Internet Identity Theft - Tools Thieves UsesInternet Identity Theft is on the rise with today's technology. Identity thieves use the internet to steal information and use information, since the information sent across the lines is less apt to get the perpetrator caught. The fraudulent electronic methods for stealing identities include Spam mails. Thieves will go to all lengths to steal an identity. Internet identity theft is very real today. One source reported that a number of identities stolen in one year were stolen from company databases, claiming to have secured encryptions on the computers. Of course thieves have long-lived and have been committing crimes throughout the centuries. But until technology advanced the count of identity theft was lower than it is now. More than eleven million people fall victim of identity theft in 2004 and the number of internet identity theft is rising each year. You are advised to treat suspicious mails with cautious. Spam mail is one of the best tools for internet identity theft and easiest form of getting personal information. Even legit-looking emails can pose a threat. Recently, I received an email a while back before learning more regarding safety on the Internet. The email read, "Microsoftsecurity.com" I opened the mail and it stated something to this affect. There is a new virus on the market, thus we have sent you a security patch to protect your computer. Download now! Thinking that the email was from Microsoft, who at this time had no idea, that mail was being sent in their name, I downloaded and low and behold I ended up with the DOOM WORM, which destroyed my computer and nearly every file stored on my computer. I called Microsoft immediately, thus I am one of the first persons that notified the companies and now they have put up the alerts on such activities. While I received the Doom Worm, there is no guarantee what else was attached to that download, therefore it is an ongoing process to stay alert, watching my identity. A number of emails may have statements in the heading that direct a person to open the mail. Therefore to prevent internet identity theft, never provide personal information via email, especially to the senders that state, "verify or reconfirm confidential or personal information, such as account number, Social Security Numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information". That particular mail may be the mail that claims your identity. Internet identity theft for stealing identities includes Spam mails. Opening links inside such mails may lure you to sites where you may be asked to give personal information. The site may appear to look legit, or relative to your banking sites or other sites, thus NEVER give out the information at any site listed in the body of a Spam mail that comes through in a disguise such as the one described here. Thieves go to all lengths to steal an identity. Having done so, he may drain your accounts right away, or else save some funds in the account for the purpose of applying for a credit card in your name, or other line of credit in your name. The thief may also save a few funds in the account to delay the detection that an identity has been stolen. Once in control of someone's identity thieves will do whatever comes to mind, or whatever they have planned throughout the process of stealing your identity. The electronic tools designed by technical developers showed good faith when they built the World Wide Web, Financial Processing Tools, Emails, and other tools for us and few of these souls built these tools with protection in mind, however, thieves have forever been proving that they are often smarter than the common laws, technology developers, and so forth. Thieves always stay ahead of any new development, by watching, listening, hearing, studying, practicing, and moving. So you have to be alert to prevent Internet Identity Theft. |
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