HELP
STOP
IDENTITY
FRAUD
Be on Guard and Protected!
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How To Stop Online Identity Theft & Fraud
What is Online Identity Theft?
Identity theft is where someone obtains your personal information without your permission and uses your identity to carry out a fraud. It’s hard to keep your personal details private but you can limit the information you give out and still enjoy the Internet. But you need to be security conscious and surf safely!
Tips to protect against online identity theft
- Only share your primary email address with people you know and tell them it’s private.
- Set up a special email address for shopping and newsgroups. If you need to, you can then change this address without disrupting other activities such as correspondence.
- Only make online purchases from companies that have a clear privacy policy.
- Use a strong password and do not share it with anyone. A random combination of numbers, letters and punctuation, over 8 characters long is recommended.
- Only post your CV on prominent sites. Make sure the recruitment company only allows verified companies to access information.
- Avoid marketing driven sites.
- Be careful when signing up to mailing lists - spammers use the ‘unsubscribe’ button to validate addresses.
- Consider delisting your phone number. You can ask your telephone and your Internet service providers to take your information out of their directories.
- Passwords. Follow the site-owners advice in relation to passwords. Use strong, memorable passwords.
- Keep a records of what information you’ve given to whom.
- Use firewalls.
- Use anti viral checkers.
What do I do if I think I am a victim of identity theft?
- Notify financial institutions.
- Change passwords
- Notify websites you deal with.
- Request a credit report from credit bureaus.
- Contact the relevant authorities
Phishing
What is phishing?
Phishing is a form of online fraud. In a typical phishing fraud, an email - supposedly from a legitimate company or financial institution - asks you to ‘verify’ or ‘re-submit’ confidential information. It lures you into doing this with a return email form on a linked website or with a pop-up message.
How does phishing work?
Fraudsters may be looking for bank account and credit card numbers, passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).
If you inadvertently respond, these may be used to make unauthorised withdrawals from your bank account or to pay for online purchases.
Personal information may even be sold on to other parties.
How can I tell if an email is fraudulent?
Trust your instincts. If a message looks fraudulent, it possibly is. Here are some phrases and clues that may be used in a phishing e-mail:
- “Verify your account”. Don't use the links provided.
- “Respond within 48 hours or your account will be closed”
- “Dear valued customer”
- “Click the link below to gain access to your account”.
- Misspelt words
- Slightly different logos
- No http:// for web site
- Put your mouse over links - Do the links appear genuine and what you expect?
- Here is an example of a recent Phishing email received.
The dos and don’ts or phishing
- DO report suspicious emails. If you are suspicious of a website, contact the owners - but not through the email. Use an alternative channel. If you are unable to contact the owners, contact the police.
- DO be wary of clicking on links in email messages, they can lead to fake sites. Remember, even URLs in browsers address bars can be faked.
- DO type addresses directly into your browser or use bookmarks.
- DO check security certificates before entering any personal details.
- DO update software regularly.
- DO review credit card and bank statements for problems or inconsistencies.
- DON’T enter personal information in pop-up windows - even if they are look official and secure. Close pop-ups by clicking on the red X in the top right corner - cancel buttons may not work.
How can I avoid phishing fraud?
- Trust your instincts. Ask yourself why you are being contacted or asked for this information.
- Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited email, fax, pop-up advertisement or unexpected website address.
- Review credit card or bank statements for problems or inconsistencies.
- Use phishing blockers.
What do I do if I have responded to a phishing scam?
Even vigilance doesn’t always guarantee total safety and security. If you think you’ve been scammed:
- Use up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware software. Protection software keeps unwanted or malicious software at bay.
- Notify financial institutions.
- Change passwords
- Notify the company you think is being forged.
- Contact the relevant authorities.
NEWS FLASH
Don't reply to emails like this one below. WARNING: It's a confirmed SCAM!
I received the following in an email only this week. It looks like the real thing doesn't it. However when one put the mouse cursor over the links on the page the links were not to PayPal etc. I've removed the links, for safety on the example below. Paypal has been notified and confirmed it's a scam email.
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September 2007 | ||
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Helpful Links: ID Theft Resources | Help Center | PayPal Shops | Password Help |
| Please do not replay to
this e-mail. To modify your notification preferences, log in to your
PayPal account, click the Profile sub-tab, then click the
Notifications link under Account Information. Changes may take up to
10 days to be reflected in our mailings. PayPal will not sell or
rent any of your personally identifiable information to third
parties. For more information about the security of your
information, read our Privacy Policy at
https://www.paypal.com/privacy. Copyright © 2006 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131. |
<------------------------------ABOVE: SCAM EMAIL----------------------------->
