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Identity Theft, How Does It Happen?

Posted by Officer D.M. Semega on Sept. 25, 2008

Crime Prevention, Home Safety, Identity Theft, Internet Safety

The instances of identity theft are on the rise however the ways that offenders steal our identities for the most part is low tech. Following you will find a list of how identities are being stolen:

• Stealing wallets/purses from shopping carts
• Pick pocketing
• Stealing mail and applying for your pre-approved credit offer simply by changing the address to a vacant home or PO Box
• Rummage through residential and business trash containers
• Posing as someone legally permitted to gain your credit report
• Collude with or bribe employees of businesses or other organizations who have your personal information on file
• Break into homes and find personal information laying about
• Hack into corporate computer systems
• Legally getting access to your credit card while conducting a transaction then copying or electronically scanning your credit card number
• In home service calls where the service provider might see your banking or other personal information on a desk or table

Here is a short list of things to consider when safeguarding your personal information:

• Shred every piece of paper that you do not need to keep that has any personal information on it
• Delete much of the pre-printed information on your personal checks
• Ask your Doctors, banking institutions and even your grocery store how they are safeguarding your information and if they sell any of it
• Change all your banking, internet and computer passwords on a regular basis
• Be careful as to what information you are sharing over cordless phones, cell phones, instant messaging or text messaging
• Sanitize your home before having an in home service visit
• Check you credit report frequently; each major credit reporting agency must provide you with one free report annually.