Identity theft is a serious crime that has increased significantly in recent years. If you have already fallen victim to this abuse, acting quickly is crucial to limit the damage and protect yourself from future attacks.
More and more victims of identity theft
In recent years, the number of crimes in which criminals use other people’s identities to shop online has increased dramatically, as the Federal Criminal Police Office reports in the Federal Cybercrime 2020 Situation Report. Those affected often only find out about these fraudulent activities when they suddenly receive reminders from debt collection agencies or creditors. The impact can be financially devastating and cause significant inconvenience. Nevertheless, those affected should remain calm and observe the following instructions.
Inform creditors and file a report
If reminders or invoices arrive for orders that have not been placed, it is important to contact the affected creditors immediately, according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Center. They should be informed that they have become a victim of identity theft and that the orders in question were not placed independently. The creditors may also be able to offer support in clarifying the incident.
According to the Lower Saxony Consumer Center, those affected should always report identity theft to the police. By reporting it to the local police or via the police online portal, the incident can be documented and legal action taken against the perpetrators.
In addition, credit reporting agencies such as Schufa should be informed, according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Center. By checking the entries in the personal profile for authenticity, it can be checked whether the identities of those affected have been misused for fraudulent purposes in further cases.
Safety precautions
To minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft, there are various measures recommended by the Federal Office for Information Security, among others. We recommend using strong passwords, using a password manager, activating two-factor authentication and taking particular care with emails, attachments and links.
Additionally, sharing personal information should be kept to a minimum. But different usernames on different platforms can also make it difficult to create an overall profile. Protecting social media profiles and critically reviewing friend requests are also important steps in securing digital identity.
As the Federal Office for Information Security further reports, public WiFi networks should be handled with caution. In addition, regular software updates and up-to-date security software are also crucial.
Editorial team finanzen.net