Take these steps to be safe while shopping this holiday season

November 4, 2010 – 11:59 am

Misconceptions about identity theft liability could catch some consumers by surprise this holiday shopping season and leave them holding the bag for common identity theft schemes.

Statistics indicate that most people plan to shop this holiday season primarily using credit or debit cards. However, nearly half of shoppers have little or no concern about identity fraud happening to them, despite the fact that 11 million Americans were victimized in 2009 by the holiday season. More consumers are also concerned with online identity theft, rather than retail identity theft.

Generally speaking, purchasing with a credit card, rather than a debit card, poses less financial risk for consumers. A recent poll showed that 35 percent of local consumers mistakenly think they are more protect from ID fraud by using a debit card to shop.

The best way to protect your identity when it comes to retail theft is to check your credit card and bank statements to ensure charges are accurate. You should also find out from your credit card issuer or bank what your liability is when it comes to theft, because some of the liability is tied to how quickly the theft is reported.

Some of the most effective methods to protect identities are some of the least used by consumers, including:

• Enrolling in fraud protection with your credit card company or with a profession credit or identity monitoring service.
• Monitoring credit bureau reports monthly.
• Checking your credit score at least twice a year.
• Requesting and reviewing your free credit report.

To protect yourself this holiday season, carry only the cards with you that you’ll need. Keep your purse or wallet secure, and don’t store your cards or ID in a backpack, which can be easily pickpocketed. If entering your PIN, shield the keyboard from the view of others. Don’t let your credit or debit card out of your sight.

Avoid shopping online on a shared public computer or accessing online shopping sites on public, unsecured wi-fie networks in locations like coffee shops.

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