SeniorAnarchy.com

Consumer Beware... Identity Theft Tools & Techniques

The Tools Used In Identity Theft

Identity theft is very quickly becoming the crime of choice for thousands of criminals worldwide. With online Internet access to just about any kind of database you want becoming easier and easier to acquire, the crime of Identity Theft is becoming so easy, a child could do it, if they are even mildly adept at using a computer.

So how does identity theft occur? Below are some of the ways you can become a victim

Identity Theft From The Dead:

The goal here is to scour through newspapers obituary columns to find out who has died lately. Then once you get a list of the dearly departed and their addresses, you go over to their homes and grab any mail that is laying around. Some of the items used in identity theft are bank statements, credit card receipts, tax bills, and utility bills. They will even go through the garbage looking for anything that will help the perpetrators with the identity theft

This may take a few days maybe up to a month, but you can be sure that many of the dearly departed's loved ones are to traumatized & busy with other details to stop credit card bills and invoices from creditors from being sent out.

Another way to exploit those who have left this earth, is to make an appointment with a realtor to view the property of the newly deceased. Once inside, the thieves will go through the house looking for mail, invoices, even ID that may still be in the house, literally anything that will help the crooks with the identity theft of your loved on. Scotland just had over 7000 dead identity theft victims in a recent crime spree perpetrated by Scottish gangs.

Statistics say that around 30 percent of all ID thefts occur by stealing the identity of a dead person.

High Tech Identity Theft:

One of the laziest ways to perpetrate identity theft, is to place a computer recording device on a victims computer. Once this type of spy software is installed, it will capture and record ALL computer activity... everything from passwords, banking information & credit card numbers, to private emails & chat conversations.

The spy software will then relay this information over the Internet directly into the identity theft criminals email account. The nice thing for the crooks who operate this way is, they just let the victims emails pile up in an free untraceable email account, and then maybe once a month use an email parser to scan these emails for the information they need to get your money.This can be a totally automated process.The spy software is easy to buy off the Internet. There are over 500 types of this spy software commercially available to anyone who want to buy it.

Identity Theft Through Mail.

If the crook can get hold of your mail they will easily be able pull off and identity theft on you, and spoof a lending institution into granting a bank account to the scammers. They will simply take a leisurely drive through the country in the guise of delivering handbills to mailboxes. While they are at these country mailboxes they will pilfer your mail, Many of us aren't waiting for our bills with baited breath, so it can be a couple of months until we realize we haven't received our bills. By that time the identity theft has occurred and the crooks are long gone.

The other simpler way to get your mail is to put in a change of address to the post office and re route your mail to the identity thieves new post box. This is a common practice, and if you are on vacation you will be none the wiser.

Identity Theft Through Forged ID:

These tools are a bit more high tech an require some computer skill, but nevertheless many identity theft has been perpetrated by generating social security cards, drivers licenses & birth certificates. The software to do this can be acquired online freely if you know your way around. All that's required for this type of identity theft is a computer a printer and a software to tell the computer how to do what you want.

Identity Theft Through Shopping.

Have you ever been to a restaurant and paid with your credit card? Do you follow the waiter to the cash register and watch him as he runs your card through? It's very simple to grab your credit card numbers including your expiry date and the 3 or 4 digit security code on the back of your card. Then all the crook has to do to make you a victim of identity theft, is wait a few weeks and then go on an online shopping spree, using your stolen credit card information. It will be very unlikely that you will be able to sort out which retail outlet your card numbers were stolen from. This type of identity theft is extremely easy to pull off.

http://www.100computertips.com

MORE ARTICLES:

PFPC Announces Advanced Online Security Services
Multifactor authentication protects against fraud and identity theft.

Identity Theft Lands A White Collar Job - ABC Office
With recent efforts to crack down on individual identity theft, identity thieves are targeting businesses. Criminals are adapting their fraud strategies to meet the change, businesses ought to adapt their fraud prevention strategies to do likewise. ABC Office announces its line of industrial shredders with the capacity to shred more than just bank statements.

SOLUS Identity Theft Protection Launches Expansive, Broad-Spectrum Identity Protection
Designed to deal with more than just simple credit card fraud, SOLUS Identity Theft Protection provides critical protection against a broad range or instances of identity theft. By combining critical guidance with real-time fraud alerts, complete credit monitoring including a credit lock feature, out-of pocket expense reimbursement insurance, a seasoned 24/7 multi-lingual identity restoration team, and extended legal and emotional trauma support - SOLUS Identity Theft Protection provides truly comprehensive identity protection.

Protection against common online scams and frauds.
Protection against common online scams and frauds.

What Is Internet Scam Reporting?
Internet Scam Reporting may be the best internet home based business opportunity you?ve never heard of. You can register to be a scam reporter and enjoy the benefits of getting paid to share your experiences of getting ripped off by con artists selling home business opportunity scams. This is the best way to get back at companies that virtually stole your hard earned money.

What Do You Have Guarding Your Identity?
In America, one of the fastest growing crimes is identity theft This crime includes credit card, medical, tax and criminal fraud

Be Wary of Asphalt Paving Scams in Michigan
Consumers are warned to be extremely cautious when selecting a contractor to pave a driveway or parking lot. Each paving season, bands of con artists, often referred to as traveling criminals or gypsy pavers, enter Michigan in order to scam unsuspecting homeowners and business people. Their favorite targets are senior citizens.

How to Prevent Fraud and ID Theft
ACCC provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft.

Cyveillance Reports Malware Attacks via Web Sites Grew 30 Percent in Q3 2007: Online Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Report Identifies more
Cyveillance, the world leader in cyber intelligence, today announced its latest "Online Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Report." During the third quarter of 2007, Cyveillance identified a significant shift in the nature of online attacks with malware-based attacks jumping 30 percent to more than 3 million attacks. In addition, attacks targeting consumers in Europe and Asia are growing substantially faster than in the United States, indicating a global expansion of online fraud schemes taking advantage of previously untapped economically developed nations.

Identity Theft Prevention - How Do Thieves Steal Your Identity?
When we discuss about identity theft prevention, most people normally think about some irresponsible criminals who steal other peoples identity when non-internet savvy users are being careless and not aware of internet phishing and scams. You might be thinking that they are not familiar with online frauds and they are purely unaware of the risk of privacy invasion.

American Bankers Association Endorses Accurate Background Inc. for Pre-Employment Screening Services
Alliance Helps Banks Reduce Risk of Fraud and Customer Identity Theft

MyBackgroundCheck.com Launches New Identity Theft Protection Service
Protecting consumers from both credit and criminal identity fraud

CRYPTOCard Launches Password Amnesty
Offers free two-factor managed authentication service in support of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week.

Identity theft protection & prevention for students
In daily life, very few people stop to think about how effective their identity theft prevention skills are. Of course, many people are not aware that identity theft is the fastest growing type of fraud. Today's youth are especially at risk- the 18 to 29 age range is the quickest growing victim group. Everyone should be educated on identity theft protection, especially parents and students.