Phishing. One of the most popular Internet scams is referred to as “phishing.” Phishing is when criminals imitate legitimate companies in order to obtain personal information. The “phisher” will send out millions of emails asking users to verify their account information by providing important personal information. The three most common ways people fall prey to this is by responding with a return email, filling out an email form, or clicking on a website “link” that actually leads to the phisher’s website. 

 

Spoofing. Another popular Internet scam is called “spoofing.” Spoofing is occurs when an individual receives an email that appears to have come from somewhere other than where it actually did. Criminals use spoofing to secure personal and financial information in order to commit credit card fraud.

 

Catching. In order to speed up you Internet experience, your computer keeps a trail of where you have been. Unfortunately, if you are using a public computer or even a friend’s computer, you may be leaving personal information only a few keystrokes away.

 

Keeping your computer safe. There are several ways to protect your computer from hackers and viruses. First, purchase anti-virus software. This will help keep your system from being damaged or ruined by a virus, worm, or a Trojan horse. Second, always keep your operating system updated. As soon as vulnerabilities are found, the system vendors make “patches” to fix them, so you should always download the new updates they have. Third, install a firewall to protect yourself from those who wish to do you harm. Fourth,exercise caution when using wireless networks. And lastly, beware of file sharing programs. You may be sharing things that you didn’t intend to.

a.     Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

b.    Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

c.     TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

2.    Next, close all of the accounts that you think have been tampered with. When disputing new unauthorized accounts, complete the ID Theft Affidavit. It can be found at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

3.    File a police report in the community where the theft took place. Get a copy of the police report to give to creditors who need proof that a crime has been committed.

4.    File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. They keep a record of ID theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations.

1.    Request a free copy of your credit report. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to a credit report from each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies once every twelve months, at your request. You can order your free annual report at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You can also request a free copy if a company takes adverse action against you. You must request the report within 60 days of the action.

2.    Place passwords on your credit card, bank account, and phone. Don’t use information that is easily accessible like your mother’s maiden name or your birth date.

3.    Make sure personal information in your home is in a secure place, not accessible to roommates or outside help.

4.    When giving personal information to businesses, doctor’s offices, or other institutions, ask about their security procedures. Find out who will have access to the information, what the disposal procedures are, and how your information will be kept confidential.

5.    Never give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or through the Internet unless you know who you are in contact with. Check an agencies’ validity by typing their URL into the address line instead of just cutting and pasting it.

6.    Take care when disposing of trash and mail. Always shred charge receipts, copies of credit card applications, physicians statements, insurance forms, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, and credit card offers.

7.    Keep your Social Security Number in a safe place. Do not carry it with you.

8.    Only give out your social security number if it’s absolutely necessary. For state identifiers, such as driver’s license numbers, ask to use another number.

9.    Only carry with you the credit or debit cards and the identification that you will need when you go out.

10.           Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.

11.           Do not have new checks delivered directly to your home. Instead, opt to pick them up at the bank.

12.           Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves create fake promotions to get personal information from you.

• Federal
1. Credit
a. Fair Credit Reporting Act- establishes procedures for correcting errors on your credit report and requires that your records be requested for legitimate business needs only.
b. Fair Credit Billing Act- established procedures for correcting billing errors on credit card accounts and limits the cardholders responsibility for fraudulent charges
c. Fair Debt Collection Practice Act- prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive means to collect payment that is overdue
d. Electronic Funds Transfer Act- protects consumers when using a debit card and limits their liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers.
2. Criminal
a. Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act- defines identity theft and makes it a federal crime
b. Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act- establishes penalties for aggravated identity theft
3. Privacy and Information Security
a. Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994- limits the record keeping of the DMV with regards to disclosures of personal information
b. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974- limits the disclosure of educational records by agencies that receive federal funding
c. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act- requires that federal agencies protect the privacy of consumers’ personal financial information
d. Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996- requires all health care administrators protect the confidentiality of the patient

• State
1. Credit Information Blocking- Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington require that credit reporting agencies block false information from a victim’s credit report within 30 days of notification.
2. Criminals- Laws vary from state to state. Colorado, Vermont, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not have specific laws regarding identity theft.
3. Fraud Alerts- Visit the website for the California Office of Privacy Protection to review their policies on fraud alert.
4. Social Security Numbers- In the state of Rhode Island, under R.I. Gen. Laws Section 6-13-17, no person may require a consumer of goods or services to disclose a social security number, unless required by federal law. This excludes insurance companies, health care or pharmaceutical companies, or credit card companies.

References
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
www.ou.edu/oupd/idtheft3a.htm#PREVENT7
www.bbbonline.org/idtheft/virtual.asp