[December 16, 2014]

'Tis the season to protect your identity: GEICO offers helpful tips for holiday shoppers

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, GEICO offers tips to help consumers safeguard their personal information.

• Know what's in store for you - From department stores to big box retailers to online sites, anyone in business is at risk of a database security breach. Every time you use your credit or debit card, you leave behind a trail of valuable information that is susceptible to identity thieves. Protect your identity by using alternative forms of payment (cash, traveler's checks, prepaid cards) that aren't connected to your personal information.
• Prepaid is the way to go - If you don't like carrying around cash, a prepaid Visa card works just like a credit or debit card but isn't linked to your personal information. And if your card is ever lost or stolen, you can recover your money.
• Be careful what you sign up for - When in-store or online promotions ask for your personal information; don't give out your credit card r other financial data for a chance to get the newest tech toy, free gift card, or holiday vacation. Your information can be sold or used to commit identity theft.
• Phishing for a good deal - Internet fraudsters are out there "phishing" this holiday season, impersonating legitimate businesses. They try to lure you into giving out your personal information by offering you an unbelievable deal on a product or service. Don't click on any links or reply to emails or pop-up messages that ask for your personal or financial information. Legitimate businesses don't ask you to send sensitive information through insecure channels.
• Secure your personal computer - Shopping online is convenient but the Internet creates opportunities for fraudsters and identity thieves. Any piece of information that's stored on your personal computer could be at risk. Keep your security software up-to-date and limit access to your wireless network with encryption and passwords.
• Beware of public Wi-Fi - Never connect to a bank or other sensitive accounts over public Wi-Fi. The open nature of public Wi-Fi allows anyone to snoop on your device. The hotspot connection could also be compromised or hi-jacked by thieves looking to steal your personal information. Keep your online services secure by using random passwords for every account you have, and disable the Wi-Fi function on your mobile device so it does not pick up a signal automatically.

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