Identity theft is now one of the rapidly growing crimes in India. Your name, address, bank account number, credit card number or other identifying information can be used to commit this crime or other fraud without your knowledge. Identity theft causes huge losses to financial organizations and individuals regularly.

Tips To Protect Your Identity

• Never give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you are sure you know whom you are dealing with. If you must share personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate person or organization. If you receive a phone call or e-mail asking you to verify information, do not respond. End the call and call the bank directly.
• Tear up or shred receipts, old bank statements, unused credit card offers and all financial information when it is no longer needed, before throwing it away.
• Don’t leave sensitive documents containing personal information where anyone can see it.
• Do not carry identity documents of any nature if they are not needed. If your ID or credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, notify the authorities immediately.
• Always use the password log-in feature on your computer.
• Memorize your passwords and PINs: Never keep them in your wallet, purse or in a diary that you use regularly.
• Protect your PINs and computer passwords. Use a combination of letters and numbers (the longer and more complex a password is, the stronger it is) and change them often. Never leave this information where others may gain access to it.
• Do not use any part of your birth date, middle name, spouse’s name, child’s name, mother’s maiden name, address, or consecutive numbers. Instead, use something unique that only you know.
• Shield the keypad when using ATMs or when using debit cards at shopping outlets.
• Review your bank statement, credit card statement or any financial statement for accuracy as soon as you receive it.
• Watch out for e-mail-related scams such as phishing lotteries, windfalls, jobs, gifts, inheritance, etc. If you receive an e-mail asking you to give your personal information by clicking a website link in the e-mail, do not do so. Instead, go directly to the sender’s website by typing in the sender’s website address.
• Update the virus protection software on your PC regularly. Do not open files from strangers or company/e-mail IDs you don’t know.
• Install and periodically update anti-spy ware, virus protection and firewall software.
• Identity theft indicators – like failing to receive bills or other mail on time, receiving credit cards for which you did not apply, denial of credit for no apparent reason, receiving calls from debt collectors or companies for products or services that you never availed of.