Identity thieves will use any method they can to trick you into revealing your personal information to them. It usually is associated with a wide and complex variety of ideas. One method thieves use to get your personal information is called phishing.

What is Phishing and How is it Used?

Surfing the internet can be dangerous for several reasons. One major concern for all internet users is the threat of identity theft. Identity thieves will use any method they can to trick you into revealing your personal information to them. It usually is associated with a wide and complex variety of ideas. One method thieves use to get your personal information is called phishing.

Phishing is a way of thieves to use the internet to literally “fish” for your information, passwords, bank information or credit card information. One common form of phishing is to send an email to your email address claiming that your log in information to a commonly used web site has been compromised and you should follow “this” link to verify your log in information. Once you click on the link in the email, you are taken to a web site that looks like an official web site but is bogus. It then leads you to a form that requests your personal information including your username, password, given and surname, address, social security number and financial information.

Unknowingly, you have furnished online identity thieves with all of the information they need to rob you blind and steal your identity. They can begin purchasing products online, set up new accounts in your name and even sell the information to other thieves. It is considered one of the fastest growing organized crimes in the world. Not only will identity thieves from your country steal your identity but thieves from other countries will do the same thing. It is almost impossible to prosecute someone in another country for identity theft.

Many of the foreign thieves will use your money to purchase products and have it shipped to another country. They then can resell the merchandise to make themselves a huge profit since they didn’t pay for it in the beginning. In addition to purchasing merchandise with your information, they sometimes will surf chat rooms looking for someone to sell your information to. Phishing is a serious crime and can ruin your good name and credit. Taking precautions against this form of theft is your only recourse.

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