How to Safeguard Your Finances

Today, digital transactions dominate our lives in practically everything we do. Shopping, dining, paying bills, banking and more. Because of this, credit card fraud and ID theft continue to grow and have become some of the most prevalent crimes in the United States and around the world. Understanding the differences between the two and implementing measures is vital to protect your finances. Take a look:

How Often Does Credit Card Fraud & ID Theft Happen?

Like a lot of other things in life, we often don’t think certain things will ever happen to us. But in reality, credit card fraud and ID theft happen more often than you might think- in 2022 alone, more than one million cases of ID theft were reported. According to experts, a new case of ID theft is reported every 22 seconds in the USA. In fact, if you’re someone who has never had their ID or their credit card stolen, you are in the minority.

Credit Card Fraud & ID Theft Defined

When it comes to both of these types of crimes, there are numerous ways to fall victim so it’s important to understand how they happen to ensure you are doing all you can to protect yourself. 

Types of Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud occurs in various ways including the following:

• Unauthorized Transactions: This happens when someone gains access to your credit card information and uses it to make purchases. This can happen without the thief having your physical card– they can steal your account information and use it to make purchases.
• Stolen Physical Card: A thief can steal your physical card or comb through your trash to steal pre-approved offers. They then use the card to make purchases.
• Skimming Devices: These devices have become more and more prevalent so it’s crucial to be aware at all times. Skimming devices can grab your credit or debit card information and then use the card number to make purchases. Any card reader, ATM, etc can be compromised by this type of device.

Types of Identity Theft

There are many different types of ID theft and it can happen to anyone, no matter how old you are or where you live. This includes children, seniors and even family members who have passed away. ID theft is when a thief gains access to your personal information, including your social security number, address and your date of birth and then uses it to commit fraudulent activities.

• Stolen Personal Information: A thief steals your ID by gaining access to any personal information.
• Opening Fraudulent Accounts: Once they’ve gained access to your information, thieves then use it to open new credit card accounts, apply for loans, or other types of financial accounts in your name without your knowledge.
• Impersonation: An ID thief can also use your identity to commit crimes, which can pose legal risks to you.

How to Protect Yourself

In addition to monitoring your credit on a regular basis, it’s important to take steps to ensure you don’t become a victim of credit card fraud or ID theft. You can reduce your risk by doing the following:

• Shred All Documents With Personal Information: Outdated credit card bills, insurance and bank account documents and other types of paperwork should never be thrown in the trash or recycled. Shredding is the only way to permanently destroy them and ensure that your information is protected.
• Never Throw “Junk” Mail in the Trash: If it has your name, address or any other personal information on it, it should be shredded and not tossed in the trash. ID thieves and credit card scammers know people throw away these types of mail and will dumpster dive to retrieve it.
• Expired Credit Cards Should Be Shredded: Just like old paperwork, it’s imperative that you never throw expired credit cards or debit cards in the trash. They must be shredded to ensure your account number and other information is not retrievable.

All Points Mobile Shredding can help protect you against credit card fraud and ID theft. We are a family-owned and operated company located in Stuart, Florida and serving residential and business customers across the state. Give us a call today or complete the form on this page to get a quick quote on shredding.