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According to the US Department of Justice, more than 17 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2014. EDUCAUSE research shows that 21 percent of respondents to the annual ECAR student study have had an online account hacked, and 14 percent have had a computer, tablet, or smartphone stolen. Online fraud is an ongoing risk. The following tips can help you prevent identity theft.
- Read your credit card, bank, and pay statements carefully each month. Look for unusual or unexpected transactions. Remember also to review recurring bill charges and other important personal account information.
- Review your health insurance plan statements and claims. Look for unusual or unexpected transactions.
- Shred it! Shred any documents with personal, financial, or medical information before you throw them away.
- Take advantage of free annual credit reports. In South Africa TransUnion, Experian and CompuShare can provide these reports.
- If a request for your personal info doesn’t feel right, do not feel obligated to respond! Legitimate companies won’t ask for personal information such as your ID number, password, or account number in a pop-up ad, e-mail, SMS, or unsolicited phone call.
- Limit the personal information you share on social media. Also, check your privacy settings every time you update an application or operating system (or at least every few months).
- Put a password on it. Protect your online accounts and mobile devices with strong, unique passwords or passphrases.
- Limit use of public Wi-Fi. Be careful when using free Wi-Fi, which may not be secure. Do not access online banking information or other sensitive accounts from public Wi-Fi.
- Secure your devices. Encrypt your hard drive, use a VPN, and ensure that your systems, apps, antivirus software, and plug-ins are up-to-date.
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Volgens die Amerikaanse Departement van Justisie was meer as 17 miljoen Amerikaners in 2014 slagoffers van identiteitdiefstal. EDUCAUSE navorsing het gewys dat 21% van respondente van met die jaarlikse ECAR studente steekproef se aanlynrekeninge gekraak is en 14% se rekenaar, tablet of slimfoon is gesteel. Aanlynbedrog bly `n voortdurende risiko. Die volgende wenke kan help voorkom dat jy `n slagoffer is van identiteitsdiefstal.
- Lees jou kredietkaart-, bank- en betaalstate deeglik elke maand. Kyk vir ongewone of onverwagse transaksies. Onthou ook om te kyk na huidige rekeningkostes en ander belangrike persoonlike rekeninginligting.
- Hersien jou mediese fonds se state en eise. Kyk vir ongewone of onverwagse transaksies.
- Versnipper dit! Versnipper alle dokumente met persoonlike, finansiële of mediese inligting voordat jy dit weggooi.
- Trek voordeel uit jaarlikse gratis kredietverslae. In Suid-Afrika kan TransUnion, Experian en CompuShare hierdie verslae verskaf.
- Indien `n versoek om jou persoonlike inligting vir jou nie reg voel nie, moenie verplig voel om te reageer nie. Regmatige maatskappye sal nie vir persoonlike inligting soos jou ID-nommer, wagwoorde of rekeninge vra deur middel van `n e-pos, advertensie, SMS of foonoproep nie.
- Beperk die persoonlike inligting wat jy deel op sosiale media. Kyk ook na jou privaatheidverstellings elke keer wanneer jy `n toepassing of bedryfstelsel opdateer. (of ten minste elke paar maande)
- Stel `n wagwoord daarop. Beskerm jou aanlyn rekeninge en mobiele toestelle met sterk, unieke wagwoorde of wagwoordfrases.
- Beperk jou gebruik van openbare Wi-Fi. Wees versigtig om gratis, onsekure Wi-Fi te gebruik. Moet dit nie gebruik om toegang tot bankdienste of ander sensitiewe rekeninge te kry nie.
- Beveilig jou toestelle. Enkripteer jou hardeskyf, gebruik `n VPN en maak seker dat jou stelsels, toepassings, anti-virus en inprop-programme op datum is.
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