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Home Page > Internet > Asian Countries Worried About Identity Theft

Asian Countries Worried About Identity Theft

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Posted: Oct 30, 2007 |Comments: 0
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For many people in Singapore and other Asian countries, theft of their identities is the biggest worry they face, according to the latest Security Index. Eighty percent of people who were surveyed in Singapore along are worried about others stealing their identities or using their credit cards without their knowledge. Hong Kong and Malaysia had similar worries.

The Security Index is based on local fears about security. A low number indicates that people have little fear, whereas a high number indicates a lot. If there’s no fear, the Security Index would be zero, however, in Singapore and Hong Kong, the index is a startling 179, with Malaysia not far behind at 174. This is a lot higher than countries like New Zealand or Australia, which are below 150 on this scale.

Despite the fact that many people in the area are quite concerned about the security of their identities and finances, a fifth of them still don’t take basic security measures, like destroying the receipts from an ATM. This shows a degree of complacency that doesn’t match with their worries. Many people are used to trusting their banks and don’t realize all the vectors through which their identities could be stolen. Identity theft could occur by someone going through the garbage, by trying to spot information while looking over someone’s shoulder while they’re on the computer, or by stealing mail.

There are some basic precautions that can be taken by people in Asia or elsewhere to avoid the problem of identity theft. Tearing up or shredding personal documents, like credit card statements and bills, can help. However, securing the mailbox and guarding personal identification records are also important. People who want to avoid identity theft should also keep close track of their credit cards, ATM and gas station receipts, never give any personal information without finding out the reason for a call or email about that information, and take their names off marketing lists. It’s also important to go over credit card statement very carefully to look for any anomalies that might indicate unauthorized use of the card. In countries that have a credit reporting system, citizens should view that report regularly. This is another place that illegal use of someone’s information can show up.

Identity theft is a growing problem, in Asia and throughout the world. Simple precautions can do a lot to reduce the incidence of this crime, but can’t prevent it entirely. Anyone who’s worried about losing their information to someone unscrupulous, as are the inhabitants of Singapore and Hong Kong, should take steps to safeguard that information.

Also people should reach out to others they know online as well. Older, experienced online people need to help younger people just entering the online world to protect themselves as well as their computers. Printing out helpful articles and sharing copies with others, emailing copies as well are other ways to reach out. And bookmarking helpful sites and blogs and subscribing to them to stay advised of alerts and updates regarding identity theft issues and topics are also great ideas.

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Bernard Pragides -
About the Author:

Author & internet entrepreneur Bernard Pragides offers expert advice & tips regarding identity theft. Learn more about identity theft & fraud by visiting his identity theft blog and his website http://www.IdentityProtek.com for more helpful info.

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For whatever reason, this moment plays in my mind like a high-definition video clip:  Mom and stand on the corner, waiting to cross the street.  She holds my little hand.  I am safe and happy about my first day of school.  My parents have primed me to feel school is the greatest thing in the world.  I’m one pumped up little boy, ready to charge into the street.  Mom points to the stop sign.  She tells me that cars are dangerous.  She says, “Charlie, always look both ways and keep looking as you walk across the street.”

To this very day, I my head pivots back and forth as I cross the street.

Mom gave me all kinds of sound advice:  Brush after every meal.  Stay away from Stranger Danger.   Try to be courteous and respectful.  Share what you have with others, especially if they have nothing to share with you.  Always do your homework and do it well.

I suppose your mom probably said the same or similar things.  What would your mom have to say about identity theft?  If she were informed about the problem, she would definitely tell you to look both ways and keep looking both ways.  She would tell you that bad people in the world will try to hurt you no matter what you do.

How do you “look both ways” as it relates to identity theft?  There is only one solution to this:  monitor your identity closely.  You can do this the hard way if you want.  Look yourself up in various databases every day.  Pay attention to your credit reports, and take quick action when something seems out of whack.  This could consume a sizeable chunk of your time.

Or you could just do it the easy way by deploying one of the great identity theft protection tools that are available.  Isn’t technology wonderful!

I don’t know about you, but my mother always encouraged me to stay busy and work efficiently.  I’m pretty sure that she would tell me to do things the easy way.  It leaves so much more time to enjoy life and be productive.  I bet your mother would tell you something similar.

Are you ready to take mom’s advice and look both ways?

What Are Some of Spam’s Consequences? Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia advises, “Spam’s direct effects include the consumption of computer and network resources, and the cost in human time and attention of dismissing unwanted messages. In addition, spam has costs stemming from the kinds of spam messages sent, from the ways spammers send them, and from the arms race between spammers and those who try to stop or control spam. In addition, there are the opportunity cost of those who forgo the use of spam-afflicted systems. There are the direct costs, as well as the indirect costs borne by the victims – both those related to the spamming itself, and to other crimes that usually accompany it, such as financial theft, identity theft, data and intellectual property theft, virus and other malware infection, child pornography, fraud, and deceptive marketing.” Also they say, “The secondary consequence of spamming is that search engine indexes are inundated with useless pages, increasing the cost of each processed query.”

