In today's digital age, safeguarding your financial information is more important than ever. Credit card skimming is a prevalent form of fraud that can happen to anyone, often without immediate detection. Understanding how skimming works and where it commonly occurs can empower you to take proactive steps to protect your personal data and finances.
According to a proposed class action lawsuit filed August 2024, nearly 3 billion individuals were recently affected by one of the largest data breaches in history. The lawsuit alleges that personal information was stolen from National Public Data (NPD), a background-checking service. This alleged breach is rumored to have exposed sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, past and current addresses and more, all allegedly up for sale on the dark web.
Social media platforms are integral to modern communication, but they also pose significant privacy risks. When you share on social media, you create a digital profile that can be viewed not just by friends and family but also by potential hackers and marketers. Personal data, from the mundane to the highly sensitive details can often be accessed on social media while potential risks are not understood. It's important to understand how your data is being viewed, used and shared to better protect your digital persona.
Understanding the significance of a credit freeze is crucial in protecting your financial identity. A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is a preventive measure that restricts access to your credit reports. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name because most creditors require access to a credit report before approving new credit. Even if a thief has your personal information, a freeze will stop them from utilizing this data to open fraudulent accounts. Credit freezes are now federally mandated to be free and you can place or lift them within an hour, all without affecting your credit score.
