Identity Theft & Identity Theft the Internet. Identity theft insurance. Stolen Identity.


Identity Theft & Identity Theft the Internet. Identity theft insurance. Stolen Identity
A recent survey found, that nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft in just one year. The US  Attorney General says identity theft has cost businesses and consumers $60 in the past five years.

Identity theft is a crime, where someone fraudulently obtains your personal data for financial gain. The criminal can make withdrawals from your bank account, apply for a loan, make purchases with your credit card.

Phishing is new form of identity theft. The target is a relationship between financial institutions and their customers. Nearly one million Americans have been cheated by these kind of scams. The FTC estimated, that Internet fraud is accounted for 55% of all fraud reported in 2003.

How does phishing work? The criminal created a phony e-mail, that looks like official bank correspondence, even with the logo. Often, fraudulent emails will request details such as your full name, account password, credit card number, bank account, PIN number, Social Security Number, or mother's maiden name.  Fraudulent emails often start with "Dear User" or "Dear Member".

No financial institution would ever requests this kind of information in e-mail. If you respond to the phony e-mail request, you grant access to your bank account to the criminal. Attachments contained in fraudulent emails often contain viruses that may harm your computer or compromise your account.

Another common form of phishing occurs, when the criminal creates a replica of a company's website. You, the potential customer, receive an e-mail asking log into the fake site. If you do so, you may put your account at risk.

The best way to prevent identity theft is to be caution and use common sense. Give your personal data only to those you trust. If you receive suspicious e-mail, trash it. Do not reply to suspicious-looking emails and fake websites. Never click any links or attachments in a suspicious email. If you clicked on link, or have initiated any login, change password on your account as soon as possible.

Check your credit report regularly. Consider Identity Theft Insurance. It covers some of the cost associated with the fraud and with restoring your reputation.

Check you credit card bills often--credit card number theft is alarming for businesses and individuals alike. Stolen Identity is #1 fraud in past 5 years.

Identity theft statistics: 20% of American adults or 44 million, have been victims of identity theft. 64% have decided not to purchase from a company due to security concerns. 67% have decided not to register at a web shop of shop online because of privacy policy was too confusing. 87% have heard or read about lost, stolen or mistakenly released date at a company, government agency or university. 78% believe consumers have lost all control over how personal information is collected and used by companies. 50% say companies aren't handling their information properly. 60% think existing laws and organizational practices do not protect consumer privacy.