How to Prevent Identity Theft

Some wise person once noted that to take precautions is better than dealing with regret. When it comes to your personal bank account numbers, credit card details and other sensitive identifying information, being proactive against theft is easier and less time-consuming than repairing the damage after the fact. 

In recent years, hotels have become a target of several schemes to steal from unsuspecting visitors. If you’re a traveler or planning a vacation away from home, this is one situation where prevention is like having a cheap and effective insurance policy against theft.

ID Theft Scenario #1 

A caller rings your hotel room late at night claiming to be a front desk hospitality receptionist. But it’s not an employee but a scam artist who then tells you that the hotel computer system has crashed and they need you to provide your credit card information. As a courtesy for the inconvenience and interruption, there’s no need to come down to the desk; they’ll accept the information over the phone.

The calls are to random room numbers and usually late at night when the night clerk will be less likely to ask for the guest’s name. The scammers may be a part of a sophisticated international ring or in the next room. 

While most hotels require outside callers to provide both the guest’s name and room number before connecting them to the room, a less than meticulous clerk may not stick to the rules and give out the number. 

In addition, calls made within the hotel can be dialed directly, bypassing the desk.

Prevention Steps

Never give out personal information over the phone to anyone, regardless of how official they may sound. If you receive a call while staying in a hotel, refuse to provide it except in person at the front desk. 

Hang up and immediately visit the front desk to either provide the requested information or to report the attempted scam. Some hotels are also instigating new procedures that require every call to go through the front desk, including room-to-room calls.

ID Theft Scenario #2 

Even more insidious and harder to detect is what is called a Wi-Fi scam. Using a Wi-Fi USB device, the thief sets up a strong Internet hotspot signal nearby using the hotel’s name. Hotel visitors who use Wi-Fi to access the Internet through a laptop, cell phone or other device may unknowingly sign on to the fake server allowing the thief access to everything they do. In addition, they can use a free program to grab usernames and passwords. An unsuspecting victim would have no idea that they were connected through the thief's laptop, opening up the way for login credentials, credit card numbers and other sensitive information to be captured and used to steal their identity and do extensive damage.

Prevention Steps

Never accept the strongest signal assuming it’s the hotel’s secure connection. Always ask for the hotel’s network name before check-in and especially before attempting to connect through Wi-Fi.

ID Theft Scenario #3 

This is one smooth scam! Slipped under your hotel room is a pizza flyer advertising free delivery to your room for fraction of the cost of room service. You place your order, giving your credit card information as payment, and never get your order. But you can be sure you credit card is now being maxed by the thief.

Prevention Steps

Unless you’ve picked up the flyer personally, never trust anything thrust under your door. Most hotels offer a list of trustworthy, local restaurants for their visitors to patronize.

ID Theft Scenario #4 

One of the oldest scams used to grab your personal information is known as skimming. The crime is perpetrated by an employee who has possession of your credit card and steals the information from the mag stripe by swiping it on a hidden reader used specifically for this purpose. Your card number is sold to a theft ring that then sells it multiple times. Skimming devices may also be located in strategic places where legitimate readers are located like at cash registers and ATMs.

Prevention Steps

Be aware of your environment at all times when swiping your card. Never allow your card out of your sight, no matter how trustworthy the clerk may appear. Personally walk it to the register to make the payment.

ID Theft Scenario #5 

Hackers are even fooled by this latest scam called juice jacking. With the prevalence of items that require charging, kiosks have been set up in tourist areas, hotels, airports and other spots where large crowds gather. They offer a convenient way to get a quick charge when your battery runs lows. But hackers may have hijacked the kiosk to steal sensitive information directly from your cell phone or other programmed technology.

Prevention Steps

At this point in time, the security at public kiosks make them highly untrustworthy. Until new prevention measures are in place, it’s best to avoid using them.

Learn More About Identity Theft

• Privacy Concerns: Identity theft is a crime, and releasing victim details could further compromise their privacy.

