Identity Theft on the InternetHow to protect your information

How Is It Different From Traditional Identity Theft?Common identity theft takes place after something is physically stolen from you like a wallet containing credit cards, social security card or driver’s licenseThe thief would take these items and use them to make a fraudulent purchase or open an account in your name

How Is It Different From Traditional Identity Theft?Internet identity theft can be much more devastating than conventional identity theft Most victims of Internet identity theft are completely unaware that anything has been stolen from them until it is too late

How It WorksYour computer collects all kinds of information about you and stores it in files hidden on your hard driveFiles like cache, browser history and other temporary Internet files can be used to reconstruct your online habitsThese files store information like logins and passwords, names addresses, and even credit card numbers

How It WorksIdentity thieves can grab it when it is being sent over an unsecured transmission ORThey can install malicious software on your computer (like spyware) that will collect everything they need and automatically send it back to them

Computer Security – Protect Information

Computer Security – Protect Information

What To Do If Your Information Has Been CompromisedPlace a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review those reports carefullyClose any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulentlyFile a police report with local law enforcement officialsReport your theft to the Federal Trade Commission, online, by phone, or by mail.

Fraud Alert – Credit ReportsTransUnion: www.transunion.com 1-800-680-7289 Experian: www.experian.com 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) Equifax: www.equifax.com 1-800-525-6285

Close AccountsCall the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your approvalFollow up in writing, with copies of supporting documentsAsk for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts dischargedKeep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.

File a Police ReportFile a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crimeThis report will also help you claim your rights as a victim of identity theft

Report The Theft To The Federal Trade CommissionYour report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigationOnline: ftc.gov/idtheft1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338)

Computer Security –Know Who You’re Dealing WithIf it's your first time on an unfamiliar site, call the seller's phone number, so you know you can reach them if you need to. If you can't find a working phone number, take your business elsewhere Type the site's name into a search engine: If you find unfavorable reviews posted, you may be better off doing business with a different sellerConsider using a software toolbar that alerts you if a website is a known phishing site or is used to distribute spywarehttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx#2

PhishingPhishing is a scam where the victim is sent spam or pop-up messages in an attempt to gain personal and financial information from the victim“We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity“"During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information"http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx

Phishing

Phishing

PhishingIf you encounter an unsolicited e-mail that asks you, either directly, or through a web site, for personal financial or identity information, such as Social Security number, passwords, or other identifiers, exercise extreme cautionIf you need to update your information online, use the normal process you've used before, or open a new browser window and type in the website address of the legitimate company's account maintenance page

PhishingIf a website address is unfamiliar, it's probably not real. Only use the address that you have used before, or start at your normal homepageAlways report fraudulent or suspicious e-mail to your ISPMost companies require you to log in to a secure site. Look for the lock at the bottom of your browser and "https" in front of the website address

PhishingTake note of the header address on the web site. Most legitimate sites will have a relatively short internet address that usually depicts the business name followed by ".com," or possibly ".org." Spoof sites are more likely to have an excessively long strong of characters in the header, with the legitimate business name somewhere in the string, or possibly not at all

PhishingIf you have any doubts about an e-mail or website, contact the legitimate company directly. Make a copy of the questionable web site's URL address, send it to the legitimate business and ask if the request is legitimateIf you've been victimized, you should contact your local police or sheriff's department, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center at http://www.IFCCFBI.gov

PhishingDon't reply to email or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information, and don't click on links in the messageSome scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a refundIf you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit cardhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx

PhishingUse anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularlyDon't email personal or financial informationReview credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized chargesBe cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx

PhishingForward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov – and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email You also may report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.orgThe Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishinghttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx

Email ScamsSome email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-boxCon artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimateSome spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitchhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Email ScamsProtect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trustKnow who you're dealing with. Don't do business with any company that won't provide its name, street address, and telephone numberTake your time. Resist any urge to "act now" despite the offer and the terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Email ScamsRead the small print. Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before you make a payment or sign a contractNever pay for a "free" gift. Disregard any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. If it's free or a gift, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Free means freehttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Nigerian ScamThe Bait: Con artists claim to be officials, businesspeople, or the surviving spouses of former government honchos in Nigeria or another country whose money is somehow tied up for a limited time. They offer to transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay a fee or "taxes" to help them access their moneyhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Nigerian ScamThe Catch: The emails are from crooks trying to steal your money or your identity. Inevitably, in this scenario, emergencies come up, requiring more of your money and delaying the "transfer" of funds to your account. In the end, there aren't any profits for you, and the scam artist vanishes with your moneyhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Nigerian ScamYour Safety Net: If you receive an email from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of a foreign country, don't respondForward "Nigerian" scams – including all the email addressing information – to spam@uce.govhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Foreign LotteriesThe Bait: Emails boasting enticing odds in foreign lotteries. You may even get a message claiming you've already won! You just have to pay to get your prize or collect your winnings.http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Foreign LotteriesThe Catch: Most promotions for foreign lotteries are phonyThe scammers will ask you to pay "taxes," "customs duties," or fees – and then keep any money you send Scammers sometime ask you to send funds via wire transfer. Don't send cash or use a money-wiring service because you'll have no recourse if something goes wronghttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Foreign LotteriesIn addition, lottery hustlers use victims' bank account numbers to make unauthorized withdrawals or their credit card numbers to run up additional chargesAnd one last important note: participating in a foreign lottery violates U.S. law.http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Foreign LotteriesYour Safety Net: Skip these offers. Don't send money now on the promise of a pay-off laterForward solicitations for foreign lottery promotions to spam@uce.govhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Check OverPayment ScamsThe Bait: A response to your ad or online auction posting, offering to pay with a cashier's, personal, or corporate check At the last minute, the so-called buyer (or the buyer's "agent") comes up with a reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price, and asks you to wire back the difference after you deposit the checkhttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Check OverPayment ScamsThe Catch: If you deposit the check, you loseTypically, the checks are counterfeit, but they're good enough to fool unsuspecting bank tellers and increase the balance in your bank account – temporarilyBut when the check eventually bounces, you are liable for the entire amount.http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

Check OverPayment ScamsYour Safety Net: Don't accept a check for more than your selling price, no matter how tempting the plea or convincing the storyAsk the buyer to write the check for the purchase price If the buyer sends the incorrect amount, return the check and don't send the merchandisehttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx

File SharingFile-sharing can have a number of risksIf you don't check the proper settings, you could allow access not only to the files you intend to share, but also to other information on your hard drive, like your tax returns, email messages, medical records, photos, or other personal documentsIn addition, you may unwittingly download malware or pornography labeled as something elsehttp://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx#2

Computer Security - Software

Computer Security – Operating Systems and Browsers