Identity Theft

Overview >> What do thieves actually steal?

Social Security card

Your Social Security number is mostly used as your identification number for your financial record. Security numbers are used as a directory for personal accounts in all financial institutions. Identity thieves can access your personal information such as bank accounts and credit card accounts with your Social Security number.

Driver’s license

With you are cashing checks, boarding an airplane, and certifying age, your driver's license is used for identification. Your driver’s license also provides your date of birth which is important information when stealing your identity.

Account numbers, PIN and passwords

With your bank account numbers, Personal Identification number (PIN), or login and password for any of your online accounts, identity thieves can access your personal information

Where is your identity?

Wallet or purse:

Your wallet or purse contains personal information such as credit cards, bank account PINs, health insurance ID card, voter registration card, driver's license, and insurance card.

Mailbox:

Bills from your credit card companies, bank account monthly statements, and new or pre-approved credit card applications can be found in your mailbox.

Vehicle glove compartment:

It can contain your vehicle registration, auto insurance card, and credit card receipts.

Trash:

Pre-approved credit card applications, bill payments, expired credit cards, credit card receipts and un-shredded papers that present personal information can be found by digging through your trash.

You:

Identity thieves can call you pretending to be an employee of your bank, insurance company, or doctor's office, and ask for your personal information directly.

Source: Information For Consumers - Protecting Your Identity In The Real World, (2006) http://www.bbbonline.org/IDTheft/protect.asp

How can your identity be stolen?

Information gathering:

Thieves gather personal information of other people.

Common information gathering techniques used by thieves

• Skimming: When customers’ credit cards are processed, thieves may skim customers’ credit card information by inserting an information storage device to the credit card processing system.
• Stealing information: Thieves may steal personal information by stealing from their employers, sneaking into victims’ homes or stealing wallets or purses.
• Hacking: Thieves break into an organization’s computers to get useful information.
• Bribing/conning: Thieves may bribe or con an employee who has access to confidential records to give them the information they need.
• “Shoulder surfing”: When a customer makes a credit purchase over the phone, a thief might be standing nearby and listening.
• Phishing: This is a high-tech fraud where thieves send spam or pop-up messages to victims’ computers and deceive them into disclosing personal information.
• Contacting victims: Thieves may pretend to be an employee of a legitimate organization or a government official deceiving victims into releasing their personal information.

Identity Theft Resources Center has identified more than twenty identity theft scams. Click here to see: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/alerts.shtml

Information conversion

Thieves obtain fake documents or convert information gathered into the fake documents. They then cover up their actions.

Financial benefits

Thieves test the fake documents and begin to receive larger financial benefits or commit crimes and develop more fraudulent schemes.

By using other people’s identity, thieves can:

• Pay telephone bills
• Buy expensive items
• Establish bank accounts
• Commit such crimes as cyber crimes, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

Source: Albrecht, W., Albrecht, C., & Albrect, C . (2006) Fraud Examination, Canada: Thompson Southwestern, p.486-490