A lot of Pennsylvania consumers shop for goods and services on their phones or tablets because it is incredibly convenient. In fact, many retailers now offer downloadable apps to make shopping with them even easier. However, all of this convenience comes at a price. Unfortunately, sharing personal information and payment data through mobile devices increases identity theft risks. One false move, and fraudsters can steal your information. Then, they might drain your bank account or ruin your credit score by setting up fraudulent accounts in your name. Yet, by taking a few extra security measures, consumers in Pennsylvania can minimize the threat of identity theft when making mobile purchases.
Tips for Pennsylvania Consumers Who Want to Avoid Identity Theft While Shopping on Mobile Devices
While shopping on smartphones and tablets, Pennsylvania consumers should understand the fact that they are more vulnerable to hackers and cyberattacks. However, if you take the following precautions, you are less likely to be become the next identity theft victim.
Never shop online while using public Wi-Fi networks.
If you share sensitive data while using a public Wi-Fi network, it is very easy for a hacker to break in and steal your information. So, always make sure that you’re on a password-protected network or using your home connection before making a purchase online. Pennsylvania mobile shoppers may need to doublecheck their devices because they often connect automatically to the strongest Wi-Fi signal.
Don’t download apps from non-reputable sources.
Shopping apps are so common these days, it’s easy to just assume that all of them are reasonably safe. Yet, too often, this is simply not the case. Shopping apps created by hackers and identity thieves can install malware onto your device that allows fraudsters to download your data. So, make sure to only download apps from developers with good reputations. In fact, all Pennsylvania shopping app users should check out online reviews from other customers before downloading any app.
Disable your Bluetooth connection before sharing payment information.
If you leave your Bluetooth connection enabled while engaged in an online transaction, hackers can intercept the signal and steal your information. Therefore, it is very important for Pennsylvania mobile device users to disable this connection before sharing data with websites. As a bonus, you’ll also save battery power by giving your Bluetooth a rest.
If possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card to make mobile purchases.
When it comes to paying for mobile purchases, credit cards are better than debit cards for two reasons. First, if a hacker steals your debit card information and drains your bank account, this causes an immediate financial catastrophe. Second, credit cards come with more built-in identity theft protections than debit cards. Luckily, credit card purchases are protected by both the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and policies established by individual issuers.
Regularly check your financial statements and credit reports for signs of identity theft.
Sadly, no matter what Pennsylvania consumers do to guard themselves against identity theft, fraudsters steal private data every day. Yet, if you become a victim of identity theft, you can minimize financial and credit score damage by regularly checking your financial statements and credit reports.
How Pennsylvania Consumers Can Protect Themselves Against Identity Theft by Regularly Checking their Financial Statements and Credit Reports
Most consumers in Pennsylvania have online access to their bank and credit card statements, so it is easy to check these weekly or even daily for suspicious activity. As for your credit reports, you should check these at least once every 12 months. Fortunately, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) entitles all U.S. consumers to free annual copies of their credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. Just go to www.annualcreditreport.com to get your most recent credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Then, while reviewing your credit reports, if you spot signs of identity theft, such as fraudulent transactions or bogus accounts, file a police report immediately. Next, contact Credit Repair Lawyers of America in Pennsylvania. The credit pros at our firm help identity theft victims in Pennsylvania every day by handling the entire credit report recovery process for them. You’ll also get access to an experienced credit attorney who will do whatever it takes to get you clean credit reports after identity theft – legally and for free.
The Free and Legal way to Get Better Credit in Pennsylvania After Identity Theft
Don’t let identity theft damage bring your credit score down. At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been cleaning up credit reports for consumers since 2008 for free. How do we do it? The law allows us to collect our fees and costs from the defendants in any successful action. This is why our clients pay nothing for the work we do.
Let’s start the conversation about what we can do for your credit. Set up your free consultation today by calling Attorney Gary Nitzkin at (856) 912-3511 or sending him a message through our contact page.
For more information about Free Credit Repair After Identity Theft, please visit https://creditrepairlawyersam.com/pennsylvania/fix-identity-theft/.
