Simple ways to protect your identity and reduce fraud risk

Your personal information is valuable. From your identity document (ID) number and cellphone number to your banking details and passwords, this information helps verify your identity and gives you access to important services and accounts.

If this information falls into the wrong hands, criminals may use it to commit fraud, impersonate you or access your accounts without permission.

Protecting your personal information has become an important part of our digital footprint, whether you’re banking online, shopping digitally, using social media or responding to emails and phone calls. 

It helps to know how scammers try to collect information and what you can do to reduce your risk.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft happens when criminals steal and use your personal information without your permission.

This information may include your:

•  ID number
• Banking details 
• Passwords or PINs 
• One-time PINs (OTP) 
• Physical documents
•  Email addresses 
• Cellphone numbers

Fraudsters may use stolen information to do the following:

•  Open accounts in your name 
• Access your bank accounts 
• Apply for credit or loans 
• Make purchases using your details 
• Impersonate you online 

Sometimes identity theft happens quickly. In other cases, criminals collect small pieces of information over time before attempting fraud.

Be careful about what you share online

Social media can reveal more than people realise.

A birthdate, school name, family photo, pet name or favourite place may seem harmless, but together, these details can help a fraudster guess passwords, answer security questions or impersonate you.

Try to do the following:

• Limit public posts that include personal information
• Check privacy settings on your accounts
• Avoid sharing travel plans, ID photos or card images
• Think twice before posting documents, tickets or forms
• Be cautious about quizzes or games that ask for personal details

If a post would help someone identify you, contact you or guess your passwords, it is worth keeping it private.

Watch out for phishing

Phishing is one of the most common ways criminals try to get personal information.

A phishing message may look like it comes from a bank, retailer, delivery company, government office or service provider. It may ask you to do the following:

•  Verify your account
•  Update your details
• Confirm a payment
• Reset a password
• Click a link to avoid suspension

These messages are designed to make you act fast. Stop and check the source first. Go directly to the official app or website instead. A real organisation should not pressure you into sharing sensitive information immediately.

See latest scams

Protect your information on your devices
 

Your phone and laptop can store a lot of personal data such as saved passwords, banking apps, documents, photos of IDs, email access and messages with account numbers or personal details.

To keep your information safer, you need to:

• Lock your device with a PIN, fingerprint or face recognition
• Keep your software updated on your cellphone and other electronic devices such as your laptop, computers and tablets 
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi if you can
• Install apps only from trusted sources
• Remove old files and apps you no longer need
• Do not save sensitive documents in shared folders

Keep your documents safe

Identity theft often starts with access to paper documents or digital copies.

To reduce the risk:

• Store your ID, passport, cards and bank documents in a safe place
• Do not leave important documents lying around at home, work or in your car
• Shred old statements and papers that contain personal details
• Be careful when scanning or photographing documents
• Delete saved copies from devices or email inboxes if you no longer need them

If you must share a document, only do so with a trusted organisation and only when it is necessary. 

What to do if you think your information has been compromised

If you suspect your personal information has been exposed or stolen:

• Change affected passwords immediately 
• Contact your bank as soon as possible 
• Monitor your accounts closely 
• Report suspicious activity 
• Place additional security measures on important accounts