Identity Theft and Fraud

Identity Fraud

Online fraud can come in the form of e-mail scams, special offers that seem too good to be true (because they are), viruses and spyware.

Any fraud that takes place electronically through your computer is considered online fraud.

The goal of these activities is to gain access to your personal information for criminal activity. Solicitations that may seem innocent, including those that seem to come from institutions you have relationships with, can in fact be fraudulent.

The key is to look for inappropriate requests for personal information, including account numbers, passwords, personal identification numbers (PIN), social security numbers, etc. Any or all of these may signal an attempt to commit fraud.

The first step to fraud prevention is fraud recognition.

When conducted electronically through your computer, fraud can take many forms and include various tactics. Most importantly, however, they are preventable.

If you know what you are looking for and can begin to identify online fraud, you can begin to protect yourself.

Protecting your financial identity can be as simple as knowing e-mail and phishing scams when you see them, taking the necessary precautions to avoid them, and reporting fraud or identity theft when you find yourself feeling suspicious.

Once you know what you are up against, we can work together to prevent fraud and identity theft. And, in the event you are a victim of either, S&T will be your greatest ally in restoring your financial affairs.

So what else do you need to know about identity theft? Here are some common questions you may have about this growing concern.