{"id":1019,"date":"2018-06-04T07:08:53","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T14:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterdefend.com\/?p=1019"},"modified":"2020-09-05T13:25:53","modified_gmt":"2020-09-05T20:25:53","slug":"identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterdefend.com\/identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Identity Theft Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your bank calls and tells you they\u2019re concerned about some of your recent checking account activity. It looks like you\u2019ve been writing large checks to someone you don\u2019t even know and they\u2019re worried that your banking information has been stolen.<\/span><\/p>\n

During an annual check of your credit report, you notice that there are several new credit card accounts listed that weren\u2019t there last year. You don\u2019t remember opening any new lines of credit and when you reach out to the companies, you\u2019re told there\u2019s been a fraudulent change of your mailing address.<\/span><\/p>\n

You’re contacted by the Department of Justice about a pending criminal case against you. It seems as if there’s a civil judgment in your name for a crime you never committed. You could be prosecuted for something you didn’t do and it’s all because someone has been falsely using your identity to commit financial fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are just a few of the identity theft examples you might encounter if your personal info is ever stolen and used without your knowledge. The simple but scary truth is if you don\u2019t know the basic identity theft facts, you could quickly become victimized by cybercriminals.<\/span><\/p>\n

We’re here to help you answer the \u201cWhat is identity theft and how can it be prevented?\u201d question by guiding you step-by-step through everything you need to know about this dangerous digital threat and how to protect yourself from becoming the victim of identity thieves.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is Identity Theft?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard someone talking about identity theft or even heard it mentioned in the news. But what exactly is it? Simply put, identity theft is when someone steals your personal information (Social Security Number, bank account number, Driver\u2019s License number, etc.) and uses it for fraudulent or criminal purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Identity theft crimes range from using your information to apply for a line of credit to pilfering your tax refund. Some unfortunate identity theft victims actually have their entire lives stolen by a criminal assuming their identity and committing crimes in their name.<\/span><\/p>\n

If that sounds terrifying to you, that\u2019s because it truly is a frightening prospect. Imagine sitting at home with your family and having the police knock at your door. They\u2019ve come to arrest you for a crime you haven\u2019t committed, all because someone made a phony ID using your information.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are thousands of such horror stories and many identity theft victims had no idea anything was wrong until it was far too late. So, what can you do to prevent becoming victimized by identity thieves? The first step is to get all the identity theft information you can, which is why we\u2019ve created this comprehensive identity theft guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Identity Theft Happen?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The scary truth is that identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. That\u2019s because the sad reality is that criminals never stop looking for ways to steal your personal information and find ways to profit from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are no more creative individuals than those looking to get something for nothing. Identity thieves are constantly coming up with new ways to steal from you and many of them make it their full-time occupation. But how exactly does identity theft happen?<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the most common ways identity thieves gain access to your personal info:<\/span><\/p>\n

Dumpster Diving<\/b>: Criminals have no problem with digging through garbage to get any type of documentation with your personal information on it and then using it to steal from you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mailbox Theft<\/b>: Identity thieves will boldly grab financial statements or credit card offers from your mailbox in broad daylight in an effort to steal your identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Email Phishing<\/b>: Your identity can also be stolen online with phishing scams, which is where cybercriminals send you phony emails that look like they\u2019re from friends or legitimate businesses, asking for you to verify your most sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Card Skimming<\/b>: Many criminals use a special device to electronically capture your debit or credit card information by placing it directly on ATMs or even at gas pumps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pickpocketing<\/b>: Although identity thieves have begun to use more sophisticated means to commit their crimes, many still prefer good old-fashioned purse snatching or pickpocketing to gain access to your identification and financial information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Address Diversion<\/b>: Even though the USPS has put a credit card verification system into place for making an address change, if you\u2019ve lost or had your wallet stolen, identity thieves can easily divert your mail to come to their address with an unauthorized change of address request.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Common Is Identity Theft?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s been estimated by the Federal Trade Commission that as many as 13 million people are victimized by some form of identity theft each year. And with every passing day, identity thieves come up with more ways to steal from hardworking Americans.<\/span><\/p>\n

That statistic leads us to believe that while identity theft occurs all too often, it isn\u2019t as common as it could be if there weren\u2019t ways to prevent becoming a victim. But with combined personal losses of up to $16 million, identity theft is one of the most costly crimes that you can experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what can you do to keep from being added to the FTC\u2019s identity theft report? You need to know what to look for when it comes to the activity of identity thieves if you want to have any chance of beating them at their own game. Your first step should be to familiarize yourself with the various kinds of identity theft.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Different Types of Identity Theft?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Identity theft has become a serious moneymaker for criminals and it\u2019s ranked as the #1 consumer complaint since 2000. The FTC has received hundreds of millions of reports of identity theft in the past two decades, which makes it one of the biggest financial crimes to date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Educating yourself about where your personal information is most at risk for being stolen can be a big help in how to prevent ID theft from happening to you. There are a variety of ways identity thieves can gain access to your most sensitive data, from more traditional tactics to new and sophisticated online fraud schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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These are the 15 most common types of identity theft:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Driver’s License Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the top of the list is driver\u2019s license theft, which is where a criminal steals your ID card and uses it to apply for fraudulent bank or credit card accounts in your name. This is the most common type of identity theft and one of the scariest, thanks to the thought of your identity being used for criminal activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Mail Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mail identity theft is one of the oldest ways for a criminal to steal your personal information. If your mail has been stolen, a thief may be able to retrieve your financial account information to make purchases or open up new credit cards. They could also change your address on your statements or bills.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Debit or Credit Card Fraud<\/span><\/h3>\n

