales, and even more will shop online for discounted holiday gifts on Cyber Monday.
With all the credit and debit transactions that will be coming through, shoppers need to remain alert to avoid identity theft in a time when they are the most vulnerable. Grange Insurance, a Columbus-based insurance company, offers advice for shoppers to remain protected this holiday season.
1. Remove extra credit cards, social security card, birth certificate and passport from your wallet or purse.
In the case that someone’s purse or wallet gets lost, had personal information handy for a stranger to steal do them susceptible to identity theft. If this happens, victims should call their credit card company and bank immediately to cancel account to avoid any unauthorized purchases.
“Social security cards, passports and birth certificates should be kept in a secure place at home,” said Mark Russell, vice president of insurance operations for Grange Insurance. “When you go shopping or out in public, only bring what you absolutely need, and never leave your wallet or purse unattended or in an automobile. These situations could give thieves easy access to your personal information.”
2. Reconcile check, credit card and bank statements.
“Regularly review your check, credit card and bank statements to ensure that all purchases listed are legitimate and authorized,” said Russell. “If you notice any transactions that don’t belong, call your bank or credit company immediately to challenge the purchase.”
Also, confirming that home and work mailboxes are secure for receiving important mail such as credit card and bank statements will reduce the likelihood of theft. When ordering new checks, arrange to pick them up in-person at a local bank branch.
3. Don’t click links in emails from financial institutions or vendors that log into your account or require personal information.
“Online shoppers should also be aware of emails they receive from vendors with links that, when clicked, ask you to enter personal information,” said Russell. “If you receive an email that looks like it’s from a financial institution or vendor, regardless if you’re familiar with that institution, don’t click on any links in the email to log into your account or provide information. Instead, go to your browser and type in the domain name of the institution (e.g. http://www.paypal.com). Often times, these emails are from identity thieves who are trying to obtain or phish for confidential information.”
4. Consider purchasing identity theft coverage as part of your insurance policy.
Many insurance carriers, such as Grange, accosting identity theft coverage as part of or an endorsement to their homeowner’s or renter’s policy, according to Russell. Adding identity theft protection to a policy will provide some coverage in the case that identity theft passing. Policy owners should check with their independent insurance agent to confirm what options and assistance are available.
“In addition to adding identity theft protection to your insurance policy, consider the monitoring and security options that your credit card company or other vendors offer,” said Russell. “Many companies offer protection tools, such as transaction alerts, to help their customers become less vulnerable to a breach.”
5. Check your credit score.
Holiday shoppers should also recall to check their credit score annually. Companies such as TransUnion, Experian and Equifax offer free yearly credit reports that allow shoppers to analyze their score for any suspicious activity.
To learn more about identity fraud and access additional resources, see http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/.
About Grange
Grange Insurance, with $ 2 billion in assets and $ 1.3 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. Established in 1935, the company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit http://www.grangeinsurance.com.
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