Techniques such as spoofing, phishing and hacking are now part of the standard nomenclature as more and more victims report identity thefts throughout the United States. Perpetrators often gather sensitive information such as bank account numbers and social security numbers to fraudulently open credit cards and credit accounts.
The FBI warns people to be vigilant with their information, especially on sites that are not secure. There are two quick ways to determine if a site is secure or not. First, look at the URL and look for https://. The trailing "s" means that it is secure and information transmitted via the site is over a secure channel. Secondly, look for an icon on the bottom of the web browser - typically in the status bar - with an image of a lock. The lock is usually yellow.
If the site you are visiting is not secure, then refrain from submitting sensitive information such as your social security number or credit card information. If you are suspicious, contact them and inquire about their legitimacy. Sites with no "Contact Us" link should immediately raise a red flag.
Another way to stay on your toes is to view your credit report at least once a year. Sites such as EyeMyCredit.com (http://www.eyemycredit.com) offer secure access to your credit report, credit history and credit score. Review your information thoroughly and verify all open accounts, ensuring that you are the person that opened the account. If not, contact the credit agency immediately, as well as the business.
Some victims only learn they have been victimized at the time of large purchases, such as a home or car. At that point, it's too late as tracking the person becomes more difficult, not to mention the inconvenience of putting off the purchase until the matter is settled.
The FBI suggests the following:
- Most companies require you to log in to a secure site. Look for the lock at the bottom of your browser and "https" in front of the website address.
- Take note of the header address on the web site. Most legitimate sites will have a relatively short internet address that usually depicts the business name followed by ".com," or possibly ".org." Spoof sites are more likely to have an excessively long string of characters in the header, with the legitimate business name somewhere in the string, or possibly not at all.
- If you have any doubts about an e-mail or website, contact the legitimate company directly. Make a copy of the questionable web site's URL address, send it to the legitimate business and ask if the request is legitimate.
- If you've been victimized, you should contact your local police or sheriff's department, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.IFCCFBI.gov).
Also See:
http://www.eyemycredit.com/?
http://www.ifccfbi.gov
http://crime.about.com
For More Information contact info@eyemycredit.com
