Identity thieves are opportunists, eager to steal whatever identities they can whenever they can. Still, many online fraudsters tend to target specific types of web users for specific reasons. Some groups are more generous with the personal information they share online; other groups are less careful to use cybersecurity solutions to protect their data; and other groups of users have exceedingly advantageous resources, like high credit scores and large bank accounts, from which identity thieves can benefit.
If you are a member of any of the following groups, you need to take extra precautions to avoid identity theft online.
Seniors
Older members of the population are more likely to succumb to identity theft for several reasons. First, cybercriminals tend to target older computer users because older users are less likely to have proper security in place. Seniors also tend to be more credulous of online strangers, believing in scams for much longer than younger and savvier computer users. Finally, older adults often have better credit as well as larger savings accounts, which identity thieves can utilize for personal gain. Worst of all, seniors suffering from identity theft are the least likely of all groups to recognize or acknowledge that they have been defrauded, which means identity thieves may continue making successful attacks for months or years unimpeded.
College Students
Though many regard college students as among the most tech-savvy members of society — as many of them grew up with access to advanced tech gadgets like smartphones and tablet computers — the truth is that college kids are often woefully unprepared to manage their own cybersecurity. Most college students are experiencing the independence of adulthood for the first time, and many simply do not understand the risks of divulging certain information or operating online without certain protections. As a result, students may happily share private information that can and does lead to identity theft.
Military Personnel
Military service members have been reporting higher rates of identity theft in recent years, and unfortunately, much of the identity theft experienced by military personnel fall under the category of familiar fraud. Familiar fraud occurs when someone known to the victim, like family members or friends, uses their information for personal gain. Deployed military personnel may not know that their loved ones are using and abusing their credit while they are serving their country, but when they return, they might find returning to civilian life more difficult after years of being victimized by identity theft.
How to Avoid ID Theft
The best way to avoid identity theft is never to divulge your personally identifiable information (PII): your full name, your birthdate, various personal identification numbers (social security, driver’s license, passport, etc.), your home address, your financial account numbers, your email address. Of course, in the 21st century, keeping all of this data to yourself is all but impossible. Many different types of accounts demand access to a large amount of PII, and companies that collect PII tend to save it in databases that savvy cybercriminals may crack into and leak onto the dark web.
You should try to reduce the amount of your data available online by only submitting PII when it is absolutely necessary. You can query different companies about their use of your information — and their methods of cybersecurity — to determine whether you need to create an account or whether you should look for a different business to provide products or services. You should also manage the permissions of different applications and accounts to reduce the data they collect on your behavior, which is especially important for mobile devices.
Finally, perhaps the most important way to protect yourself from the worst effects of ID theft is through security tools. On your most important devices, you should install a security suite with identity theft protection, which will continuously monitor the dark web for signs of your PII. These tools should notify you if your data has been leaked, so you can take appropriate steps to prevent identity theft, like freezing your credit or canceling your payment cards. With fast action, you will likely be able to preserve your identity into the future.
Identity thieves want to maximize their benefits while minimizing their efforts. Therefore, any action you can take to make your identity harder to steal will reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim of identity theft. Especially if you are in any of the targeted groups listed above, you need to be proactive in protecting your identity from all manner of criminals, now and for years to come.