Shut out web crooks
MORE than half of us feared we’d had money stolen online last year.
That’s up from less than twofifths in 2015, research by credit firm Experian reveals.
Online fraud is a growing worry and causes havoc for victims.
You’re left feeling vulnerable as well as out of pocket. It can temporarily affect your credit score and can take a long time to investigate and recover your losses.
Experian’s Victims of Fraud team found it takes an average 292 days for people to even discover their information has been used without their knowledge.
To help you spot the signs and keep your identity safe we’ve teamed up with Nick Mothershaw, director of identity and fraud at Experian, for his eight top tips for staying safe online...
1 Make each password unique
Recent research shows two-thirds of 16 to 24-year-olds use the same password for multiple online accounts – an open door to ID thieves.
It’s vital to have unique, secure passwords for each online account, comprising of a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols to keep your personal information secure. Using all three is best.
2 Lock away personal information
A lot of personal details are stored on devices such as mobiles and tablets.
Emails, apps or messages can contain a hoard of info that could be a gold mine for fraudsters if the device is lost or stolen.
Be smart and always lock mobile devices and apps if possible, either with passcodes or a gesture lock.
3 Be a savvy socialite
Putting too much information on the likes of Facebook and Instagram can be dangerous.
Email addresses, date of birth, family members’ names or pet names can all be used by crooks trying to hack into passwords for online accounts.
They often use fake profiles to phish for information, so don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
4 Be wary using public wi-fi
Don’t use it to log into sites that require inputting your password or personal information.
Avoid opening up banking, social media or email accounts. Public wi-fi networks may state they are secure, but they’re a target for criminals who can read all the details you enter.
Don’t input anything you wouldn’t want anyone else to see.
5 Keep up to date
Ensure you have the latest antivirus software updates to protect you from spyware and malware which can send all your personal information into the wrong hands. Updating apps and software to the latest versions will improve security and stability and help keep your information safe.
6 Stay vigilant over unsolicited calls and emails
Crooks are adept at calling you, pretending to be from your bank, the police, the tax office or the local council in an attempt to swindle you. Be wise and remember your bank or other bona fide establishments dealing with payments will never ask you to reveal passwords or PINs, or to move your money to a new account for fraud reasons.
7 Use secure sites
Before entering payment details or personal information into a website, check to see if it is encrypted and safe to use.
Check the web address has an ‘s’ after http, which means the site is secure. Research the retailer by reading reviews and pay by credit card where possible – they give you more protection than other payment methods.
8 Give yourself credit
Check your credit report regularly to see if your details have been used without your knowledge.
Web monitoring tools available through services like Experian CreditExpert can also be useful as they scour the web for stolen details – sending people an instant notification if their information appears somewhere new online.
Check your credit score via Experian, Equifax or Callcredit.
Even putting pets’ names on Facebook can be dangerous as it can help swindlers to crack your passwords