| Internet mail is one of the main sources that | | | | from the recipient at any time. So giving your |
| perpetrators of Identity Theft are using to gain | | | | information to someone that sent an email that |
| access to your personal information. The | | | | has your bank name listed in the header, is only |
| perpetrator may send threatening emails, or | | | | asking for trouble. |
| emails that seem appealing. Spam or Phishing | | | | Identity Thieves are thinking of everything when |
| emails are linked to Identity Theft and arrive in | | | | it comes to stealing identities, including sending |
| millions of mailboxes worldwide. | | | | emails in respected names. FDIC was targeted by |
| In most cases, no one is being singled out to | | | | thieves; the sender sent emails to recipients of |
| become the next victim. It is just not worth the | | | | the bank requesting that they provide personal |
| effort involved. Identity Thieves are not | | | | information to avoid closure of their accounts. |
| interested from whom they are stealing the | | | | Microsoft was also targeted by thieves when |
| identity from. Instead they focus on targeting as | | | | emails were sent to various inboxes requesting |
| many people as possible as it is a numbers game. | | | | the receiver to download patches to protect their |
| The more people they target the higher are the | | | | computers. Once the receiver downloaded the |
| chances that someone will be fooled. | | | | attachment, a dangerous virus took control of |
| Now these thieves are acting on greed and intend | | | | their computer, leaving a backdoor entry that |
| to get rich by stealing the identities of people. The | | | | would give the hacker access to the information |
| senders of such emails are challenging the | | | | stored on the computer. |
| receiver by using deception, hoping the receiver | | | | EBay is also a target for thieves. Some thieves |
| will give out personal information, such as bank | | | | purchase items on EBay claiming that they have |
| numbers, PIN and passwords, Social Security | | | | sent the seller a check that amounts to more |
| Numbers and other precious information that the | | | | than the purchase price and that the seller should |
| thief can use to gain control over your identity. | | | | send the remaining amount back to the purchaser |
| Although Identity Theft has become of big public | | | | by electronic form, or else say through Western |
| interest in the last few years, the tactics that are | | | | Union. The checks were found to be counterfeit |
| used are nothing new. Some of the well known | | | | and so the seller was being tricked into handing |
| hackers that have broken into military computers | | | | over money. |
| and stolen information from financial institutions | | | | Here are some helpful tips to help you avoid |
| have been using social engineering for decades. | | | | Identity Theft: |
| They did not spend months trying to break a | | | | 1) Do not open emails if you do not trust the |
| complex password. They simply picked up a | | | | sender. |
| phone, rang someone and persuaded them to | | | | 2) Never give out your personal information over |
| divulge sensitive information to them, such as a | | | | the internet, unless you know that the company |
| password! | | | | can be trusted and is using encryption to secure |
| So if you want to avoid Identity Theft, then the | | | | the web page(s). |
| emails that you may want to bear in mind are | | | | 3) Do a background check on any site you are |
| SPAM that claim that you have won x amount of | | | | thinking of giving your information to or you are |
| cash, and to act now to receive your prize. Well if | | | | considering buying from. |
| you have not joined a contest then chances are | | | | 4) Never give your personal information over the |
| you have not actually won a prize. A good | | | | phone line. |
| example is an email that claims you have won | | | | 5) Do not post personal information on forums, |
| $32,000 and requests that you pay the tax on | | | | bulletin boards or discussion boards online. |
| the winning, and to please respond now in order | | | | 6) Conceal your personal information at all times, |
| to receive this prize. Or you may receive an email | | | | including at home. |
| claiming that you could receive scholarships or | | | | 7) When using ATM or other machines to make |
| grants to attend such and such a college and to | | | | deposits, withdrawals or purchases make sure no |
| earn your degree act now by providing your | | | | one sees you type in your PIN number. |
| personal information. These are all bogus so delete | | | | 8) Change your PIN numbers and passwords |
| them! | | | | regularly. |
| Companies that already have your personal | | | | 9) Do not just throw personal information, such |
| information, such as your bank have no reason to | | | | as bank statements or letters containing your |
| ask for this again in an email. In fact banks clearly | | | | postal address, account numbers or any sensitive |
| state in their Terms & Conditions that they will | | | | information in the trash. Put it through a shredder |
| Never send electronic mail requesting information | | | | first. |