Identity Thieves on the Internet Increasing Rapidly

As per PhoneBusters, a Canadian anti fraud agency, jointly managed by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the Ontario Provincial Police and Competition Bureau Canada, the identity theft has increased in the country (Canada).

PhoneBusters also claims that identity thieves have touched a new height by sending phishing scams on unauthentic sites that appear real or using developed methods to reveal details from the users.

ID theft is a kind of crime in which somebody appears to be somebody else for monetary gain. It can be implemented by many ways, especially by rummaging through mails. This is also known as phishing that deceives users into giving away private information.

Also, a research conducted by PhoneBusters shows that in 2007, the company got 10,279 complaints, out of which 9,970 were found to be victims, estimating a loss of US$ 6,438,123. And in this year till August 2008, Phone Busters got 8,233 complaints of which 7,649 are victims with a total loss of US$ 6,573,335.

Further, almost less than half of the respondents claim that they had got a mail from a bank or other financial organization directing them to check their account details. This practice is called phishing. Also, peer-to-peer file-sharing software, like LimeWire, is used by criminals to siege private details. So, users should be extra vigilant while accessing these programs.

Moreover, the company also suggests that if somebody receives a mail from his credit-card company or bank directing them check their account details, it is definitely a phishing mail that will take him to a fraudulent site. Also, investment fraudsters can acquire several details from these sites like group members' pictures, names of friends and family members, what they do and where they are during the day.

These attacks are expanding worldwide as earlier in 2008, the British Columbia Securities Commission cautioned Web users to be careful of affinity frauds, which use social networking sites such as craiglist.org, Facebook and meetup.com to promote meetings regarding investment seminars and products.

Related article: Identity Fraud Looming on Users of Facebook

» SPAMfighter News - 10/1/2008