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Identity Theft on the Internet
What you need to know to surf the web safely
Identity theft is not new, but it is on the rise, running rampant over the Web at breakneck speed.
The thieves need only a few elements to victimize you -- usually, your name and Social Security
number will do. Obtaining this information is often intertwined with other crimes -- advance fee
scams and bogus job offers among them.
The name for this scam is "phishing" -- as in fishing for your information but with a "ph" as in "phony."
Almost any scam can be sprinkled with a smattering of identity theft -- advance fee scams, fraud jobs
and online auctions included. All it takes to become a victim of identity theft is a leak of your
personal information. Your garbage may be targeted. (That's why you should shred anything that has
your account numbers, Social Security number or that says you are "pre-approved" for credit -- before
you throw it away.)
Telemarketers and e-mail spammers may attack you under the guise of protecting your accounts, auction
transactions and credit cards. Some even pretend to be law enforcement or government agents.
Don't call us, we'll call you
If anyone from any company you do business with or that claims to be a representative of a government
agency (like the police or FDIC) demands your personal information or an immediate payment for any
reason, ask for a number and tell them you will call them back. Then get the number from a different
source (bank statements, credit card statements or the phone book) and ask if the call was for real.
Four bazillion dollars says it wasn't.
If this bet is wrong and there is some particularly friendly company making these sorts of calls, it
won't mind if you say you need to call back.
Remember that clever phishing con artists are always looking for a new angle -- they may say they are
from various different companies or agencies. Don't get caught off guard.
More Information on how to fight Identity Theft
OptoutPrescreen
Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
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