Sharing personal information online or with strangers can be risky. Scammers can use details like your full name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, and more to commit identity theft and fraud.
How scammers get personal information
Scammers employ clever tactics to get your personal details. Some ways they may access your information include:
- Phishing emails or texts that look legitimate but contain links to fake websites. These sites trick you into entering login info or personal details.
- Calls pretending to be from a government agency, business, or charity asking you to confirm sensitive information.
- Malware sent in emails or downloads that infect your device and steal data.
- Hacking accounts by guessing weak passwords or sending breach notification emails with malware.
- Dumpster diving to find documents with personal identifiers thrown out in the trash.
- Stealing wallets and purses containing IDs, credit cards, account details, etc.
- Shoulder surfing in public places to view PINs, passwords, or other sensitive info entered into devices.
- Purchasing information from black market websites harvested from data breaches.
What scammers can do with your name, birthdate, and address
Armed with just your name, birthdate, and address, scammers can:
- Open fraudulent credit cards to rack up debt in your name.
- Access and drain your bank accounts.
- Take out loans or lines of credit that you are responsible for repaying.
- File fake tax returns and collect refunds.
- Get identification cards and driver’s licenses issued to them but with your name and personal details.
- Use your health insurance to receive expensive medical care.
- Gain access to government benefits like Medicare or unemployment insurance.
- Commit crimes while impersonating you.
- Access utility, phone, or internet accounts in your name.
What scammers can do with your Social Security number
Your Social Security number is especially valuable to identity thieves. Here’s what they can do:
- Open new credit card accounts and rack up debt.
- Take out payday loans or cash advances that go unpaid.
- Access your bank account and steal funds.
- Open mobile phone accounts.
- Establish utilities like electricity, water, or cable TV in your name.
- Rent an apartment and skip out without paying.
- Give the SSN to undocumented immigrants to obtain work.
- Commit tax fraud.
- Claim government benefits.
- Assume your medical identity to get healthcare services.
What scammers can do with your driver’s license details
Scammers can exploit your driver’s license details like this:
- Make fake IDs to use your identity for illegal activities.
- Impersonate you if pulled over while driving.
- Use as a form of ID for opening accounts and taking out loans.
- Access your driver’s record to see personal details like your full name, complete address history, and traffic offenses.
- Steal your car or commit traffic infractions linked to your license if stolen.
What scammers can do with your date of birth
Knowing your date of birth allows scammers to:
- Access financial accounts, as it’s often used as verification when logging in.
- Sign up for loans, credit cards, cell phone plans, utilities, and more.
- Steal your identity, as date of birth is commonly requested when applying for identification documents.
- File fraudulent tax returns.
- Assume your medical identity to obtain healthcare services.
- Enroll in government benefits programs like Social Security under your name.
- Access public records to gather more details about you for identity theft.
What scammers can do with your bank account details
If scammers gain your bank account number and online banking credentials, they can:
- Withdraw all money from your accounts.
- Make payments to themselves or third parties from your accounts.
- Set up direct debit arrangements to continually siphon money.
- Order merchandise online paid from your accounts.
- Apply for overdraft limits and max them out.
- Add themselves as account holders to joint accounts.
- Redirect government benefit payments to their own accounts.
- Debit or freeze accounts involved in transactions they flag as suspicious.
What scammers can do with your credit/debit card details
If scammers obtain your credit or debit card number along with the 3-digit CVV code, they can:
- Make fraudulent online, phone, and mail order purchases.
- Clone your card and use it in stores.
- Withdraw cash advances at ATMs.
- Recode the stolen card data onto a different physical card.
- Make payments to themselves or third parties.
- Exceed your credit limit, leaving you responsible for charges.
- Access and drain linked accounts like checking or savings accounts.
What scammers can do with your online account details
If a scammer gains your username and password for online accounts, they could:
- Access your email inbox to phish contacts or reset passwords for other sites.
- Post content that appears to come from you.
- Access private information you stored in the account.
- Change account details like the password and contact email.
- Make purchases through sites you’re logged into.
- Download your files or steal intellectual property.
- Delete data to sabotage you.
- Monitor your activity for other personal details.
What scammers can do with your medical insurance details
Medicare, Medicaid, insurance card numbers, and other medical ID details allow fraudsters to:
- Obtain healthcare services in your name.
- Fraudulently bill insurers for medical care, tests, procedures or equipment.
- Gain access to your health records which contain personal info.
- Get prescriptions for addictive drugs they can then resell.
- Steal your medical identity to submit fake claims.
How to protect yourself from scammers
You can take these steps to guard your personal information:
- Shred documents containing sensitive data before disposal.
- Securely store identifying documents like passports and IDs.
- Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
- Don’t share information over the phone, email or text unless you’ve verified who you’re dealing with.
- Review your account statements frequently for any suspicious activity.
- Freeze your credit reports to block new accounts being opened.
- Set complex passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Use antivirus software and keep devices updated.
- Limit what information you share publicly online.
What to do if you suspect your identity has been stolen
If you notice any signs of identity theft like fraudulent charges or accounts opened in your name, take these steps:
- Contact the fraud departments of each relevant institution.
- Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission.
- File a police report with local authorities.
- Change the passwords on all your accounts.
- Review your bank and credit card statements closely for other suspicious activity.
- Consider adding a credit freeze if your SSN has been compromised.
The impact of identity theft
Identity theft can be devastating, leading to major financial loss and damage to your reputation. Effects of ID theft include:
- Huge bills for goods and services you didn’t authorize.
- Collection agency calls for debts that aren’t yours.
- Denial for loans, housing, or employment due to a damaged credit score.
- Money drained from your bank accounts.
- Legal issues if a scammer commits crimes in your name.
- Difficulty getting mistakes corrected and accounts closed.
- Stress, anxiety, and loss of sleep.
Conclusion
Scammers can exploit your personal details in many harmful ways. Protect yourself by guarding your info closely, monitoring for suspicious activity, and acting quickly if you suspect identity theft. Being cautious about sharing details with strangers is key to thwarting fraud.