Identity theft: Are you a sitting duck?

THE South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) this week confirmed that cases of identity theft are rising in the country.

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With this in mind, here are some ways to ensure that your identity is well-protected:

DO NOT
• Carry unnecessary personal information in your wallet or purse.
• Be a victim of waste retrieval. Never throw away documents with your bank account details or other personal information without first destroying the information – either shred or burn it (do not tear it up or put it in a garbage or recycling bag).
• Disclose personal information such as passwords and pins when asked to do so by anyone via telephone, fax or even email.
• Write down pins and passwords and avoid obvious choices like birth dates and first names.
• Use the information that may have been compromised. Rather use other personal information that you have not used previously to confirm your identity in future.
• Use any Personal Identifiable Information (PII) as a password, user ID or personal identification number (PIN).
• Use Internet cafes or unsecure terminals, hotels, conference centres etc. to do your banking.

DO
• Store personal and financial documentation safely. Always lock it away.
• Register a new email account.
• Implement dual authentication for all accounts and products, especially for financial services products.
• Register for SMS notifications to alert you when products and accounts are accessed.
• Conduct regular credit checks to verify whether someone has applied for credit using your personal information and if so, advise the creditor immediately.
• Investigate and register for credit related alerts offered by credit bureaux.
• Check all your account statements regularly.
• Keep pin numbers and passwords confidential.
• Verify all requests for personal information and only give it out when there is a legitimate reason to
• Use strong passwords for all your accounts.
• Change your passwords regularly and never share them with anyone else.
• Should your ID or driver’s licence be stolen, report it to SAPS immediately.