• Reporting Discrepancies: There's no single, centralized database tracking all identity theft cases. Numbers can vary depending on reporting agencies and how cases are classified.

• Focus on Prevention: Highlighting specific cases might be sensational and not as helpful as focusing on preventative measures.

However, I can offer some resources and alternative awareness points:

• Large-Scale Data Breaches: These breaches often expose personal information of millions, making them prime targets for identity theft. You can find recent data breaches on websites like the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

• Types of Identity Theft: Understanding the different ways identity theft occurs can help you recognize potential risks. These include financial identity theft (using someone's information for credit cards, loans, etc.), medical identity theft (using someone's information for medical treatment), and tax identity theft (using someone's information to file tax returns).

• Staying Informed: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a great resource for identity theft information and prevention tips.  

Here are some alternative awareness points to consider:

• Impact of Identity Theft: Identity theft can have devastating consequences for victims, causing financial hardship, damaged credit scores, and emotional distress.

• The Rise of Cybercrime: As more and more personal information moves online, the risk of identity theft increases.

• Importance of Proactive Measures: Being proactive with strong passwords, data encryption, and being cautious about sharing personal information online can significantly reduce your risk.

By understanding the different types of identity theft, its impact, and how to prevent it, you can become more aware and take steps to protect yourself.

Top 10 Notorious Identity Theft Reported Globally

Identity theft is a pervasive and growing issue globally. Here are some of the most notable identity theft cases and trends reported:

1. Government Documents or Benefits Fraud: This type of fraud topped the list in the U.S., with nearly 396,000 cases reported in recent years​ (IdentityTheft.org)​​ (McAfee)​.

2. Credit Card Fraud: This remains a significant problem, with hundreds of thousands of cases annually. The dark web often facilitates this by selling stolen credit card details cheaply​ (Comparitech)​.

3. Account Takeovers: These incidents have spiked dramatically, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to billions in losses​ (Comparitech)​.

4. Synthetic Identity Theft: Involving a mix of real and fabricated personal information, this form of fraud accounts for a substantial portion of identity theft cases​ (Incogni Blog)​.

5. AI-Powered Scams: The rise of AI technologies has led to sophisticated scams, including deepfakes and AI-generated voice phishing, making it harder for individuals to discern real from fake​ (IdentityIQ)​.

6. Employment or Tax-Related Fraud: Particularly affects younger demographics, with a significant number of cases involving fraudulent unemployment benefits claims during the pandemic​ (Incogni Blog)​.

7. Utility Fraud: This type of fraud has seen a substantial increase, where criminals use stolen identities to open utility accounts, leading to unexpected bills for victims​ (IdentityIQ)​.

8. Phishing Scams: Continues to be a prevalent method of identity theft, often targeting individuals through emails and fake websites to steal personal information​ (IdentityIQ)​.

9. Medical Identity Theft: This involves using someone's personal information to obtain medical services or drugs, and it can have severe consequences for victims' medical records and insurance coverage​ (IdentityTheft.org)​.

10. Social Media Exploits: Individuals active on social media are at higher risk, as their publicly available information can be used for various fraudulent activities​ (Comparitech)​.

These cases highlight the evolving nature of identity theft and the need for increased vigilance and security measures to protect personal information. For a more detailed look into these and other notable identity theft cases, refer to resources like the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network, Javelin Strategy & Research reports, and updates from cybersecurity organizations like McAfee and IdentityIQ​ (IdentityTheft.org)​​ (Comparitech)​​ (McAfee)​​ (IdentityIQ)​.

Conclusion:

These are just some of the latest schemes that may put you at risk. Always keep in mind that new tricks are always being devised to take what belongs to you. The first step in staying protected is to learn what tactics are being used and how you can prevent becoming the next victim. 

Keep all of your security software updated and running. Immediately report any fraudulent activity to local police, as well as to the involved parties –credit card companies, banks, merchants, etc. – to help in the effort by law enforcement to stay ahead of the scams.