If you’ve been online for any length of time, you’ve likely left behind a digital footprint big enough to be used in some kind of online scam. The names of pets, your alma matter, former workplaces, restaurants you like, hobbies and more, all stretch out behind you. Places online where you browse, shop, leave reviews or comments, even appearing in someone else’s contact list, these are all easy to find breadcrumbs for scammers, hackers and other cybercriminals.
Left alone, these bits of information don’t amount to much; but grouped together, they flesh out a profile that can be used against you. Very few of us are diligent enough to scrub our online trail well enough so that it can’t be picked up by a dedicated scammer and used for malicious purposes.
