How Identity Thieves Operate
Protect Yourself From Identity Fraud
Identity thieves have lots of ways
to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims. Here
are some tips to help protect you from identity theft.
Dumpster Diving
Social security numbers, credit
card numbers, bank account information and medical insurance
papers are like gold to identity thieves. That is why some of
them are willing to dig through garbage cans and dumpsters to
get personal information from their victims. The best way to
avoid this form of identity theft is to shred all documents
before throwing them away.
Internet Phishing
Scams
Identity thieves have tricky ways
of getting people to voluntarily provide personal and
financial information. The most common way is through emails.
Identity thieves send emails that appear to be from the
victim's bank, credit card company, utility company, mortgage
company, etc. They say they need information to update or
verify their records. The emails have links that send people
to websites that look exactly like the company websites. On
these spoof websites the victims are prompted to enter their
social security numbers, dates of birth, bank account numbers
and other sensitive information. To prevent this kind of
identity theft, never give personal information of any kind
through an email. The same applies for other solicitations
sent by email. Don't buy anything or make charitable donations
in response to an email. For example, if you want to donate to
the ASPCA, go directly to their website. Don't follow links
from emails.
Telephone Vishing
Scams
Identity thieves call people and
pretend to be representatives of well known companies. Like
the email scams described above, they say they need
information to update or verify their records. To avoid this
kind of identity theft, never give any personal information in
response to an incoming telephone call.
Computer Fraud
Identity thieves operate websites
that download spyware into the computers of unsuspecting
victims. Spyware is often used as an unscrupulous marketing
tool. However, it can also be used to get financial and
personal information from the victim's computer. To prevent
this kind of identity theft, invest in a good anti spyware
software program.
Lottery and Sweepstakes
Scams
People are especially vulnerable to
scams that promise large sums of money, especially in these
tough economic times. Identity thieves lure their victims into
giving financial information in order to get a large monetary
prize. Legitimate contests never require winners to provide
financial information. To avoid this kind of identity theft,
never give personal information to someone who tells you that
you won a prize.
Credit Card
Scanning
When you use a credit or debit card
at restaurants, stores, movie theaters, etc., the magnetic
strip on your card is scanned and information is sent to your
financial institution. When this information is transmitted to
your financial institution via wireless technology it is
possible for identity thieves to intercept the information
from your card. To prevent this kind of identity theft, pay
for things the old fashioned way and use cash.
Mail Fraud
Identity thieves raid mail boxes to
get personal information to open lines of credit in the
victim's name. The victim's bills and account statements
suddenly stop arriving because the identity thief is having
them sent someplace else. To avoid this kind of identity
theft, always make sure your mailbox is locked or you have
your mail sent to a PO Box address.
Avoid Identity
Fraud
In summary, the best way to prevent
identity theft is to never give information in response to an
email, incoming phone call or snail mail solicitation. Shred
everything before throwing it away, protect your computer from
spyware, Use cash whenever possible and make sure your mailbox
is locked. |