Whether a criminal uses your actual credit or debit card to make unauthorized purchases or hacks your online account information to gain access to the card numbers, this type of identity theft is all too common and can lead to thousands of dollars in stolen funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Social Security Number Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

When most people think of important personal information, their Social Security Number (SSN) is probably what comes to mind first. Of course, it\u2019s also at the front of most identity thieves minds too, which is what makes this type of identity theft so common. With your SSN, criminals can easily apply for loans or credit cards in your name, as well as get access to even more of your personal information.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Synthetic Identity Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is the fastest-growing type of ID theft and it represents up to 85% of all current cases of identity theft. But just what is synthetic identity theft? This type of ID fraud is when your personal information is merged with phony details to create a whole new identity. Criminals then use this new fraudulent information to open bank accounts or take out loans as that fictitious person, many times leaving you holding the bag for their crimes. <\/span><\/p>\n

6. Account Takeover Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

This type of ID fraud is when a criminal gains access to your bank or credit card account. They then begin to make unauthorized purchases and might even lock you out by changing the login info or password. Account takeover theft is usually the result of a malware infection or an email phishing scam.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. New Account Fraud<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another way identity thieves steal money is by using your information to open a new account under your name. They\u2019re able to make fraudulent use of your good credit or established banking relationship to make withdrawals or purchases without you even knowing about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Senior Citizen Scams<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to the FTC, almost 40% of ID theft complaints were made by Americans aged 60 or older in 2016. Identity thieves target seniors with their scams and prey on them online through phishing schemes, as they know many older people aren\u2019t as tech-savvy, making them an easier mark for being victimized.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Child Identity Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

Children are also favorite targets of identity thieves, as they know most parents won\u2019t think to check on the health of their child\u2019s credit. Criminals use the SSN of young children to open new accounts or take out lines of credit. And nobody is the wiser until the child grows up and tries to apply for their first credit card, only to discover they\u2019re in debt up to their neck, thanks to ID theft.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Tax Return Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tax identity theft is also on the rise and usually goes hand-in-hand with SSN theft. Scammers not only fraudulently file your taxes before you get the chance, but they also lie about the number of deductions and other details, so they can get a bigger refund. And of course, they sign up for direct deposit to another account, which means you don\u2019t know you\u2019ve been the victim of tax ID theft until it\u2019s too late.<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Criminal Identity Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

This type of identity theft occurs when a criminal gives your name and address to the police during an arrest. This keeps the crime off their record and adds it to yours, which can create some serious issues when you go to apply for a job or happen to get pulled over and discover there\u2019s a warrant out for your arrest.<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Medical Identity Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

This form of ID theft can be harder to uncover than most, as it only happens when a scammer uses your information for medical services. Healthcare has become very expensive, which means it\u2019s now an appealing way for identity thieves to steal from you by filing claims with your insurance company or leaving you with hospital bills under your name.<\/span><\/p>\n

13. Auto or Home Loan Fraud<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another popular ID scam is when criminals use your information to apply for a mortgage or car loan. Many times, these types of identity theft are a team effort, thanks to dealers or lenders being in on the scam, and lying on the loan application. If these types of loans aren\u2019t cross-checked at the time they\u2019re processed, you could end up paying for a car or home that you didn\u2019t even know existed.<\/span><\/p>\n

14. E-commerce Fraud<\/span><\/h3>\n

Online shopping fraud is on the rise, thanks to more and more cybercriminals hacking into bank or credit accounts. Many times, items are purchased with your financial information and then shipped overseas, and it\u2019s all done without your knowledge. If you don\u2019t check your bank or credit card statements regularly, you could be putting yourself at some serious financial risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

15. Employment Identity Theft<\/span><\/h3>\n

As strange as it might seem, there are fraudsters out there that want to apply for jobs using your identity. They typically create a synthetic ID with your SSN or driver\u2019s license number, and then report fraudulent income data to the IRS, leaving you on the hook for the taxes the government expects you to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Warning Signs of Identity Theft?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you know some of the ways criminals use your private data for profit, it\u2019s time to learn the warning signs of identity theft, so you can prevent yourself from becoming a victim. Even though ID theft can be much harder to detect than other types of crimes, there are still some ways to spot the evidence of identity theft.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you keep an eye out for the common clues that indicate you\u2019ve been the victim of identity theft, you can keep yourself from having to go through the long and arduous process of recovering from ID theft, and prevent your bank account from being drained.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the FTC, these are the top warning signs of ID theft:<\/span><\/p>\n