Identity theft has become much more than a minor inconvenience. In response to this threat, Congress passed the Anti-Phishing Act of 2005, which states anyone creating bogus web sites and/or sending fake emails with the intent to defraud consumers could be fined up to $250,000 and be jailed for up to five years. However, true identity theft protection comes from identity theft prevention.

Identity Theft and Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are when criminals pose as a trusted source to trick someone into providing personal information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. Phishers often contact victims via email or instant messaging. Often they target customers of banks and online payment services, like Paypal. Taxpayers can also be the target of IRS scams. When the victim clicks the link provided in the email or instant message, the user is taken to a site that appears to be the trusted institution asking for information. The first tip is to remember that none of these places contact you electronically asking for your personal information – they already have it.

Protection From Phishing Scams

To stop identity theft users should check the URL. Mouse over the words or pictures, but do not click the link. Check the lower left-hand area of the web browser or email program instead. You will find the bogus site’s IP address, or in many cases, it will look similar to Paypal like: http://www.paypal.fake-site-name.com/. At first glance it appears legitimate, but upon closer examination it clear that it is not from the trusted source. The domain closest to the .com is the main domain of the site. In the above example, the real domain for the website was fake-site-name.com and not paypal. When checking to see if a website is legit, make sure that the trusted name is next to the .com extension.

If you click the bogus link you might encounter what is website forgery. Some phishing scams use JavaScript commands to alter the address bar, so it appears to be the legitimate URL. Paypal and other institutions recommend you log into your account by directly browsing their website and forgo using email links to insure you are at the legitimate site.

Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud Protection

When dealing with online credit card fraud protection there is a simple means to prevent identity theft. Genuine businesses use the security protocol SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). SSL puts your submitted information into a complex code to thwart hackers. You can check for SSL by looking for the picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window. If these signs do not appear, or if it is a broken key or open lock, the SSL is not working. Another way to see if SSL is active is the URL – it should change from "http" to "https" when processing secure transactions.

But what about sites that have SSL yet they overcharge your account or fail to provide your purchased goods/services? One of the best tools in credit card fraud protection is the card itself. Many companies offer credit monitoring services and credit fraud protection. Experts recommend having one card strictly for online transactions. It should have credit fraud protection and a low limit so identity theft doesn’t become an issue.

Other Identity Theft Online Scams

Two of the most popular online scams today are money transfer and lottery scams. In the money transfer scam you receive a letter stating that you will be given part of a multi-million dollar account for your help in transferring funds from one country to another. Online lotto scams include emails to victims by saying they won large amounts of money, but personal information and/or fees are needed for the claim. Just remember if something sounds too good to be true…it usually is.

Keeping Private Information Private

The best way to ensure that you do not fall victim to phishing attacks from bogus email messages is to help protect yourself from receiving these email messages in the first place. You should never list personal information such as your email address or phone number in plain text on your website. Many websites require you to provide an email address in order to sign up or use their services. If it is not a site that you trust, it is a good idea to use a backup or ‘throwaway’ email account. This will help keep your primary email address off of marketing lists that Phishers often use. If you have domain names registered, check to see if your registrar has a Domain Privacy feature. The public WHOIS database is another place that Phishers will scan for potential victims. Lastly, consider using a Spam filter on your email accounts, either one provided by your email provider or a one that is installed on your local computer. This too can cut down on the number of fraudulent email messages that you receive.

While there are laws against identity theft the best identity theft protection is prevention. So arm yourself with knowledge and remember personal information should always stay personal.

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