Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. From empty bank accounts to ruined credit reports, there are numerous ways that an identity thief could hurt you. While identity theft is not new, the advent of the internet has given thieves new ways of using your personal data as their own for their benefit. According to Javelin Strategy and Research (2014), in 2013, over l3 million people were victims of some type of identity fraud. This showed an increase of more than half of a million people becoming victims. Considering the fact that more and more of our lives involve the internet through social media, online banking, and online shopping, it is up to us to protect ourselves while using online resources so that our information stays safe.
Identity theft occurs when thieves use a victim’s personal or financial information to obtain money from the victim. This can happen in multiple ways. One of the more common ways criminals can steal your identity is by sending phishing emails. These emails pose as a retailer or bank and ask you for personal information such as your username and password or credit card information. Some emails provide a link that redirects the user to a fake login page. When the victim enters their information, it is captured and used to take over the victim’s online banking page or Amazon account. To prevent this, it is important for people to recognize the stop signs of a fraudulent email. Firstly, be wary of any email that asks for personal information. Most reputable online services will not ask for your personal information but direct you to call or email their support team. Even still, don’t click on a link in an email unless you were expecting to receive it. Companies such as Amazon will not alert you to fraud and send you a link to www.amazon.com. It is always safer to type in the URL yourself if you receive an