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The Risk Of Electronic Fraud & Identity Theft
Electronic Fraud and Identity Theft It's The Little Things We Tend To Overlook Making Assumptions vs. Staying Vigilant The purpose of this article is to share with you my thoughts and position on some of the basic things you can do to protect yourself from several types of threats. Particularly those that involve electronic fraud and Internet fraud. Although some of these items are not directly related to the Internet, the moment someone has your private or financial information (identity theft), the Internet will be one of the first places they visit. (Protect Yourself Against Electronic Fraud) Automated Teller Machines (ATM) & Skimmers Links Did you know the cost to a bank or ATM vendor is minimal if their machine is compromised, but to you it may be severe? The company that owns the ATM only has to worry about the cost to replace the machine, plus the amount of money inside. You, on the other hand, stand to loose not only your bank account funds, but possibly your identity. Phishing and Web Site Redirection If you receive an e-mail from your bank, credit card company, or other online merchant like, Ebay.com or Amazon.com, requesting information such as passwords and financial info, delete it and report it immediately. Many of these e-mails link you to web sites that look exactly like that of the real company but are in fact fakes. Take a look at Ebay's Online Security and Protection section to get an idea of what you need to do in order to identify scams like these. Links If you receive an e-mail from someone promising you millions of dollars if you assist them with their finances, delete it immediately!. Some of these scams have been running for years and new ones surface frequently. I recently saw one supposedly from the wife of the late Yasser Arafat, promising millions of dollars if someone would help her establish a trust fund in the US. The reasons these types of e-mail scams are so wide spread is because they are highly effective and relatively easy to do. Thousands of people get ripped off by these scams every day. To see examples of several recent scams, take a look at the following Phishing Scams page. Links Another good source of information on these types of scams can be found at the State of NY Banking Department. Links Credit Card Fraud When paying for something, particularly at a restaurant, check to see if the full or partial credit card number is on the merchant receipt. In most cases, only the partial number is visible. However, when the full number is there, I cross out all but the last four digits with a pen. The merchant has already scanned the card at this point, they should not need a paper backup of the number. If your credit card is stolen, lost, or used fraudulently, you can call your card company and speak with the fraud department. However, I recommend you contact your card company's credit line department first. This is the department that can extend your credit almost instantaneously. They can also decrease it within seconds as well. If you have a limit of $5,000, they can reduce it to $100 immediately, then pass you to the fraud department. Call your card company and request the direct number to this department and make a record of it. If you notice someone swiping your card more than once when paying for an item, ask them why. Regardless of how sensible the answer is, call your card company and request a list of the last few transactions, you might be surprised what you find. If your card company sends you checks to use for cash advancements and you don't plan on using them, don't keep them around, shred them immediately. We get these all the time in the mail. As far as shredders go, everyone should have one. You can pick up a small one for under $30 and it is well worth the investment. Any statements or correspondence you have regarding your credit cards should be in a secure place or shredded. Credit Reporting & Monitoring Links If you find something strange on your credit report, contact the credit reporting agency immediately. In addition to calling them (if possible), send them a certified letter describing what you have found. It's very important to document any and all correspondence on these matters. Conclusion One of the best ways to protect yourself from electronic fraud and identity theft is to ask questions. Primarily, ask yourself whether or not the particular situation you are faced with makes sense? Why would your bank request information from you via e-mail? Why would someone in another country be willing to give you millions of dollars to assist them with their banking woes? There is a certain percentage of our population who has absolutely no morality when it comes to the acquisition of wealth. These people know the risk of getting caught is minimal. In many cases, even if they do get caught, they are willing to deal with the consequences given the potential monetary payoff. Stay vigilant and educate yourself on these matters. It really is the best way to protect yourself against the myriad of threats and risks we are presented with everyday. About The Author If someone you know has sent youthis article, please take a moment to visit our site andregister for the free newsletter at http://www.defendingthenet.com/subscribe.htm
