I received a new ATM bank card and a new Discover credit card in the past few months which carry the new computer chip technology, EMV. This technology is supposed to protect consumers from fraud. At first, I was hesitant to use the new cards, but after my daughter received some unauthorized purchases on her traditional magnetic strip credit card, I activated my new cards immediately. These types of identity theft crimes are all too common. Read more…
Get serious about protecting yourself from identity theft
identitytheft.org.uk
Anya Kamenetz, THE SAVINGS GAME
“Having someone else pretend to be you is now something that has probably happened to you or someone you know. And it’s not as fun as it sounds.According to Bankrate, the financial website, says that 41 million U.S. adults have now had their identities stolen — and another 49 million know someone who has.Having your credit card used without your permission is the commonest, and in some ways the mildest, form of ID theft, because your bank’s fraud alert will likely notify you, cancel the charges and get you a new card before you lose any money.Letting someone get ahold of your Social Security number, date of birth and other biographical information is much worse. You can be liable for thousands of dollars in charges, it can ruin your credit, and once the information is out there changing hands, these violations can be repeated again and again.”
