Cybercrime is a type of crime that is committed on the Internet, on local networks, or against individual computers. Cybercrime can affect any of your digital devices, including PCs, notebooks, smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, home electronic systems, and more. 

Cybercrime against individuals usually comes in the form of activities like identify theft, phishing, email harassment, and more. Identity theft in particular is when a cybercriminal steals your personal information and uses it without permission, such as by using your Social Security number to open new accounts or steal your tax refund, or by stealing a credit card and using it to make fraudulent purchases.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the top five types of identity theft in 2018 were:

• Credit card fraud (opening new accounts)
• Miscellaneous identity theft
• Tax fraud
• Mobile phone fraud (opening new accounts)
• Credit card fraud (stealing existing accounts)

South Carolina ranks 11^th in the US for identity theft, with 6,339 complaints in 2018 alone. 

What to Do if You’re a Victim of Cybercrime in South Carolina

If you’ve been a victim of cybercrime in South Carolina, it’s important to move quickly to minimize the damage. If, for example, your credit card was stolen, contact the card issuer and your bank immediately in order to lock down the account. For all kinds of cybercrime, here are some steps to take when you discover that you’ve been a victim:

• Call the companies where you know the fraud occurred 
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports
• Get copies of your credit report
• File a report with your local police department

You might have to close accounts that were opened fraudulently in your name, report fraudulent charges to your credit card company, and take other numerous steps to stop the damage.

How Can You Prevent Cybercrime in South Carolina?

Cybercrime is bigger than just identity theft. There are numerous ways in which hackers can invade your life and steal your vital financial information or otherwise profit off of your innocent online behavior. 

The best way to avoid cybercrime is to make sure that your computer systems and your online activity are safe and secure. You can take a number of steps to protect yourself, including:  

• Keep your computer software updated. Always keep your operating system, services, and applications updated to include protection from the latest bugs and vulnerabilities. This applies to your smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, and more. 
• Use strong passwords and change them frequently. Never use the same password on more than one website, and be sure to always use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Use up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software. 
• Activate your email’s anti-spam blocking feature. A lot of unexpected cybercrime occurs if you open an unsolicited email with suspicious links or attachments. Be sure to enable the anti-spam feature of your email, and never open links or attachments from unknown senders.
• Shop only from secure and well-known websites. Make sure that any site you’re shopping on is well-known and uses an encrypted connection.

Identity theft can be particularly damaging for individuals, with the fallout lasting for years. Here are a few ways to protect yourself from identity theft: 

• Read your credit card and bank statements carefully and often.
• Know your payment due dates. If a bill doesn't show up when you expect it, look into it.
• Read the statements from your health insurance plan. Make sure the claims paid match the care you received.
• Shred any documents with personal and financial information.
• Review each of your three credit reports at least once a year to check for fraudulent accounts and activity.

Does Insurance Cover Cybercrime?

Personal cybercrime insurance is available, and it can protect you from certain types of cyberattacks or if you are a victim of some type of a cybercrime. It may help you pay for the costs of recovering from a cybercrime as well. 

Cybercrime insurance in South Carolina might cover:

• Ransomware attacks and cyber extortion
• Malware attacks
• Phishing scams 
• Identity theft
• Attacks that compromise your bank account(s)
• Cyber bullying or Internet stalking

Cybercrime insurance may be sold as a stand-alone policy, but for individuals it is more often sold as part of a package or an endorsement to a homeowners insurance policy. Not all home insurance policies or companies cover cybercrime, though. You’ll need to discuss your coverage with an independent insurance agent. 

If you decide that you want cybercrime insurance, the cost will depend on what is covered and whether it’s part of your standard home insurance policy or if you have to purchase a separate endorsement.