Showing posts with label identity theft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label identity theft. Show all posts
October 22, 2013
Private Investigators Warn on Lack of Online Privacy
















Online privacy has probably been a myth since the start of the internet.  Maybe one of the things we have to understand is that from the moment we decide to share information online, we´re accepting its public. We agree that it can be shared and seen by anyone. Just think about who has control of what you publish online. It has never been the user. Even the U.S. government can't seem to keep their highly classified information private.  And the more you share online (or in public), the greater at risk you are for scams, fraud and identity theft.  This is the reason why professional private investigators are warning people and trying to educate the public on the risks of declining privacy, and your risk from sharing.

Social networks and other websites have privacy policies, and terms and conditions that claim they are safe and reliable, and that they respect and protect your information, etc.  But, websites are hacked, policies change, information is stolen or copied, and in one way or another, anything you share online can end up in the hands of criminals.  Think Google Maps and Street View is neat?  So do criminals.  Many robbery, assault, rape and even homicide cases now reveal that criminals often uses the internet in preliminary research to learn where you live, where you work, and how to get there.

If you publish or share your private information on the internet, such as your date of birth, address, place of employment, vacation schedule, and more, you are a the perfect victim, and it's only a matter of time before a criminal will take advantage of all those pictures and information you're sharing on Facebook, Match.com or Twitter.  What starts online can cause real world problems, and sharing too much information and the lack of privacy leads to serious crimes such as identity theft, romance scam, dating fraud, and much more serious in person, physical crimes.  Many thought they were safe on Facebook, until recently the recent Facebook changes to decrease privacy for its millions of users.

The bottom line is that most websites want you to share, because your information is valuable.  That's right.  The more a website knows about you, the more they can sell your data to advertisers.

When it comes to hackers, or the National Security Agency, or who knows what other international agency, the truth is there are no secrets.  If you share something online, assume you are sharing it with the world, and it's important you know the risk.  If you want to be safe, remember the less about you online, the safer you are.  Search for Google for your name to see what is out there about you for your worst enemy to see.  If you're alarmed by how much you can find, it's time to fight back!

There are a lot of tips and best practices available on the Stay Safe Online website.   Privacy experts say when you're doing business with website on the internet, look for trust seals, such as McAfee, the Better Business Bureau, Truste and Verisign.  It's no guarantee that your information will be safe, but it's a good sign the website is taking steps to show that they are serious about protecting your privacy.
Services like Facebook´s GPS feature let us share with our friends the places where we go. So we check in when we arrive at work, check in when we pick up our kids at school, check in when we get home. Anyone with a basic computer knowledge can find out what we do, if we´re home or not, the places we frequent and the kind of lives we live.  Think about your own safety, the safety of your family, and lower your risk for dating scams, identity theft, robbery and many other types of serious crime.


S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch

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January 23, 2013
Investigators Share Tips to Avoid Identity Theft & Protect Your Privacy

Think Your Internet Usage is Private? Think Again. 















Big brother is watching. You are not alone. You are being monitored. Your internet usage, in the privacy of your own home, is not your own personal business as you may believe. Companies, websites, hackers, criminals and even governments are watching your every step.

Privacy advocates and law enforcement agencies have expressed serious concern over the rapid loss of privacy on the internet. Data mining and your own personal data, interests, public records and internet usage is big business, and companies like Google and Facebook are making millions and millions of dollars by collecting, distributing and/or selling your private information. The goal is to know more about you, to sell the data to marketers and in some cases, provide the private information to government agencies without your consent, and without a court order. The loss of privacy is happening at an alarming rate.

Facebook recently went public on the very idea that their huge user database and information on their millions of subscribers is worth a lot of money. That's right, thanks to all your sharing, Facebook stands to make a fortune! And that is just one of example among thousands. Reputable international private investigators say to think twice about what you share on the internet. They say no site is 100% immune from fraud and scams, and what you share online with your contacts, may eventually be seen, sold or published without your knowledge.

Your Internet Profile Can Put You at Risk.
















Law enforcement officials and private investigators are seeing more cases involving crimes that originate online. And we're not talking about just identity theft, and other online scam cases. Police departments across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia agree that many criminals first research their victims online, using sites like Google Maps to see where you live, see what your house looks like, and even what kind of car you drive. They may use sites like 123People.com, Whitepages.com, Intelius, MyLife.com or countless others to gather your personal data such as your date of birth, address, neighborhood information, names of your siblings, children, spouse, etc. These sites profit from gathering and selling your public records and private data without your consent or knowledge.

