Phishing Pharming Spoofing Smishing: New Ways to Steal Identities

The many new faces of online identity theft

Phishing, pharming, spoofing, smishing —what do all these words mean? Each one has to do with online hackers and your personal information. Almost everyone today who does anything online has had some experience with unscrupulous companies or people. For example, phishing is when you get email that looks like it is from your bank or PayPal or EBay, but it is a fake. It instructs you to click on a provided link to “confirm” your information. The link is phony and will take you to a website that collects your personal information and allows thieves access to your account.

Different words, same result

Then there’s pharming, also known as spoofing, where hackers redirect legitimate online traffic to their own website, and smishing, where criminals use cell phone text messages to get you to divulge your personal information.  Regardless of the name, each one of the above are things hackers use to steal your personal information. They may use the information themselves by trying to withdraw money from your account, or they may sell it to a third-party, black-market company. Either way, you’ll have some trouble fixing the problem once your information is compromised.

Hackers are getting smarter

Some people think they can outsmart hackers by eliminating the computer from their daily bill payment method. Sure this may cut out some of the above tactics, but rest assured there are others. Hackers put in the work, and figure out how to mine for your data. They also use vishing, or “voice phishing,” to leave you automated phone messages from fake banks or credit card companies. The message will ask you confirm information to get details about where your money is kept.

There’s also bank-card skimming where thieves actually put bogus ATM machines. When you enter your card, your information is captured and when you enter your pin, they have that too. A simple portable card reader does the trick and can leave you vulnerable to theft.

Not to spread alarm, but . . .

The solution is not to stop answering the phone calls or get rid of credit cards. Phones and credit cards are modern necessities. But the reality is that you have to protect yourself. Here are some basic tips to remember about identity theft:

• Order your credit report yearly. You can get one free report per year from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Get them, review them, and make sure everything is accurate, including account numbers and balances, your name, and addresses.
• Don’t give any personal information to anyone over the phone or online. Remember – your bank, PayPal, EBay and credit card company already HAVE your information. There’s no reason to ask for it again.
• If you are self-employed, do business on your own computer and never a public one. Even after you sign out, you may leave valuable information on a public computer. Wireless connections are far more dangerous when conducting business.
• Protect yourself when you are at an ATM. Don’t fear letting someone go first if you think they’re too close. Be sure to never keep your PIN around your card. Banks tell you to pick a number you can remember easily for a reason.
• Use the paperless option when it comes to your bank statement. Thieves will go through your mail and garbage to get your information. Handling transactions online leaves no physical record for anyone to steal.

Keep your guard up

These are just some of the ways you can protect your identity and your finances from hackers and thieves. Be vigilant and careful with your information. Theft in general and identity theft in particular, can be difficult to sort out when it happens to you.