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Warning! How They Steal Your Identity The facts are clear – Identity Theft is rising and it’s rising more each year. You don’t want to sit around and worry though because this site will show you a way to protect yourself from these criminals. Instead of worrying, read the following so you are aware of the different ways your personal and financial information can be stolen from you.
· The Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency recently raided meat packing plants owned by Swift & Company. This was characterized as the “largest workplace site enforcement action ever” by federal officials. The raid was the result of a 10-month investigation that started with identity theft. Illegal immigrants were being provided with social security numbers, names and other information that were stolen from American citizens who had no idea their identity had been compromised. "This is not only a case of illegal immigration, which is bad enough. It is a case of identity theft and the violation of the privacy rights and the economic rights of innocent Americans," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. While the federal program confirms a Social Security number is valid, it does not detect identity theft and cannot tell if more than one person is using the same number. There’s an on-going investigation on how the crime rings obtained the social security numbers.
· There are thousands of Government and Company databases containing personal information on hundreds of thousands of citizens and workers. Criminals gain access to this data by breaking into offices to steal hard drives from their computers, offering money to current employees to help them or hiring professional “hackers” to hack into the databases and download the information.
· Skimming can happen to you at any time in any restaurant, gas station or any establishment where you use your credit card to purchase products. In restaurants the waiter can use an electronic device called a ‘skimmer’ to record the information off your credit card magnetic strip. This information is then sold and can be transferred onto new credit cards manufactured illegally.
· Mailbox and trash theft is one of the easier ways to have your information stolen. The thief goes through your trash looking for bank statements or other financial information or steals your mail where they have access to all sorts of personal information they can use to steal your identity. One of their favorite targets is these “pre-approved” credit card applications. I must get 5 of these each week. The thieves need only to fill out the application in your name and have it sent to a new address where they pick it up and it’s ready to be used.
· Phishing is a technique used on the Internet to trick you into going to a website that looks exactly like your bank’s website for one example. The email you receive states it is necessary for you to ‘confirm’ your identity due to ‘suspicious’ activity related to your bank account. You’re anxious to get the problem straightened out so you go to the site and enter your name and address, account number, your PIN # and they confirm they have received it and will safeguard your account. You leave feeling confident the matter has been taken care of but in reality your banking information is in the hands of thieves who can empty your bank accounts in a matter of hours.
· ATM theft can occur when you use a fake ATM machine to obtain cash from your account. You insert your card, enter your PIN number and the machine tells you it’s temporarily out of order but it has read and recorded your credit card information. ATM theft can also occur when using legitimate ATM machines with hidden cameras that record your PIN number and then a distraction where the thief switches credit cards with you. You must be especially vigilant when using any ATM machine. · ATM Machines. When you use an ATM make sure it is at a bank and not a bar, gas station, convenience store, etc. The reason why, is that these machines not located in a bank are often privately owned and sometime operated by the thieves, who now have your banking information.
Identity thieves are getting more creative in their efforts to steal your money because there is very little risk of being caught and prosecuted for their crimes. This new brand of Identity thieves must laugh at criminals who still use guns to rob banks and liquor stores. They simply need an inexpensive computer and access to the Internet to conduct their business. It’s a get-rich-quick work-at-home business!
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