Tips to keep your personal information safe and secure

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Long gone are the days when consumers were asked for their Social Security number as identification when writing a check. The chance of that information being misused was not nearly as high as it is today.

However, in today’s fast-paced technology world, it is getting harder and harder to keep information such as Social Security numbers and bank account or credit card numbers safe and secure.

Sissy Osteen, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension resource management specialist, said there are several things consumers should never do in an effort to keep their personal information just that … personal.

“There are many scams out there designed to steal your information. There is a lot of information in the news lately about consumers receiving calls from someone claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service,” Osteen said. “The callers claim the consumer owes back taxes and if they don’t pay up immediately on the phone, law enforcement officials will be on their doorstep within the hour and place them under arrest. Well, that simply isn’t true.”

If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be with some sort of agency, credit card company or bank, and the caller starts asking for your personal information, just hang up. Osteen said if you believe there’s a chance the call could be legitimate, get the number listed on your account and call the agency or company directly.

“Never give into threats by people who call you. Go ahead and call their bluff,” she said. “No legitimate agency or organization will call and threaten you in such a manner. As a matter of fact, they might be in violation of the law in doing so.”

Another way to keep your information safe is to never trust someone you have not met in person. There are numerous ways to be in touch with a person without meeting them, such as chat rooms, online dating sites and email.

“Consumers should be extremely cautious when establishing online relationships,” she said. “If you haven’t met in real life and the other person starts asking about your bank accounts or asking if he/she can deposit a check into your account, a big red flag should go up.”

Email is another way scammers try to obtain your information. If you receive an email from an unknown source asking you to click on a link within the email, delete it immediately. Also, scammers are getting more creative and have been known to send emails that look like they are from someone on your contact list. It could be a message asking you to check out their vacation pictures in the enclosed link or attachment. If this happens, do not reply to the original email. Instead, write a new email to that person and ask if they sent you an email.

“It’s important for consumers to not be naïve. Your family and friends should understand if you question the emails they send,” Osteen said. “You’re simply protecting yourself.”

There are a number of things consumers should do in the event they think they are being scammed. If you get a call from your bank saying it looks like someone is using your bank card and you must verify the account number over the phone, hang up and call the bank directly. First, the bank will not ask you for your account number because they already have it. Second, you will know if something is actually going on with your account because you initiated the call.

When looking at monthly statements, check more than the balance on the account. Make sure all charges and debits are those you made.

“It’s also a good idea to shred old documents that contain personal information,” she said. “And lastly, always observe security measures. Change your passwords regularly. If you have wireless internet at your home, make sure it’s password protected. Taking these extra steps will help ensure you keep your personal information secure.”