Do You Know an Identity Thief?

As we’ve all heard, identity theft is a growing crime around the world and it’s putting everyone at risk. While most people assume it’s highly advanced hackers or dumpster diving criminals committing the crime, the surprising truth is a large portion of identity thieves actually know their victims in some way. Most victims don’t know how their identity was stolen or who could have done it, but out of the few that do know who was responsible for the crime, about half of them point the finger to someone they know. Typically, it’s people like family members, fellow employees, or neighbors. Use these signs of an identity thief to see if you might know one.

The Signs

Is someone you know living well beyond their means? While it’s true that some lenders are willing to provide loans for people that have bad credit or little income, the people who get those loans are typically just using them to get by. If they’re living a lifestyle that doesn’t correlate to their rough income, they may be using someone else’s identity to live it up.
Do you have a vengeful or untrustworthy ex-spouse or close friend? If the two of you were close enough to share personal information, he or she may be able to steal your identity easily. Be extra careful if your relationship ended ugly.
Some people are notoriously bad at curbing their impulses. They want instant gratification but don’t always have the means to attain it, so they steal some credit card information and they’re on their way.
Just about everyone knows someone with an addictive personality. It impairs their judgment of right and wrong in order to satisfy an addiction. Whether they’re involved with drugs, alcohol, or any of the other many vices, turning to identity theft is a common way to feed their habit.
Does anyone ever have the opportunity to access your personal files or data when you’re not around? Many people are surprised to find out that their housecleaner or pool cleaner dabbles in identity theft on the side, which is why it’s so important to keep your information private at all times.
Be wary of anyone you know that has already committed some form of identity theft. While everyone deserves a second chance and has the ability to reform, identity thieves have shown they have the propensity to become repeat offenders.