Prevent identity theft with these top tips from the experts at Grupo Telecable

Identity theft is a growing problem in Spain but this costly scam can be avoided with a few simple tricks

How can my identity be stolen?

• Access to accounts: To glean personal information scammers often use a tactic called phishing, which involves sending fake emails that at first glance appear to be from your bank or another official source. Gone are the days of clumsy spelling and typos and now these false messages can be very convincing. They typically ask their victims to click on a link to an external website which gives scammers full access to your personal information and sometimes can even allow malicious code to be installed on your device.
• Fake profiles: Social media users beware: here, the scammers duplicate your online profile and use it to beg money from your ‘friends’ and carry out other fraudulent activities. They have a variety of ways of getting their hands on your information, including phishing and using illegally captured credit card details.

How do I know if my identity has been stolen?

• Check your bank statements for any transactions that haven’t been made by you.
• You receive messages on your phone or social media account from people you don’t know.
• Friends or acquaintances receive messages or emails from you that you never sent.
• You receive sign-in alerts from areas or devices that you have not used to log on.
• A debt collector contacts you for payment of an expense you didn’t contract.
• Your bank credit allowance or overdraft increases without your authorisation.
• Small charges or balance increases appear on your online banking, only to suddenly vanish a few hours later.

How do I report identity theft?

• Contact the police and provide as much information and proof as possible, such as copies of emails, bank statements or screenshots of suspicious notifications and log-ins.
• If your social media account has been hacked, let the administrators know so that they can work with the police on tracking down the culprit.
• You can also contact the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPT) who will investigate the data breach.

How can I prevent identity theft?

• Remember that banks and other official entities never request personal information like PIN or account numbers via email. If you receive such an email, don’t open it or follow any links and report it to the authorities.
• Staying with scam emails, check the sender’s address as when the correspondence is fake, it will usually display an email address unrelated to the legitimate company.
• Avoid suspicious websites – many internet browsers now advise you if the site you’re navigating to is potentially dodgy.
• Use strong passwords with a mixture of numbers, letters and special characters and avoid using personal passwords, like your birth date, that could be easy to guess. Change your PINs regularly, and immediately if you suspect your account has been accessed.
• Be careful of how much personal information you share online.
• Stay up to date and seek security advice from trusted sources, such as the Internet User Security Office and other specialised IT security institutions.