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London, 27th April 2011 – Chris Sherlock, Marketing Director of ID Fraud expert, Equifax, is available to provide expert comment on ID fraud and theft issues following the news that Sony has warned users of its Playstation Network that their personal information, including credit card details, may have been stolen.
Chris Sherlock, who is responsible for Equifax’s direct-to-consumer services which help individuals monitor for any signs of ID fraud and theft, can comment on the potential risks as a result of this security breach and provide advice if someone thinks they have been a victim of ID fraud.
“Fraudsters only need three items of personal information to be able to steal an individual’s identity” said Chris Sherlock. “Sony is stating on its official Playstation blog that it believes the name, address, country, email address, date of birth and Playstation login and passwords of users have been stolen. It is also saying that whilst there’s no evidence that credit card data has been taken, it can’t be ruled out. So Playstation users do need to be alert to the potential threat to their identity and certainly should make sure they’re not using the same PINs and passwords for other online activities.”
In a survey conducted by Equifax*, 32% claimed they use just 1 to 3 PIN codes for all of their debit or credit cards and online accounts. That means that if a fraudster gets hold of this limited amount of PINs, they could potentially gain access to all of an individual’s finances. “In the same Equifax survey, 76% confirmed they use their Mother’s maiden name as a password or prompt. Equifax therefore encourages consumers to avoid doing this as it is quite easy for fraudsters to work out, especially those who know their victim.
EQUIFAX TIPS TO PROTECT AGAINST ID FRAUD ONLINE
• Make sure your computer is protected with the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and you that you have a Firewall
• Check the website address that you are shopping on starts with https:// not http://
• Check there is a registered address and a landline number on the website
• Before putting in any of your card details, ensure there is a padlock showing at the bottom of the screen
• Do not use the same PIN number for all of your cards, and the same passwords for your email accounts.
• If you are using a public computer ensure people can’t view your details and log out of the site, rather than just closing the window
• Take note or print out of your receipt/reference details
• Keep note of all of the online transactions you have made and check your bank statements for any unusual transactions
• No matter how much you trust your friends, work colleagues, do not give out your PIN number under any circumstances
Equifax also recommends that consumers regularly monitor their credit report to be able to identify if any unauthorised activity occurs that might be signs of a fraudster at work.
Tackling the threat of identity theft and fraud, Equifax Identity Watch Pro gives consumers unlimited instant, easy online access to their latest credit file, with automatic alerts within 24 hours of key changes to their credit report. It costs £7.50 per month. Or for just £2.99 per month, Equifax Identity Watch Lite makes monitoring a credit report easy by automatically alerting the individual within seven days of key changes.
*Equifax Identity Fraud Survey of 939 Consumers, June 2010
Chris Sherlock, who is responsible for Equifax’s direct-to-consumer services which help individuals monitor for any signs of ID fraud and theft, can comment on the potential risks as a result of this security breach and provide advice if someone thinks they have been a victim of ID fraud.
“Fraudsters only need three items of personal information to be able to steal an individual’s identity” said Chris Sherlock. “Sony is stating on its official Playstation blog that it believes the name, address, country, email address, date of birth and Playstation login and passwords of users have been stolen. It is also saying that whilst there’s no evidence that credit card data has been taken, it can’t be ruled out. So Playstation users do need to be alert to the potential threat to their identity and certainly should make sure they’re not using the same PINs and passwords for other online activities.”
In a survey conducted by Equifax*, 32% claimed they use just 1 to 3 PIN codes for all of their debit or credit cards and online accounts. That means that if a fraudster gets hold of this limited amount of PINs, they could potentially gain access to all of an individual’s finances. “In the same Equifax survey, 76% confirmed they use their Mother’s maiden name as a password or prompt. Equifax therefore encourages consumers to avoid doing this as it is quite easy for fraudsters to work out, especially those who know their victim.
EQUIFAX TIPS TO PROTECT AGAINST ID FRAUD ONLINE
• Make sure your computer is protected with the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and you that you have a Firewall
• Check the website address that you are shopping on starts with https:// not http://
• Check there is a registered address and a landline number on the website
• Before putting in any of your card details, ensure there is a padlock showing at the bottom of the screen
• Do not use the same PIN number for all of your cards, and the same passwords for your email accounts.
• If you are using a public computer ensure people can’t view your details and log out of the site, rather than just closing the window
• Take note or print out of your receipt/reference details
• Keep note of all of the online transactions you have made and check your bank statements for any unusual transactions
• No matter how much you trust your friends, work colleagues, do not give out your PIN number under any circumstances
Equifax also recommends that consumers regularly monitor their credit report to be able to identify if any unauthorised activity occurs that might be signs of a fraudster at work.
Tackling the threat of identity theft and fraud, Equifax Identity Watch Pro gives consumers unlimited instant, easy online access to their latest credit file, with automatic alerts within 24 hours of key changes to their credit report. It costs £7.50 per month. Or for just £2.99 per month, Equifax Identity Watch Lite makes monitoring a credit report easy by automatically alerting the individual within seven days of key changes.
*Equifax Identity Fraud Survey of 939 Consumers, June 2010
