Match each malware type to its description. Click a term on the left, then click the matching description on the right.
Fraud and identity theft are growing problems, especially for young people.
Identity theft can have devastating financial and emotional consequences.
There are three main categories of identity theft methods. Sort each method into the correct category.
| Physical | Digital | Social |
|---|---|---|
| Bank card skimming (magnetic strip or chip) | Hacking of personal accounts | Phishing |
| Bank card scanning (contactless NFC) | Hacking of commercial organisations; gaining access to millions of account details | Family and friends using/stealing your information |
| Wallet or purse theft | Malware from installed software, spam emails, pop-up windows or infected flash drive | Money mules |
| Bin raiding | Fake Wi-Fi spots | Smishing (phishing via SMS) |
| Diverting post | Phone scams |
For each category of identity theft, think about how you could prevent it from happening.
How can you prevent physical identity theft methods?
How can you prevent digital/online identity theft?
How can you prevent social identity theft methods?
Read the case study and discuss what could have been done differently.
Dev and his partner Lena have both been victims of identity theft in the last three years. They told their neighbours about this, and it turned out that several people who live in the same building have also been victims. All their letterboxes are on the street outside, so it is easy for thieves to access their mail, including bills and bank statements.
When a thief gets hold of a bill or bank statement they then have enough details to be able to apply for credit accounts (e.g. credit cards or shopping accounts) and then steal the cards or account details.
Dev only knew that this had happened to him when he received a statement showing that he owed a credit card company over £2,500. He didn’t have an account with this provider, but the thief had been able to take one out in his name and spend thousands of pounds that he was now being billed for. He had no idea what else they might have done with his personal details; they could have signed up to websites or even applied for a passport.
He contacted the credit card provider who helped him get the money back, but he found the whole experience very worrying.
Here are 8 essential tips to protect yourself. Click each one to mark it as understood.
0 / 8 tips acknowledged
Money muling is a serious crime that particularly targets young people.
What is money muling? A money mule is someone who transfers illegally obtained money through their own bank account on behalf of someone else. Even if you don’t know the money is from crime, you are committing a criminal offence.
Consequences of money muling:
Warning signs of money mule recruitment:
Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never allow anyone to use your bank account to transfer money. If you suspect you are being recruited as a money mule, report it to your bank and the police.
Test your knowledge with these 15 questions. When you’re done, click Submit Quiz to see your results.