Identity Theft and Other Internet Scams
If you are reading this, you're a possible target for Internet scams.
Just by having an email address, you are a target. It really is that
simple.
College students are victimized by identity theft more than any other
age group.
Types of theft include hackers gaining access to personal information
from databases, phishing e-mails or pop-ups which persuade users to
disclose personal information, and cases in which personal information
was sold to illegitimate organizations.
People can protect their identity by limiting the amount of personal
information they disclose and being aware of various scams.
Listed below are brief descriptions of a few popular scams. To learn
more on these scams and how to protect yourself, follow the links to the
Federal Trade Commission webpages.
-
Phishing
Phishing is a scam in which predators attempt to lure people to a fraudulent website, which replicates a seemingly trustworthy website, to obtain personal information such as passwords and login information for banks and other financial accounts. Phishers ultimate goal is usually financial gain. - Auctions
and Online Buying
eBay and other online auction sites have dominated the way consumers buy goods. Since the majority of internet scams are from online sales gone bad it is even more important to know what auctions to be wary of. A few clues to look for when detecting an online scam include: low prices with high-end merchandise, negative feedback or spotty selling history, seller asking for funds in a foreign currency, and contact information that can not be verified. -
Nigerian
Money Offers and letter 419
Most everyone who has an email box has received one of these. The basic concept is that someone from a foreign country sends a letter to the user.s inbox which promises the readers a large amount of money if they help the sender get the money out of their country. The sender requests and advance fee before giving the reader the larger payment for help . this is the scam. The advance fee will not be returned and no large amount of money will be given. -
Lottery
Scams
WINNING NOTIFICATION! Your subject line says you've won, but you haven't. Lottery scams are not very different from Nigerian money scams. The difference is that the emails notifies readers that they have won a large amount of money, or lottery. An advance fee is requested from the reader, but no money will ever be given.
Additional Resources
- FTC ID Theft Resource Page
- Anti-Phishing Working Group
- Internet Fraud Watch
- Internet Crime Complaint Center
- FBI Internet Fraud
- Privacy Rights
Clearing House
The IT Security Team hosted a live presentation on identity theft in March 2005. Please visit this link to watch the live recording, with accompanying handouts, of this event.
