It happens more often than you might think nearly 3 million times a year.
Were talking about identity theft.
When someone hijacks your name for their own purposes, its absolutely chilling and potentially damaging.
Its best to catch them as early as possible.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Keeping that in mind,here are five of the most common identity theft scams:
1.
The W-2 Email Scam
The IRS issuedan urgent alert about this growing ID theft scam in February.
Heres how it plays out:
Did you know?
In January, this happened to Scottys Brewhouse, a popular Indiana-based restaurant chain with 4,000 employees.
Scams like this usually peak during tax season.
Dont ever tap on or respond to these kinds of emails.
If you receive one, report it by forwarding it to[email protected].
This Is an Update From Norton Anti-Virus
The authorities call this kind of scheme Malware Based Phishing.
Its what happens when a scammer attaches a harmful computer program or malware onto emails or websites.
One example is an email thats disguised as coming from Norton Anti-Virus.
It prompts you to install an updated web web client to improve your system security.
When you punch the link, youre just downloading malware.
To protect yourself, be super careful when downloading any program from the web.
It scans the data from your cards magnetic strip and keeps it in an electronic storage unit.
That way, an identity thief can use your card to make unauthorized purchases.
Skimmers are not some bogus, imaginary urban legend.
These suckers really exist.
Theyre also commonly found on gas pumps.
To prevent skimming, make it a habit to periodically check your credit report.
(Hint:Credit Sesame helps with that, too.)
Fraudsters create websites offering too good to be true bargains, and dangle them like bait.
The website gets legitimately indexed into Google, Yahoo and other search engines.
It has checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
He has personally been a victim of identity theft.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
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