| Stolen identity: it can ruin your credit. Stolen identity is | | | | operations, enterprise security hangs in the balance. |
| an epidemic that attacks silently and indiscriminately. | | | | Text messaging and instant messaging via mobile |
| Most people don't find out they have been a victim of | | | | devices reduce telecommunications costs and |
| a stolen identity until they are turned down for a loan | | | | increase the likelihood of an identity invasion.o Phishing |
| or credit card. Armed with information like a social | | | | occurs when scam artists steal personal information |
| security number, bank account number or your | | | | from you by sending email that claims to be from a |
| mother's maiden name, an identity thief is off and | | | | legitimate company and says you have a problem with |
| running and a stolen identity is in the making. I have | | | | your account. Stolen mail, both from postboxes and |
| compiled a short list of the many ways your identity | | | | dumpsters, is also a common starting point for many |
| can be stolen. While reading this, keep in mind that | | | | would-be impostors.o Corporate and hospital |
| identity is the currency of the future. | | | | databases are being hacked at all the time. |
| These are among the most common methods for | | | | If identity is the currency of the future then information |
| stealing people's identity:o Dumpster diving in trash bins | | | | is the currency of today's black market. Proof of this is |
| for credit card statements, loan applications, and other | | | | in today's internet relay chat channels; private areas on |
| documents containing names, addresses, account | | | | the Internet where real-time text messaging takes |
| information, and social security numbers.o Stealing mail | | | | place are rife with communications between organized |
| from unlocked mailboxes to get pre-approved credit | | | | cyber-crime groups and meth users and traffickers |
| offers, credit cards, utility bills, bank and credit card | | | | discussing how they can assist each other. An |
| statements, investment reports, insurance statements, | | | | advance in computer hardware and software along |
| benefits documents, and tax information. Criminals | | | | with the growth of the internet has significantly |
| complete a "change of address" form to divert your | | | | increased the role that identity theft plays in crime. |
| mail to another location.o Impersonating a loan officer, | | | | Most victims don't even know how the criminals pulled |
| employer, or landlord to get fraudulent access to credit | | | | it off. In a short period of time, extensive damage can |
| files.o Insider access to names, addresses, birth dates, | | | | be done as a result of a stolen identity incident. The |
| and social security numbers in personnel or customer | | | | use of a false or stolen identity enhances the chances |
| files.o Shoulder surfing at ATM machines and phone | | | | of success in the commission of almost all financial |
| booths to capture PINs.o Accessing online sources of | | | | crimes. Identity fraud can destroy your credit, as well |
| personal data, such as public records and fee-based | | | | as your peace of mind. As I have said in one of my |
| information sites.o Stolen laptops. As mobile devices | | | | recent blog posts, "It's not if, but when it will happen to |
| get smaller, and increasingly relevant to business | | | | you. |