Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

Did you know that during the 2017 holiday season 1 in 85 transactions was a fraudulent attempt? Prevent identity theft with helpful tips below.

• Don’t share personal information (birth date, Social Security number, or bank account number) 

• Collect mail every day. Place a hold on your mail when you are away from home for several days. 

• Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender.

• Use the security features on your mobile phone.

• Update sharing and firewall settings when you're on a public wi-fi network.  Use a virtual private network, if you use public wi-fi.

• Review your credit card and bank account statements. Compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions.

• Shred receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired credit cards, to prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information.

• Store personal information in a safe place.

• Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.

• Change your passwords periodically and especially if a company has reported a security breach.

• Review your credit reports once a year. Be certain that they don't include accounts that you have not opened.

• Freeze your credit files with Equifax, Experian, Innovis, TransUnion, and the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange, for free. Credit freezes prevent someone from applying for and getting approval for credit account or utility services in your name.

Contact us to learn about Novele Community Management and our accounting philosophy that places transparency and accountability at the forefront of everything we do.