The Different Types of ID Theft
Identity theft is about far more than just simply taking on the identity of another person, it is often just petty thieves stealing one’s credit card or bank account information. With another person’s vital information, one is capable of committing identity theft or fraud in a number of different ways. Here’s a look at some of the more common and well documented ways a criminal can commit identity theft:
- Credit cards – There are a number of ways identity thieves can use your credit cards, such as by stealing them or the account information. Be getting a hold of a preapproved credit card application they can also open a new card in your name and some go as far as to have the mailing address on the account changed!
- Checks – If a criminal manages to get one of your personal checks, they’ll not only have your bank account and routing number, but may be able to make duplicates of the check. Some can create forgeries or use chemicals to basically make the check appear blank.
- Online scams – Anyone with an email account has probably experienced some form of online scamming or phishing. The two most common methods are claiming that you’ve inherited a great deal of money or that you need to update your personal information on a website you have an account on.
Where Can Identity Theft Occur?
Some people are under the impression that identity theft really only occurs online, but it can happen almost anywhere if you’re not protected. Here are some of the common places identity theft occurs:
- At the mail box – Criminals can steal your mail and find account information or preapproved credit cards here. They’ve also been known to take outgoing mail.
- At the bank or ATM – Using a technique called skimming, an identity thief can capture the swipe of your card or your pin number with a special device.
- Online – As mentioned above, email is a popular way to attempt identity theft. Criminals can also try to take your personal information off of unsecured websites or steal documents through unsecured internet connections.
- At work – Many jobs use your social security number as your log-in to computers or to clock in to work, making it that much easier to get a hold of.
