The best identity theft prevention can overcome most criminal scams. Cons can go beyond the internet to seize your personal data and make you a victim of financial ruin. A well-planned scam in the regular world can turn you into the next possible identity theft victim just as easily as it can online. Recognizing identity theft and fraud scams are is your chief weapon in identity theft prevention.

One of the oldest and most devastating scams involves the ATM machine. Thieves can install equipment on otherwise legitimate machines that steal ATM card and PIN numbers. An attachment fits over the original slot and is used to capture the information from the card as the ATM is used. The thieves usually hide nearby and receive the wireless transmissions from the doctored ATMs. With the stolen information, they can commit identity theft and fraud worth thousands by withdrawing from the accounts. Theft prevention relies on consumer awareness.

You should always be wary of ATM machines that look abnormal. It’s quite possible identity theft is the motive when you see cracks around the slot holder where it is fastened to the machine. Always second guess a machine that asks you to enter your PIN number two or three times. Use a hand to cover the keyboard as you punch your PIN into the machine. Theft prevention at the ATM is, in large part, a question of common sense.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 24th, 2007 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Financial Services. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.