I have been asked what is meant by identity theft, who has to worry about it and how to prevent it.
What is identity theft?
This may seem like a dumb question but if you don’t know about it or your playing ignorant you could be subjecting yourself to big problems. It is the attempt to gain information about you or somebody your associated with by any means possible. This information, once obtained, may be used for any purpose desired by the person obtaining it. It is somebody’s attempt to become you.
How is this information obtained?
There are more ways than I can explain here. I will give you as many as I can.
1. Your normal mail box. Somebody may take things from a mail box and get information they are looking for. They may destroy the information after they’re done or may just return it so it doesn’t look suspicious.
2. Trash bins. This is very common. Many cases of theft have been done through this method sometimes known as dumpster diving.
3. Bogus e-mails. These are e-mail that are normally SPAM or junk mail. Just by opening the e-mail it would signal the server that you are real. Normally a Virus known as a Trojan Horse is used to distribute a spy-ware program to your computer. It is written to withdraw the information needed to do the damage that it was designed to do.
4. On line credit card purchases. Sites are hacked to obtain your credit card number. The person that gets this information can then buy things using your number.
5. On line banking. This is one of the biggest targets. If access to your account can be made, money can be withdrawn from your account. In the past entire accounts have been drained in this manner.
Prevention
- This is a tough one. Buy yourself a cross cut shredder. Shred any junk mail you may get that has your name on it. This is usually all your mail. Be very sure that you destroy any check documents that you don’t plan to use or keep. Anything with an account number could be a target.
- To prevent e-mails from sending you a virus buy the best Anti-Virus program you can afford. Also do not open e-mails if you don’t know were they came from. Be sure to keep your Virus program activated and updated at all times. DO NOT go without a Anti-Virus and spy-ware program. Your only asking for problems.
- As far as Credit cards are concerned, check every statement. Be sure that you really made the purchase. Report any problems to you credit card company “fast”. Do not wait. Then change you card number immediately.
- Bank accounts-the best way is to be sure you have a secure password. Do not use real simple things like your birth date, pets name or your initials. Do not use real simple numbers such as 1234. Although this rule keeps changing, use at least one Capital letter, one number and a total of more than eight characters. I normally use at least two numbers and two capital letters but do whatever you think is secure. The way I do it is make up something not associate with you. ( Example: I2tm9Hff ) Then either right it down or memorize it. Do NOT put a sticky note by you computer with this password on. Your idea is to keep others out of your account. Do not get lazy or ignorant here. That’s exactly what these crooks are looking for. Don’t purposely make yourself a target.