Cyber Protection on Cyber Monday Isn’t Enough; 13% of Victims Still Lose Identity via Offline Purchases

13% of Identity Theft Victims Lost Identities Purchasing via the Mail and Over The Phone – IdentityHawk® reminds consumers to protect their identities online and offline

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While Cyber Monday, the online version of Black Friday, is the biggest online shopping day of the year, it is also a time when consumers can be careless and open themselves up to the risk of identity theft. This online shopping bonanza marks the start of the holiday season, and IdentityHawk wants to remind consumers to take precautions to protect their identities online and offline.

“Consumers need to be aware that personal information is compromised in a wide variety of ways – ranging from stolen wallets, mail theft, purchases and financial transactions to computer hacking and large scale data base breaches”

According to Jeff Paradise, executive director of IdentityHawk, “Cyber Monday kicks off the holiday shopping season and the season of being extra vigilant with online identity protection. Identity fraud can be detected online, but it doesn’t necessarily start there.”

Results from the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research indicate that of all identity theft victims, 40% had their information misused while making an online purchase, compared to 13% for purchases made over the phone or through the mail.

“Consumers need to be aware that personal information is compromised in a wide variety of ways – ranging from stolen wallets, mail theft, purchases and financial transactions to computer hacking and large scale data base breaches,” explained Karen Barney, director of programs for the Identity Theft Resource Center. “During the holidays it is important to remember to be especially vigilant in safeguarding your personal information.”

In light of Cyber Monday and the start of the holiday shopping season, IdentityHawk provides the following protection tips for staying safe both online and offline.

Offline

1. Keep personal information safe from family and friends and don’t reveal your passwords. According to the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, one in seven cases of identity theft involved someone they personally knew.
2. Don’t toss personal identifying information into trash bins and remember the importance of shredding sensitive documents.
3. Carry only as much identity information as you need when you go out. Make sure your wallet is secured. If you carry a purse, carry one with a zipper. Good old fashioned wallet/purse theft is still a cause of identity theft.

Online

1. Update core protections. Take a few minutes to update your core protections -- anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall – before you go online. Make certain they are set to automatically update against new threats.
2. Shop secure sites. Make sure there is a closed padlock on the browser's status bar. Also check to see if the website’s URL address changes to s-http or https when you are asked to provide payment information to make sure the vendor has secured their payment process.
3. Don’t click on the link. If you don’t know the eTailer, check them out for authenticity and credibility. Malicious links are a primary method of inserting Trojans and viruses on personal computers.

Bonus Online and Offline tips

1. Use credit cards for purchases; they have more protections built into them compared to debit cards. Better yet, use a disposable credit card. Many credit card companies now offer cards that you can fill with a limited amount of money. These are a great way to shop online or in stores. If the number is stolen, your original account number is safe.
2. Monitor your accounts. Frequently check your banking and credit accounts - make sure they reflect your activity. This can be easily done online.

About IdentityHawk

IdentityHawk is a leading identity protection service that aggressively zeroes-in on potential threats to help consumers safeguard their identity. Members are warned of potential identity risks so they can take better control to stop fraud before it starts. IdentityHawk is a product of FYI Direct, Inc., a leader in direct-to-consumer credit and identity protection services. For more information, go to www.identityhawk.com.