For cybercriminals, your personal information is a gold mine.

You may not believe you have any very valuable information. So, what makes cybercriminals want to know about you? Actually, fraudsters seek identities similar to yours in order to avoid raising suspicions about their activities.

A fraudster could use details about your identity (last name, first name, address, social insurance number, bank information) to apply for mortgage loans or credit cards in your name. Your identity might potentially be utilized to make a forgery of a passport or driver’s license.

How to Keep Your Personal Information Safe

Limit the amount of information you share to keep it safe. Only use it when absolutely required. It may seem natural to submit your first and last name, as well as your address when opening an account someplace, but if the website suffers a security breach, the information could come into the hands of scammers.

Be cautious with what you post on social media. A scammer may attempt to gain your personal information by sending false messages that look to come from reliable sources. This is known as phishing, and it is one of the most common types of Internet fraud. It is typically carried out via email, text message, or phone call. Cybercriminals also use social media for targeted attacks. The personal information on your account (your identity, but also your workplace, birthdate, and interests) may assist a phishing assault on you to appear more credible. This is known as social engineering. Check the privacy settings (by default, your profile may be public) to avoid this type of intrusion, and be wary of phony or unfamiliar profiles.

How to Keep Your Login Information Safe

A cybercriminal can access your accounts and commit Internet fraud using your usernames and passwords. Your login information can also be sold to cybercriminals on the dark web, an uncontrolled section of the Internet frequently connected with illegal activities. To keep your login information safe, choose a strong password that is unique to each account and enable two-factor authentication whenever it is available. Keep your software and antivirus updated to protect your home computer.

Bank fraud examples

1. Don’t believe everything you read in an email or text message.

Last November, Zoe, a publicist, fell victim to a phishing scam. “A scammer pretended to be my Internet service provider and informed me that they needed to reimburse an overpayment I’d made to my account.” To get my money, I was instructed to SMS a link to myself. The next day, I discovered that hundreds of dollars had vanished from my account. That’s when I realized they had stolen my banking information.” In this circumstance, avoid responding to such communications or clicking on linked links, and never give out your personal or banking information by email or text message. When in doubt, contact the company requesting the information. 

2. Don’t let your guard down when confronted with unexpected situations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided scammers with an excellent chance. Jonathan, a 25-year-old entrepreneur, found out the hard way. “Given the crisis, I was concerned about the survival of my company.” I was keeping a tight eye on the situation. I discovered an app that allows me to track the pandemic’s progress around the world using a map and statistics. My bank notified me of a login from a new device one day. As I investigated how this could have occurred, I discovered that this program contained secret spyware that took my information.”

Fraudsters might take advantage of the current state of panic to further their criminal activities.

3. Do not post your banking information on social media.

Stephanie, a political science student, wanted to assist a friend who had allegedly misplaced her wallet while on vacation in Australia. Unfortunately, the call was a scammer who had stolen her friend’s account on a famous social media network. “The scammer perfectly imitated my friend’s writing style. The next thing I know, nearly $3,000 has been charged to my credit card. It’ll be the last time I give my bank information in a social media conversation. If it’s truly an emergency, I’ll call that person and handle the situation directly.” It’s important to refrain from giving your banking information.

What should you do if you’ve been duped?

You can contact companies such as The Global Payback, a fund recovery service that allows customers to file a complaint against their scammer and receive their money back. They have professionals who can help you recover your funds after a forex scam, an investment scam, an online scam, or cryptocurrency fraud. When you say it, a The Global Payback team of professional agents will be assigned to investigate the problem, gather evidence and data, track your scammer’s digital trail, and build a strong case against them – all with one goal in mind, to regain all of your misplaced important possessions or money.