Abhishek Agarwal asked:


In the United States alone, this is the fastest growing crime. In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission or simply put the FTC reported 43 percent of the fraud complaints they received where for identity theft. With the 2003 report, the incidents reached close to 10 million.

For every five families, there is always one who will fall prey to these thieves. It is hard not to be a victim even when every precaution in the book has been taken. Even though it seems you have safe guarded your data, the thieves always manage to stay a step ahead.

Understand that everything you do leaves a trail. Whether you use your pin number, write a check, sign up for a credit card or even order something online, thieves, if they want, will get your information.

No matter how hard you try, there lurks the possibility that existing information can still find their way to the identity thieves. Be aware of this fact and cautious with whom you give your vital data out to. Knowing this tactic, can put you above those who just give out their information.

It has been estimated that people spend approximately $500 and more than 30 hours to resolve. Some cases begin from a credit getting stolen to a person’s identity being completely “kidnapped”. These crimes are hard to prevent. Because of this, identity theft is hard to correct.

Identity theft is considered a white collar crime. It is because the thieves get in touch with the person directly to steal the information by deception and lies. They will also try and get any money from them that they can.

This crime does not need face to face contact for the thief to steal your identity or your cash. The ID theft is not committed just for the sake of having it but rather using it for other criminal means including to commit fraud.

Until 1998, the federal law had not caught up with this type of crime. In fact, it wasn’t until that year, that cases of a bigger magnitude started to show up. It was then that people began to see they needed a heavier sentence imposed on those who committed the fraud in the first place.

Thanks to these numerous cases, the laws were changed so some of these could be used as prosecuting the thieves. Some were changed or enhanced to repair their credit reports or recoup their losses and reputations.

The primary identity theft statute is 18 U.S.C.

Chad

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


How do you like knowing that hackers just sent you a virus? Did you know that there is another way these predators are attacking on the web?

Identity theft is a rapidly growing problem for many people. For several million people, it has already ruined personal transactions.

How can people do this? What are the identity thefts repercussions and what can you do to prevent it?

In the United States alone, identity theft is no longer uncommon because several bureaus are taking immediate actions to be rid of this problem. Yet, there is still some difficult in doing so.

Identity theft can happen when a hacker is able to obtain your information via the Internet. Data such as your full name, bank account number(s), and other information that has been posted online. Once they get this information, they are able to use it for many forms of crime. Whether it be to commit fraud or even just to steal your hardworking money.

All you need to do to know you are broke is check your checking account. All your money is gone!

A new way of online identity theft is spoofing. How does spoofing work you ask? Spoofing works by recreating a website with one that has the same name. In other words, that site becomes one the thief takes control of. He is now the head boss and able to control all the finances from the website.

There are three basic parts can let the thief manipulate ID theft. These are: Domain name, actual content and web hosting.

1. Domain Name – These sites can be purchased from numerous online sources for a small prices. The name will have dashes, letters and numbers.

2. Actual Content – The second component to start a website. Remember HTML and streaming media. This is the second key module in order to publish a site. The vital factor to deem here is the HTML and the streaming media are needed to distribute online.

3. Web Posting – This is the last step in the hacker’s plan to boost his plan off for stealing people’s identity. From here, the thief will say that website plus its principals and employees.

With all this, the profits that is supposed to go to the rightful owners will go to the thieves instead. Potential clients and buyers will not even notice the difference.

Individuals and companies do have a way of protecting themselves. Identity thieves can get through many of the blocks that websites put up. Yet, with two different tactics, companies can reduce their chances of being spoofed.

1. It is important to protect yourself so getting an anti-virus program would be the smart thing to do. One major way thieves can get all your information is sending you worms and viruses.

These viruses will compromise your computer and having one of these anti-virus programs to weed them out can help. The more protected you are, the less chance these thieves will get your personal and company information.

2. Secure servers have the ability to transmit data over the website without compromising people’s information. Using this can help when people are transmitting credit card information to buy something off your website.

A thing that needs to be looked into before you go with a securing server company, be informed about the business you are going to be paying to secure your information before you give out any online data to them.

Get the things that protect your website for your own sake and the sake of those visiting your site.



Bessie

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Have you ever felt pity for those who have suffered from the effects of identity theft? Should you be in their same situation suffering from identity theft, your life may be like theirs and you would understand and feel pity. It is this reason here that laws were passed to detour this continuous threat of security to everyone in the country including business and individuals.

Consumers’ awareness to this threat has finally peaked within the last five to ten years. Largely due to the media attention it has gotten, people are more aware of when they give out their personal data and especially when it is given out without their consent, such is the case on the Internet.

