How to safeguard our personal and financial data?

• Share personal information cautiously; including your driver’s license number, identity card number, and credit card numbers. Do not give out personal information unless you know the party with whom you are dealing.

• Do not give out unnecessary information anywhere, be it shops who ask you for your address or suggestion forms which want your contact details.

• Report lost or stolen cards immediately to the bank or other financial institution that issued them.

report stolen cards

• Don't reply to requests for personal information. Never reply to, or click a link in, an unsolicited e-mail. Example if you received any e-mails from banks regarding changing passwords or personal information, contact that particular bank to ask for confirmations. Nor should you give out personal information over the phone if there are any strangers calling you.

e-mail requiring for confirming personal information

• Practice safe ATM use. Have deposit forms and your card ready when approaching an ATM. Use your free hand to shield the keypad when entering your PIN. If you see anyone suspicious, do come back later. When your transaction is complete, pocket your card and any cash and count it later in the safety of your locked car or home.

shield the keypad

• Store card receipts and other important documents you keep in a safe place, including cancelled checks, new checks and account statements. When it is time to throw them out, shred them first.

shred important documents

• Match your receipts to your billing statement each month to make sure you have not been billed for fraudulent purchases. If you spot any suspicious transactions such as charges you don’t recognize, or duplicate charges. Therefore you must contact your card issuer immediately.

• Memorize your PIN. Never write this information on a paper, do not write your PIN on your card or carry it in your wallet or purse.

• Sign the back of your credit and debit cards. Do this as soon as you receive a new card. If you have any unsigned cards, sign them now.

• Protect your online logon information. Do not share your user name and password with anyone. Moreover, do not use the same user names and passwords for financial sites that you use on hobby and leisure websites such as Facebook and Msn Messenger.

• Secure your computer. If you manage your accounts online, always make sure that your computer has up-to-date spyware, antivirus protection, and firewall software. The most important thing is you make sure you use these protections.

spyware

link:

1. http://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/pdf/fin_security.pdf

2. https://personal.vanguard.com/us/VanguardViews?FW_Event=vviewsnewsletters&chunk=/freshness/News_and_Views/news_ITVsummer2008_ALL_protectingfin_ALL.html&Season2=Summer&Year2=2008
3. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/providing-personal-information-and-sensitive-data-is-a-necessary-evil/361155/0


Sinmay