8 tips for protecting your personal data

Beware of the personal information you share on social media. Birth dates and where you were born can be used to steal your identity. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The amount of information available online these days makes it much easier for fraudsters to access personal data and use it to create fake IDs, open new credit card accounts or send bogus emails under someone else’s name.

For instance, to perpetrate medical identity theft, a fraudster only needs your name, social security number and date of birth to use your medical insurance for someone having an operation. You are sent the bill and held responsible for the deductible, even though you didn’t physically have the procedure. Once this individual uses your insurance, your records are tied together indefinitely, although under HIPPA regulations, you won’t be able to see the fraudster’s actual medical record for privacy reasons. Ironic isn’t it?