Protect Your Personal Information.

Learn to Protect Your Personal Information, Your Privacy, and Your Identity Online and Offline.

The most robust way to Protect Your Personal Information is by knowing the different types and methods that criminals use to get to you.  Believe it or not, it is not just online.  Many offline and personal scams have been around long before the internet. I like to call this combination of individual and online crime a Hybrid Cybercrime.  So to understand, it is essential to review what cybercrime is. 

Cybercrime is a term used to describe a broad range of computer-related crimes. The most common types of cybercrimes include identity theft, fraud, hacking, and spam.

Your Personal Information is at risk even if you do not have a computer!

If you decide you are not interested anymore because you do not own nor have access to a computer, please ask yourself these questions.

• Do you have a bank account?
• Do you use a debit or credit card?
• Have you enrolled in any memberships, such as a gym?
• When you enter a store, are there security cameras?
• Are there security cameras and or traffic cameras throughout your daily route?
• Do you register your vehicle, or does a household member register their car or truck?
• Do you have a Social Security number?
• Do you have a government ID, passport, or driver’s license?
• Do you own a landline or a cell phone?

If you answered yes to any one of the above questions, you are in the line of sight of potential scammers, and they do not need to use the internet or your computer to reach you successfully.  Your information is out there no matter what physical precautions you take, be it not having a computer, cell phone, or internet in your home.  I urge you to read on and follow because the best and most vigorous defense is knowledge.

Awareness is your best weapon.

Be Aware of your surroundings and what you are doing with your personal information:

There are many ways to protect yourself from identity theft, but the most important thing is to make sure you know what you are doing with your personal information. Awareness is an essential step in protecting your information. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to see what you are doing, so you need to be aware of your actions.

Scams have been around way longer than computers, and here is a list of a few ways they can reach you beyond the internet or computer.

• Mail
• While shopping
• While paying a bill in person
• At your front door
• Your garbage

I like to call it a Hybrid Scam cause it starts in person or by UPS mail and finishes off with the thieves accessing your accounts and cleaning them out.  Also, they have more time to wipe your accounts clean thoroughly.  Your funds are automated, but communication with you from your bank and suppliers is not.

No one is safe!

I like to think I am scam proof with all that I know and share, and maybe you do too. However, I am not ashamed nor afraid to share that I am not scam-proof. I still fall for tricks and schemes despite my knowledge. You can read all about one of the scams I fell for on 👉🏽 iMarly.

Prepare for the worst; hope for the best.

Still, think you cant be scammed?  If I have your attention and you are a little more worried than before, that is a significant step to protecting your information on and off the internet.  

The best way to protect your information is to educate yourself about online security and in-person privacy. Please familiarize yourself with the risks and what to do when encountering them.