Is it safe registering with all these companies

obeywan_kenobe

I have used this site for about a year now and have registered with loads of websites to get freebies and enter competitions.

The only consequence i think is that I get loads of spam and junk mail however with an increase of identity fraud crime is it safe and how can I safegaurd against my personal details being used inscrupulously?

I appreciate this may be the wrong section to pose this question however I freely give my address, name, DOB and telephone numbers to the links on this page.

lauren79

I have been entering competitions on the web for 6 years and over that time have given my name, address etc to probably thousands of companies.
I have (touch wood) never had any problems but I keep to a few simple rules.

Don't give out any information I don't think they need - Mother's maiden name for a simple competition.
Don't enter details on sites which I have never heard of, offer something which sounds too good to be true or has a 'dodgy' looking email address.
Don't give my phone number out unless they need it and then give my mobile number. I don't mind getting the odd bit of junk mail as my recycling box is next to the front door but would stop if I was getting phone calls all the time. By giving my mobile number I have stopped this happening.

Know this isn't a watertight approach, but hopes it helps someone.

jo_b_2

obeywan_kenobe wrote:

I appreciate this may be the wrong section to pose this question however I freely give my address, name, DOB and telephone numbers to the links on this page.

I have moved this post over here, as it is an issue for people submitting their details on other boards, not just the Freebies board.

Fran

obeywan_kenobe wrote:

I have used this site for about a year now and have registered with loads of websites to get freebies and enter competitions.

The only consequence i think is that I get loads of spam and junk mail however with an increase of identity fraud crime is it safe and how can I safegaurd against my personal details being used inscrupulously?

I appreciate this may be the wrong section to pose this question however I freely give my address, name, DOB and telephone numbers to the links on this page.

I don't give out my DOB, if it's required for something I give a false one unless its something like a bank! Also don't give address or phone numbers, but I don't register with "loads of websites" anyway. Also I give a false surname for something I'm not sure of.

Getting "loads of spam & junk mail" is the consequence of giving your info out so freely - it's whether you can live with it or not. I'm just not so trusting as to give this info out all over the place and don't want to take a chance with it.