The perpetrators of these dastardly deeds all want the same thing – your money!!
Phishing – a bogus website crafted to mirror the legitimate site (e.g. Citibank, Paypal, eBay, etc.) that requests your personal information (i.e. SSN, bank account numbers, passwords/codes, etc.).
- Never supply your personal information in response to an email you receive, even if it looks legitimate.
- No company should initiate a request for personal information over the web.
- International professional criminals are now perpetrating phishing scams and they’re getting better at duping the innocent, but naïve user.
- Do not click on web addresses included in an email, they can redirect your inquiry, capture your information and download malicious software.
Spyware – a program surreptitiously installed on your PC to monitor your actions or acquire your personal information and report it to a third party.
- Make sure you know exactly what you’re installing on your PC, especially when you’re downloading from the Internet.
- Spyware is often bundled with other ‘freeware’ you download.
- Pay attention to security warnings that alert you to software being installed.
- Do not click on ‘pop ups’; go directly to the product’s homepage for the information.
- Some programs claiming to remove spyware actually install it on your PC.
- Search for and remove spyware by using software you’ve gotten directly from a reputable vendor.
- Read the end user licensing agreement (EULA), if it’s hard to find or understand, think twice about installing the program.
Identity Theft – when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or deception to obtain money or product.
- Shred all papers containing personal information before disposal.
- Be aware of ‘shoulder surfing’ when in public.
- Shred ‘pre-approved’ credit cards and accompanying materials.
- Do not provide personal information to telephone surveys.
- If ‘your bank’ calls to confirm information they already have on file, have them provide you with your previous response and then confirm it. If the information is not correct, initiate a call to your bank and correct the information in error.
- Protect all of your personal information, especially your Social Security number and driver’s license number.
- Not only established identities (adult) are being stolen, but new identities, those of your children. Pay attention to credit card offers and notices of refused credit that arrive in your children’s name.
- Keep information printed on your personal checks to a minimum, first initial, last name, P. O. Box if possible, city, state and zip code.