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How to Be Scam-Free In the New YearLos Angeles, CA, Jan 11, 2013 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- From the top scams of 2012, Scambook has assembled their most helpful tips to protect consumers from fraud and identity theft in 2013. What better time for consumers to organize their life and increase personal security than the start of the New Year "Thanks to our consumers' complaints in 2012, we have been able to track the largest scams and provide methods to increase personal security," said Kase Chong, Director of Marketing at Scambook. Anyone can be a victim of a scam, so to decrease the odds for fraud, identity theft, and even computer viruses, Scambook advises a few simple lifestyle changes to boost protection: 1.Increase Cyber Security. It's important to always have up-to-date anti-virus software and scheduled scans. Coupled with a secure Internet connection and up-to-date information on the latest cyber threats, personal information will remain protected. 2.Change Account Passwords. Experts recommend changing account passwords every three months and using different passwords for each account to keep all email, online bank, and social media profiles safe. A mix of capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers that don't have direct connection to a person's identity are ideal. 3.Get a Gmail Account and Use Google Voice. Gmail is 100% free and consumers are advised to get a new, separate account to use for less personal website logins or mailing lists. If this second email falls into the hands of a scammer, they won't have access to the personal information connected to regular email accounts. Google Voice similarly allows the creation of a new phone number that can be given out, keeping primary numbers protected. 4.Check Bills Online Every Day. Online bills and financial accounts only take a few minutes to scan for bad charges. Once familiar with accounts, it's easy to spot suspicious activity and take action. The sooner a fraudulent charge is seen, the sooner it can be successfully disputed. 5.Organize Important Legal Documents. Gather important documents such as an original birth certificate, passport, Social Security card, marriage certificate, car titles, and home deeds to keep in one safe place such as a secure fire-proof safe in the home or a safety deposit box at the local bank. ABOUT SCAMBOOK Scambook is an online complaint resolution platform dedicated to obtaining justice for victims of fraud with unprecedented speed and accuracy. By building communities and providing resources on the latest scams, Scambook arms consumers with the up-to-date information they need to stay on top of emerging schemes. Since its inception, Scambook has resolved over $3 million in reported consumer damages. For more information, visit scambook.com. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10312553.htm PRWeb.com |