Scams

Your personal information has monetary value, so look after it the same way you look after your cash or your credit card. You don't give your credit card to someone else, so don't give your personal information unless you are sure you know who is asking for it.

Personal information can be used to commit a crime: the purpose of the fraud is to steal personal data and use it in e-mails or web services. Phishing passwords, ID's and telephone numbers is also used to receive financial gain.

With your personal information a hoaxer can:

• apply for a credit card in your name
• make purchases on hire purchase in your name
• empty your bank account
• use your credit card up to the credit limit

Data is also used for spamming, money laundering and other financial crime.

There are different methods for fraud and they are developing fast. For instance, profile fraud creates a new profile with the stolen identity so that those who recognise the profile are tempted to click on harmful links. There will be attempts to spread these links, for instance in other users' blogs. These could be, for instance, viruses or phishing for personal information.

Stop

• Do not reply to e-mails asking for personal information
  • Do not give your personal information or confirm it if you're not sure of the sender of the e-mail.
  • Do not ring a phone number given on a suspicious e-mail. Instead ring the telephone number you can find in your own statement of account or other receipt. Never give your personal information over the phone if you're not sure about the caller's identity.
• Do not click on links in suspicious e-mails.
  • The link might take you to a counterfeit website where your personal information is required. The website looks like the website of a company you may use, with company logos and trademarks designed to gain your confidence.
  • Messages on social websites should be treated with caution. By clicking on a link you may receive spyware or a virus programme or you might join a club which will charge you. For instance in Face book you may match your "friend's" points in a test and you receive a challenge: Can you do better? Next to the text is a small box asking you to accept the challenge. After you click on this you're asked for the operator and the phone number so that the result can be sent to your phone. You have now joined, for instance, a chargeable ring-tone club, which is very difficult to get rid of.
• Never give your ID's, passwords, telephone number or other personal information on the net, if you're not sure who will receive it.
• Always treat with caution your friends' calls for help and make sure the request is genuine before you send money or give your information electronically or in any other way.

Act

Inform your own bank or credit card company about ID-information fraud on your credit card. Credit card companies and banks have blocking services which you can phone and they can void the ID's and prevent them from being used. If you have lost your driving licence, passport or some other proof of identity, inform your own bank about it as well as the police.

If you suspect that your personal information has got into wrong hands, make a report for the administrators on the website which has been wrongly used. Change your ID's and passwords.

You can notify the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman of the misuse of personal information or other data protection infringements.
Data Protection Ombudsman  

If you believe you have been the victim of a crime, you can contact the local police.
Police