Online Identity Theft
Online Identity theft – What is it?
Many of us do not think twice about giving our credit card number or personal information over the internet. But after reading this, you’ll probably change the way you interact online.
Identity theft is a form of stealing someone's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, usually to access personal information or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name. The theft occurs when someone uses another's personally identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
The History of Identity Theft Online
Identity theft is not new, criminals have been taking advantage of peoples trust and lack of knowledge for centuries. Before the internet the personal information used in identity theft could be obtained in ways as easy as sorting through the potential targets trash. With the birth of the internet and the electronic exchange of personal information came the birth of the internet criminals. Some of the first reported cases of online theft happened in the mid-1990s when the web was still in its infantsy. Since then it has grown at an alarming rate and today identity theft is considered a major part of the worldwide criminal economy.
How to protect yourself from it?
What Is Identity Theft Online And How Do I Prevent It!
Identity theft online normally comes in the form of a phishing scam and is regarded as one of the major criminal threats to internet users. A Phishing scam is when you are tricked into giving out personal information from a fake trusted site. An example of this would be if you received an official looking email from your bank or credit card company that directs you to a site made to look like the legit webpage. They will then ask you for your password and login details or require you to update your personal information. An online criminal only needs a small
Many of us do not think twice about giving our credit card number or personal information over the internet. But after reading this, you’ll probably change the way you interact online.
Identity theft is a form of stealing someone's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, usually to access personal information or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name. The theft occurs when someone uses another's personally identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
The History of Identity Theft Online
Identity theft is not new, criminals have been taking advantage of peoples trust and lack of knowledge for centuries. Before the internet the personal information used in identity theft could be obtained in ways as easy as sorting through the potential targets trash. With the birth of the internet and the electronic exchange of personal information came the birth of the internet criminals. Some of the first reported cases of online theft happened in the mid-1990s when the web was still in its infantsy. Since then it has grown at an alarming rate and today identity theft is considered a major part of the worldwide criminal economy.
How to protect yourself from it?
What Is Identity Theft Online And How Do I Prevent It!
Identity theft online normally comes in the form of a phishing scam and is regarded as one of the major criminal threats to internet users. A Phishing scam is when you are tricked into giving out personal information from a fake trusted site. An example of this would be if you received an official looking email from your bank or credit card company that directs you to a site made to look like the legit webpage. They will then ask you for your password and login details or require you to update your personal information. An online criminal only needs a small