More and more older adults are becoming victims of online identity theft and scams. If you have ever experienced identity theft yourself or even know someone who has, you know the experience can be a harrowing one. Criminals can open accounts in your name and impersonate you for a multitude of reasons – none of which are good. While thieves have been performing identity theft for a long-time offline, the volume of personal information found online is astounding and these days a would-be identity thief only needs to log in from the comfort of his or her home to do their misdeeds.
That leaves the burden upon you to protect your personal information while using the internet. The only perfect way to protect yourself online and prevent identity theft is to not use it at all. However, in today’s world, technology is an integral part of our everyday life. As daunting as it often can be, the world of technology plays a vital role in connecting us to opportunities for social support, news and information, government services, banking, health resources, shopping, books, learning tools, and even ways to protect our identity and financial security. So, instead of tossing out the use of technology along with its amazing advantages, let’s learn how to better protect ourselves from online theft and scams.
How can we protect ourselves?
Watch out for Phishing Websites
A Phishing website is one that presents itself as a legitimate business website however in reality is a fake one looking for your information. They may look for a username and password but also could be looking for your name, social security number, address, and other personal information. Be vigilant if a site asks for the following information:
- Social Security number
- Credit card number
- Bank account number
- Driver’s license number
- Home address and phone number
- Health insurance id or information
The request for information could be legit (for example, if you are applying for a credit card); but if it was unsolicited that should be a big red flag. If you have a question whether the site is a real one for a company, visit the organization’s main web page and call their number to ask.
Use Strong Passwords
Weak passwords are an identity thief’s dream – especially if you use the same password everywhere. Once the thief knows your password, they can log into your financial accounts and wreak havoc. You need passwords that are long (over 10 characters), strong (use upper and lower case letters, number, and symbols, and that have nothing to do with your personal information (like name, age, birthdate, pet, etc.) If you need to write down your various passwords, keep the information in a safe and secure place.
Use an Anti-virus/Anti-Malware Software Program
Backdoors, keyloggers and other nefarious programs can allow entry to your system and they can be installed in any number of ways. The only way to be sure to protect against them is to install both anti-virus and anti-malware; vendors these days often have solutions which include both. For a current list of the top recommended anti-virus and anti-malware software programs, you can check online or go directly to reliable computer shop. You need antivirus protection for all computers, including Macs, Windows and Linux PCs.
Important: For both your computer and smartphone, use strong, up-to-date security software. Keep your operating systems updated as viruses, Trojans, and spyware as well as worms are constantly evolving.
Shop Only at Reputable Websites
One of the reasons that the internet is so great is that you can find sites that sell about everything. But, how do you know that a company will keep your information secure? No matter how tempting, ONLY shop with companies that you know to be reliable such as Macy’s, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, LL Bean to name a few and avoid any smaller or unknown companies even when their websites look great. Amazon is a great resource to secure a wide variety of products from diverse sources without having to worry about a security breach.
Don’t Divulge Too Much Personal Information via Social Media
Social networking sites have the greatest potential for abuse. While it is clear that you should never share your social security number and driver’s license, most people don’t think twice about providing sensitive information that can be used against them in a variety of malicious ways. The following profile elements can be used to steal or misappropriate your identity: Full name, date of birth, home town, relationship status, school locations and graduation dates, pet names, and other affiliations, interest, and hobbies. If you are using such sites as Facebook, do not post sensitive information, including vacation pictures that suggest you are away from home.
Monitor Your Credit Profile
Be vigilant. Part of protecting yourself from identity theft is making sure someone doesn’t already have your information and is using it – the sooner you catch it the better. Check your credit profile to see if there are new credit cards, loans or other transactions on your account that are unknown to you. If there are, take immediate steps to have these terminated and investigated. Use online banking for immediate protection of your savings and checking accounts.
Stay Alert
Watch for common signs of identity theft like:
- False information on your credit reports, including your Social Security number, address(es), name or employer’s name.
- Missing bill or other mail. If your bills don’t arrive, or come late, contact your creditors. A missing bill may indicate that an ID thief has hijacked your account and changed your billing address to help hide the crime.
- Getting new credit cards sent to you that you didn’t apply for.
- Having a credit approval denied or being subjected to high interest rates for no apparent reason.
- Receiving calls or notices about past due bills for products or services you didn’t buy.
In all, be alert and take online identify theft and scams seriously. Protect yourself!
Adopted from Dave Dragger
