Common Identity Theft Scams Exposed

The problem of Identity theft is gaining in importance today due to widespread implications of the crime. While the victim has no clue, the criminal has access to the victim’s credit card details; bank accounts and other personal information which when fall into the wrong hands can have devastating effects on the innocent victims. The ways to identify this crime are limited as the crime is of recent origin so the modus operandi is not well known.

The common Identity Theft scams are discussed below:-

• Phishing mail: – phishing is the term to describe the process of sending fraudulent e-mails and trying to obtain details of a person’s bank accounts. The common format of the mail asks the recipient to click on a link to verify his bank or credit card details. The reason is attributed to regular maintenance of the bank and its accounts. One should never click on such links and provide personal details; if one receives such mails then one should immediately contact the helpline number provided in the credit card or with the bank. There are a few common steps to identify phishing mails; firstly a bank sends all its vital corresponding over mail and not via e-mail. Secondly the phishing mails are sent from e-mail I’d which does not end with the bank website. Also the links posted along with the e-mail are redirected to other sites and not to the bank website.

• Spyware: – Spyware is software or a program that is secretly downloaded to your computer as it stays hidden in some files that you download from the internet. It can change the configuration of your computer or may enable the hacker to gain access to all your personal details such as bank accounts, passwords, credit card or passport details. Thus while you are totally unaware, the hacker enjoys full access to your extremely personal and confidential details.

• Waste paper diving: – another means of identity theft is by rummaging waste paper which might contain personal information through correspondence. Thus the criminal gets hold of sensitive information which he can use to ill effects. Thus it is advisable that before throwing away documents or letter containing vital personal information one must run it through the paper shredder or if shredder is not present then definitely one should cut or tear the letters into small pieces and throw them away.

• Mailbox hunting: generally people have their letters delivered to them in the respective mailboxes, if one finds that there are evidences that the letters have been opened and resealed then one must be extra careful as identity theft may be in process. People also find important mails stolen from their mailboxes. These should be immediately reported to the proper authorities and the local police.

• Identity theft during vacations: – the vacations are a time that identity thefts are most common. When we are away on vacations news paper and letters pile up on the mail box which makes easy access for identity thieves. We must inform our neighbors to collect our mail and correspondence. Also we should update the antivirus of our computers if we are taking them out during vacation because most of the time during the vacation internet connection would be done through unsecured networks.

Thus in this note we have seen the various forms of identity thefts and also how we can avoid them. Everybody should be that extra careful and aware in order to prevent Identity Theft. If we fall victim to identity theft, then we should always cooperate with the authorities and help to crack down the racket of identity thieves and cyber criminals.