| You should be cautious of the information that | | | | closure similar consequences if you do not |
| you openly share. Telephone communication is | | | | respond. For people who are trusting and have |
| often a way for identity thieves to obtain and | | | | yet to deal with this type of deception, they are |
| collect your personal information. Even an e-mail | | | | likely act on the request for information. Those |
| or a survey you receive in the mail is not always | | | | "old hands" who have encountered this type of |
| safe and secure. | | | | thing aren't easily taken in and don't fall into the |
| These methods are seldom used by | | | | trap as easily. Identity thieves actively target |
| governments, financial institutions or companies | | | | people who are trusting and innocent. This type of |
| for collecting any type of personal information. If | | | | deception wasn't easily achieved before the age |
| an individual or a company tries to obtain your | | | | of the internet because most dealings were |
| personal information using any of these means, | | | | approached face-to-face. |
| be wary; in all likelihood they are trying to steal | | | | Fortunately, there is a common factor with many |
| your identity by trying to appear legitimate. | | | | spoofing operations; they usually originate from |
| Obtaining personal information from unsuspecting | | | | countries where English is not the first language. |
| people by pretending to be an official, a bank or | | | | This becomes evident in their correspondence, |
| company authority is a method called "spoofing." | | | | which is usually full of mispellings and grammar |
| It is not uncommon for identity thieves to pose | | | | mistakes. |
| as a government official or a representative of a | | | | You can easily lose your credit card information to |
| bank or company in order to gain your trust. | | | | an identity thief if you unintentionally give away |
| They may even go to the extreme of presenting | | | | your personal details. When dealing with vendors |
| themselves legitimately, going to great lengths | | | | on the phone or online, ensure that they are |
| such as reproducing company logos, official letters | | | | companies that you have dealt with before or are |
| and creating official looking web sites. | | | | reputable. If you are being asked to divulge |
| The more commonly used spoofing method that | | | | personal information online, check if the |
| identity thieves use is the "phishing" campaigns, | | | | transaction is being done on a legitimate site and |
| which involves using official looking e-mails | | | | on a secure page? Reputable companies are more |
| containing a request for you to provide private or | | | | likely to protect their reputation by offering |
| personal details such as your bank account | | | | extreme care in providing you with a secure and |
| number, PIN and password. | | | | honest service. |
| These e-mails often imply threats of account | | | | |