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Published: Sep 16, 2005 01:40 PM
Sat - May 10, 2003
Part II: How Identity Theft Occurs
Understanding identity theft
can help you protect yourself against becoming a victim.
This article is informational in
nature and is not legal advice. If you need legal counsel, consult a licensed
attorney in your
jurisdiction.
Taking simple steps can reduce your vulnerability to identity theft. To protect yourself most effectively, you should also understand how identity theft occurs.
Common identity theft scenarios
Mail theft. Identity thieves may steal bills, pre-approved credit card offers, payment stubs, or other materials from your unlocked mailbox and use the information they glean to make purchases on your accounts or to create new false accounts in your name.
Theft from your home or a business. A thief may steal documents bearing personal information from your home, or from a business with which you transact. Besides perpetrators who break into these facilities, thieves could include invitees such as employees of maid and repair services and casual acquaintances.
Dumpster diving. If you or a business with your personal information discard unshredded papers such as old credit card bills, bank statements, loan applications, tax forms, or financial correspondence, an identity thief may take these items from a dumpster and use them to make purchases on your accounts or to create new false accounts in your name. This practice is called "dumpster diving." It may surprise you to learn that searching through your refuse is not itself a crime even though identity theft is a crime.
Insider access. Employees of businesses or government agencies may take your personal information from business records and sell it, transact with it, or create new accounts in your name. Even if the business or agency stores information securely and limits employee access to its paper and electronic files, your information may be compromised if employees with access leave their desks, computers, or computer printouts unattended.
Imposter access. Identity thieves may use techniques such as those pioneered by infamous computer hacker Kevin Mitnick to gain access to your personal information. Describing how he purloined information from a suspicious customer service representative who threatened to report him to security, Mitnick relates: "I briefed a friend of mine on the situation and asked him to pose as the 'security investigator' so he could take a report. He called back customer service and was transferred to the woman. The 'security investigator' said he received a report that unauthorized people were calling to obtain proprietary customer information. After getting the details of the 'suspicious' call, the investigator asked what information the caller was after. She said the customer's Foncard number. The 'investigator' asked for the number. She gave it to him. Whoops! Case closed!"
Scams. The boldest identity thieves invent false public interest causes and establish web sites in support of these causes or place telephone calls to potential victim donors or volunteers to extract personal information.
This is part two of a series. To continue reading the rest of the articles in this series, select:
Part I: It Happened To Me; It Can Happen To You
Part III: How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Part IV: What To Do When Your Identity Is Stolen
Part V: Online Resources for Identity Theft Victims
Part VI: Opting Out--How To Protect Your Privacy
Taking simple steps can reduce your vulnerability to identity theft. To protect yourself most effectively, you should also understand how identity theft occurs.
Common identity theft scenarios
Mail theft. Identity thieves may steal bills, pre-approved credit card offers, payment stubs, or other materials from your unlocked mailbox and use the information they glean to make purchases on your accounts or to create new false accounts in your name.
Theft from your home or a business. A thief may steal documents bearing personal information from your home, or from a business with which you transact. Besides perpetrators who break into these facilities, thieves could include invitees such as employees of maid and repair services and casual acquaintances.
Dumpster diving. If you or a business with your personal information discard unshredded papers such as old credit card bills, bank statements, loan applications, tax forms, or financial correspondence, an identity thief may take these items from a dumpster and use them to make purchases on your accounts or to create new false accounts in your name. This practice is called "dumpster diving." It may surprise you to learn that searching through your refuse is not itself a crime even though identity theft is a crime.
Insider access. Employees of businesses or government agencies may take your personal information from business records and sell it, transact with it, or create new accounts in your name. Even if the business or agency stores information securely and limits employee access to its paper and electronic files, your information may be compromised if employees with access leave their desks, computers, or computer printouts unattended.
Imposter access. Identity thieves may use techniques such as those pioneered by infamous computer hacker Kevin Mitnick to gain access to your personal information. Describing how he purloined information from a suspicious customer service representative who threatened to report him to security, Mitnick relates: "I briefed a friend of mine on the situation and asked him to pose as the 'security investigator' so he could take a report. He called back customer service and was transferred to the woman. The 'security investigator' said he received a report that unauthorized people were calling to obtain proprietary customer information. After getting the details of the 'suspicious' call, the investigator asked what information the caller was after. She said the customer's Foncard number. The 'investigator' asked for the number. She gave it to him. Whoops! Case closed!"
Scams. The boldest identity thieves invent false public interest causes and establish web sites in support of these causes or place telephone calls to potential victim donors or volunteers to extract personal information.
This is part two of a series. To continue reading the rest of the articles in this series, select:
Part I: It Happened To Me; It Can Happen To You
Part III: How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Part IV: What To Do When Your Identity Is Stolen
Part V: Online Resources for Identity Theft Victims
Part VI: Opting Out--How To Protect Your Privacy