You’re relaxing in a new restaurant after a meal with friends. The waiter presents the bill in a folder. He doesn’t understand your request to bring the credit card handset over to the table, so you can pay the bill. `Not possible’ he tells you. Everyone is waiting, so uneasily, you hand over your credit card – and watch it lie on the main desk for ten minutes before the bill is paid…

 

You get a telephone call from a charity you have supported, thanking you for your donations, and stressing the suffering it helped – and how much more needs to be done. You agree, and are asked for the first and third digit of your credit card – and the safety number on the back. As you are told in detail of all the help that can be given for a small donation of just twenty euros, as you wonder what you have done...

 

You’re stopped by a market researcher. After you have answered her questionnaire, she is delighted to tell you that as the fiftieth participant, you have won a voucher for €300. So, if you could just give your name, address and date of birth, the vouchers can be sent on. Halfway through giving the information, you wonder just why such details are necessary…

 

Which scene led to fraud? All of them. Fraud doesn’t just happen on holiday or online – to-day’s fraudsters work through more complex ways – telephone calls, special offers, and the information they need to cheat you, or even steal your identity. It is much simpler and more straightforward than you think.

 

Fraud Prevention Wee) can be an impetus to upgrade your security. As Ciaran Dunne of Fellowes, a sponsor of www.stop-idfraud.ie, points out, last year’s figures of 90,000 Irish victims will be exceeded this year. ``In a recession, people are looking for opportunities for making money. This applies to all areas of life, illegal as well. When it comes to your identity, remember it is about YOU - it’s that important.’’

 

It is vital to keep up with the ever increasing varieties of fraud which have emerged, all helped by our complex system of communications. However, while the names, types and methods may have changed – con trickery remains the name of the game.

 

Phishing - using email to gather information, financial or otherwise, which can be use to defraud you

 

Vishing – use of a phone to steal information from you e.g. falsely claiming you have just won a compeition, and should telephone a given number with your details..

 

Skimming – unauthorised use of your card details, gained by theft or copying from sales receipts, or with a skimmer device.

 

Over the Shoulder fraud – gathering of details of your bank account, credit card details etc.while you are using them.

 

CNP – Card Not Present fraud. This can be physical – your credit card is handed in to pay a bill, or can occur online.

 

All of the above, as well as con tricks such as bogus large lottery wins, and false offers of work, can also be used for identity theft. This occurs when someone steals personal and or financial identity, for fraudulent money use of your details, e.g. credit card or bank fraud, or criminal activity, e.g. passport, to run up huge bills such as house or car purchase.

 

So just how can we protect ourselves from identity theft? According to Ciaran Dunne, we can make a start by not giving our details away for free. Last year, on the Gerry Ryan Show, a Bin Raid item showed that people had thrown away ticket stubs showing personal details, and even utility bills! Start with some straightforward safeguards..

 

``When you dispose of personal and financial information – VISA card details, bills with your name and address – destroy it first. Get a shredder if you don’t have one - nearly all of us have thrown our such information without thinking, but it can be useful to someone. Let `Don’t regret it – shred it!’ be your motto!’’

 

 ``Ladies – be careful what you carry in your bag. Instead of carrying utility and credit card bill, with all your details, fill in the credit slips. Don’t carry money, passport ad personal details – what would happen if your bag was stolen?’’

 

``Go through your bills carefully, and check anything unfamiliar. If you can’t remember it, get in touch with the police. Remember – you may need to prove that you didn’t incur the debt.’’

 

``Small transactions matter as well – if there is anything new, check it out, and start to keep receipts to check against the bill. Look out for irregular bills as well, and bills or invoices which don’t appear when they should. Find out why.’’

 

“Always protect your post, especially if you live in a shared building, with easy access to mail if you are away from home.’’

 

“Keep your personal financial details to yourself. Do not write down your PIN, and keep your credit cards in a safe place at home. Don’t reveal or share your credit card numbers e.g. to help someone make an online travel booking. It might be written down, and then thrown away.’’

 

 

If you use the internet regularly, you are open to scams – but with knowledge and common sense, you can safeguard your money and identity. Be aware of the top online scams which are currently in use……

 

Get rich quick scams – emails for bogus Lottery wins, competition prizes, cruise deals – too many are updated versions of pyramid selling, or simply rip offs.

 

Investment scams. - what better way to get some cash together to re-start your life than investment in a sound deal? Sadly, in 99.9% of cases, another case of `if it sounds too good to be true – it is’.

 

`Account suspended’ scams. You get a email, purporting to be from your bank. It looks official, headed with the familiar logo, telling you that your account has been suspended. However, the problem can be dealt with swiftly if you just reply, by email, using your account details- something your bank would never ask for.

 

Donation request – in these hard times, charities and people in trouble need help and money, but these requests, ranging from donations to world disasters, to helping refugees’ go straight to the con men.

 

Security update – a message from your bank, offering new enhanced security. You can purchase now, online, using your credit card, or simply transfer funds from your account, by sending details – straight to the fraudster..

 

Card security scams. These are really audacious, moving up a step from your bank, or local card provider. They purport be from Access or VISA, Mastercard etc., complete with realistic looking company logo, informing you that your security code needs to be urgently updated. Just send your full credit card details for updates the same day – again to a fraudster..

 

Online tickets. Be wary of `black market’ tickets, for events sporting, music, festivals, sing an email or website contact. Stick to standard agencies, and look for the little online `padlock’ symbol for security.

 

Job offers. An especially cruel scam, playing on desperation and vulnerability. Well paid work, make from home, or a new initiative, is offered, with request for banking details, credit card, to arrange payment. Needless to say, the scam exists to steal financial details.

 

False voucher offers – for holidays, shopping, cruises etc. All that is necessary to enjoy is to top up, online with some cash, and the vouchers will be sent onto you – or not, as someone else gets the opportunity to run up bills on your account.

 

Urgent (bogus) warnings about online viruses, spyware failure or dramatic notification of an online attack. The nonexistent problem can, of course, be dealt with by instant purchase of new programme, which will (not) be installed, after your credit card details are forwarded – to the fraudster.

 

 

 

 

Take action when….

 

You start to receive letters, bills or items from companies unknown to you.

 

You stop receiving your familiar bills.

 

You are refused credit, or financial services, despite having a previously good credit history.

 

If you want a credit health check, contact The Irish Credit Bureau. Also, ask your bank about its procedure and advice about what you should do to protect yourself.

 

 

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

 

Irish Credit Bureau - www.icb.ie Tel. 01 2600 388

www.identitytheft.org.uk

 

 

• Privacy Policy
• Terms Of Use
• Advertiser Info