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Internet Identity Theft
The Emergence Of Online Identity Fraud
In an age of much mass media, mass telecommunication and web technology, internet identity theft has become the most
reported type of identity theft. As the world becomes more
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and more dependant on the internet, the possibility of id fraud
gradually increases as the use and development of technology increases. More and more people are using the
internet to pay for bills electronically, manage online accounts, and make purchases online. Therefore, learning how to
protect yourself from internet identity theft will be a great advantage for those endeavoring to use this technology of
online banking services and managing their finances paperless.
The first rule to remember in protecting yourself from internet identity theft is to never provide anyone on the web with
your personal and private information, even if you think you know them or they appear to be a reputable service. Some internet
identity thieves are so good at what they do, that they can actually pose as a name brand company and use their logo and
trademark to deceive many victims into handing over private information. Never ever give out personal information or details
about who and where you are in any chat room or online forum. Apart from a possible case of internet identity theft , this
type of action can lead to a very dangerous circumstance for you and your family. You should also start teaching your
children about internet identity theft since it is not always money these thieves are after.
Each day the world is evolving to discover better ways to make life stress free and efficient. One of the most popular ways
this is being done is through the technology of online shopping. In order to protect yourself against internet identity theft
you must learn to be a smart consumer and know when it is safe to make an online purchase and when it is not.
The following is a list of things you should look for to prevent identity theft on the internet:
1. When making online purchases, always check to see if the merchant has a secure server. These secure servers are
identified by the 's' after the http in the url (ex. https://) which means that the server is secure and protected from
outside thieves who may want to steal your personal information. Most criminals of internet identity theft use spy ware
software to access your computer and various servers, so it is very important to maintain a network firewall and use anti
spy ware programs to protect your computer from these hackers.
2. Make sure you only shop from reputable retailers that appear trustworthy. If you are concerned about the integrity of
a business, you should try using an online e-currency system, like Paypal, to make your payments. These services are
designed to keep your private information, like credit cards, safe from internet identity-theft.
3. Never follow any links that are sent to you through spam or junk email. One way to prevent identity theft on the
internet is by typing in most website urls yourself in order to guarantee that the website you are visiting is the real
company site and not a fake imitation of the original company's website.
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