Identity theft is a new wave of crime in the cyber world and it is increasing every day. In UK alone the identity theft results in billion pounds loss every year. In the first three months of 2015 it has increased by a third compared to 2014 figures for the same period.
The cyber criminals steal identity details of innocent victims and use the information to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards and buy products or services in other people’s names.
Fraud prevention agency Cifas said that social forums sell real credit card details with date of birth for a meagre £5, he said.
The increase in victims fall in the age group of 21 to 30 years though the average age of a victim is 46 years.
The fraudsters escape the vigil of the Banks because they use printers costing around £1,000 to create passports, driver’s licences and bank cards that are as convincing as genuine ones.
Currently, customer who never even heard of the service are still liable to cough out money. It will cost them a deal to get the stolen money reimbursed, if at all. Unless new regulation arrests the people who supply specialist printing equipment or materials – such as identity card printers, printer ribbons, embossers and hot foil presses – the crime will continue unabated, said Police officials. The unethical social sites that sell identities must be tracked and penalised too.
There are simple procedures to safeguard you in cyber world.
- Don’t share your address and date of birth in social sites.
- 80% of cyber crime can be prevented by anti-spyware programmes
- Don’t write down or share your PINs and passwords.
- Use strong passwords containing 10 character length with capitals, special characters
- Do not use the same password or PIN for more than one account
