Protect Yourself from Internet Identity Theft
Posted on June 27, 2008
Filed Under Identity Theft, Law, Theft |
In our June 25 post we noted that the majority of identity thefts result from stolen wallets and purses, stolen mail or from information exchanged during a phone or male-order sale. Internet access accounts for only 14% of ID thefts, according to a recent study by financial consulting firm Javelin Strategy & Research of Pleasanton, CA. However, opportunities for identity theft are prolific on the internet and it pays to know how to protect yourself.
The following tips can lower your risk of being victimized by identity thieves, on the internet and off:
- Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your card in your wallet. Don’t record it in the date book, PDA or laptop computer you carry with you. If your health plan (with the exception of Medicare) still uses your SSN, ask for a new ID number so your SSN won’t appear on your insurance card. If you have a choice, don’t have your SSN printed on your driver’s license.
- Don’t give out your personal information unless you initiate the contact. Internet scammers “phish” for info by posing as your bank, credit card company, a store or the government. For example, ”phishers” pretending to be the IRS sent out emails purporting to notify people of the amount of their upcoming economic stimulus check. Respondents were asked to provide personal information that could then be used to steal their identity. To verify the validity of an email, don’t just click on links provided by the emailer. Phishers are adept at creating websites that mirror actual bank and government sites. Always verify the validity of a site by typing in the address originally provided by the bank or store. If in doubt, be suspicious.
- Shred or tear up papers that contain personal info before you throw them away.
- Protect personal information you store on your home computer. Use passwords with a minimum of 8 characters that include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Never use obvious passwords like your birthday, SSN or name of a family member.
- Use firewall, virus and spyware-protection software and update it regularly. To prevent spyware from installing on your computer, only download from sites you trust.
- Set your browser security setting to at least “medium.” Don’t download freeware or install software without clearly understanding what it is and what it will do. Never click links in pop-up windows or spam emails. Delete spam without opening it.
-LegalPro
Comments
Leave a Reply