In light of the recent news about Social Security numbers being exposed for pretty much every American: you can take one step that will substantially reduce your risk and make that information less valuable to the cybercriminal. Turn on text alerts for all of your financial transactions. They’re fast! When I pump gas, I get the text alert before I even get back in the car.
@paxterrarum Yes. I’ e had these alerts set up for some time. All alerts on all accounts and particularly if an international trans has been made. It can get annoying with every transaction but not as annoying as an unauthorized charge or atm withdrawal or bank account transfer would be.
Great advice.
My Credit Union offers this in an "opt out" feature. You get text messages for every transaction, unless you tell them to stop.
@paxterrarum thank you for this advice. Extremely helpful and will be doing this for everything
@paxterrarum very good advice.
@paxterrarum
It's good advice. But the problem with data breaches is that they have enough information to take out a new credit card at a department store that offers "instant credit," run up a lot of charges and disappear.
@paxterrarum I like how the people who let our data get stolen who are not the ones who have to pay the consequences and be vigilant after.
I had finished a meal at the Waffle House and I gave my waitress a $5.00 tip (meal paid by credit card). I got a text alert that my credit card payment had been increased by 50 cents (if the bill was, say, $15.00, the total amount paid via credit card was $15.50). I politely asked for my 50 cents back…and got it. I have not been back to that particular Waffle House.
Turn on your text alerts!
If you log into your bank account(s) and set up text alerts for all transactions, you’ll know instantly if a criminal is using your account. You can call the bank and take immediate action.