News
Warning of increased risk of ID theft at Christmas
ID Theft assistance organisation firm Europ Assistance is warning consumers of the increased risk of identity theft over the festive period, while sharing its top tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of this rising crime:
Don’t let anyone see your PIN. It can be easy to get caught up in the Christmas whirlwind, but always be aware of who can see over your shoulder when you are withdrawing money at an ATM or paying for presents at the checkout
Monitor your bank account activity at regular intervals. Increased expenditure in the run up to Christmas can mean that you lose track of your spending – sign up to a service that sends you your account details by text message so you can easily keep an eye on your cash
Check the validity of a website before doing your Christmas shopping online. Before paying for your goods make sure that there is a ‘padlock’ symbol in the browser bar and that the address begins with ‘https’. The ‘s’ signifies that the site is secure
If you are going away for the Christmas period, contact Royal Mail and arrange for them to hold your mail for you so that your mail doesn’t end up in the wrong hands
Shred documents that contain any personal information. Bank statements, receipts, e-tickets and loyalty reward scheme letters all contain details that can enable identity thieves to piece together the full picture.
