Welcome to Id Theft Prevention Resources
Types Of Identity Theft Article
This is a selection among article about Types Of Identity Theft. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
What Are the Most Common Ways to Commit Identity Theft or Fraud?
from: Cathy Taylor
It’s the number one source of consumer complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and unfortunately, it’s one of the simplest crimes to commit. Identity theft involves information from your daily life, from shopping, bill-paying, and even applying for a job. Thieves take advantage of everyday opportunities to discover your personal information, including your Social Security number (SSN), bank or credit card account numbers, income, name, address, or phone number, and use it to commit fraud or other crimes.
How can a stranger get to your information? According to the FTC, identity thieves may pose as legitimate representatives of an organization, as business professionals or agents of the government, conning you into revealing sensitive information. Common scams include impersonating employees from banks, credit card companies, Internet service providers, and utility companies. If someone calls you claiming to represent a legitimate organization, confirm this by calling the customer service number listed on your statement or bill.
Thieves may also use your place of employment to get the information they need. A co-worker may steal information from your employer; someone could hack into your company’s computer and copy employee records; or a criminal could resort to the old-fashioned method of bribing someone you work with for your information. Check with your employer to find out the company policy on securing your records and disposing of them when you’re gone.
If your employer is authorized to pull credit reports on employees or potential customers, someone could take advantage of this access to retrieve illegal reports. Criminals may also pose as employers, landlords, or collection agents to pull your credit information. It’s a good idea to order a copy of your credit report once a year to check for unauthorized entries.
Shredding your documents before you throw them away is also good idea, whether at work or at home. Identity thieves have been known to sift through garbage, in the trash can or at the dump, to find sensitive information.
The most common form of identity theft is credit card fraud. Technology has allowed criminals to begin stealing your credit or debit card numbers as you use the cards, “skimming” them with an information storage device. In addition, thousands of drivers’ licenses and credit and debit cards are stolen each year. Keeping your Social Security card in a secure location and safeguarding your purse or wallet while at work are necessary precautions.
Even your mail is a source for identity thieves, who may complete credit card applications in your name and go on a spending spree. After stealing your bank or credit card statements, tax information, or box of replacement checks, criminals are able to access your accounts and spend the funds in your name. They may even change the address on your existing account, diverting the bills to keep you from recognizing the problem until it’s too late. Being aware of your billing cycles can help you catch a discrepancy in the arrival of your statements.
Identity thieves have a variety of ways to use your information for their personal gain. They may shop for big-ticket items using your credit or bank account information and then sell the items for cash. With your SSN and date of birth, they can open new bank accounts or apply for lines of credit. In fact, banks have granted loans to criminals using stolen identities for purchases as large as cars.
Telephone or internet service can be set up using your SSN. Thieves can avoid impending eviction or accumulated debt by filing bankruptcy in your name. Perhaps the most emotionally traumatic, police could issue a warrant for you if a criminal was arrested using your name and failed to appear at a court hearing.
The ways that identity thieves have conceived to acquire your personal information are numerous, but your vigilance and heightened awareness can curb their ability to make you a victim. And, if you sustain credit damage, go to http://www.creditdamage.com to find out what you can do about it.
About the Author:
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting http://www.creditdamage.com or http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com
Types Of Identity Theft News
Tech-savvy students can be victims of identity theft - Beacon News
There's no doubt that many of today's college-age students are tech savvy. But even so, they might not be taking adequate steps to protect their identity while surfing the Internet. • Never give out personal information, such as your name, home ...
Read more...Police Chief discusses identity theft with public - News 10 Now
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- Identity theft was the topic of discussion in New Hartford. Police Chief Raymond Philo spoke to nearly 100 people about the risk of identity theft and how it can affect anyone, anywhere. With the holiday season nearly upon us ...
Read more...Expert: Identity theft increases during holidays - Clovis News Journal
Identity theft happens year round but thieves strike more frequently during the holidays because of increased shopping activity, according to identity theft expert Zachary Friesen. He said credit card information is more likely to be stolen as retail ...
Read more...Davenport stung by identity thief - Spokane Spokesman-Review
Identity theft isn’t just for Dumpster-diving drug addicts. It’s also for nerdy-looking accountant types with impeccable references. A man hired as the Davenport Hotel’s financial controller cashed a $4,600 check he received after providing a ...
Read more...Potent Potential Medical Problem: ID Theft - CBS News
E-Mail Story (CBS) A little-known but serious and growing form of identity theft could get you sick, and potentially be incurable. Medical ID theft involves someone pretending to be you, getting all kinds of medical treatments, from simple ...
Read more...New sleazy mortgage scam aimed at residents facing foreclosure - Walletpop.com
Sure, all mortgage scams are sleazy, but this one seems particularly evil. According to a story in a recent newsletter put out by Identity Theft 911 , a company aimed at helping individuals and institutions from being victims of identity theft, one ...
Read more...