How Identity Theft Happens By Bernard Pragides At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Identity theft, also known as identity fraud, is a result of a number of nefarious schemes. Some of the more common ones follow, in no particular order.

Public Scrutiny

Many crimes happen right out in the open, in public places. Criminals watch closely, taking into account your security information by watching you key in numbers at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or public keyboard on a computer.

They also hang out near telephone areas; for example, in public waiting areas of bus stations or hotels, to listen and watch as you key in your credit card information, while reciting your account access information like your mother’s maiden name and zip code plus last four digits of your social security number. And they listen in near cash registers during check out times, handing on to any account info you share with cashiers.

Rights to Trash

Criminal also discover your private information by digging through your trash. They find old account statements, discarded credit cards, password access information, and much more.

Those pre-approved credit card and other loan offers that get discarded in the trash are income for thieves. Often, all that is needed for activation is the number on the card and the zip code that’s right on the envelope. Not too difficult to master.

All of these and other important documents need to be completely destroyed before being tossed away. Use shredders first, then throw away items.

Online Theft

Stealing people’s private information from online activities is growing in popularity among thieves worldwide. They devise scripts to keep cookies and other log in information of account holders. Then they set up fake emails and fake web pages to attract account holders to them, telling them to log in to update their information or clear up an issue of some kind. Then once the person logs in, they have the access information for the real accounts, head there and steal the available funds.

Of course there are many other ways to commit identity fraud. And as officials strive to help keep fraud to a minimum, more ways continue to open up with technological advancements like cell phones and handheld computer devices.

Identity Protection

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones form identity fraud is to get and stay informed. And a good way to do that is to bookmark the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud section and get and stay informed

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