In a world of fake IDs and fraudulent documents, verifying
someones identity is not extremely difficult in person. Its fairly easy to
spot out a fake document or copied photo. With simple holographics and
watermarks, security personnel and companies can detect when someone is being
misleading about their true identity. But as we all know, the world does not
always transact in person. With advancements in technology, companies and
personal lives have moved from face-to-face interaction to online and mobile
connections. In a faceless environment, proving someone is who they claim to
be suddenly becomes much more difficult. In fact, verifying someones identity
in person and online are two very different feats and should never be treated
in the same manner. Identity thieves have learned to overcome much of the
modern day technology and stealing someones identity online or via mobile
has now become a fairly easy crime to commit. So how can we as business owners,
family members, and human beings protect each other and ourselves from this
everyday crime?
Some countries are taking action to implement government
issued electronic
identity cards to help make this online security issue a bit easier. These
cards can be tested against other personal information such as a bank accounts
and even some biometric information to help ensure someones identity. This
could very well be a step in the right direction to help cut down on online
identity theft. Some companies and countries may not have the technology or
funding for this solution quite yet, but it could be a solution to cutting back on
theft. It could also be a solution that would work in a short-term manner and
then possibly add to the problem. There is not enough information yet to tell
whether solutions like this could hurt or help the overall issue of online
identity theft. Being aware of the issues and the risks is the first step to preventing
fraudulent activity online. Protect yourself and your company today, start
the conversation.
[Contributed by EVS Marketing]
