Identity fraudsters up the ante

Posted in 'Identity Theft' by Richard Catlin

26 February 2009

February saw a number of high profile attacks by identity fraudsters and data criminals – involving Twitter, Gmail and even Jack Straw.

Hot on the heels of the Gmail site going down for 2 ½ hours, account holders were then hit with a phishing attack that saw usernames and passwords stolen. Because you are able to store a multitude of personal information within your Google account – including bank and credit card details, there are fears that anyone affected could be at an increased risk of fraud and identity theft.

Twitter – the latest social networking craze – has already been hacked a number of times in its short lifetime, prompting concerns over the levels of security it has in place. Hackers have already managed to access the accounts of a number of celebrities including Barack Obama and Britney Spears.

Phishing - where criminals try to pass off fake emails as the real thing – continues to grow. As banks’ own sites become harder to hack into, criminals are increasingly using phishing as a means to glean personal details. The first six months of last year alone saw an increase of 185%, a figure which is expected to grow even further when full 2008 figures are released.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw was yet another high-profile victim, after his personal hotmail account was hacked by Nigerian fraudsters. Putting a twist on their usual ‘lottery winner’ and ‘inheritance’ scams, the criminals posed as the MP to his constituents, claiming that he needed money to get home from charity work in Africa after losing his wallet. Thankfully, no one responded.

The clear message that emerges from this increased level of criminal activity is that everyone needs to be more vigilant than ever against identity thieves. Our free Identity Theft Check Service will highlight any areas of your lifestyle that might leave you vulnerable, and what you can do to up your protection.

Or you can purchase our acclaimed handbook, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance, for a limited period for just £4.99. That’s a saving of £5 on the usual price of £9.99. The handbook is packed with facts and tips about identity fraud.

Careful monitoring of your credit file will also help guard against identity fraud. You can keep an eye on all three of your files each month, including your credit score and rating, for just £17.55 a quarter, representing outstanding value for money, and giving peace of mind.

Monitor your credit reports.