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-   -   How can identity theft work? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=531668)

  • Dec 4, 2010, 05:48 PM
    Nate764
    How can identity theft work?
    Some tims I get an e-mail asking me 4 : name, age, address, phone#, and job. If I send that info what might happen if it is a scamer? What info will some one need to identity theft? So I can know what to keep to myself.
    Some even ask for my bank account #. I don't give it out but some times I think could this be for real and how can I know?
  • Dec 4, 2010, 05:52 PM
    Blackula
    Every single one of them is a scammer. It is never for real. Treat even the most inane details about yourself as valuable, privileged information. Keep in mind that companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to find out personal information about people. They are willing to pay, so why would you give anything out about yourself for free? If a Nigerian prince really needed someone to help him move his money into the U.S. it wouldn't be you.
  • Dec 4, 2010, 05:54 PM
    Eileen G

    NEVER give out personal details like this by e-mail, especially if the e-mail is not one you have initiated. Banks, employment agencies, government departments, colleges, any other reputable agency will never ever ask for your details by e-mail.

    By the way, if you get an e-mail from say e-bay or Paypal or Amazon or any other website that uses a password, telling you of suspicious activity and asking you to click on a link to log in and verify your account, ignore it. If you really suspect that there is something odd happening with your Paypal account, then go directly to the website, never click on a link in an e-mail.

    Oh, if you get a phone call from your bank, asking you for passwords or credit card info, assume it is a scam. A bank will never ask you for that information over a phone or in an e-mail.

    If a scammer gets any of your personal information, he can use it to set up all sorts of false accounts in your name, and leave you holding the bill.
  • Dec 26, 2010, 02:37 PM
    chefpierce
    NOOOOO it's never real!! And if it comes to your email, and they promise you the world, don't buy into their BS. A reputable company will usually have credentials, other references, etc... just some stuff you should check out. And respond to the emails that you want more info, and if you have a po box that's awesome, otherwise I wouldn't recommend giving out any personal information; not in this day and age...
  • Dec 26, 2010, 02:44 PM
    Fr_Chuck

    It is never real, no one is ever going to email you asking you for all that info

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