Articles - Archived Money Matters

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The Risks of Social Networking

Social networking can be a fun way to keep in touch with friends and family. But it can also put you at risk for identity theft and other cyber crimes. Here are some things you should stop and think about the next time you use social networking sites:

Posting your full birth date

Listing a full birth date (month, day and year) makes you an easy target for identity thieves, who can use it to obtain more personal information and potentially gain access to important financial accounts. Show only the month and day—or no birthday at all.

Mentioning your whereabouts, especially vacations

Whether it's a vacation or just a night out, doing this is like putting a "no one's home, so come in and take whatever you want" sign on the door. Be vague about time away from home.

Posting your child's name in a caption

Protect your most valuable assets—your children—from predators by not identifying them on the Internet. If you post photos, don't use children's names in photo tags or captions. If someone else does, remove the tag. If your children aren't on a social networking site and someone includes his or her name in a caption, ask that person to remove it.

Overlooking useful privacy controls

Use the highest privacy settings possible. Exclude contact information, such as phone numbers and your home address.

For more tips on protecting yourself from identity theft, visit the N.C. Attorney General's Office at www.ncdoj.gov. If you feel you may already be a victim, please call an LGFCU Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist at 877.367.5428. We'll help you straighten things out.