In the past, thieves had to get really close to you to be able to get a grip of what’s yours. These days, however, it’s becoming easier and easier to steal from someone without even being close to them. Digital fraud is something everyone can fall victim to, especially when you don’t take the necessary precautions to stop fraudsters. In this article we will be sharing 4 easy ways to protect yourself from fraud.

1. Get an RFID-wallet

Most people still use their traditional leather folding wallet or purse to collect all their important banknotes, debit cards and credit cards. Even your identification or all your customer loyalty cards are probably stuffed in there somewhere. The danger here is that in these types of wallets, skimmers can easily read all your private information from a safe distance. You won’t even notice that they’re gathering all your personal details or even emptying your bank account simply by walking by with their special devices. It might feel like you’ve got no chance against these ‘ghosts’, but there is a very simple solution. If you swap your current wallet to an RFID wallet (or card protector) these skimming devices won’t be able to read any of your cards. Card protectors are available in many different styles, from a simple card holder to a bifold minimalist wallet with many spaces to hold your cards.

2. Never overshare through email

Be on the lookout for emails that ask you to share personal or sensitive information. Always double check if you’re communicating with a trusted person and don’t be afraid to call your bank or other companies to verify if this email is real or not. Also, don’t just click on a link that came from a sender you don’t recognise. If you share your private information, you can fall into the trap of online scammers. This phenomenon is called phishing and it’s one of the most significant internet fraud problems these days. Also beware of unexpected or suspicious text messages or phone calls.

3. Shred your personal documents

Never just throw away your bank statements or other documents that contain sensitive information. Keep them securely in a folder or in a safe until you need them to, for example, do your taxes. Are you all done with them? Shred away. This way, nobody can pick up your piece of paper out of the trash and extract personal information from them.

4. Be aware of scam calls

You’ve probably been called at least once in your life by some random number, only to get told that your bank account will close in 1 hour if you don’t act NOW or that your laptop will be hacked if you don’t follow the caller’s suspicious steps. These spam calls are not only annoying, but cause a lot of personal damage too as soon as someone falls for it. Do you not recognize the number ID? Don’t pick up. If it’s important, they’ll leave you a message. And did you pick up but realize it’s a scammer? Don’t be afraid to just hang up. You can even notify your bank or other institutions to let them know which number is trying to scam people under their company name.

Hopefully, you have all the information you need to be more aware and protected against scammers. Be safe!