Identity thieves can steal your personal information directly or indirectly by:
Stealing your wallets and purses containing identification cards, credit cards and bank information
. Stealing your mail including credit and bank statements, phone or utility bills, new checks, and tax information.
What are stolen identities used for?
Identity theft may be used to
facilitate or fund other crimes including Illegal immigration, terrorism, phishing and espionage
. There are cases of identity cloning to attack payment systems, including online credit card processing and medical insurance.
How thieves can steal your identity?
Highlights: There are a number of ways identity thieves may obtain your personal information. Fraudsters
may dig through mail or trash in search of credit card or bank statements
.
Unsecured web sites or public Wi-Fi may
allow identity thieves to access your information electronically.
Do identity thieves get caught?
Identity thieves almost never get caught
In a study done in 2006, “only 1 in 700 identity theft suspects were arrested by federal authorities (0.14%).” … It’s safe to say that identity thieves are far more likely to get away with their crimes.
What are the warning signs of identity theft?
- An unfamiliar loan or credit account on your credit report. …
- An inexplicable denial of credit. …
- Bills for accounts you know nothing about. …
- An unexpected drop in your credit score. …
- Collections agency calls for overdue accounts you know nothing about.
Can someone steal your identity with just your name?
Identity
theft begins when someone takes your personally identifiable information such as your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, your mother’s maiden name, and your address to use it, without your knowledge or permission, for their personal financial gain.
Are you responsible if your identity is stolen?
Both companies have procedures to deal with ID theft and will put a warning on your file. They can review copies of your credit record and report any false information. … If your credit card was used after it was reported lost or stolen, your maximum liability is
$50
.
What is the most common form of identity theft?
Financial identity theft
is the most common type of identity theft.
How can I find out if someone is using my identity?
- Track what bills you owe and when they’re due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign that someone changed your billing address.
- Review your bills. …
- Check your bank account statement. …
- Get and review your credit reports.
Does identity theft ever end?
The effects of identity theft can last anywhere
between a few days and several years
, depending on the type of theft and how quickly you notice and address it. Identity thieves can gain access to your information in any number of ways.
What do you need to steal someone’s identity?
- Your Social Security Number. …
- Your Date and Place of Birth. …
- Your Financial Account Numbers. …
- Your Banking PINs. …
- Your Card Expiration Dates and Security Codes. …
- Your Physical and Email Address. …
- Your Driver’s License or Passport Number. …
- Your Phone Number.
What do thieves do with stolen Social Security numbers?
A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can
use it to get other personal information about you
. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, they use the credit cards and don’t pay the bills, it damages your credit.
What do identity thieves look for?
Any of these pieces of information are fair game for identity thieves, though some are more valuable than others:
SSN, date of birth, credit card numbers, driver’s license number, Social Security card, passwords and usernames, rewards account numbers
, and more.
What are 3 things you should do if you learn your identity has been stolen or compromised?
- File a claim with your identity theft insurance, if applicable.
- Notify companies of your stolen identity.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
- Contact your local police department.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
- Freeze your credit.
How do you check if my SSN is being used?
To see if your Social Security number is being used by someone else for employment purposes,
review your Social Security Statement at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount
to look for suspicious activity. Finally, you’ll want to use additional scrutiny by regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts online.
What if a scammer has my personal information?
If the scammer was able to obtain your personal identifying information (social security number, date of birth, etc.), then you need to
contact all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax)
and place a free 90-day fraud alert on your credit reports.
