 News & Events
Victim of Identity theft?
- Identity theft is currently the fastest growing white collar crime in America.
- In cases of identity theft, criminals obtain your personal data (such as a credit card number or Social Security number) and use the information to assume your identity. Thieves may take over your existing accounts or use your name to open new accounts, or apply for loans.
- You may not be aware that your identity has been stolen until a merchant or collection agency contacts you, seeking payment for a bill you know nothing about. You may also be declined for a loan or employment because your credit records show defaults on loans unknown to you
How Do Identity Thieves Get My Personal Information?
While the more elaborate schemes are the ones that often make headlines, most identity thieves still obtain a victim's information through conventional paper means including:
- a lost or stolen wallet, check or credit card
- "dumpster-diving," or digging through your trash for statements and other financial information
- theft of mail from your mailbox
- hacking your website
Current findings indicate that about 11% of identity theft is traced to online, computer-based crimes. Identity thieves use fraudulent e-mails (a practice known as "phishing") and fraudulent web sites to trick you into revealing personal data online.
.
Downloadable reports coming3rd qtr of 2009  |
