Cybercrime Identity Theft And Fraud
One of the most important steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of the rising tide of identity fraud. This insures that your liability is minimal if you should become a victim of identity theft. Big companies like eBay and Paypal actively pursue these scam artists. Most offer free identity theft protection; some charge a small annual fee. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Never give your social security number to anyone unless it is for a transaction at your request and you trust the institution requesting the information.Identity Fraud: How It Happens. Often statements have extra papers that have no meaningful information, or credit card companies send you unsolicted "checks" to charge to your credit card, all with your account number!! Shred it!! Needless to say, also shred any expired or cancelled credit cards -- or cut into very small pieces and deposit into multiple little bags with icky garbage before putting into the trash. If you receive an e-mail from a company with whom you do business, do not respond using any links embedded in the message. Instead, keep it in a safe location at home. Of the two, the use of existing accounts is usually detected much earlier, often by the credit card company noticing a change in spending habits and contacting the victim, or upon receipt of the first bill with fraudulant charges, and is easier to clear up. Another safeguard is to go paperless. By following these simple guidelines and making yourself aware of the many scams being used, you can help keep yourself from becoming one of the growing number of victims of identity fraud. NEVER leave mail for pickup in your mailbox and try to avoid drive by mail boxes. Another fast-growing source of identity fraud information is a scam in which the victim receives a letter or "work from home" job offer through the internet, from someone purporting to need someone in your area to help them distribute money on their business transactions. Do your banking online instead of writing checks. They ask that you
