identity theft

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center issued a list of tips to avoid the most common scams and offers updates on the latest to hit the 'net as well as easy-to-read briefings to help identify anything suspicious.

You know thosenotices you get from your bank notifying you about higher fees? Scam artists are getting better with phone, email and text blasts at sounding like real banks updating customers, except they want all the money in the account, not just $5 more per month.

A study from ID Analytics shows 45 million Americans admit to manipulating their identity information online -- by which the analysts mean lying about the data that identifies you to government and law enforcement agencies, not changing usernames to avoid a flame war.

LulzSec has topped off its string of high-profile hacks over the last weeks with the gratuitous post of data on private citizens, which is already implicated in incidents of fraud. Lulz, bro. Lulz.

A federal program outlining how to store identity data securely and regulating the private companies that will do it may be the best option to add some protection online.

There are too many hacks and too many nuclear cookies to risk wireless browsing unprotected; easy, cheap VPNs are one good answer.

This past month has seen some major arrests and convictions of identity thieves.

Just when I think e-mail scams can't get any more brazen, or e-mail readers any more careless, I get surprised again. “Job offer at your location” arrived today, combining two amazing scams in one spam. At least they're saving bandwidth by combining scams. No doubt they consider themselves “green” spammers.