National Identity Fraud Awareness Week – 14 October 2008
This week is National Identity Fraud Awareness Week, I thought I would take this opportunity to remind Canberrans of some tips to prevent becoming a victim of identity fraud related crime.
The first step is to ensure mail boxes are large enough for all your mail and the mail box is secured and locked. Collect your mail daily and if you are going away for a period of time arrange for your mail to be held at the post office or collected daily by a trusted person.
Never give personal information over the phone about bank accounts, credit cards or Tax File Numbers unless you have a reason to trust them. Verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from your bank or credit card company, or offering you the chance to receive a prize. Remember if it is too good to be true, it usually is!
When using Automatic Teller Machines ensure no one is watching you enter your Personal Identity Number and ensure receipts are kept or disposed of appropriately rather then discarded in the waste. With online banking enable firewalls and activate virus scans on a regular basis.
For more information and tips on how to prevent identity fraud go to http://www.stopidtheft.com.au/