Jennifer Greengart

SLM521

Telecommunication Through the Internet

Course Module

Understanding Identify Theft on the Internet

Objective: 1) To gain a better understanding of what identity theft is, how it occurs over the Internet, and what steps can be done to insure one’s identity stays secure.

2) To promote a safe use of technological resources.

Introduction: Identity theft is a serious concern lately for consumers and the general population at large. Around 10 million Americans are hit with identity theft per year. It’s the fastest growing crime, and new steps are being taken to deal with this crime via the Internet. Although the majority of identity theft (about 68.2%) still continues to occur through means that are offline and do not require the Internet, hackers are continuously improving methods to retrieve private information. The more sophisticated they become, the more proficient they will be in extracting millions of consumers’ identities. In response, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has come out with tips for consumers with regard to dealing with foreign emails, identifying phony “spoof” emails, and communicating the authorities in case of theft. Preventative tips are also given with regard to providing information: what information is okay to give out, and what information is better left being withheld. The more involved we are in this technological age, the more we have to guard ourselves from others accessing our private information.

Activity: Visit the following websites that discuss Identity Theft and Fraud via the Internet. These sites will help serve as an understanding as to what “identity theft” is, the various dangers that can occur with regard to people’s privacy over the Internet, and how to protect oneself while “surfing the Net”.

Identity Theft on the Internet – this website provides an overview of identity theft, with links to a booklet produced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This booklet, in an attempt to raise consumer awareness, provides detailed information about how identity theft occurs, and what can be done to protect oneself from fraud. It also gives a list of numbers to call if one is experiencing fraud over the Internet. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheftmini.htm

How Identity Theft Operates – this website provides an in-depth look at identity fraud. It discusses exactly how the hackers go about collecting information from consumers. It also talks about specific cases of identity theft, and what actions the government has taken to prevent fraud via the Internet. http://gsulaw.gsu.edu/lawand/papers/fa02/schaefer/

“Phish”ing or Spoofing – this site is an article that talks about hackers’ latest mode of retrieving others’ identities: “spoofing”. Spoofing occurs when hackers will send someone an email that looks like it’s sent from an alternate legitimate source; the email then directs the person to submit personal information. The article directs you to other related articles as well. http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/aaspoofing.htm

Avoiding Identity Theft – this site offers various tips with regard to keeping yourself safe from identity theft and fraud. The tips relate to detecting fake emails and websites, as well as monitoring one’s credit accounts and withholding information such as your social security number. http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/idtheftavoid.htm

Identity Theft Myths – this article provides another side of the coin by revealing a study conducted which actually dispels beliefs that identity theft is caused mostly through the Internet. The study reveals that identity theft is more prevalent offline than online. http://www.bbb.org/alerts/article.asp?ID=565

Assignment: In 300 words or more, discuss your views regarding identity theft. What misconceptions did you have concerning identity theft, and specifically through the Internet? What experiences have you had in your personal life with submitting personal information online, and what concerns (if any) do you have with today’s ever growing Internet population? What steps and precautions can you take to insure that your identity remains your own?

Submission: Post your summary as an html file in the McDaniel Web Server, and email your assignment to your instructor as a Word Document.

Rubric:

	Unacceptable	Developing	Accomplished
Summary	Short summary with little or no information, personal experience, and/or reflections	Short summary with few pieces of information; provides some personal reflections regarding the issue	Well developed summary that discusses all the main points; provides personal accounts and reflections