[Java4Jay]

ping

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I’d be mightily concerned as to your BC...as you seem to be.

I for one am no fan of running a debit card 10-12 times on a big “errand” day. In fact I won’t have a debit card. My bank card ONLY does ATM cash w/drawals and deposits. Boy, did I have to wrestle with my bank to get that. A debit card and a credit card have the same consumer protections, but a fraud on a debit card, YOU pay the contested amount until they recover it. A fraud on a credit card is a disputed charge and usually does not even reduce your balance nor available credit line.

For small purchases around town, I withdraw cash and pay in cash. I just believe that if you run a debit card 150-200 times, which might take only 30-60 days if you put your coffee and your groceries and that box of screws and half a dozen small purchases a week, sooner or later you’re gonna get it.

[freedumb2003]

Zero debt fixes a lot of issues.

Pay off mortgage as fast as possible (did it in 8 years).
Pay cash for everything. EVERYTHING!! Keep 1 year possible expenses in cash as well.

Do this and you are bulletproof.

[Yosemitest]

LifeLock Review – Protecting Your Identity KEVIN MERCADANTE May 23, 2019

Best Identity-Theft Protection 2019 by PAUL WAGENSEIL & BRIAN NADEL Jun 21, 2019,

[Scram1]

I only use the different banks accounts of mine to maintain minimum low balances and to view the accounts only.

One account has no card to use an ATM with.

Transfers are performed by land line telephone or in person.

[Kid Shelleen]

You have done all the right things. I would consider permanent credit freezes with the big 3 credit reporting agencies. Your credentials may get sold on the dark web and it may take months before you actually get defrauded.

You can also block electronic access to your Social Security records.

Here are more steps to guard your SS info
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10220.pdf https://www.ssa.gov/hlp/block-access.htm

[Larry Lucido]

Not to downplay the theft, but I hope they have an inspector working the case.

[laker_dad]

We have identity monitoring through our bank that includes SSN. We don’t use a debit card much anymore. We put everything on a credit card for the 1.5% cash back and pay it off every month. Just had the card used for fraud (over $500)last week and got a text on my phone asking if I made the charges. I replied no and had them issue a new card. We’re not liable for the fraud.

[eyeamok]

I'm curious to hear what other freepers do in addition to the usual stuff to try and protect themselves

Personally I view Identity Theft and Credit Card theft exactly the same way I view Pregnancy and Syphilis, ABSTINENCE works every time it is tried, if you make NO electronic Transactions and use CASH for everything, the chances of your identity and credit cards stolen are the same as OJ Confessing on Prime Time TV.

CASH is KING and NO ID is necessary.

[PistolPaknMama]

Bump for later.

[unlearner]

Recently, a computer expert had his identity stolen, and zdnet (for which he apparently works) followed up with this:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/protect-your-online-identity-now-fight-hackers-with-these-5-security-precautions