Identity theft is a growing problem that has reached astronomical proportions around the world. Internet identity theft is on the rise and can have a huge and detrimental effect on your life by destroying your credit score and even leaving you open to criminal charges for crimes committed in your name.
When someone else assumes your identity for illegal or unsavory purposes, this is known as identity fraud, and it is growing at an alarmingly fast rate in the United States and the rest of the world.
These unscrupulous characters make a living by stealing your identity and posing as you to commit crimes like bank fraud, credit card fraud, mail fraud, and more. Criminals abound in this lucrative field and are quite adept at quickly pulling off a large number of illegal operations once they assume someone else’s identity. Not just a local crime, Internet identity theft cases have been linked to organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as pornography, money laundering, and alien smuggling.
The Internet, while providing an efficient and easy-to-use marketplace for users, is also a domain that is rife with identity theft opportunities. However, it is possible to recognize yourself and protect yourself from identity fraud. By using due diligence when conducting business over the Internet, you can give your identity a cloak of protection, saving you a great deal of heartache and heartache later on.
To guarantee the security of your Internet transactions, you must comply with the following:
– Always use the same “stored value” card for all Internet transactions. Stored value cards are those issued by your financial institution with specific dollar limits.
– Establish an account with an Online Payment Service whose main service is oriented to protect the financial transactions of its clients through the Internet.
– Use a browser that has built-in encryption capabilities, which will scramble any sensitive information transmitted over the Web. If the URL begins with “https” and you see a small “lock” icon in the status window, your browser is likely equipped with the latest technology to protect your personal or financial information.
– Strive to conduct business with sites that have been authenticated with digital certificates. Click the authentication logo to ensure you are on a legitimate and protected site before providing any sensitive information.
– Please read the “privacy policy” of the web page you have accessed to ensure that your personal and financially sensitive information will never be disclosed to third parties. Sites that have been verified as safe often prominently post the logo of the company they have hired to ensure that they have adhered to industry standards for consumer protection.
– Never give out passwords or your identifying information unless you are sure who you are dealing with. Legitimate Internet Service Providers will never ask you for this information via email, so you should immediately report any correspondence of this nature to the original site owner and then delete the email. Never click on a URL contained in this type of email, as this is just a scammer’s way of accessing your private information, commonly known as pshishing.
– Keep records of all Internet transactions and periodically check your credit card statements for accuracy.
– Most legitimate online merchants will provide you with a confirmation email once you place your order. Beware of those that do not offer this service.
Technological advances provide more and more protection for Internet buyers; however, as soon as the innovations are implemented, there are criminal elements that work diligently to thwart these efforts.
When dealing with Internet merchants, you should practice common sense and be aware of security. If you are a victim of Internet identity theft, you should take steps to protect yourself immediately.
As soon as you suspect that your identity has been compromised through Internet identity theft, contact your service provider. Then contact your credit card issuer and immediately close your account. Your credit card company will be happy to issue you new cards with a different account number. Make sure your old account is marked “closed at consumer request” so there are no detrimental consequences to your credit score. Follow up on all verbal communications with your credit card company in writing so that you have a printed record of the transaction.
Then call all three credit reporting agencies to report the fraudulent activity. Ask them to review your records to make sure no additional credit cards have been opened in your name without your authorization. Request that all of your accounts be marked “fraud alert” so that no future accounts can be opened in your name without your express permission. Provide the reporting agency with all of your contact information, including your phone number, so they can contact you quickly in the event that your account shows any ongoing problematic activity.
This may all sound a bit like “overkill,” however, Internet identity theft is a thriving underworld activity, and your life will change dramatically for the worse if you fall victim to its wickedness. Therefore, protecting yourself early to avoid Internet identity theft is a smart and sensible move. As the old adage goes: there is no point in closing the barn door after the horse leaves.