Identity Protection and Verification Codes

Many of us are well underway into our holiday shopping for this holiday season and with the convenience of shopping from the comfort of your home is great and the wider selection of items, online shopping makes finding that perfect gift easier. Unfortunately, with this comes with scams to try and take advantage of the time of the year. Whether it is a retailer, credit card company, or even your online banking, two-factor authentication means you are getting codes sent to you to let you into online accounts. Scammers are after these codes as well and their plans can range from ringing up large bills on your cards all the way to stealing your identity. These can have large impacts on your credit rating and as we have discussed, this can lead to consequences regarding things like securing a mortgage for those shopping for houses for sale in Windsor or other neighbourhoods.

How To Protect My Credit

A business, bank, or merchant may text or email you a one-time code to verify your identity. This is for strictly for your use only to complete the action you initiated. DO NOT SHARE IT WITH ANYONE. No business will call you to request that code. It’s a scam.

What If I Get A Verification Code That I Did Not Request?

Remember, you will only receive a code when YOU initiate it. If you receive a code from a business but you aren’t shopping, logging in, or phoning them right then, there is a chance someone else is trying to use your account. Stay calm, as long as you don’t share the code with anyone, your account cannot be accessed. Immediately contact the Bank (using the number on the back of your card) or business directly that sent you the code to let them know what has happened and follow their advice to secure your account.

Here at Jump Realty our agents will give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put taking care of your best interests first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, LaSalle, Harrow, and Chatham, no matter where you are, a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!