Lessen
your risk that somebody will obtain their hands on sufficient of your
information to steal your personality.
Regrettably,
phishing is a rising method to steal somebody’s identity. And it’s only one
way. Identity thieves could take your personal information from your mailing
box in your home.
They can steal your wallet or purse, or convince you to give
out personal information. We all have to be on our guard.
Identity
theft is the fastest increasing white-collar wrongdoing. It occurs when an
identity thief acquires some pieces of your personal information.
The thief
then uses the information about you without your knowledge to commit fraud or
theft. The identity thief is disguised as you. The trail leads back to you.
Internet
scammers casting about for people's financial information have a new way to bait
unsuspecting victims; it's called 'phishing'.
Phishing is a high-tech scam that
uses spam or pop-up messages to mislead you into divulging your credit card
numbers, bank account information, Social Security Number, passwords, or other complex
information.
According
to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send an email or pop-up message
that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with for
example, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or
even a government agency.
The message generally says that you need to
"update" or "validate" your account information. It might
threaten some dire consequence if you don't respond.
The
letter leads you to a web site that looks similar to a legitimate
organization's site, but it isn't. The goal of the fake site? To trick you into
disclosing your personal information so the wrongdoers could steal your
identity and discharge bills or commit crimes with your name.
You
can be a target of identity theft even if you never use a computer. Cruel individuals
may possibly obtain personal information (such as credit card numbers, phone
numbers, account numbers, and addresses) by stealing your wallet, overhearing a
phone conversation, rummaging through your trash (a practice known as dumpster
diving), or picking up a receipt at a restaurant that has your account number
on it.
If a thief has enough information, he or she may be able to impersonate
you to purchase items, open new accounts, or apply for loans.
The
internet has made it easier for thieves to obtain personal and financial data.
Most companies and other institutions store information about their clients in
databases; if a thief can access that database, he or she can obtain
information about many people at once rather than focus on one person at a
time.
The internet has also made it easier for thieves to sell or trade the
information, making it more difficult for law enforcement to identify and
apprehend the criminals.
Many
people do not realize just how easily con artists can get valuable personal
information without having to break into our homes.
In public places, these
criminals may engage in "shoulder surfing" where they will watch you
from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone number or credit card
number.
Some even listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card
number over the telephone to a hotel or rental car company.
Even
the area near your home or office may not be secure. Some criminals engage the so called dumpster diving going
through your garbage cans or a communal dumpster or trash bin to obtain
copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that
typically bear your name, address, and even your telephone number.
These types
of records make it easier for criminals to get control over accounts in your
name and assume your identity.
Labels: Credit Card Fraud, Safety and Security Tips