Online Identity Theft
October 4, 2007
Facts About Online Identity Theft - Protect Yourself from Cyber Identity Theft
The facts are that today we are a digital society.
More than 75% of homes in the United States have access to the internet through at least one computer.
The internet has provided consumers with such luxuries as online bill paying, financial accounts access, and endless opportunities for shopping. Fact is, being able to access so much information online on the internet has left open the door for online identity theft and it is vital to protect yourself at all times from potential online identity theft criminals.
What is Online Identity Theft?
Online identity theft (also referred to as “digital identity theft” or “cyber identity theft”) is a golden opportunity for identity theft criminals. Identity theft criminals seek out internet access to your personal information such as banking account passwords, social security number, and credit card account numbers.
Think about it. Everyone seems to be online these days. Whether consumers are shopping, paying bills, or balancing their checkbook there is also someone, somewhere, who is out there hacking personal information looking for their next victim.
The statistics surrounding online identity theft are enough to make anyone want to disconnect their internet for good.
Who is at Risk for Online Identity Theft?
Fact is, if you use the internet, you are a target for online identity theft. Fraud, phishing, and credit repair scams are just a few types of computer crimes and identity theft online.
Define Phishing - What is a Phishing Scam?
Phishing is a popular cyber crime that is seriously on the rise.
Phishing scams are when emails are sent to you that appear to be from your bank or another sensitive account. These phishing emails will ask you to click a link to access your personal information on said account - usually by instilling a sense of urgency such as a problem with your account.
Since these emails appear to be legitimate, many consumers fall for these phishing scams hook, line and sinker - and freely give their personal information away to these online identity theft thieves.
The impact of phishing has been tragic as many lives have been shattered by simply clicking a link within a phishing email.
How Can I Protect Myself From Online Identity Theft?
Protecting yourself from online identity theft takes some precautionary steps. These steps are designed to reduce your exposure by making it more difficult for identity thieves to access your personal information online.
1. Online Account Passwords
• Make your online passwords unique and difficult to guess. The longer and more random your online passwords are, the better.
• If you use the option for your computer to remember your online passwords for you, make sure you have a firewall installed on your computer.
2. Emails
• Avoid clicking any link within an email that you do not recognize.
Instead, always access your bank account through your internet browser to have any correspondence or activity with your bank account information.
3. Firewall Protection and Secure Connections
• If you don’t have a firewall installed on your computer, it’s the same as simply handing your identity to an online identity thief.
• If a website asks for more than a first name and an email address, make sure the website is offering you a secure connection to send your personal information through. By looking in your browser window, a secure connection will begin with the letters “https”.
4. Online Accounts
• If you use online banking, check you accounts often. Report any suspicious activity to your online institution immediately. Also, consumers need to continue reporting phishing scams to help reduce the impact of this nasty crime.
Online Identity Theft - Don’t Be a Victim
The primary target to be a victim of online identity theft is the consumer with the attitude of “Oh, that won’t happen to me”.
Whether you choose to use the internet or not, reality is, your personal information is on at least ONE computer somewhere.
If you have obtained insurance, have a banking account, or any of the number of normal day to day needs of US consumers, someone has your information on a computer.
Online identity theft CAN happen to you.
It can happen to anyone.
Is there any way I can guarantee my personal info is safe online?
Yes! Educate yourself about identity theft and make use of a guaranteed and proactive identity theft prevention insurance program such as LifeLock. While other identity theft prevention services will inform you after your personal information has been compromised, LifeLock will stop identity theft from ever effecting your life - and they have a One Million Dollar guarantee to back it up.
Considering it costs the average victim of identity theft upwards of $8,000 to repair the damage, the small cost of identity theft prevention insurance is a logical choice to protect your activity online, your personal information, and your peace of mind.
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