How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods — low- and hi-tech — to gain access to your data. Here are some of the ways imposters can get your personal information and take over your identity.
How identity thieves get your personal information:
1. They steal wallets and purses containing your identification, credit cards and bank cards.
2. They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information.
3. They complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
4. They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving".
5. They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for, and legal right to the information.
6. They find personal information in your home.
7. They use personal information you share on the Internet.
8. They scam you often through email by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies you do business with.
9. They get your information from the workplace in a practice known as “business record theft” by: (1) stealing files out of offices where you’re a customer, employee, patient, or student, (2) bribing an employee who has access to your files, or (3) “hacking” into electronic files.
How identity thieves use your personal information:
1. They call your credit card issuer and pretending to be you ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there’s a problem.
2. They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and SSN. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.
3. They establish phone or wireless service in your name.
4. They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
5. They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they’ve incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
6. They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
7. They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.
8. They give your name to the police during an arrest. If they’re released from police custody, but don’t show up for their court date, an arrest warrant is issued in your name.
