One You Blog

Online Dating and Identity Theft: A Guide to Caution

You decided to try online dating.  It can be a lot of fun, if you don’t get burned in the process.  Aside from worrying about sexual deviants and possible serial killers you have to be worried about having your identity stolen.

Some people are creating phishing profiles designed to ensnare the lonely.  How can you spot one?  Just look for a girl (usually these profiles are female) that is too good to be true.

Does she look like a super model, love Stargate SG1 and the Denver Broncos?  Proceed with caution.  Beware if she is also, “open to experimentation” and lists beer as her favorite food.  You’ve found a honey pot trap.

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Identity Theft and Online Gaming

Sure, that girl in the MMO is hot, or at least her custom avatar is, does that mean you should trust her?

Probably not.

Remember that a stranger you meet in a game is just like any other stranger. They could still be out to take your identity. You need to be careful not to give out personal data like:

• Your address
• Your real life occupation (IRL)
• Any passwords
• Anything you would not give away in any other situations.

So, be wary on that avatar. No matter how well you think that you know another player, you could just be succumbing to a scammer.

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Think Before You Register

You just found this cool new site, and you’re really excited about it.  All you have to do is register.  You click on the link and then the form loads.  It’s a monster.  They want an insane amount of data, should you turn back?  This set of questions can help you decide.

1. Is the information appropriate to the nature of the site?  A pet site that asks you the breed and names of your dogs is reasonable.  Be suspicious if they want the name of your bank.
2. How much of this information is optional?  If you can skip half the fields, that’s less data about you online.

Use those two answers as your guide.

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Passing Information Verbally

There are times in this world when telling someone information is the norm.  That doesn’t make it safe.  If you do it the wrong way, potential scammers can hear your personal information.  Think about it, these types of situations are an information buffet.  If you want to minimize your chances of being a victim there are some things you can do to reduce your risk.

* Curb your voice.  By keeping your voice low, you reduce the risk of being over heard.
* Don’t offer any extra information.  Sure, chatting up the clerk may be fun, but extraneous information about your life and family should be off limits.
* When in doubt, or a crowded area, ask to write it down instead of saying it aloud.  Just be sure to get that paper back.

Also, consider asking if there is a less invasive form of ID that you can use.  You may be able to simply pass over a drivers license instead of listing off your social security number.
(Image Credit)

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Stolen T-Mobile Data Sales Attempt

Customers of the T-Mobile wireless network that recently had their data stolen may be surprised to find that the thieves were brazen enough to attempt to sell the data. While this may seem like an aberration, it is actually relatively common practice in the world identity theft.

Let’s say, for example your credit card was stolen. The odds are just as good but was stolen to be sold as it was to be used by the thief. The selling of information is a big business in the game of identity theft. This makes tracking down the criminals who actually took the information a bit difficult. When the sales receipts are traced they usually track the buyer, not the seller.

A second reason for selling data, is to sell it back to the company that you stole it from. Many companies will pay big bucks not have that information shared with the world, and of their reputation damaged forever. The strategy does not always work. Sometimes Company shall all big money to get the data back, and still find it has also been distributed.

Food for thought, when you consider how many ways there are for identity thieves to make a profit off of your good name.
(Image Credit)

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Dumpster Divers: A Hidden Threat

Most of us do not give much consideration to the things that we throw out. After all once we are done with it, it is trash right? Not to everyone.

Dumpster diving, or the pratice of going through your trash to get your personal information is a common pratice. After all you just threw out that shiney credit card application didn’t you? If a pay stub or bank statement is in the same can then you just gave someone else a free card. I bet that you never knew you were so generous!

How to you advoid being a victim of dumpster diving? It’s simple, don’t leave whole pieces of information in the trash.  You can:

1. Save your old mail and make recycled paper out of it. (Eco-bonus if you choose this one!)

2. Shred your mail.

Choose one and go for it. Remember that small steps can keep you safe.

(Image Credit)

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Online Banking: Keep Your Information Safe

Wooden Piggy bank

You do not have to look far to find the benefits of online banking. At the same time, the potential drawbacks, including identity theft, are right in front of your face as well. You shouldn’t shy away from online banking because of what could happen. Instead, knowing what is lurking and how to avoid potential issues should be in the front of your mind.

With online banking you can access all of your information via the internet. This includes everything from your bank account number to your routing number to your credit card account and much more. This is quite convenient for you, but unfortunately, criminals are well aware of this as well.

To avoid identity theft through your online banking account is important to do two things: 1. Keep all of your login information in a safe place. Never share these details with anybody. 2. Only access your account from a trusted computer. A computer with spyware could lead to your identity (and money) being stolen in no time at all.

You don’t want to avoid online banking because of the many criminals who are lurking and hoping to take advantage of a weak point. Use online banking when need be, but make sure you always keep your financial and personal information 100 percent safe at all times.

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IMer Beware

Warning Symbol

Did you ever have a friend of a friend email you?  What about IM?  Technology has given us all a great way to meet new people.  It has also given scammers a great way to get your information.  Just look at this conversation:

SaraSlane84: Hi!

TinMan: Hi?

S: It’s Sara, Maries friend.  We met a few weeks ago at that party.

T: Oh yeah.  How are you?

S: Great!  You?

T: Good.  Just got in.

S: Go anywhere fun?

T: Just the movies.

S: You must have a lot of options.

T: Huh.

S: You live in LA, don’t you?

T: No, Brentwood.

S: Oh, sorry.  Details are a bit fuzzy.  Over tired from job searching all night.

T: Know how you feel.  It’s hard to get work even in sales.

S: What do you sell?

T: Pharmaceuticals.

S: Does that mean you have to talk to doctors all day?  Must be so intimidating.  You must know a lot about medicine.

T: Not really, but I took a few chem. Classes when I was at Brown.  That was enough I guess.

Seems innocuous enough, but in the course of that conversation Tim gave out a whole lot of information, while Sara gave almost none.  Without hesitation Tim told us:

1. The town he lives in.
2. What his job is/ and the industry.
3. Where he went to college.

It may not seem like much but a person interested in using this to steal your identity could use it as a spring board to get your address and phone number after a few more conversations, and some more innocuous details (like your employers name and your age).  That person is ready to take out a credit card in your name.

The moral of the story: Know who you are talking to, or keep it to generic topics.

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