According to a new study released by the Federal Trade Commission, spammers continue to harvest email addresses from public areas of the Internet, but Internet Service Providers’ anti-spam technologies can block the vast majority of spam sent to these email addresses. The FTC staff report also found that consumers who must post their e-mail addresses on the Internet can prevent them from being harvested by using a technique known as “masking.”

Why Lose Sleep Over Spammers? According to onguardonline.gov/botnet “Spammers can install hidden software on your computer in several ways. First, they scan the Internet to find computers that are unprotected, and then install software through those “open doors.” Spammers may send you an email with attachments, links or images which, if you click on or open them, install hidden software. Sometimes just visiting a website or downloading files may cause a “drive-by download,” which installs malicious software that could turn your computer into a “bot.” The consequences can be more than just annoying: your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may shut down your account.”

Additionally they say “Computers that are taken over this way often become part of a robot network, known as a “botnet” for short. A botnet, also known as a “zombie army,” usually is made up of tens or hundreds of thousands of home computers sending emails by the millions. Computer security experts estimate that most spam is sent by home computers that are controlled remotely, and that millions of these home computers are part of botnets.”

Fighting Back Con artists are clever and cunning, constantly hatching new variations on age-old scams. Still, skeptical consumers can spot questionable or unsavory promotions in email offers. Should you receive an email that you think may be fraudulent, forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov, hit delete, and smile. You’ll be doing your part to help put a scam artist out of work.

Take action immediately If your computer is infected,if your computer has been hacked or infected by a virus – disconnect from the Internet right away. Then scan your entire computer with fully updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Report unauthorized accesses to your ISP and to the FBI at www.ic3.gov. If you suspect that any of your passwords have been compromised, call that company immediately to change your password.

It is a common practice for the VA to contract out certain jobs such as software support and insurance billing and claims resolution to a subcontractor. According to a statement issued by the Veterans Administration this is done in order to provide better customer service. But what happens when this “customer service puts the customer at risk of identity theft and false claims for benefits?

In this the most recent incident, of a contractor, the contracting company, Unisys Corporation offered free credit reports to those affected. However, free annual credit reports are already available through the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Veteran’s Administration also claimed that it works closely with contractors in developing the “highest standards” of protection and security. However, it does not designate what systems are in place to protect a veteran’s information. The federal employee who took home veterans information on a laptop computer was required to undergo computer security and regulations training.

Thousands of people were or may have been affected by this lack of stringent rules regarding the protection of their information. And the options available to them after the information may have been released were not comforting. They were advised to obtain their free credit report, monitor it (at an additional charge to the veteran) and then to report to local law enforcement authorities any problems with their credit or instances of identity theft.

Veteran’s circumstances and the effects of identity theft are unique. Many veterans are recipients of additional benefits such as education and medical that most people are not. Their children may also be eligible for specific benefits, either monetary, educational, home buying or medical. This makes identity theft, an already serious problem, even more complicated.

Veteran’s whether they feel their information is at risk or not should be extra vigilant. In addition to taking many of the steps to protect their personal, financial, and medical information they should go many steps further to protect their information, their benefits and the benefits for their family. Be sure to install virus and anti spyware to protect information contained on your computer. Do not conduct personal or financial business at work, as it puts you at risk of being overheard. You may not be as protected by the business computer security system as you think you are. Consider placing a “credit freeze” on your credit information. This requires the three major credit agencies to contact you to “lift” the freeze before making any changes to or issuing any new credit in your name. You may take steps yourself to perform the credit freeze or you may use a service such as Trusted ID.

In the event your credit, personal, financial or benefits information appears to be at risk or “stolen” you should do the following: dispute the information on your credit report and ask the three major credit reporting agencies of TransUnion, Experian and Equifax to place a fraud flag on your credit file. Contact the credit lenders and advise them of the situation as stated on your credit report. Placing a fraud alert insures that additional steps are taken before new accounts or changes to existing account in your name can occur.

Although everyone should review their Social Security Benefit information to determine if their benefits have been illegally used, veterans in particular should review both the Social Security Benefits statement as well as their Veterans Benefits eligibility. To order a Social Security Benefits report, contact the Social Security Administration office.

The first step for protecting veteran’s information is for government agencies and contractors to take those efforts necessary to protect this information. The next step is for veteran’s to do all that they can to keep their information private. However, in the event these efforts are not effective veterans much report and dispute false or incorrect information on their credit report or other service reports. It is necessary after reporting to the local law enforcement to contact the Veteran’s Administration office as well as your State’s Attorney General’s office and The Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).