With the widespread attention and public outcry, federal and state legislation have been brought up regarding Identity theft issues.

ID Theft and Assumption Law

On the federal level, the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (18 USC 1028) was passed in 1998. When the law passed, it made any type of identity theft a felony. The law states that if a person knowingly uses the identification of another person with the sole purpose to commit some type of unlawful crime under both the state and federal laws.

Those who, in turn, violated this law, were put under close supervision by several federal agencies including:

- U.S. Secret Service

- the Social Security Administration

- the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

- the U.S Postal Service

Criminals were then prosecuted by:

- the U.S. Department of Justice.

The law does allow for victims to be reimbursed. This reimbursement was established within the Federal Trade Commission as an identity theft clearinghouse.

Following on the federal law’s heels, 40 states have criminalized identity theft, most of them being a felony.

Senate Bill 2328 called the Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2000 signed by Sen. Feinstein, Kyl and Grassley. They wanted more attention to direct on prevention matters before theft occurs. They wanted also to find out where the prevention should be taken and where the preventions should belong.

President George W. Bush signed the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act or ITPEA as an addition to many of these laws.

What are the provisions of this identity theft law?

When a theft is found to have occurred, it is made a felony with a mandatory two-year sentence in prison. Should any of the theft be related to terrorist activity, there will be an additional five years tacked on.

It also orders the U.S. Sentencing Commission to strengthen its penalties should the theft be found in the role regarding employment.

Many people are happy that identity theft is now being prosecuted but still say the credit bureaus and the industry itself has to make necessary changes before all is said and done.

Laws were also needing to address the frustration that victims felt and a way to for them to let others know they have criminal record that is not theirs.

Some bills that were passed include a provision, which made it possible for people to get contents regarding their own information that has been put together by information broker, employment background checks and an individual reference service.

For those who had criminal records that is not of their own doing, there must be a way for those people to clear it up an expedited process. These would involve the law enforcement where the arrest was first made and the court issues the warrant. Currently, there is no such remedy for victims of identity theft with criminal records



Bryan

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Are you really safe from identity theft? Each day people are being attacked. So how would you feel if you got arrested for a crime you did not commit? The phone rings and creditors are harrassing you saying you owe X amount of dollars despite the fact you do not have a credit card or you haven’t used it in that month. What will you say to them?

Perhaps when you become a victim you will have the answers to these questions. But until then…

People say that identity theft is the “perfect crime” Everyone who is anyone can be a victim including children. The best way to prevent yourself from being the prey is learn about the crime. There are millions affected every year.

Once a thief decides to take your place in your life, it’s almost impossible to get that life back. So you have not been a victim of ID theft, then do not take any risk that can harm those chances.

ID theft is the type of crime that one person pretends to be another in sake of getting information, money or any other reasons. This is typically done for financial reasons and or criminal activity.

Information that the thieves look to get are the potential victim’s complete name, their date of birth and any array of related data such as social security number, passport, driver’s license number and credit card number.

Once the thief has any part of the information, he or she can use it to take over the victim’s accounts. He or she can apply for loans and even purchase items and services.

The thief can also apply for medical benefits, education assistance and other personal finances. Just by creating or forging birth certificates or immigration documents, all this can be gotten when presented to the right agency who provides this type of help.

For those who are involved in this kind of crime either want to mislead police on who is committing the fraud or hide from police while they are pursuing the assailant. Some like to use the person’s name to do larger crimes and do human trafficking and terrorism acts.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 29 percent of complaints come from individuals from people aged 18-29, 25 percent for 30-39 individual ages, 21 percent in from individuals in their 40s. 13 percent from the individuals in 50s. The remaining 10 percent come from those ages 60 and older.

Thieves target those who have an average income and those with good credit.

Do not forget that even children can be victims of identity theft especially from their relatives…their parents mainly.

Even businesses, corporations and smell enterprises can be struck by identity theft by thieves disguising themselves as the top executives of the company. They withdrawal large sums of money which can topple business relations and its reputation.

This day and age, ID theft can be committed by gaining access to information systems and duplicating, although not the original, important documents. Afterwards, they can open new credit accounts and charging older ones.

Technological advances have made it possible for hackers to break into public databases and cracking important government sites.

There are seven ways to guard yourself from these thieves though not altogether foolproof.

1. Make sure to never provide your Social Security number unless it is required;

2. Shred important documents;

3. Checks should only have your name and address;

4. Carry only necessary documents needed for the day;

5. Review credit reports regularly. Look for unauthorized accounts;

6. Never give out private data on the phone.



Anita