Identity theft is a type of fraud that involves stealing someone’s personal information (or ‘identity’) to gain money or other benefits. It’s big business for scammers, which is why your personal data is so valuable.
Personal information includes your full name, address, phone number, date of birth, email address, usernames, passwords and bank details.
Be scam aware.
- Never provide your PIN or internet banking details to anyone, including your bank – ME will never ask you for this information
- Never disclose personal information over the phone unless it can be verified that you’re speaking to a trusted individual or service
Protect Yourself.
1. Never provide personal information to anyone who calls or emails you.
Avoid phishing scams that ask for your personal information like your address, bank account details or tax file number. Be wary of anyone asking for personal information via text, on the phone or by mail. Identity thieves often pretend to be government agencies, banks or stores so they can get your information.
2. Shred personal documents.
Never throw personal documents in the bin or recycling bin without shredding them first, including:
- Bank, medical and superannuation statements
- Credit card offers, or expired plastic debit and credit cards
- Receipts and other personal records
3. Create complex passwords.
Weak passwords can be guessed, and even strong passwords can be figured out through methods like brute force attacks.
How to create a strong password:
- Make your password very long
- It should consist of letters with upper and lower casing, symbols and numbers
- Don’t use a common phrase
- Don’t use passwords containing your name or date of birth
- Don’t reuse one password on different sites
- Don’t store passwords in your browser
- Use a password manager to securely store all your passwords
4. Monitor your physical mail.
Check your mailbox often. If you can, opt for paperless (email) statements from institutions that may use your personal information when contacting you. If you're going on holiday, place a hold on your mail, ask for someone to pick up your mail for you, or put a lock on your mailbox. If you expect certain documents like credit card statements to arrive in the mail (but they don't), alert your financial institution.
5. App privacy settings.
Even though app security can apply to desktop devices, the term is used mostly in reference to mobile apps. ME recommends you have your settings fixed to private on all social media platforms.