Various statistics have shown an increase in digital identity theft in recent years. The increase in digital footprints is making it easier for malicious individuals to collect enough data to commit fraud.
It is important to keep your online data protected at all times and close any loopholes that attackers may be using to access your data. This article provides a quick look at digital identity theft, how to identify it and how to deal with it. With new technology that helps prove customers’ identities like Digital ID, the ease of identity fraud should drop.
How Do Attackers Access Your Data?
Attackers start by accessing your publicly accessible information. They then use the data that has been leaked from vulnerable sources such as compromised and insecure websites to create your online profile and access additional accounts. Attackers can also try leaked or common username and password combinations to break into accounts such as social media and email accounts.
In other cases, they may contact service providers and pretend to be you to get additional information such as your location, phone number, and home address. Others deploy malware and other forms of attack to monitor your activities on the internet across several devices. These software tools collect essential data about you and send it to the attacker anonymously.
What are the Goals of Identity Theft Attackers?
Depending on the type of data collected, the attackers may want to reach any of the goals below.
- Clone People’s Identities: They may want to impersonate the victim and use the identity to commit further fraud without being detected. Such fraud may be to solicit cash, hide from creditors or access restricted information.
- Financial theft: They may also use the victim’s identity to apply for loans, obtain credit, and buy goods and services. This is the most popular form of identity fraud.
- Medical identity theft: Attackers may hack into your medical records with the aim of stealing your medical insurance policy or benefiting financially from the subscribed medical aid schemes.
- Social media impersonation: The attackers may clone your identity on social media and use your name to defraud your online connections, exhort you to allow you back, or spread threats via your account.
How Do You Know You May Be a Victim of Identity Theft?
There are various ways you may notice that you are a victim of online fraud. Here are some popular ones.
- You may get correspondence or demands to pay from companies whose services you have not subscribed to.
- Your credit card may be charged for purchases that you didn’t make.
- You may also be summoned to answer questions about online activities that you did not carry out.
- Sometimes you may lose access to your social media accounts.
- You may also receive threats via phone, email, or text requiring you to pay some amount of cash to get your account back.
How Do You Prevent Digital Identity Theft?
Most of your data is stolen or leaked when you do not protect your online accounts, enter data into vulnerable sites or your devices are not sufficiently protected. Here are a few steps to prevent you from becoming a victim of digital identity theft.
- Always log out of any sites that you access online, whether on your device or shared computers. It prevents accidental access if the device lands on other parties or hands.
- Avoid questionable websites. Most search engines warn you of questionable platforms beforehand, so avoid opening them or providing any personal data.
- Follow safe email protocols by deleting any emails from unknown senders along with any messages that you believe are spam.
- You should always download software that you trust. Evaluate the safety of free software and file-sharing platforms before clicking the download button.
- Always update your operating software to patch up vulnerabilities.
- Use an antivirus or firewall when accessing the internet.
How Do You Deal with Identity Theft?
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you can take steps to prevent the use of data to defraud others. Follow the steps suggested by the police – https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/identity-fraud/
Consider stopping any credit card transactions and changing passwords on your online accounts, such as email and internet banking platforms. You may also warn your friends on social media not to send any cash and have the computer checked for malware by an IT expert.