Identity Theft

Posted on 3 Jan 2006 at 16:59

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Replying to such letters will allow fraudsters to attempt to apply for credit cards and, in one case we've heard of, also gain access to personal bank accounts.

Rubbish bins, robbery and skimming What do you do with your most valuable stash of personal information? Throw it in the bin, usually. Going through rubbish bins is a popular modus operandi for identity thieves. All those old bank statements, shopping receipts, credit card and utility bills can help them apply for credit accounts in your name.

Muggers, burglars and pickpockets can earn themselves a bonus by abusing personal details they find in recently stolen wallets and purses. Criminals working at shops and restaurants can use a device called a skimmer to copy your credit or debit card's details. The magnetic reader allows them to clone your card and start spending on your account. Handheld skimmers, or devices attached to ATMs, are often used.

Internet scams Last but not least, it is possible for thieves to steal your personal details using the internet. Although it is technically feasible for a hacker or computer virus to infiltrate your PC and grab your account details, it is far more likely that you will receive fraudulent emails purporting to come from a company with which you have an account. These 'phishing' attempts request that you reply with personal details. They often appear legitimate because fraudsters use security holes in email and web browser software to make their emails seem real.

Internet users are also at risk from electronic versions of the other techniques listed above. For example, if your email password is compromised, an attacker could gain personal information by checking your email. You can receive lottery scam emails or have your notebook (complete with accounts software) stolen. You are at risk if you store personal details on your computer, although less than if you routinely throw your credit card receipts into a high street rubbish bin.

In August 2005 security firm Sunbelt Software claimed it had stumbled on a server containing "a large number of usernames, passwords, telephone numbers, credit card and bank account numbers, and other personal information". This information was gathered by a keylogging program, which also steals details saved to the hard disk by Internet Explorer's AutoComplete feature. Keyloggers and other Trojans can infect systems via viruses, worms and spyware. In the latter case, just visiting the wrong website can be enough to infect your system.

Preventative measures

To protect yourself from identity theft you need to make some changes to your personal routine. At the very least, you should be aware of the potential value your personal information has to criminals. A gas bill might not seem like the keys to the kingdom, but a collection of informational snippets can build up into a useful database. Once your mind is set on securing your personal data, you should follow our guidelines and reduce the risk of criminals abusing your ID.

PC protection

Your computer probably holds lots of personal information. If you bank online you will type in some form of password. Anything you type or store in a file on your internet-connected PC can be read by an attacker unless you take precautions. A good anti-virus program, such as Kaspersky Lab Anti-Virus Personal 2005, and a personal firewall will go a long way to preventing keyloggers and backdoors leaking your information on the internet.

Encryption can also help, particularly when used with files created by accounts software. That way, if someone steals your computer, finds an old, discarded hard disk or hacks into your computer, they still face a significant obstacle to getting your important information.