Online Credit Card Theft Affects 130 Million: Learn to Protect Yourself
As many as 130 million people may be the latest victims of online credit card theft.
Two men were indicted in New Jersey this week for allegedly stealing 130 million credit and debit card numbers. It’s being called the largest identity theft case in American history.
Authorities say the men stole the numbers from credit card processor Heartland Payment Systems, convenience store chain 7-Eleven Inc. and supermarket chain Hannaford Brothers Co., Reuters reports. According to prosecutors, as early as 2006, the men began assessing the list of Fortune 500 companies and identifying potential vulnerabilities in their computer systems.
One of the men arrested, Albert Gonzalez, was indicted a year ago with 10 others for allegedly stealing 41 million credit and debit card numbers from major retailers. That online credit card theft resulted in more than $400 million in damages, Reuters reports.
Protect Yourself From Online Credit Card Theft
This large-scale online credit card theft reinforces the need to safeguard your personal data. Banks and retailers may be doing all they can to protect your and your information, but it’s also your own responsibility to take some precautionary measures.
Follow these 5 quick tips to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of online credit card theft:
1. Never respond to unsolicited emails.
2. Use strong passwords with at least 8 characters and symbols.
3. Keep your system secure with anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.
4. Update your web browser and operating system to the latest version.
5. Protect your personal information when disposing of an old computer.
Most importantly, monitor your credit with the help of an identity theft protection service to ensure no one has stolen your personal information. For more on these tips, check out “For Preventing Identity Theft Online: 5 Must-Follow Tips.”
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130 million credit and debit card numbers, that’s a whole lot. The authorities might not be taking this threat seriously for it to reach this number.