Account Hijacking & Identity Theft
Account Hijacking is one of the fastest growing forms of identity theft, and it can have the most devastating effect on us. Some 2 million people are victimized yearly. Account hijacking occurs when a criminal obtains your personal banking information and uses it to take over your bank accounts. It can take weeks or months to discover. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
STEP 1: Understand the Threat
Often, the account hijacker uses one or more methods to obtain your personal data. You should be particularly aware of two:
Hijacking by Phishing deceives customers into providing their user names, passwords, and account numbers via deceptive e-mails, fake Web sites, or both. The classic phishing attack involves a deceptive e-mail that purports to be from a legitimate financial institution. The e-mail typically tells the customer that there is some sort of problem with the customer’s account, and instructs the recipient to click on the included hyperlink to ”fix” the problem. In reality, the fake Web site is simply collecting customer user names and passwords in order to hijack accounts. Hijacking with Spyware works by inserting malicious software, often referred to as “spyware,” on a person’s personal computer. Spyware can be loaded when a user opens a seemingly innocuous e-mail attachment or clicks on a pop-up advertisement. The spyware collects selected information (e.g., user names, passwords, and account numbers) and forwards that information to the fraudster.
STEP 2: Fortify Your System
Here are some basic safety measures you can implement immediately:
Password Protection – If your password is easy for you to remember, the chances are good it is also easy for an Internet hacker to figure out. Experts advise a combination of letters and numbers…and avoiding pet names, your home address, and similar easy-to-crack codes. Anti-Virus Software – Your computer’s anti-virus software is like a vaccine—it works at first, but you need to keep it up-to-date to guard against new strains. Anti-Spyware – Anti-spyware programs are readily available, and every computer connected to the Internet should have the software installed…and updated regularly. “Phishing Awareness” – If you receive an unexpected email, or one that you consider suspicious, delete it. Remember: your bank will never email you and ask you to go to another site to “verify information.”
Quick Facts About Account Hijacking
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- An estimated 2 million people are hit with account hijacking each year; most say it was from a phishing email.
- Overall account fraud totals more than $2.4 billion annually, $1,200 per victim.
- People who monitor their accounts online (rather than just with mailed statements) can detect hijacking earlier. In one report, victims’ losses were one-eighth of those who detected the crime via paper statements due to early detection.
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RESOURCES
Here are some basic safety tips you can implement immediately:
Password: Experts advise a combination of letters and numbers.
Virus Protection: Your computer’s anti-virus software needs to be up-to-date to guard against new strains.
Spyware: Anti-spyware programs are readily available. Every computer connected to the Internet should have the software installed…and updated regularly.
ONLINE RESOURCES