Avoid Identity Theft Online with These Winning Ideas

Identity theft is a rapidly growing problem in a society that relies heavily on identifying data to facilitate speedy business transactions across the globe. For more than a decade the number of such fraud cases has been on the increase, and the more advanced the everyday technology becomes, the more well equipped those who would steal others’ identities have become as well. The online marketplace as well as the fact that almost every household now has the ability to conduct everyday business with the help of the World Wide Web has given rise to a whole new slew of thieves who have refined several methods for stealing unaware computer user’s identities online.

Avoid identity theft online with these winning ideas:

Do not respond to SPAM emails. Granted, your e-mail’s inbox is probably flooded with offers for inexpensive pharmaceuticals, great travel deals, and of course winner notifications. Add to these the dubious letters that promise you a share of several million dollars should you provide a bit of information to the agent – usually located in Nigeria – and it is not surprising that quite a few consumers fall for these schemes each year.  All of these SPAM emails have one thing in common: they seek personal information. Whether it is a home address, telephone number, last name, or bank information, it is imperative that you do not respond to this kind of solicitation. Only do business with companies you choose to contact yourself, not those who send you solicitations against your will and without your initiating the transaction. This way you can ensure that personal information as well as your credit card number is only available to businesses you trust.

Beware of the phisher. Closely examine the incoming emails of businesses that you do have a relationship with and who suddenly want you to verify your account information. More often than not this is an elaborate scam to persuade consumers who do business online to part with personally identifiable information such as passwords, log in data, and even account numbers. Such requests for account verification should always result in your contacting the business directly and inquiring if this is a legitimate request, and if so why it is needed.

Do not make your computer an easy target for hackers. Purchase reliable anti-virus software and update it often. Run regular sweeps that will check all the files in your system for possible infection.  In addition to the foregoing, you will also want to invest in anti-spyware to further protect your computer and not permit any third parties to surreptitiously gain access to your computer files and personally identifiable information.

Carefully screen the merchants with whom you want to do business online. If you are simply wanting to purchase a t-shirt or a set of bumper stickers, and the merchant asks for too much information – such as your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, your social security number, and other data that is really not needed to complete the transaction and receive payment – you should be hesitant to comply. Instead of proceeding with the transaction, call the merchant’s phone number and complete the order via phone when you will not have to give so much information.

If you are a member of several chat rooms or online message boards, be cautious with the amount of personal information you post. Remember that this kind of data is visible to everyone or at least the people who operate the website, and you simply do not know who will use your information and for what purpose.

Following these simple suggestions will go a long ways to protecting your identity on the Internet.