Identity theft is becoming increasingly common in Britain. Research shows that with fraud accounts for 40% of all crimes committed in England and Wales, and 64% of these cases are related to identity fraud. The police also highlight that 80% of fraud is now cyber-enabled, with criminals often scouring the internet for your personal information before committing fraud using a stolen identity to bypass the identity checking process needed to get a loan or take out a new mobile phone contract. There are some critical mistakes which many of us make which could make us a victim of identity theft – are you guilty of any of them?

Sharing Identifiable Images Online

Be very careful about sharing images that reveal personal details online as these may be used in identity theft. Posting photos of boarding passes, concert tickets, or even your workplace on social media can disclose information like your name, date of birth, or address. This can provide criminals with enough details to commit identity theft. Use your social media site’s privacy settings to make sure only your real friends are seeing your snaps.

Overloading on Online Sign-ups

Every time you sign up for an online service requiring your personal details, you increase the risk of those details being leaked in a data breach or hacking attempt. Experts advise avoiding unnecessary registrations, especially on sites that demand full name, date of birth, address, and phone number. Use a guest checkout or similar so that you don’t have to give your details, especially if the site is not one you use frequently.

Using Obvious Passwords

Many people still use simple and predictable passwords like the names of their favourite football teams or pets. Security experts have found that Liverpool and Chelsea were among the most commonly used passwords in leaked databases. Be more inventive in your choice of passwords, and incorporate numbers and symbols where possible. Set up two-step verification (2SV) for added security on any sites which offer that extra layer of security, even though it might mean it takes longer to log in.

Avoid Participating in Identity Theft Quizzes

Online quizzes may seem harmless but can provide enough information for criminals to create a fake identity. Quizzes like “What’s your Hobbit name?” or those asking for old photos are designed to gather personal details, which can then be used for more sophisticated identity theft techniques. Some quizzes may be entirely harmless, but just take a second to think before parting with your middle name, date of birth and other information on a site you don’t really trust.

Using Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

Unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots can pose significant security risks. Using public access internet hotspots without a VPN can potentially allow scammers to intercept any passwords you enter on your device, or gain access to your device information. Many public Wi-Fi networks lack proper security measures, so think about what you are doing when hooked up to an unsecured public connection.