Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans will be the target of some sort of identity theft this year. The Federal Trade Commission reported that in 2008 there were 9.93 victims that had some type of identity theft crime committed against them. Victims spend an average of $1,200 in out-of-pocket expenses and an average of 175 hours in efforts to resolve the many problems caused by identity thieves. It has been said that identity theft is the largest white collar crime in the history of the United States.
Criminal identity theft occurs when an impostor uses another person’s name and personal information such as a drivers’ license, date of birth, or Social Security number (SSN) to obtain a job, money, housing or other goods and services. They may also present a counterfeit license or other form of ID which contains another person’s data.
How do thieves get your information:
1. Dumpster diving- They will steal information from paperwork that hasn’t been properly disposed of. They may dig through your trash, company dumpsters, or even the city dump looking for personal information. Invest in a home shredder.
2. Phishing and Pretexting- These are similar methods of identity theft. Pretexting is where a person pretending to be with a legitimate company, like your insurance company, will call and try to get you to verify your account numbers or even your SSN. Phishing is basically the same except the thief will send you an email instead of calling you.
3. Shoulder surfing- A thief will look over your shoulder when making transactions, at the ATM for example. They may even use devices like cell phones to record you without your knowledge.
4. Social Network Websites- While most adults are careful about the information they post on networking sites like Facebook, several teenagers and even some unknowing adults put themselves at risk of identity theft everyday. Identity thieves find names, addresses, and even birth dates on popular sites and use them to commit identity fraud.
5. File Sharing or Peer to Peer Software- The people accessing your music files also have access to other files on your computer.
6. Bogus Job Offers- Thieves will place fake employment ads and get you to fill out an application, including your social security number.
7. Fake sweepstakes or lotteries- These offers are usually sent by email and claim that you’ve won the Canadian lottery or some other sweepstakes that you’ve never actually entered.
8. Hacking- If you’re computer isn’t properly secured, a hacker can get access to all of the information you have stored. Hackers also get information by hacking the computer systems of organizations to get large quantities of information at once.
9. Stealing mail- This is similar to dumpster diving, except the thieves will actually steal your mail directly from your mailbox. They steal bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers, etc.
10. Lost or stolen personal items- It’s pretty obvious how thieves steal your identity by stealing your wallet, PDA, or laptop. The same goes when you lose your personal items.
11. Working in your home- This may be one of the most invasive ways to get information. Contractors or other workers may find and use account numbers or other information you have out in plain view.
12. Changing your address- The thief will often forge your signature to have your mail forwarded to another address. They will then get information from your bank statements, or they may apply for your pre-approved credit card offers.
13. Copying information during transactions- Dishonest company employees will sometimes steal your credit card information while processing your transactions. They can do this when you’re at the company or when you give your information over the phone.
14. Credit report- Thieves may pose as a potential employer or landlord to get a copy of your credit report. They can find out a lot of your information this way.
15. Whether it be by phone, internet, theft, dumpster diving, or a company you trusted mishandling your personal information, thieves are getting more and more creative everyday!
To learn more about identity theft and how to detect, prevent and report it click here for the government’s website.