Skimming Skimming occurs when a criminal steals information as the debit or credit card is swiped. Purchase of Information on the Dark Web The dark web, or dark net , is a part of the internet that serves as a highly profitable marketplace where criminals can purchase stolen personal information. Private photos, medical records, and financial information have all reportedly been stolen and shared on the dark web. Security researches have reported a concerning trend that cybercriminals have begun targeting children—even infants—and advertising their stolen information for sale on the dark web.
According to one report, 51 percent of new account fraud victims stated that they personally knew the individual who committed the fraud. Identity theft victims may be unaware of the crimes until there is already substantial damage to their financial assets, credit, and reputation. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to better protect yourself and your family from identity theft and identity fraud.
Download the white paper Your Guide to Identity Theft to learn more about the various types of identity theft, common warning signs, and steps individuals can take to better protect themselves. How to Report an Incident. According to the FTC, if you or a loved one believe you have been the victim of identity theft, report it immediately at IdentityTheft.
Phishing Scammers often use phishing emails to trick victims into providing personal or financial information. Smishing Scammers may also target victims via text message —a crime called smishing. Vishing Fraudsters can also use phone calls, also known as voice phishing or vishing , to target potential victims. Keep track of your credit report and report any discrepancies to your credit card company and credit bureaus.
Mail Theft Mail theft occurs when someone targets your mailbox and removes mail that has pertinent information on it. As in dumpster diving, a thief can take your credit card bills, bank statements; anything that can be used to steal your identity. At times, identity theft criminals have been known to re-route your mail without your knowledge or permission by submitting a change of address to the post office.
To protect yourself, you should monitor your mail. If you suspect that someone has been taking mail out of your mailbox, contact the post office immediately. Other steps can be taken to protect yourself. For instance, do not leave your mail in the box for extended periods.
Use a locking mailbox if possible, or rent a box at the post office. Set up to receive your bills and make payments online. Social Engineering Social engineering is the practice of someone either in person, over the telephone, or computer, uses means to deceive someone else into divulging sensitive information. Usually, social engineers know some information that lead the victim to believe they are legitimate and give the information asked.
To prevent this, stay diligent. Do not give out any personal information to anyone you do not know. Also verify with others or verify with the company the person is representing that such information is really needed. The identity thief attempts to get close enough to you so that when you enter password information, such as a PIN number, the thief records the password.
Although this can typically occurs in a public setting, where the victim is and their credentials are in plain sight, it may also occur through a video camera setup by the criminal. To prevent this from happening, you should be aware of your surroundings when you are accessing any accounts that require you to enter a password or PIN in public.
If someone stands too close to you, do not be afraid to ask the person to move back. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry. If you do not feel safe, try using another machine. Another method you can use is to try to use cash for your transactions, or use a pre-paid credit card. Do not write down your passwords where someone can find them, such as your wallet or purse. Also, take advantage of credit reports, which will help you analyze whether anyone has stolen your identity to access your bank accounts.
Stealing Personal Items Identity thieves can also obtain your personal information by stealing your wallet or purse. When this occurs, we recommend that you immediately contact credit card companies, bank, and credit bureaus to let them know of your situation.
To secure wallets or purses, we recommend women to make sure their purses are closed and secure at all times. Carry the purse close your body, with the bag in front so you can keep it within your sight. We also recommend men button up the back pocket where their wallet is located, if it has a button.
If not, place the wallet in front pocket and stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings. We also recommend that you limit the amount of personal information you carry with you. Do not carry your Social Security Number card and limit the number of credit cards you carry. Remove old deposit slips, blank checks, and any information that carries your login and password information.
It can have far reaching effects, since the information on the card can be used to perpetrate other types of identity theft crimes. Steps you can take to protect this information include writing CID on the back of your signature panel instead of your signature on the back of your card.
Another step you can take is to keep your card in plain sight when making payments. For instance, there are places such as restaurants where the waiter takes the credit or debit card away from you to make the payment.
It is recommended that you question if the merchant is using multiple swipes to approve a charge. This may indicate the card reader is electronically copying the information of the magnetic strip for use later.
Do not use a credit card on an unverified site. Make sure that a lock appears in the right hand corner of the web status bar. If none is there, do not purchase anything on the website. It is not recommended to give out your credit card or any personal information over your cell phone.
You never know who is listening to your conversation. Consider the use of a pre-paid credit card for purchases. The only liability will be the amount on the card, not your identity. Skimming This can happen anytime you use your credit or debit card. This enables the criminal to make a copy of your card to make unauthorized purchases. Skimming can occur through a number of different ways, whether it is a recording device set up on an ATM machine or a salesman who secretly swipes your card onto his personal digital card reader.
Accidental or intentional, they can cause problems—for the organizations that suffer them and the individuals whose information is exposed. The criminals might deploy a sophisticated technical attack or simply trick an employee into clicking on a link that creates an attack opening to be exploited. Regardless of how it happens, a data breach can, in one fell swoop, expose the PII of millions of unwitting victims. Best bet: The less you share your PII, the better.
In this digital era, though, sharing your personal information is a regular part of life. But you can try to be smart about it. A well-known company is more likely to invest in the security measures to protect its business and your data. We mentioned above the act of tricking someone within an organization into clicking on a link. This is often the basis of a phishing attack.
Criminals will send emails to folks inside the entity they want to attack. Why target employees? One industry official says criminals consider employees the low-hanging fruit that attackers can try to manipulate to get into the system.
But be aware that phishing attacks can also target individuals outside a business or government agency. If it appears to be from a company with whom you do business, type in the URL yourself. Making a fraudulent email look legitimate is what identity thieves do. The criminal could easily have that same coffee-shop password, as well.
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