The Credit Score Information Site
How An Identity Is Stolen
Perhaps the most troubling fact about identity theft is that it is so easy to pull off. In this modern age of computers and Internet, stealing someone’s identity is just a piece of cake. As a matter of fact, there are a number of ways your identity can be stolen. Below are just some of them.
Hacking
Armed with computer expertise, an identity thief can hack into your computer either at home or at work to extract information about you without your knowledge. Hackers may also break into databases where personal information of thousands of people is stored. In the past years, hacking of the databases of various companies, academic institutions, and even government agencies have already been reported. The good news, however, is that there are now existing laws that require the public to be notified when such breaches occur.
Computer Infections
An identity thief infects your computer with trojans, viruses, and worms, which extract personal information from your computer. In turn, these infections send your personal data back to him.
Fake Websites
Cyber thieves also steal identities by setting up bogus websites that look like secure sites. Most of these fake websites contain forms that are designed to retrieve information about you to be stored and later sent to the fraudsters.
Spams
While most spams are only promotions for assorted products and services, a few of them are actually phishing scams. These junk mails are usually requests for the victim to update his personal information with a certain organization. These spams typically contain a link, which directs to a seemingly legitimate site that is actually owned by the identity thief.
Skimmers
A skimmer is a handheld device designed to retrieve information stored in the black magnetic strip in credit and debit cards. An example of a scenario wherein a skimmer might be used is when you hand your credit card to a waiter to pay for a restaurant service. The moment you are out of sight, the waiter swipes your card in a skimmer to obtain the information contained in your card.
Unscrupulous employees
These days, you just cannot trust anyone you meet with your personal information -- even those people from your favorite business establishment. There maybe unscrupulous employees that are just waiting to get their hands on your filled out application form to sell the information it contains to identity thieves.
According to statistics, more than 25 percent of identity theft is committed by people who are close to their victims. What’s alarming is that there are even cases wherein the parents are the ones who steal the identity of their kids. With that said, you should really think twice about sharing your financial and personal information to other people.
Your trashcan
Remember what they say about your trash being another person’s treasure? Well, that is true in the case of identity thieves. You might not be aware of it but your trashcan is a trove for identity fraudsters. Documents like credit statements, letters, and bills may contain information that identity thieves may be able to use later on. The same thing goes with discarded hard drives and backup computer tapes.
Further Reading: See below for more information on Identity Theft
Introduction: Identity Theft
Identity Theft And Your Credit
Preventing Identity Theft
What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft
