250 Chapter 10 ■ Social Engineering
Identity Theft
One of the most prominent and rapidly evolving threats is identity theft, which falls under
the heading of social engineering. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in the
United States, identity theft is one of the most rapidly growing crimes over the last few
years; as such, the public needs to be extra vigilant and protect their information from this
form of attack.
Once in possession of information, an identity thief has plenty of options available
to them, depending on their particular goals. Thieves have been known to run up charges on
credit cards, open new accounts, get medical treatment, or secure loans under the victim’s
name.
Some signs of identity theft include the following:
■ You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
■ You don’t get your bills or other mail.
■ Merchants refuse your checks.
■ Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
■ You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
■ Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
■ Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve
reached your benefits limit.
■ A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you
don’t have.
■ The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you
have income from an employer you don’t work for.
■ You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company
where you do business or have an account.Protective Measures
As the world has moved away from brick and mortar to online operators, protecting
yourself from online fraud becomes vital. More and more people access their banks online
than ever before or work with other types of sensitive information.
In many cases, the only thing standing between someone and your money is a four- to
six-digit number or a word or combination of words. To help you access your account
if you forget your password, many sites let you set up security questions based on a few
predetermined facts about yourself. But anyone else who knows the answers can access the
account, too. And with the proliferation of Facebook, obtaining those answers is no longer
a problem!