Criminals take full advantage of the information they find about you on the internet.

There have been incidents of rapes and homicides involving individuals who met on sites like Facebook, Match.com or eHarmony, and later met in person a sex offender or criminal. They failed to have a background check investigation conducted on their online partner, and later suffered the consequences. In other cases, victims have travelled abroad to meet their online romance, later to be abducted and held for ransom in places as far away as West Africa and the Philippines. Of course, these are extreme examples but they are very real. The bottom line is the internet is a tool increasingly used by everyone, including criminals.

 

How to Stay Safe, Protect Your Privacy 

 

Websites and companies want to track your every move. Not to mention ISP (Internet Service Providers) government agencies and who knows what other agencies and entities are watching. They install and track the cookies on your computer, record your IP address, and essentially have your number or online fingerprint. From that point on, you are recognized whether you like it or not, and your at internet surfing is not as private as you think. 

Experts say you can stay safe by using programs to conceal and protect your identity, and also new websites that are actually designed to protect your privacy, like HotSpot Shield and Tor keep your surfing activity anonymous, so companies and other websites can't track your location, identity or IP address. You can also check your browser settings in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari to disable cookies, usually found under the Options settings. These steps not only protect your privacy, but keep you safe online and offline. The less criminals can find out about you on the internet, the safer you and your family are, say investigators. Keep your online sharing to a minimum.

The more criminals can find about you online, the more at risk you are for identity theft, phishing scams, hacking, and real world crimes such as robbery, assault, harassment, etc.

Install a good anti-virus program such as AVG or Norton to keep threats at a minimum, and scan your computer for potentially harmful programs installed without your knowledge. Sites like Reputation.com also help consumers keep their online footprint small, and help you remove unwanted information from public view, and take down data from third party websites.

Lastly, reputable private investigators say keep sharing to a minimum, and NEVER publish your date of birth or address or other private data on the internet, no matter what the site. Doing so is asking for trouble. Remember that what you share online may end up in the wrong hands, or be sold down the river, without your knowledge or legal consent.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch




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June 29, 2012
Investigators Caution: Internet Privacy Fading Fast













For almost 20 years the internet has changed the lives of millions of people around the world, and has brought friends and families together. The internet has helped people to study in foreign countries, learn about new cultures, and quickly share information across borders in an instant. The internet is a lawless place where it seems anything goes, and anyone can publish anything they want. Criminals have taken full advantage of the new playing field, and the anonymity of the internet allows internet scammers to find potential victims just about anywhere. As the number of internet users rises, and privacy is less protected, the number of fraud and identity theft victims continues to rise. Experts say the trend is quickly growing out of control.

Threats are present since the very moment you open your browser. Websites add files called cookies to your hard drive. Cookies help the user experience be faster, but also gather important information about how people use the internet. Websites, companies and criminals want to know where you’ve been, and who you are. For them, the more they have the better.

Some sites are now blatantly violating your privacy. In fact, law enforcement officials say increasingly in murder, rape, assault and robbery cases, the internet was used by the criminal to learn about you, know your habits, where you live, and when you are likely home. Online dating has led to murder. People have met someone from Facebook, later to be raped or murdered. These are extreme examples, but they are increasingly common and need to be addressed. Private investigator company representatives and law enforcement agencies advise caution.

Google Maps puts a street view of your house on the internet, for the world to see. They see what your house looks like, what your car looks like, and even if you’ve cut your grass in the photo. Criminals love having access to this information. Other sides such as 123people, Intelius and MyLife publish your private information from public records without your authorization, so criminals and anyone else with internet access can see your date of birth, address, marriage status, neighborhood information, and if you are married or have a criminal record. Thanks to big money in violating your privacy, the trend is getting worse, and identity theft is up.

Google and Facebook are experts at collecting users’ information with the excuse to make the experience friendlier. They have made very clear the fact that information is power. Facebook for example, can use anything you have posted in their social network for advertising purposes without sharing a penny for your thoughts or your pictures, or your contact list of friends. It is like working for them, for free! They make off with your private information and profit from it.

To be safe, the rule is simple: Do not share your personal information over the internet. If you need to make a purchase online, make sure you do so with a reputable online store or company, one that has privacy and trust seals such as McAfee, Better Business and Truste. When submitting data via the internet, make sure you see the lock on your browser, indicating encryption. And when using social networking sites and the internet in general, remember what you “share” may be fun for friends, but there is no guarantee your information will be protected, and what you share may be used against you if fallen into the wrong hands. Be safe, guard your privacy.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch

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