Ways Personal Information is Stolen

Identity theft occurs when the personal identifying information of one person, such as name, address, Social Security Number (SSN), credit card or bank account information is used by another person to open a new charge account, order merchandise, borrow money or another similar crime. All forms of identity theft begin with the theft of personal information but there are a variety of methods used by skilled identity thieves to gain access to that information.

Below are some of the techniques used by identity thieves to obtain personal information or information related to personal financial accounts:

Plain Old-fashioned Stealing

Identity thieves may steal wallets and purses that contain credit cards, identification cards and bank information. They may steal mail, such as bank and credit card statements, phone or utility bills, tax information, pre-approved credit offers and new checks. Sometimes the theft occurs at a person's place of employment, such as when identity thieves steal personnel records or bribe employees who have access to those files. Thieves might also steal personal information that is shared on the Internet.

Changing Your Address

They may complete a change of address form to redirect the destination of a person's mail so that future personal documents will be sent directly to them.

Dumpster Diving

Identity thieves may rummage through trash to get personal data. This practice is known as "dumpster diving." The thieves are usually looking for credit receipts, preapproval forms for credit cards, letters from official government agencies that contain Social Security numbers and addresses or bills with personal information.

Skimming

Thieves use small credit card readers to steal the information that is on a card's magnetic strip. The card information is copied into a file within the memory of the skimmer. The credit card numbers are then sold or used to create fake credit cards. Skimming can easily occur in restaurants and stores where people turn their credit cards over to another person. Skimming devices can also be placed over the normal card reader on an ATM to steal data when a person tries to withdraw money.

Shoulder Surfing

An identity thief may peer over a person's shoulder to see the numbers on credit cards and memorize the digits in a split second. This is done either when the person takes out their credit card and is waiting to pay for their merchandise or after payment has been made and the person is waiting to sign the credit card receipt.

Phishing

This is when a person gets an e-mail message, which is designed to look like an official message from a bank or trusted company, that contains a request for personal information or a link that takes the recipient to a phony Web site. The thief claims that the company is having a problem with the person's account and that they need to verify or update account information. The bogus Web site urges the visitor to provide confidential information, such as a SSN, account numbers, passwords and so forth. Any data entered goes straight to an identity thief.

Pharming

This is a form of online fraud that is similar to phishing. Pharmers also use phony Web sites and theft of confidential information to perpetrate online scams, but they do not rely on enticing a victim to click on a link in fake e-mail messages, instead pharming actually re-directs victims to the phony Web site even if they type the correct Web address into their Web browser. The identical site is used to trick people into entering their user names and passwords into the database on the fake site.

Pretexting

Is the practice of getting personal information, such as SSNs, telephone records, bank or credit card numbers or any other information, under false pretenses. Pretexters use many different tactics to get personal information. One of the most common forms of pretexting is when someone claims they are from a survey firm, and they ask you a few questions. Pretexters may also claim to represent banks, government agencies, local law enforcement agencies, Internet Service Provides (ISPs) and many others.

Wireless Hacking

This is when identity thieves access personal data by tapping into wireless connections, such as a wireless router in your home that doesn't have the security features activated.

Questions for Your Attorney

If you are the victim of identity theft, you may want to contact an identity theft attorney and ask the following questions:

• How do I regain control of my bank accounts and credit history?
• How do I place a fraud alert on my credit file?
• How do I close tampered or fraudulent accounts?
• How do I file a police report?
• How do I file a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint?
• Can you help - I have been arrested for a crime I didn't commit and I believe the crime was committed by someone who stole my identity?

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