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Protecting Your Identity Theft: Beware of Online Scams

In the 21st century, the fastest growing type of crime in many countries around the world today is identity theft. In fact, chances are very good that you will fall victim to identity theft at some point in your life … sooner rather than later. For example, in the United States, one in ten people may become the victim of identity theft this year alone.

Because identity theft is so prevalent today, it is vital that you protect yourself against this crime on all fronts. If you use the Internet and World Wide Web with any regularity, you need to make yourself well aware of online scams that might result in the theft of your identity.

Email Schemes

Emails are used with regularity as tools to accomplish identity theft. In this regard, scam emails are sent to an Internet user with the ultimate goal of obtaining from you your personal or financial information (or both).

These email schemes can take many forms. By way of example, you might receive an email from a financial institution or some sort of online or Internet enterprise that you deal with regularly. This email may indicate that there is some sort of problem with your account with this business or financial institution. The email will indicate that it is necessary for you to update your records.

Usually, there will be a link included in the email, a link that you imagine will take you to the company’s website. In reality, you are conveyed to a fake website. If you enter information as requested at this website, you really will be handing your personal or financial information over to a person intent on committing identity theft.

Fake Websites

The Internet is rapidly becoming home to a wide array of fake websites. These websites are set up as means of stealing a person’s identity.

A typical type of website is one set up to appear to be the website of a major and reputable retailer. You may receive an email indicating that this reputable retailer is having some sort of sale or special promotion and you will be invited to come by the company’s website and snatch up some great bargains. Conveniently, the email may include a link to what is said to be the retailer’s website. In reality, the link takes you to the fake website.

While the site may look exactly like the real thing, and you may be able to “shop” at the site, when you get to the point where you check out to make your purchases, when you do provide your credit card and personal information, you actually are providing this information to a person who wants to commit identity theft. In a heartbeat, by imputing this vital information at the fake website, you will have fallen victim to identity theft.