INTERNET SHUT DOWN FOR REASON OF IDENTITY THEFT.

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        We always come across situations where people's accounts (bank, social media) are hacked into to defraud someone else. These actions are criminal. 

 And since the internet seems to enable these crimes the most, the perturbing question repeatedly asked is "Should the Internet be shut down on account of these Identity theft crimes?

This article seeks to enlighten you on what Identity fraud is all about, the laws against it, common ways you could be defrauded, and how you could be careful to avoid being a victim.


               WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT?



       Identity Theft (Identity fraud) is used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.

      Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. These thieves often use the Internet but also can obtain sensitive personal data from database hacks, scams, trash cans, and other unsecured locations. For example, an Identity thief might ransack the garbage and steal someone's old records, social security numbers, credit history, and banking pin.

   Most common schemes of identity theft that can happen to you include:

  • Shoulder Surfing: When you're being watched from a nearby location as you punch in your credit card credentials.
  • Dumpster diving: If you receive applications for " pre-approved" credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials; Identity thieves may receive them and try to activate the cards for their use.
  • Phishing: When you respond to "spam"-unsolicited E-mails that promise you some benefits but request identifying data, without realizing that in many cases, the requestor has no intention of keeping his promise.


With enough personal information about an individual, a criminal can take over that individual's identity in the following ways:

  • Financial Identity theft seeks economic benefits using a stolen identity.
  • Fax-related Identity theft is where the criminal files a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using a stolen social security number.
  • Medical Identity theft is where the thief steals information such as health insurance member numbers, to receive medical service.
  • Criminal Identity theft is where a person under arrest gives stolen identity information about himself to the police and the owner of that information is arrested instead.
  • Child Identity theft is when a child's social security number is misused to apply for government benefits and so on.
  • Senior Identity theft targets people over the age of 60.
  • Synthetic Identity Theft is where an identity thief partially or completely fabricated an identity by combining different pieces of a pin from different sources.


     IS IDENTITY THEFT CRIMINALIZED IN NIGERIA?

     In Nigeria, we have become Cyber creatures since we spend a significant amount of time online. And as the digital world expands in Nigeria, so does cybercrime. 

     Identity theft is a criminal act in Nigeria. Identity theft is criminalized in the Cybercrimes(Protection and Prevention) Act, of  2015. This act provides an effective, comprehensive, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, prosecution,  and punishment of all kinds of Cybercrimes in Nigeria.

     According to this act, being convicted of an identity crime can lead to one or more of the following penalties: Incarceration, fines, restitution, probation, and aggravating factors among others.

      Thus, Cyberlaw acts as a shield over cyberspace, thereby preventing cyber crimes like identity theft and fraud from happening.


   SOCIAL MEDIA: A PROMOTER OF CYBERCRIMES OR NOT?

     There are several social media sites; Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, and Twitter, name them.

      Social media sites generate revenue with targeted advertising, based on personal information. As such, they encourage registered users to provide as much personal information as possible.

     With the increased global use of Social media, there are more opportunities than ever before to steal identities or perpetrate fraud online. For example, if you post that you're out of town on a vacation, you've opened yourself up for burglary. The use of photo and video-sharing sites like Flicks and YouTube provide insights into you, your family and friends, your house, your favorite hobbies, and interests. This makes you easy prey to these predators on Social Media.

      But before you jump online and delete all of your social media accounts, you should be aware that you could protect yourself from being an identity theft victim.

            

      HOW TO PREVENT CYBERCRIMES

  •  Be smart about what you share and who you share it with
  •  Never give out your social security number.
  •  Change your social media account passwords regularly.
  •  You could also minimize the use of personal information on your profiles that may be used for phishing attacks.
  • Avoid listing your date of birth hometown and other personal information publicly.
  •  Watch what you post and where, as it can be used against you later.


CONCLUSION:

 This article has informed you on what Identity fraud is all about, laws against it, common ways you could be defrauded, and how you could be careful to avoid being a victim. 

And finally, even though social media breeds a lot of cyber crimes, it doesn't have to be banned. It is a great tool for keeping in touch with friends and family and being abreast of what is happening in the world.

Don't let fear keep you away from social media. Just put so much carefulness while on social media.


AUTHOR

OGO GLADYS AMARACHI



  

 


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