Nationwide offers tips for consumers to protect themselves
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Identity thieves could come out
in droves this holiday season. The busy shopping time presents numerous
opportunities for thieves to steal your financial information.
"Identity thieves see the holidays as a potentially lucrative time of
year," said Kirk Herath, Nationwide's chief privacy officer and a renowned
expert on identity theft. "The holidays mean more trips to the mall, more
online purchasing and more opportunities for identity thieves. The more you
buy, the more times your financial information is put at risk."
The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to be aware and protect your
information, he said.
Thieves often use one of several techniques when stealing personal
financial information, Herath said. Here are some of the most common ways
identities are stolen and ways to protect yourself.
Shoulder Surfing: Hurried shoppers and long check out lines present a
perfect opportunity for a thief to quietly look over your shoulder and
steal your financial information.
- To protect yourself from shoulder surfers, be aware of your environment
and shield your credit cards, checks, driver's licenses and PIN numbers
from wandering eyes. Also, watch out for thieves using camera phones to
snap a photo of your account number and card.
Skimming: Shopper information can also be stolen when a clerk slides a
credit card though a second machine -- unrelated to the purchase -- that
scans the information from the magnetic strip and stores it until it can be
downloaded onto a counterfeit card.
- To protect yourself from skimming, pay with cash whenever you can.
When
using a credit card, keep your eyes on it at all times and carefully
review your statements for unwarranted charges.
Online scams: Ordering presents online presents opportunities for
thieves to pose as legitimate retailers or for them to collect financial
information traveling over the Internet through an unsecured Web site.
- To avoid becoming a victim online, don't trust a company that asks
you
to provide a Social Security number and keep a printed copy of your
online order confirmations.
Phishing: Some thieves trick people into giving up personal information
online by sending phony emails with links to fake corporate Web sites
asking you to update your billing information. By visiting the site and
entering the personal information, victims inadvertently give the criminals
their credit card numbers, PINs and even Social Security numbers.
- Legitimate companies would not ask you to provide sensitive
information
like this over email. Do not provide the information in response to an
emailed request.
Phone scams: Be cautious in giving information to telephone solicitors
over the holiday season.
- Ask the solicitors to mail something.
Dumpster diving: Thieves will go through your garbage looking for
credit card receipts, etc. to retrieve your personal identification.
- Shred anything with a bar-code or other sensitive information.
Thieves are creative and resourceful. They will continue to come up
with new ways to steal information. One way to be sure you are protected if
you fall victim to this crime, is to purchase an identity theft protection
product - like Nationwide's Identity Theft protection service with credit
monitoring. That way if you do become a victim, Nationwide will be there to
help you get back on your feet as soon as possible.
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified
insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than
$158 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #98 on the Fortune 100 list. The
company provides a full range of insurance and financial services,
including auto, motorcycles, boats, homeowners, life, commercial insurance,
administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and
long-term savings plans. The Nationwide companies include the country's
seventh-largest property/casualty, the fourth-largest homeowners, the
sixth- largest auto insurance group and the country's largest farm owner's
insurer. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, the major subsidiary of
Nationwide Financial, ranks 11th in assets according to A.M. Best. For more
information, visit http://www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide and the Nationwide Framemark are federally registered
service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. On Your Side is a
service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
Contacts:
Charley Gillespie (614) 249-5701
gillespiec1@nationwide.com
Eileen Coyne (410) 423-7114
coynee@nationwide.com
SOURCE Nationwide
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Related links:
http://www.nationwide.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/607050.html/
CONTACT:
Charley Gillespie, +1-614-249-5701, or
gillespiec1@nationwide.com, or Eileen Coyne, +1-410-423-7114, or
coynee@nationwide.com, both of Nationwide
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