A guide to protecting your money and your identity

Keeping money safe

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

What’s all the fuss about?

• Criminals are always finding ways to steal from you.

• It can take ages to find out that you have been the victim of a financial crime.

• Criminals can:– Steal your cash or cards

– Steal you PIN code

– Steal your passwords

– Steal you whole identity

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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Protecting your cash

• Don’t carry large amounts of cash.

• Don’t flash your cash around.• Put your cash straight into

your wallet/pocket after you have used a cash machine.

• Make sure no-one is looking over your shoulder when using a cash machine or chip & pin machine.

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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What is identity theft?

• Identity (or ID) theft is when someone steals your personal information and pretends to be you.

• They can use the information to:– clear out your bank account

– open bank accounts or borrow money in your name

– commit other crimes in your name

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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How do they do it?

• Go through your mail or even your rubbish looking for personal documents.

• Hack you when you are using the Internet.• Take a copy of your debit/cash

card when you use it. • Find out your PIN by watching

you when you use your card.• Contact you by letter, phone or

email pretending to be official, asking for personal details.

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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Some scary facts

• Up to a quarter of the UK population knows someone who has been the victim of ID theft.

• One quarter of victims said they knew the person who had done it.

• 97% of household waste contains at least one item

of personal information.

• All the criminal needs is:– Your name, address and date of birth

– Your mother’s maiden name

– Your banking password

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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Protecting your identity

• Keep your cards safe:– Don’t carry them unless you need them

– Report lost/stolen cards straight away

• Keep personal information safe:– Don’t throw personal information away – shred it

– Check your bank statements when they arrive

– Never give personal information to people who contact you by phone, post or email

• Keep passwords and PINs safe:– Make sure no-one is watching when you use your PIN

– Never tell anyone your PIN or passwords

Keeping money safe Money Works: Level 1 Topic 3

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