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The fastest growing crime in the U.S. today is identity theft. Think it can't happen to you? So did almost 10 million other Americans whose identities were stolen last year. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that every ten seconds someone in the U.S. becomes a victim. If it happens to you, you'll face a nightmare that can take months or years to resolve and can cost you as much as $17,000, according to industry experts.
Identity theft can take many forms, but always involves stealing personal information for fraudulent purposes. Almost any one can be at risk. According to one law enforcement official, if you have a bank account, you're vulnerable.
While many people attribute the problem to online computer fraud, most cases of identity theft occur offline. Usually they result from a lost or stolen wallet, checkbook or credit card. Many times an individual isn't even aware that his or her identity has been stolen until bogus charges begin appearing on credit card bills or problems arise when applying for credit. Sometimes victims learn about the theft when police apprehend them for crimes committed in their name!
One type of identity theft that does involve computer fraud is known as "brand spoofing" or "phishing." Phishing involves hackers who create phony web sites that mimic legitimate ones for a financial institution or similar business. The hackers then send e-mails requesting that recipients "confirm" their information online. Often it's difficult to distinguish the fake sites from the real thing, so individuals are easily tricked into revealing their personal identifiers.
Online phishing attacks are escalating, and last year 57 million American adults said they thought they had received a phishing e-mail solicitation. Microsoft says an estimated 4.5 million Americans have been fooled into disclosing personal information through phishing scams.
There are ways to protect yourself. Here are some sensible tips to help you guard your identity:
-- Never give out personal information, especially your Social Security number, if you are requested by phone, e-mail or on the Internet.
-- Consider locking your mail box so that correspondence with sensitive financial data, such as bank account numbers, can’t be stolen.
-- Carefully review your bank and credit card statements when they arrive for unauthorized or unusual charges, and contact your financial institution immediately if you notice any.
-- Shred documents such as bank and credit card statements, as well as pre-approved credit card offers, when you’re done with them.
-- Check your credit report annually with at least one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
-- To minimize online risks, install a firewall on your home computer. If you are suspicious about the authenticity of a website or e-mail message, contact the company by phone or type in the company’s web address to confirm any requests for information. Make sure a website is secure by looking for “https” at the beginning of the URL.
If you think your identity may have been stolen, the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego can help: www.idtheftcenter.org.
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