There are many different types of identity theft. You can avoid identity theft scams by recognizing the most common types.

Phishing 

Phishing is a common type of identity theft. In phishing, the target is contacted via email, phone, text message, or even an advertisement. The scammer will be posing as a legitimate institution. The scammer may send an e-mail pretending to be a real organization asking for personal information (banking or credit card details). The scammer can also ask for account credentials such as username and password of social media or email accounts. The scammer may try many ways to get you to provide information. They may warn you that you won't be able to access your account unless you confirm your bank account number, offer you money for providing your account information, or ask that you confirm your payment details for an order you may (or may not have) placed. Malware phishing is when the target is encouraged to click on a link or download an attachment containing malware. It is currently the most pervasive type of phishing attack so beware of clicking links and downloading attachments. Make sure emails are from known sources.

Be very careful when opening and reading e-mails. Scammers will often use logos of well-known companies. Never click on a link in any e-mail unless you know and trust the sender. Instead, if you use a product or service from the sender, navigate to their website via a browser search engine. If the email is legitimate, you should see the same information when you log into your account on the legitimate site. You can learn how to spot suspicious emails and attachments with Security Planner, a tool to help you stay safe online.

Common examples of phishing:

IRS refund: Remember - the only way the IRS will contact you is via a letter sent to your home address. Scammers might pretend to be the IRS. They’ll send an e-mail telling you that the IRS has a refund for you and that you need to provide your bank account information to retrieve it. Ignore it.  

Money wiring scam: You may receive an e-mail, letter, or check telling you that you've won a lottery - even if you haven't bought a ticket. The email or letter will request your bank account information so the money can be deposited into your account, or so that taxes can be paid on the prize. This is a scam. By providing information or depositing the check, you are giving access to sensitive financial information. Additionally, you should never send money via wire transfer to someone you don’t know.

Other types of scams:

Calls to "confirm" your personal information: Remember, your bank will never call and ask you for your account numbers. Always be suspicious of anyone calling to ask you to confirm your PIN number or the security code on the front or back of your credit card.

Fake jury duty: An identity theft scammer might tell you that you missed jury duty and need to provide your personal information to reschedule. Don't provide information - always ask for a call-back number, hang up and call the number on the summons you received from the court.

Job promises: Sometimes, scammers will post fake job advertisements on job sites such as Craigslist, Monster, or Indeed. These scammers may also send you a “guaranteed” job offer via email. Often, the language used in these job advertisements promises to make you rich while working from home. The advertisement will ask for payment to get the job, for more job listings, for supplies to start your business at home, or for certification to get the job. The listing may even be for a government job that doesn’t exist. Always be wary when you see these types of job listings. 

Scams against immigrants: People who have just immigrated to the United States might be led to websites that look like official government websites. Government websites should end with .gov or .mil. Scammers will often try to charge for government forms. Never pay for government forms as they are always free. Be on the lookout for notaries who promise immigrants legal help. Unless the notary is a licensed attorney, any notary who gives legal advice is considered to be performing unauthorized practice of law. In fact, using a notary can hurt your chances of obtaining a green card. Never give notaries or any scammers your original documentation. Always keep original documents close to you. 

Medical identity theft: Medical identity theft is a rising threat. It can happen when someone steals your information such as your health insurance card, or medical records you threw out, or even when hackers steal information from medical providers. If your identity is stolen, medical providers might bill you for services you don’t use. Your health plan might reject a medical claim if an identity thief has maxed out your benefits limit. Further, a health plan might not cover you because your records show a condition that you don’t have. Be careful about sharing your medical history. When you go to the doctor, make sure that your medical records are secure. Ask your insurance company to give you a new card that doesn't have your Social Security number on it. Don't provide your Social Security number unless there is a good reason to do so.

Child identity theft. Another area of identity theft is the theft of a child's Social Security number, name, and other personally identifying information. Often, it is a relative or a close friend of the child's parents that steal the information in order to set up new credit or bank accounts. You may not know there is a problem until many years later when your child tries to obtain a driver's license, open up a checking account, or apply for a student loan. You can run a child's credit history once he or she turns 13, and you should repeat a check annually after that.