Identity Theft Facts And Figures You Need To Know
It seems that identity theft facts are newsworthy material on most current affairs programs these days. I think this is because much identity theft is associated with the internet. This is another interesting topic that will feature on many news and current affair programs. Added to this mix, the fact that lots of money can be lost in these internet or identity scams and you have a winner of a news story : high technology, money and crime. It certainly pays for the television producers to be running these types of stories but what is the truth behind identity theft. This article will look at the facts behind much of the news stories and show that, in fact, these stories are deliberately sensationalist because they are trying to get the word out about these types of crimes. They are trying to inform the public so that you, as a future internet consumer, does not end up as an identity theft victim. You can find information on identity theft facts from a number of useful websites. There is the Government sites like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI websites. Another useful site is the Anti Phishing Working Group. Google also runs studies on identity theft. This makes sense as Googles revenue comes from the Internet and they want to make it as safe an environment as possible. By running studies they can implement plans and software that protect consumers and users of the internet from identity theft. Here are some startling facts about the incidents of identity theft. It is estimated that around 10 million Americans become victims of identity theft annually. In total, Americans lose about $50 billion a year through this crime. Identity theft is not unique to the US either. It can and does happen all over the world due to the global nature of the internet. Victims come from a range of backgrounds – all financial, racial and educational situations. If you part of any community or society then you may be susceptible to identity theft. And it is not restricted to people that go online either. A common way to steal someones identity is to go through their trash for bank statements or other personal information. Another way might be if you lose your wallet that happens to have your drivers license in it. This can be used to commit fraudulent activities with a bit of modification. There are not a whole lot of new habits or services you need to add into your already busy life to protect yourself from identity theft. Most of it is just common sense, which is one of the best or worst identity theft facts, depending upon your grasp of common sense. Some tips include : Never give personal information out unless you trust the person you are giving the information out to. For instance, people cold calling on the phone may ask for some of your details as part of a sales pitch. Don't give them this information. An online business will never ask for your password or account numbers. Never give these types of information away to email request or otherwise. If you use online banking or other types of services be sure to familiarize yourself with the website. If it changes or looks different to what you are used to then don't login to it. Check your emails or mail for any official notification that there has been a change. Never download unlicensed or pirated software, movies or music on your computer. They are often Trojan Horses to hide malware that sends all of the personal information on your computer to a cracker. |