Being aware of risks to your assets prepares you to take steps to reduce those risks.
Be careful with personal information. Do not share your passwords with friends and family. Pay attention to the email where is it coming from and do not open attachment from someone you do not know. Use on line banking for paperless statements. Make sure to keep your check book and credit card information away from family members or people who come to your house. Do not press text messages from your credit company, always call to verify it first.
Ways criminals can steal your identity:
Phishing- trick you in to giving personal information, often through email
Vishing- phishing by phone
Smishing- phishing by text message
Spear phishing – targeted phishing to groups that have something in common. Emails are send from companies that people trust and they are from criminals who are trying to get personal information
Pharming – fake websites that appear legitimate
Skimming – stealing credit card or debit card numbers by using special device they hide in ATM or point of sale machines.
Social media scamming- when criminals trick people into giving them personal information on the social media sites. Do not share anything on Facebook like DOB, where you live, vacation you are on, pet names.