Identify theft is a fast growing industry. Below are the top four ways you’re inadvertently making yourself a perfect target:
1. Buying or selling real property: It’s a life changing process that involves lots of people, money, and documentation which could fall into the wrong hands if you’re not careful;
2. Getting married or divorced: Two more groundbreaking events that could prove earth-shattering since much of your details are not only appearing in the social columns but public records as well -- both accessible online;
3. Having a baby: A happy occasion that issues yet more announcements, paperwork, and, of course, a spanking new identity to worry about too;
4. Losing a job or starting a new one: Submitting work applications and broadcasting when you’ve been hired or fired on Facebook is a good way to blow your next paycheck before it ever reaches your wallet.
In short, any time you’re experiencing a major transition in life is when you need to be most on guard for identity theft, because that’s when you’ll be giving strangers more information about yourself than usual.
And, apart from death and taxes and banking and employers, much of those personal disclosures, (such as your social security number and birth date) aren’t even legally required.
Worse, say security experts, all that invaluable data is now typically being transferred -- and intercepted -- via insecure cell phone or Wi-Fi connections.
WARNING: Submitting job apps, social media updates, purchase orders, and even logging onto dating sites, via the local café or library’s internet service is an open invitation to cyber crooks who are poised 24/7 to either add to your misery or rob you of your joy and accomplishments.
Eponymous Rox
Hackers, Cyber Crime, ID Theft
