We all know that by adding an alarm and window locks to our houses we protect them from being burgled, we all know that if we park our car we should make sure the windows are closed and the doors locked – but how do we protect ourselves from identity theft?

Of all crimes, identity fraud is mushrooming with the Home Office estimating that it costs the UK economy in excess of £1.7 billion every year.

As a company specialising in IT support to small businesses and home users throughout the UK, The PC Support Group has started to see an increase in this type of activity.

Phil Bird, co-founder of The PC Support Group says, “We’ve found that people are becoming more aware of the need for technical solutions such as anti-virus software to help prevent ID fraud but they are not protecting themselves in some of the more practical ways, such as not throwing away items such as bank statements in their rubbish. We felt that highlighting some of these more practical measures would be useful even if they are not all the most technical solutions you might expect from a computer support company.”

Identity theft and identity fraud refer to all types of crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, usually for economic gain. Unlike fingerprints, which cannot be duplicated, personal data, especially a person’s bank account or credit card number, can be used by people who might obtain them using illegal means.

In the United Kingdom, many people have reported that unauthorised persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up vast debts and committing crimes while using the victims’ names.

Few people realise how easy it is nowadays for criminals to obtain personal data. With the increase in usage of internet and with latest technology proving helpful to the criminals, information such as passwords or even banking information can be funnelled out in minutes by these criminals. What assists them is the fact that in their eagerness to explore all that the internet has to offer, some people unwittingly respond to ‘SPAM’ or unsolicited emails and give their personal information to the criminals. In other cases the latest spyware technology is used to extract personal information from a computer without the user’s knowledge.

After obtaining enough identifying information about an individual, a criminal can take over that individual's identity to conduct a wide range of crimes: for example, false applications for loans and credit cards, fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts, or obtaining other goods or privileges which the criminal might be denied if he were to use his real name.

The PC Support Group recommends that everyone should stick to the following simple and necessary measures to help avoid identity theft.
Keep personal information secure: Being careful about when, where and to whom personal information is being imparted goes a long way in stopping identity theft. This is not only being cautious about what you say and to whom but also being careful where you dispose of old information. Shred documents containing personal information (e.g. bank statements, utility bills, etc) with a cross cut shredder before you throw them away. Remember that any scraps of information are useful to a clever thief who can use public records to find out more.

Keep documents safe: We often find ourselves letting strangers into our houses to do building work, decorating, etc and every time we do this we run the risk that someone might steal our identity – and you probably won’t spot the problem immediately. Lock important documents such as bank statements and passport safely in a cabinet which cannot be accessed by other people. Never keep your cards with your cheque books and never write your PINs or passwords down.

Keep your cards safe: Don’t let your cards out of your sight. Most people who work in bars, shops and restaurants are honest but it only takes one dishonest person and a few seconds to copy everything they need. Also, when entering your PIN make sure you cover up the key pad as expert fraudsters are skilled at spotting this or even filming it using CCTV.

Use social networking sites cautiously: Online networking is a massive and growing phenomenon but they can be dangerous. If you reveal too much information about yourself it will not take long for someone to fill in the important gaps using public information such as the electoral roll. Remember, online “friends” may not be who they say they are. Be careful about what you and your children reveal. The internet is public so be under no illusion about who can access the information or how long it might reside somewhere in cyberspace… even if you think you have later removed it.

Beware of all sites where you can spend money: Just because a web site appears legitimate and knowledgeable doesn’t make it trustworthy. It could be simply a way to inspire confidence. When you’re doing business on the internet, make sure you know of the reputation of the vendor and never respond to any pressure to speed up a transaction. Another tip on using cards for internet purchases is to use a card solely for that purpose so it’s easy to spot rogue transactions.

Watch for unsolicited e-mails: This is known as phishing. If you get an unexpected e-mail with an offer that’s too good to be true then chances are it is! Delete any such e-mails and don’t open any attachments. Some fraudsters even send seemingly plausible e-mails from banks requesting that you reply by e-mail or go to a web site to enter certain information. Don’t! No responsible institution will ever do this. If you’re unsure then call the bank and ask them about the e-mail but remember to use the usual number and not one on the e-mail. In short, never provide personal information in response to an e-mail.

Get an updated Virus Checker: For people who use the internet this is a very high priority precaution. The internet, whilst being a fantastic tool can also pose major problems in relation to ID fraud. Not only do you need to make sure you have suitable anti-virus software installed but you need to make sure it’s kept up to date. Out of date software is as much use as no software at all. Up to date anti-virus software can stop harmful programs from getting into the computer and stealing your personal information without you even knowing.

Get a Spyware Checker: Spyware is another means by which criminals can obtain personal data. A good spyware checker also needs to be kept up to date and can stop these threats.

Use secure passwords and change them regularly: While creating a password you should keep in mind that it should not be easy for someone to guess. Moreover, the passwords should also be regularly changed so that anyone wrongfully obtaining a password will not be able to do much harm. Ideally passwords should be at least 8 characters long and contain a mix of alphabetic and numeric characters.

As the saying goes ‘Forewarned is forearmed’. By following the above precautions you can be relatively safe from identity fraud & thefts. Some companies these days offer identity theft protection services to both home & commercial computer users. This could prove beneficial to especially those who deal in a lot of classified information which they would like to keep secure even while working on the internet. After all it never harms to be cautious and taking corrective measures after an identity theft would prove to be much more cumbersome and expensive.

About Author

The PC Support Group won’t shred your documents for you but we can make sure that your computer has all the right and up to date protection. If you would like to know more about computer support then contact us on 0845 2233116 or visit our web site at www.pcsupportgroup.com.