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What is Identity Theft? |
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Identity theft or identity fraud is the taking of the victim’s identity to obtain credit, credit cards from banks and retailers, steal money from the victim’s existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy or obtain a job using the victim’s name.
The
thief steals thousands of dollars in the victim’s name without the victim even knowing about it for months or even years.
Recently, criminals have been using the victim’s identity to commit crimes ranging form traffic infractions to felonies. |
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Internet Theft Resource Center -
Visit this site for news, information, tips, facts and
more to help protect yourself from identity theft, spam and more. |
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Internet Theft Protect -
Visit this site for statistics, news, information, tips, facts and
more to help protect yourself from identity theft, spam and more. |
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Fraud Watch International -
Visit this site for statistics, news, information, tips, facts and
more to help protect yourself from identity theft, internet phishing, and more. |
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How does the thief steal your
identity? |
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It's too easy. All that is needed
is your social security number,
your birth date and other
identifying information such as
your address and phone number
and whatever else they can find
out about you.
With this
information, and a false
driver’s license with their own
picture, they can begin the
crime. They apply in person for
instant credit, or through the
mail by posing as you.
They
often provide an address of
their own, claiming to have
moved. Negligent credit grantors
in their rush to issue credit do
not verify information or
addresses.
So once the thief
opens the first account, they
use this new account along with
the other identifiers to add to
their credibility.
This
facilitates the proliferation of
the fraud. Now the thief is well
on his/her way to getting rich
and ruining your credit and good
name. |
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Where does the thief get your
info? |
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Lots of places - your
doctor, accountant, lawyer,
dentist, school, place of
employment,
health insurance carrier, and
many others have your
personal information.
If some
criminally minded person is
working at the office (or just
visiting) decides to use this
information to assume your
identity, you would not know it.
Also if this information is not
disposed of with a shredder, a
"dumpster-diver" could pick up
the information and begin the
crime against you. You do not
need to lose your wallet or have
anything tangible stolen from
you for someone to take your
identity.
If you do not shred
your confidential information,
utility bills, credit card slips
and other documents, it is easy
to "dumpster dive" your garbage.
Much of your information is
readily available on the
internet, at courts, and
accessible from public
documents.
Additionally, if
someone obtains your credit
report illegally, they have all
the information necessary to
become you. . |
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