Home Add to Favorite Contact Submit  
             28 March, 2024
 

    
Category:  Articles » Legal » Identity-Theft

 

Internet Safety - Protecting Yourself From Identity Fraud

Popularity:
         Views: 1538
2007-10-01 12:13:45     
Article by Faithe Thomas

There are many scams on the Internet, we know this already - we have all received spam emails in our inboxes and we delete them without further thought. What happens though when 'spam' is undetectable? What if you get an email from your bank or online bank that looks real and is asking for your information to be input on a website? Looks legitimate so you go ahead and do it - after all, they said your account would expire if you did not. Is that a scam or an attempt at identity fraud? Yes, it is.

Your bank or financial institution, no matter where it is located either offline or online will never request by email that you follow a link to input your personal information. If there is a problem with your bank account, your institution will telephone you with the information and/or ask you to come in to rectify the situation. Perhaps the most common scam of this sort is with PayPal, an online financial company that allows merchants and buyers to pass money payments from one to another for goods and services.

There was, and is, an email circulating around from a hacker 'PayPal' site that tells you your account will be closed if you do not update your account information. When you click on the link you are taken to a site that looks like PayPal, but isn't. You are asked for information that PayPal doesn't require, including your Social Security Number and your Driver's License number. This should send out big warning bells that it is not legitimate. Someone on the other end of that fake website is recording your information which they will use to empty your PayPal account and perhaps steal your identity.

PayPal in particular is a large and popular business on the Internet that has thousands and thousands of dollars stored each day, making it a perfect target for identity thieves and scammers. However, it is not just PayPal that has been targeted, other lending institutions and online business have also been targeted in the past.

Many people are familiar with the concept of identity theft but don't consider that it could happen to them. With the Internet, anything is possible and we, as Internet users, have to make it more difficult for scammers and hackers to obtain our information. There are many things that we as users can do to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft:

-Install spyware and anti-virus software on your computer. Keep it updated and run regular scans and checks of your computer. Many hackers can access your computer from far away by installing malicious scripts and spyware on your computer.
-Really watch the websites that you are visiting that require you to input your information. This includes your online banking, PayPal, Amazon, Ebay and more. Watch for signs that the site has changed ever so slightly. Read the URL address and ensure that it is spelled correctly, if even one letter is out of place, you are at a hacker's 'mirror' site that is intending to steal your information and your money.
-Be wary of information you pass via email and messengers. These transmissions are easily intercepted and can result in someone stealing your information and eventually your identity. Never pass your credit card numbers, Social Security Number, bank account information, or any other financial information via email or messenger services.
-Change your account passwords every 30 days to something that is hard to guess. You know the drill - don't use birthdates, important dates, SSN's, phone numbers or any personal information to make up your passwords.
-Never give your information, including credit card number, over the phone to a business who called you unsolicited. If you are interested in their services or products, ask for their number, their name and the company name and call them back after researching to find if the company is legitimate.
-Shred any financial information you have printed, such as credit card statements, bank statements, old ATM cards, etc. before throwing them out in the trash can.

By staying vigilant with your personal information, you can deter criminals from stealing your identity. If it is too difficult for them to get your information, they will move on to someone else.

Specialized in: Fraud - Identity - Group - Government - Parliament - Parliamentary - Victim - Theft - Guidance - Awareness - Identity Theft - Steering Committee - Passports - Licence - Personal Documents - Bills - Personal
URL: http://www.identity-fraud.info
Print article      Bookmark this page
Related Articles 
Who Has Access to My Credit Report? (Popularity: ): From the day you are eligible to own your first credit card, credit referencing agencies such as Experian and Trans Union start to collect information on your financial history. This information goes into making your personal credit report and is used to determine your credit score. Banks use this information to help them decide which banking products, such as loans and credit cards, will be suitable for you.The Difference Between ...
How To Protect Your Social Security Number (Popularity: ): Your social security number is very important, it's like your password in life, all of your information is tied into that number. Many people don't know this, but only a few organizations actually have the right to know your social security number. Today almost everybody is requesting a social security number for access to something, schools, video stores, phone companies, health clubs, etc. The main reason for companies asking for ...
Your Credit Cards May Be at Risk - Few Tips to Prevent Credit Card Theft and Fraud (Popularity: ): More and more people are using credit and debit cards when they go shopping. It is convenient to just swipe your card at the checkout. Most of the stores are encouraging the use of debit and credit cards by using electronic payment systems. This means that if you write a check at the checkout, the store will scan your check and give it back to you just like you were ...
Phishing - Who's Trying To Rob You Blind! (Popularity: ): Beware! Someone is Phishing for your Personal Financial Information 4 Things You Must Do Now to Protect Yourself Against Internet ThievesWhat is phishing?Phishing is pronounced just like the sport used to catch a fish on a hook - fishing. And that's exactly what thieves are trying to do to you - hook onto your personal financial information.What personal financial information are they looking for? Anything and everything - store account numbers, ...
Identity Theft Solutions - What To Do Before It Happens To You (Popularity: ): ID Theft is effecting millions of people everyday. If it's a lost wallet, a stolen social security card, or theft of your complete identity. It is an epidemic.Money magazine reported that in a 5 month period, the data on nearly 50 million people was lost. The former special adviser on Cyber Security to the president said that he feared identity theft more than he feared Al Qadea. AP reported that ...


Related Business 
TransUnion LLC. (Popularity: ): If you are concerned about becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, or suspect that you might be, a Fraud Alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name. It tells creditors and lenders to follow certain procedures to protect you. Once a Fraud Alert has been placed, you can choose to remove it anytime online.
TeleSign Corporation (Popularity: ): TeleSign ranked #15 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ specializes in online fraud detection and protection for different industry domains. TeleSign offers a range of products for identity verification, fraud detection and identity authentication. TeleSign protects 2.5 billion downstream users in more than 200 countries, offering localization services in 87 languages.
Sentropi - Online Fraud Prevention and Detection (Popularity: ): Online Fraud prevention and Account Takeover protection for your online business. Sentropi is an online protection from chargebacks, account takeover, Identity theft and online scams. Its unique technology helps you identify and block the people trying to get the information out of your online business for Malicious use. Sentropi is one of the best Online Fraud detection security solution for Web fraud detection and mobile fraud detection.
Stumpp & Bond, LLP (Popularity: ): Specializing in investment fraud, stock fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud.
Internet ScamBusters (Popularity: ): Extensive information on fraud, scams, hoaxes, urban legends and credit card fraud. Free e-zine and reports.
Protecting Health Through Immunization (Popularity: ): Information about vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, recommended childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization schedules, answers to frequently asked questions, and other information about protecting your health and improving your safety by Aventis Pasteur, Inc.
National Fraud Information Center (Popularity: ): National Consumer's League's website provides a page devoted to Internet fraud.
Fraud Bureau (Popularity: ): Search for, or register, a complaint relating to online vendors and online auctions, including information and news about fraud on the Internet.
The National Consumers League (Popularity: ): This organization sponsors the National Fraud Information Center, Internet Fraud Watch, and child labor protections.
DaytonIT - Computer Shop (Popularity: ): Serving South Dayton Ohio. Located in Centerville Ohio. Business and home computer and laptop repair service. On-site and in-Shop services available. The Internet is a huge threat for your computer and a source identity theft and fraud! As with all aspects of society, a few crooks cause the good guys to take extra steps to defend themselves.