id theft fraud prevention

Budda Oliver asked:




Car theft is a very prevalent crime across our nation and needs to be stopped. Auto theft is considered the attempt to take or the actual stealing of a motor vehicle that does not belong to you. Automobile theft not only causes a problem for the owner of the car, but also causes many economic problems. This form of theft can also be extremely dangerous if the thief who steals the vehicle decides to drive recklessly, which is often the case.

Even though we have law enforcement that is out there trying to put a stop to these devastating crimes, there are many things that we as citizens can look for and do to help prevent automobile theft. Being able to identify the methods that car thief’s use to steal automobiles and the reasons why they steal them will help you defend your vehicle from a criminal act.

One of the first precautions that you can use to fend off an intruder from your vehicle is to make sure that all valuables and possessions are out a plain view. If a criminal sees a purse, jewelry, CDs, sunglasses, electronic equipment such as an iPod, satellite radio, or CD player, or any other sort of item that may make them curious, they will be more likely to break into your vehicle. Making sure that these sorts of possessions are hidden under the seat, in the trunk, in the glove compartment, or removed from the automobile altogether will limit your chances of having your car burglarized.

Many people often lock their keys in their cars and need a way to be able to remove them from inside of the vehicle, so to aid in this problem they keep a key on the outside of their automobile. Driver’s that are prone to locking their keys in their cars often purchase a small, metal box used to house a spare key. The box containing the key is then placed on the outside of the vehicle so that the driver is able to regain access once they have been locked out. Most auto owners that decide to exercise this precaution so that they are able to get back into their vehicles do not exercise the same preventative measure when finding a hiding place for the spare key. Spare keys are often hidden under the front or back bumper, on the side of or behind a trailer hitch, or just under the car. While you could get creative and find a unique place to hide a spare key it is best to just not keep one of the outside of your vehicle at all. Most thieves are experts in finding these keys that give them easy access into your automobile.

Practicing these preventative measures can help to ensure that your car is one less that is stolen. If more citizens do there part we can help decrease the number of car thefts.

Clinton

Andrew Regan asked:


Many people will not experience a crime like identity fraud during their lifetime. However, the crime is not uncommon; most of us will at least know someone who has been a victim of ID theft, if we ourselves have not been. Because of this fairly high proliferation of identity fraud – particularly during times when the economy is tough – it is advisable that you get to know a little more about this crime, how to tell when it’s happening to you, and what to do about it.

The first step in identification is quite obvious, really. If you’ve had your bank or credit cards stolen or have lost them, you could become a victim. The same goes for entering your bank details on dodgy sites that do not have the small padlock indicating a seal of online security or have an untrustworthy URL when it should be straightforward. Prevention in these cases is easy: for lost or stolen cards, cancel them immediately. And as for online security, simply ensure that all websites you deal through are trustworthy and secure.

However, identity fraud can occur even when you’re being careful, and if you notice money disappearing from your account and being spent on things you know you didn’t buy then it is quite likely that you have had your bank details stolen. We all pay for this, eventually – in higher prices and increasingly expensive credit card terms, even if we ourselves are not affected by such crimes. That’s why it’s important to do your best to prevent becoming a victim to identity fraud.

What’s worse is that, although many banks are good natured about identity fraud, some will refuse to reimburse you should you be unable to prove that you did not buy what has appeared on your card. Therefore, insurance is important – on your cards and on other important possessions, like home contents insurance should the identity fraud prove to be an exceptionally bad case that can affect more than just your bank balance.

If you’re worried about online security, it may be wise to acquaint yourself with some of the most common fraud occurrences that happen online. This can particularly involve email accounts, which many trust unquestioningly when they should consider certain emails more carefully. For example, never give your details to anybody from another country claiming to wish to transfer funds into your account that you’d then pay back, keeping some for yourself. In addition, never trust any lottery win emails – especially if you never played in that draw! Finally, acquaint yourself with ‘phishing’ and watch out for it – it is the biggest email scam likely to succeed.

Identity fraud can be a scary and violating occurrence – so ensure that your cards are well looked after and that the websites you deal through have the https:// in the URL, as well as the security padlock demonstrating that they are safe. This could save you the stress, time and possible loss should you become a victim of this crime.



Dorothy