What is identity theft?
Identity theft is when cybercriminals illegally obtain and use your personal information, such as your name, ID number, banking details, or login credentials, for financial or malicious purposes. They may open accounts, take loans, or commit crimes in your name.
How it affects you
You might be financially, emotionally, or reputationally harmed by cybercriminals who pose as you. This impact can be:
- Loss of money from your bank account or unauthorised purchases
- Legal issues if your identity is used for crimes
- Stress, anxiety, and loss of trust in online systems
- Time-consuming and costly recovery process
- Harms your reputation. You could have trouble proving your real identity.
Best practices
Your identity is important, and you must take proactive steps to safeguard it. This could include;
- Secure your accounts with strong authentication
- Update privacy settings on social media
- Use a password manager to store complex passwords securely
- Be alert to phishing attempts and suspicious messages
- Encrypt sensitive files on your devices
- Review your medical, financial, and government records for authorized activity
- Educate yourself and your family about common scams and online risks
What to do if your identity is stolen
- Act quickly to minimise the impact of the theft
- Contact the affected sites and inform them of your problem
- Report the theft to the police
- Change your passwords on all your accounts
- Keep records of all communications and steps taken.