Did you know that since last year, online transactions have increased 85% in the United States? Especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the potential health risks of shopping in brick and mortar stores seem to heavily outweigh online shopping hazards. Our reliance on the e-commerce industry leads us to forget about the inherent risks with shopping online. Your identity is readily accessible for those who want it; every time you enter your credit card information you are trusting the internet with your identity.
Most people hardly realize how accessible our identity is: with the fact that we enter our credit card number, expiration date, and CVV without hesitation, we are practically handing over our identity to the internet.
There are a few basic rules concerning identity theft, which we would urge you to follow.
Double check that the website you are using is SECURE. This can be accomplished by looking to the left of the website URL and finding a lock icon.
Make sure you are using a reputable website. By utilizing a safe search engine (Google, Bing, etc.), you are more likely to find reputable websites. You can also check the credibility of a website by reading the URL. If there are unrecognizable symbols, it is definitely not a safe site.
Never allow the website to save your credit card information. Websites will often give you the choice: always opt for “no.”
Use your credit card instead of your debit card. This will offer an extra level of protection from identity theft. Just be sure to check your statements every month to inspect any suspicious activity.
Utilize Apple Pay or Paypal. These third-party sources have an embedded layer of security to protect your information.
Be sure to check your banking statements every month. This will allow you to check for any suspicious transactions and take action if necessary.
If you were to suspect any sort of illegal activity on your account, be sure to contact AZ Insurance Team for more help. We will show you that your homeowner’s and renter’s insurance will actually offer an abundance of protection if your identity is stolen and help you take appropriate measures to resolve your issue. Most of the time, we’ll suggest an insurance policy for you, which includes court fees, notary fees, and sometimes, even an identity theft counselor. A lot of these identity theft insurance plans will differ based on where you live in the United States. Be sure to reach out to AZ Insurance Team at 480-535-5709!