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Every year, Millions of Americans are affected by identity scams and doxxing, two major types of online crime. While defense against hackers can never be 100% assured, there are certain preventative measures you can take to avoid falling into their hands. If it i’s too late and you are already a victim of an identity scam or doxxing, don’t give up — you still have the power to get control of your life back.
Top Fears of Internet Users
Identity scams and doxxing are two of the top fears of internet users. According to recent surveys, 79% of digital users polled by Bitdefender fear cyberattacks, with 53% expressing particular concern over identity theft. Another survey showed that more than 90% of web users are concerned about doxxing – a form of online harassment where an individual’s personally identifiable information is published without consent for malicious purposes.
Unfortunately, these fears are based on unsettling statistics.
In 2023, the FTC received more than 1 million identity theft reports — albeit a 6% decrease from 2022, but still a far cry away from anything resembling a safe digital space. The most common form of identity theft reported involved hijacking and opening bogus credit card accounts, while the category that saw the largest increase in complaints was the creation of false government documents/benefits claims.
Doxxing, the act of revealing someone else’s private and personal information online without their consent, affects millions of people. In 2024, about 4% of Americans (11 million people) reported being victimized by doxxing attacks. The most common results of these attacks were financial losses, mental health and physical safety risks, and damage to reputations.
Best Internet Safety Practices
There are several basic measures you can take to bolster your online security and make it harder for cybercriminals to hack your personal information. That being said, even those who use top-notch antivirus programs and implement the best online safety practices may fall prey to online predators. No one is to blame except the cybercriminals.
To bolster your online defenses, it is best to implement the following basic safety tactics:
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable MFA (multifactor authentication)
- Do not post personal information online, including full name, contact information, or workplace details
- Do not open emails or attachments from unrecognized email addresses
- Check email addresses carefully to ensure you know the sender
- Install antivirus programs on your devices
- Regularly review your bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity
- Keep your social media accounts private and turn off geotagging
- A paid PII removal service is the number one measure you can take to mitigate doxing and scam attempts
What To Do If You’re the Victim of An Identity Scam or Doxxing
If you already find yourself the victim of an identity scam or doxxing, do not despair. Take the following steps:
- Pay attention to all suspicious activity: Most banks and credit cards monitor accounts for suspicious activity. If you get an email notification or text message with such a notification, do not ignore it. Check it out immediately to see whether the activity is indeed fraudulent. If necessary, cancel the credit card, freeze the account, or take whatever action necessary to stop the unauthorized activity.
- Report it: The FTC is the avenue for reporting internet crime. You can also file a report with your local police station or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. These reports will be helpful if you are trying to recover fraudulent charges.
- Bolster your online security: After being compromised, change the passwords for all your online accounts. Password managers offer complex passwords that are hard to hack (unlike basic choices like names and birth dates, which are easy for hackers to crack).
If you discover that you’ve been doxxed:
- Document everything: Take screenshots of online posts, the personal information that’s been posted to a public website, threats, and any other related materials. Make sure there are timestamps on the screenshots.
- Report it: Notify the website where the doxxing occurred and ask them to take down the information. Also, notify local law enforcement, especially if threats are involved.
- Remove personal information online: Google has a search tool that helps you find and remove personal information from the internet. Some private security companies also offer this service, which you may need if the doxxing is pervasive.
The Bottom Line
Identity scams and doxxing are harmful and can often be overwhelming. Implementing preventative measures like basic online security practices can minimize the risk of being hacked or exposed, but there are no guarantees. If you’re the victim of an identity scam or doxxing, take a deep breath and start damage control by following the steps above. Remember, you’re not alone, and help is available.