So far, there have been many reports warning of the increasing pace of identity theft. The magnitude of its attack has been so deep that it had already affected almost ten million people last year and over twenty-eight million people since 2003, and the most alarming aspect of identity fraud is that loads of cases of identity theft remain unreported and undetected. Whereas 12% of identity theft cases past year took place because the victim was regular visitor of online, over 45 % of ID theft victims were not able to show how the online crooks stole their information.



Nearly every time the computer is fraught with viruses, adware, and spyware or has incomplete Windows security updates, which could cause to identity theft. So if you are not completely alert, the evildoers are and can find you anywhere.



You are at an ATM machine and type in your PIN number. Is the man behind you a ’shoulder surfer’ committing to memory your PIN number to make future withdrawals? If you thrust aside your receipt, will you become the victim of a ‘Dumpster diver,‘ who has got back your account number from the wastebasket? These are just two of the many ways an identity thief can commit theft of your personal information, and considering that in mind, there is a set of identity theft Do’s and Don’ts, which may prove critical in reducing your chance of being an online victim of ID theft.



DOs

(1) Get a copy of your credit report, but save it to an external disk or other device;

(2) Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on your computer;

(3) Ensure you update your computer when Microsoft tells you it has new updates available and make sure your Windows updates are configured properly.

(4) Password protect all your sensitive files, and

(5) Be cautious when using a Wi-Fi hot spot. Make sure you are on a secure network (usually paid or requiring a password).



DON’Ts

(1) Respond to any e-mails from your bank. If you think the e-mail is legitimate, call your bank’s customer service number;

(2) Send any personal information over a wireless network; avoid paying bills online at a Hot Spot;

(3) Perform any financial transactions in a hot spot. Unless you know the Web site has an SSL-encrypted connection, (look for the “lock icon” at the bottom right hand of the screen or the letter “s” after http) any financial transaction is a huge risk;

(4) Let your anti-virus software expire. An unprotected computer will be infected with a virus or spyware within about 15 seconds of being online, and

(5) Instant message or talk to anyone online that you’ve not met before. Often social sites and Instant Messengers can be prime grounds for fraudsters and identity thieves posing as others.



Read