MONEY MATTERS

Identity theft takes place when somebody steals personal information such as your credit card or bank account number and then impersonates you to rob you financially. This kind of theft is growing because people now shop or carry out various financial transactions over the phone or the internet.

All mail bearing your name and account numbers are dangerous, as they may fall in the hands of thieves. The biggest threat is a bank credit- card offer; ID thieves can take it, change the address and buy on credit in your name. Tear up, burn or shred all such papers before discarding. ATM slips should be torn up immediately, after use.

Many ID thieves now send e-mails that sound like they are from well-known sites offering great deals. They hope you will click the link in the e-mail and be transported to their site. Their site may look identical to the real one but it is fake and designed to capture your credit and debit card data. If an e-mail deal sounds real, skip the link and go directly to the retailer’s home page by typing its name into your browser.

If a card company calls about suspicious activity and if you don’t have an account there, then your identity has most probably been stolen. If somebody phones you, claiming to be from your bank, your card company or any other institution, do not reveal information such as your credit card details, your cell phone number or your occupation.

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