Earlier this week we wrote bad credit car loan customers and advance fee loan scams. This got us thinking about online security and identity theft.
Identity Theft
Here at AutoNet Financial, we’re very concerned about protecting the information sent to us by our applicants. Especially considering the fact that most of our applicants are trying to reestablish their credit and raise their FICO scores, preventing a further deterioration of their credit is absolutely essential. To guard against the theft of your personal information, our loan application is SSL encrypted. As a further precaution, we even have a professional outside company that handles our sensitive document shredding. This means that if we have material containing personal information that is no longer needed, it goes into a secure container that is picked up and then the contents are shredded. And while this works for us, you may be wondering what you can do to ensure that the information you, as a consumer has, is secure?
Reducing the risk
According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), there are a number of things that you can do to minimize the risk of someone stealing your identity:
• Protect your social security number – Don’t carry your social security card with you. If a health insurer or your state driver’s license bureau uses your SSN for an identifier, request that they use another number. While your social security number is needed for tax and credit check purposes by employers and businesses, if your are asked to furnish it for any other reason, ask why and how it will be used, how they will protect your information and what will happen if you don’t give it to them.
• Be careful with your trash and mail – shred any credit-related documents, including offers of credit from credit card companies. Deposit mail containing sensitive information directly in collection boxes or at the post office. When going on vacation, have the post office hold your mail.
• Be cautious when using the internet – use only trusted sites and never submit your personal information over a non-encrypted connection.
• Use strong passwords – use a combination of letters (upper and lower case) and numbers as well as symbols. Never use your name, birth date or a portion of your SSN or consecutive letter/number combinations.
• Verify sources – never give information over the phone, through the mail or over the internet without first knowing exactly who you are dealing with.
• Safeguard your purse and wallet – only carry the information that you need and the credit cards that you need.
• Keep all your personal information in a safe place – In addition, ask those business that have access to your information how it will be handled, stored and the methods of disposal once it’s no longer needed.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to your personal information, there’s no such thing as being too safe. Be cautious about sharing your information. Many businesses may only need your SSN for general record keeping, which is not a good idea. Verify the legitimacy of an organization before you share any information with them.
At AutoNet Financial, we want you safely and securely on your way to better credit and a more secure financial future!
