Fred editor’s note: This is a great article because it gives information on how identity theft is becoming a major problem everywhere, even on the internet. Anyone who spends a lot of time on the internet could benefit from this article.
Identity theft has many people frightened — particularly online — but recent data indicates that the fear factor is larger than the fact.
The stories are whispered everywhere. Consumers opening a credit card bill to find it maxed out. Others billed for travel, meals and even jewelry that were bought by someone else — possibly halfway around the world. Phones constantly ringing in the night. Creditors demanding money in threatening tones. Bill collectors screaming for payment. Lawsuits. Credit ratings carefully constructed over a lifetime destroyed. Identity theft can turn into a nightmare.
People are scared, and recent news has done little to calm their fears. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 3.2 million
All this is particularly bad news for online marketers, while the overwhelming risk is offline, consumers' fears of identity theft are focused online. A Better Business Bureau (BBB) telephone survey of 4,000 consumers found that only 11% of known identity theft cases occurred online. In reality, low-tech methods such as dumpster diving and phone fraud account for far more identity theft than the Internet, but among consumers, the perception is that the biggest risk lies online.
Online marketers need to do a better job communicating to consumers the real risks of identity theft online as compared to offline. Although the Internet is responsible for its share of identity theft, studies have shown that use of the Web and other electronic means such as ATMs can actually help consumers remain vigilant against theft because they can monitor their accounts multiple times over the course of month. This will help us all to keep a closer account of what is actually moving through our accounts.
Source: emarketer.com
Information: Fred Harteis, owns i Team and serves on the Independent Business Owner Association International (IBOAI) board. A background in construction and agri-business laid Harteis’ business foundation