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 As
use of the internet increases for both banking and shopping,
it is sadly inevitable that we are finding our identities
being stolen more often.
It seems that more frequently we hear
of companies admitting to security breaches or announcing that hackers
have compromised security, resulting in stolen customer card
details.
So, is there anything you can do to prevent internet fraud
happening to you?
There is probably very little you can do to prevent yourself
from being a victim of a security breach or a large cyber
fraud. However, there are a few simple measures you might wish
to consider that will help you make sure you notice any fraud
quickly.
1. Check your bills and statements
Never ignore your credit card or bank statement. In many cases
automatic direct debits pay our cards and we don’t
always go over our statement in detail – take a little more time to
review your statements. This is the quickest and perhaps
the easiest way to highlight unusual activity on your account. It
is possible your bank will pick up any irregular activity and
hopefully notify you, particularly when large amounts are
involved; they will not however pick up transactions that
appear normal. So you need to review your statements yourself
and advise your bank if you see something irregular. You may
also wish to review your own credit file, this can be done
easily – MDFS are happy to help in this regard so call us on
0845 1280152.
2. Protect your personal details
Perhaps the simplest and best way to avoid becoming a victim
of fraud is to look after your personal details; buy a
shredder – they are quite cheap these days. When you have
checked your statements and bills put them through the
shredder. Don't scribble your pin number down on notepaper
and keep it in your wallet or purse.
Don’t lend your card to anyone else. Don't give out your bank
or credit card details; your bank will never call you out of the
blue and ask you for for information about your details. If you are contacted by someone
from your bank and you are suspicious, simply hang up and
call your bank using the usual telephone number.
3. Shop carefully online
Where you need to give your bank or credit card details online
to pay for items, try to ensure the site you are using is
secure. Check the web address at the top of the page. Does it
begin with https? This stands for "hypertext transfer protocol
secure" and means the website you are viewing is encrypted and
secure. Always use a good anti-virus and spyware protection
software on your computer. These can prevent hackers accessing
your computer in an attempt to steal your personal details, they
can also stop viruses attacking computer; some viruses send
information about your activity, monitoring your keyboard....
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