MORE RESOURCES:
What happens when an organization has no security culture? World Economic Forum What To Know: New Laws on Education, Public Safety and Water Security Go Into Effect Today Arizona Governor's Office (.gov) Anable: Cyber Security Month highlights 'team effort' of internet safety Daily Independent How the CIO's relationship to IT security is changing Help Net Security Opinion | The Uber Hack Exposes More Than Failed Data Security The New York Times Two Republican audit committee leaders launch an inquiry into security costs for Gov. Evers and Lt. Gov. Barnes Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Lakeland Downtown Development Authority to focus on security, cleanliness, drinks in 2023 The Ledger U.S. slips down rankings in food security index Food Safety News Complete Guide to SCADA Security Security Boulevard Back to Basics: Parking Garage Security - Total Security Advisor Total Security Advisor Maritime Security Market Size to Reach over US$38 Bn by 2027 End, Forecasts Fairfield Market Research in a New Study GlobeNewswire KPRC 2 Investigates years-long HOA debate over security guard gate KPRC Click2Houston High-level independent panel on security and development in crisis-torn Sahel region launched at UN UN News How Integrated Security Ecosystems Can Improve Campus Safety - Campus Safety Campus Safety Magazine NextGen 2.0 helmets on the way to security forces across DAF Air Force Link Pentagon launches effort to assess crypto's threat to national security The Washington Post Security guarding in the future: Robocop meets sensor integration Security Magazine Mark Knudson’s 3 Strikes: Broncos winning formula, Dorrell job security and Avs success Mile High Sports Joint Statement on the High-Level Meeting on the Safety and Security of Civil Nuclear Facilities in Armed Conflicts - United States Department of State Department of State Politics impede long-advocated growth of UN Security Council The Washington Post 5 Network Security Threats And How To Protect Yourself The Hacker News Albuquerque church security guard killed, suspect arrested The Associated Press - en Español How Does FAIR Fit into Cybersecurity? Security Boulevard Security Priorities Are Shifting as 90% Of Organizations Fail To Address Cybersecurity Risks CPO Magazine Keeper Security Lands on GigaOm Radar Reports for Password Management and Privileged Access Management Business Wire OLLI symposium to explore global food security | Nebraska Today | University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Today Afghanistan Is a Threat to Global Security Once Again The National Interest Online Phonexa Fortifies Its Telecommunications Security With STIR/SHAKEN Compliance Certification PR Newswire Early Edition: September 26, 2022 Just Security Tougaloo to receive $420000 for security and mental health care in wake of HBCU bomb threats Mississippi Today 'Fat Leonard,' Navy scandal mastermind, had relaxed security before escape The Washington Post A 'School Within A School' Is Building Community And Food Security In Hana Honolulu Civil Beat Beaumont ISD set to hold biannual, state-mandated safety and security meeting on Monday 12newsnow.com KBMT-KJAC UNC System Board Approves Student Fee for Campus Security Campus Safety Magazine US Commits More Civilian Security Aid to Ukraine Voice of America - VOA News Workers at Brewvies movie theater in Ogden go on strike, citing safety and security concerns FOX 13 News Utah January 6 Defendant Says He Attended Events as Security Detailee The Epoch Times Microsoft Releases Out-of-Band Security Update for Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager | CISA US-CERT Lebanon: Calls to put security forces charged with torturing Syria refugee on trial in criminal court Middle East Monitor IT Security Takeaways from the Wiseasy Hack The Hacker News When Ransomware Meets IoT: What’s Next? Security Boulevard Executive Order on Ensuring Robust Consideration of Evolving National Security Risks by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States The White House N.Y.C. Subway System to Install Security Cameras in Train Cars The New York Times $675 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine > U.S Department of Defense DHS Establishes First-Ever Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council Homeland Security DHS Publishes Fair and Humane Public Charge Rule Homeland Security Uber Boss Testifies He ‘Could Not Trust’ Ex-Security Chief The New York Times Queen Elizabeth II's funeral: U.K.'s biggest security detail post-WWII The Washington Post Whistle-Blower Peiter Zatko Says Twitter ‘Chose to Mislead’ on Security The New York Times Before Midterms, Election Officials Increase Security Over Threats The New York Times A CISO's Ultimate Security Validation Checklist The Hacker News FTC Releases Final Agenda for Public Forum on Commercial Surveillance and Lax Data Security Practices Federal Trade Commission News |
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