preview

Identity Theft Research Paper

Decent Essays
Open Document

Identity theft is a growing problem in our society and knowing how to combat identity theft is essential to your financial well-being.
“Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation especially in the suburbs.” Melissa Bean
Why is knowing how to combat identity theft so extremely important
According to www.identitytheft.info approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totaling upwards of 50 billion dollars. With numbers like that, it’s not a matter of if your identity will be stolen but rather when identity theft impacts your life.
Protecting your identity has become just as important as your budget or spending habits, when it pertains to …show more content…

For example, someone pretends to a representative from your bank or Credit Card Company and they ask to verify your personal information which enables them to steal your identity. Most of the time, they will ask for your social security number and account information. There are steps you can take to protect yourself from these types of scams. First, be wary of emails with urgent request for personal or financial information. Never give out such information unless you are absolutely certain of the source and it’s secure. Always look for, if dealing with a website, a padlock in the corner of the web browser. Next, never click on any links in email message that you receive. There is always the possibility that they contain spyware. Avoiding phishing scams is critical in identity theft …show more content…

Your kid’s birthdates or pet’s names make horrible passwords and should never be used. Yes, they are easy to remember but terrible for identity theft prevention.

7 ways to keep your computer data secure
1. Never leave your laptop out in the open. Whether you’re at home, work or a coffee shop, never leave your computer unattended.
2. Always keep your computer off when not using it. Leaving it on with your personal files exposed is asking for trouble.
3. Getting back to the password protection. The use of obvious usernames and passwords should always be avoided. Always incorporate at least one number, a capital letter and a special character when choosing a password. Your computer security settings should always be set on locked so the username and password must be entered to unlock your computer.
4. Most of us, myself included, keep our passwords written down. Do not keep your password list and computer in the same place. Always keep them separate.
5. Always install a firewall on your computer or laptop.
6. You should install antivirus programs on your computer to prevent spyware and key loggers off your computer.
7. You should always delete all personal info from your old computer when a new one is

Get Access