If you’ve ever had your identity stolen, you’ll know the impact can be financially and emotionally devastating. Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information for illegal purposes. It’s one of the most common crimes in Australia. With the use of mobile telephones, tablets, and computers now commonplace in people’s lives, it’s important to protect your identity online:
– DON’T let anybody else access your personal information or your devices.
– DON’T give anyone remote access to your devices.
– DON’T access emails senders you don’t know.
– DON’T share your personal or financial information online such as driver’s license details, date of birth, etc.
Follow these tips to protect your debit or credit card account:
– REQUEST registered mail or pick up from the branch for replacement cards and PIN information.
– SECURELY dispose of banking information, bills and expired/unwanted cards preferably by shredding all documents.
– ALWAYS check your financial statements against your purchases. If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact your financial institution immediately.
– USE recommended electronic payment enablers when buying online.
– INSTALL and maintain anti-virus/anti-malware software on your devices.
For more information, visit www.police.nsw.gov.au/fraud_prevention
