Even if a thief only accesses a small amount of your personal information, they may be able to steal your identity if they can find out more about you from public sources. This includes social media accounts which may include your date of birth, photos and information about your family.
Identity theft begins when someone takes your personally identifiable information such as your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, your mother's maiden name, and your address to use it, without your knowledge or permission, for their personal financial gain.
Identity theft happens when fraudsters access enough information about someone's identity (such as their name, date of birth, current or previous addresses) to commit a fraud. Identity theft can take place whether the victim is alive or deceased.
They could use your: name and address. credit card or bank account numbers. Social Security number.
But if scammers gain access to your bank account number, they can use it for fraudulent ACH transfers or payments. For example, scammers could use your bank account details to buy products online. Or worse, they could trick you into sending them money that you'll never be able to get back.
The easiest way to become a victim of a bank scam is to share your banking info — e.g., account numbers, PIN codes, social security number — with someone you don't know well and trust. If someone asks for sensitive banking details, proceed with caution.
Report to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
This is mainly for people in the United States, and to do this, you only need to fill a form on the FTC site or call their number and provide all the details they require.
Once scammers know your number, they can target you with phishing texts and calls, or trick you into downloading malware and giving up personal information. And once they gain access to your personally identifiable information (PII), it doesn't take much more to access your financial (and other sensitive) accounts.
Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that you have been phished. The FTC is the nation's consumer protection agency. The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection works for the consumer to prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
Scammers can submit a change-of-address form to the USPS in your name. Once processed, your mail will be diverted to the new address. This allows fraudsters to access your bank statements, tax documents, and ID renewals, along with any other items sent to you in the mail.
An identity thief might use your personal information to fraudulently obtain a driver's license, file for bankruptcy, apply for Social Security benefits or even get a passport.
Computer Hackers Love Data
Frequently stolen information includes: Social Security Numbers. Date of birth. Email addresses.
Phones are particularly tempting targets for hackers because these devices usually have access to a huge amount of user data, from banking information to social media passwords. Hackers are always eager to infect your device with malware and trojans.
Besides basic information like name, address and telephone number, identity thieves look for social insurance numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card and/or bank account numbers, as well as bank cards, telephone calling cards, birth certificates or passports.
If a scammer knows your address, they could begin sending you mail to get more information out of you. This could be anything from a fake competition to a phony bank letter. Though this isn't a cybercrime, it's still worth being aware of.
Identity theft and financial fraud: There's more than enough information on your phone to allow scammers to steal your identity or access your financial accounts. If they get access to your phone, hackers can engage in credit card fraud or even drain your bank accounts.
Contact your police department, report the crime and obtain a police report. Decide whether you want to place a security freeze on your credit report.
There are five steps you should take right away if someone steals your identity: See if you have identity theft insurance. Contact the relevant companies. Report the theft to the FTC and the police.
Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.
Protecting your bank account from potential hackers is an ongoing battle in our increasingly digital world. Cybersecurity in banking is no longer an option, it's a necessity. With just your phone number, a cybercriminal might attempt to gain unauthorized access to your account.
It's generally considered safe to give out your account number and sort code, but you should always use common sense and avoid sharing your bank details with people you don't know or expect payments from.