Examples Of Identity Theft: The Ultimate 20
As technology evolves, so does the way criminals commit crimes. One of the most popular crimes in today's society is identity theft. This crime has been around for many years, but with the internet and other technologies, it has become much easier for criminals to get their hands on your personal information. Below, we will discuss some examples of identity theft so that you can be more aware of what to look out for.
Top 20 Most Common Examples of Identity Theft
There are many different types of identity theft, but some of the most common include:
Debit Card Fraud Or Credit Card Fraud
Debit and credit card fraud are two of the most common types of identity theft. When your card is stolen or someone gets your account information, they can use it to make unauthorized charges. This can cause you to lose money and damage your credit score.
Pretexting
Pretexting is a type of fraud where someone uses false pretences to obtain personal information from another person. The most common form of pretexting is phone phishing, where the fraudster calls up the victim pretending to be from their bank or another institution, and tries to trick them into giving away sensitive information like account numbers or Social Security numbers. Pretexters may also pose as research surveyors or fake charity representatives to get people to reveal information.
Social Security Number Misuse
One of the most common ways that identity thieves steal information is by misusing social security numbers (SSNs). A social security number is a unique nine-digit number assigned to every U.S. citizen at birth. This number is used for many purposes, including applying for credit, filing taxes, and receiving government benefits. Because SSNs are so essential to everyday life, they are also a prime target for identity thieves.
Fraudulent Change of Address
Another example of identity theft is change of address fraud is when someone uses your personal information to change your mailing address without your permission. They may do this so they can redirect your mail to a different location, or so they can open new accounts in your name and have the bills sent to the new address.
Stolen Checks
When a criminal steals your personal information, they can use it to open new accounts in your name. They can also use your information to write bad checks. This type of identity theft can be very costly and difficult to fix. They can also try to cash stolen checks that are addressed to you. This can cause your bank account to be overdrawn and you may be responsible for the fees.
Phone Service Fraud
Phone service fraud is a type of identity theft that can have serious consequences. It occurs when someone uses your personal information to open a new phone line in your name. This can result in large bills, damaged credit, and even legal problems.
Phishing
Today, phishing is one of the most common types of identity theft. Phishing is a type of online fraud in which criminals pose as legitimate companies or organizations in order to trick victims into disclosing personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank account information, or Social Security numbers.
In many cases, phishers will send out mass emails that look like they’re from a legitimate company or organization. The email will often contain a link that takes the victim to a fake website that looks identical to the real website. The only difference is that the fake website will have a form for the victim to fill out with their personal information.
Look into how you can stop spam form submission to safeguard both your data integrity and user experience.
False Civil and Criminal Judgements
The next example of identity theft will make you wonder is there no end to fraudsters' imagination? This type of identity theft is false civil and criminal judgments. This happens when someone uses your name and Social Security number to file a lawsuit or get a conviction in your name.
Driver License Number Misuse
When your driver license number is misused, it can be used to apply for credit cards or loans in your name, open new bank accounts, or even get a job. This can wreak havoc on your finances and your credit score, and it can be difficult to recover from.
Home Title Fraud
Home title fraud is a specific type of identity theft in which the perpetrator obtains the deed or title to someone's home through fraudulent means and then sells or mortgages the property, often without the owner's knowledge. This can leave the victim facing eviction, foreclosure, and a host of other legal and financial problems.
Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage fraud is one type of identity theft that can occur when someone uses your personal information to apply for a mortgage without your knowledge or consent. This can lead to you being held responsible for the mortgage payments, even if you never signed for the loan.
Dumpster Diving
After reading about this type of identity theft, you will be very careful about what you put in the trash! Dumpster diving is the act of going through someone's trash in order to find personal information that can be used to steal their identity. This can include things like credit card statements, bank statements, bills, or even just personal documents with information like names and addresses.
Account Takeover Fraud
Account takeover fraud occurs when a criminal uses personal information to gain access to and take over an individual's accounts. This type of fraud can be used to commit a variety of crimes, including financial theft, identity theft, and even espionage.
Stolen Passport
A stolen passport is one type of identity theft that can have serious consequences. If your passport is stolen, you may find yourself stranded in a foreign country without a way to get home. Additionally, a stolen passport can be used to commit other crimes, such as human trafficking or drug smuggling.
Internet Of Things Identity Fraud
IoT identity fraud is a type of identity theft that occurs when someone uses your personal information to gain access to your IoT devices. This can happen in a number of ways, but often involves hackers gaining access to your device through its security vulnerabilities. Once they have access to your device, they can then use it to collect your personal data or even commit fraud. This is a new type of crime, and going forward, there will more and more examples of identity theft related to IoT. Your fridge might be spying on you already!
Senior Identity Scams
Now, this is one of the most stomach churning examples of identity theft - preying on the elderly. In a Senior Identity Scam, criminals use various methods to obtain personal information such as Social Security numbers, Medicare information, credit card numbers, and bank account information from seniors. They may pose as representatives from organizations that seniors trust, such as the government or their financial institution.
Debt Tagging
Debt tagging is a type of identity theft in which someone uses your personal information to open a new line of credit in your name. This can happen if someone obtains your Social Security number or other personal information. Once the new account is opened, the thief will use it to rack up debt in your name.
Medical ID Theft
Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, or health insurance information, to get medical care, buy prescription drugs, or file false insurance claims.
Military Identity Theft
Military identity theft occurs when someone steals another person's military identification information in order to assume their identity. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as to gain access to government benefits or to commit crimes while pretending to be someone else. In some cases, military identity theft may even be used to gain clearance to classified information.
Tax Fraud Identity Theft
Identity theft has been a problem for years, but tax fraud identity theft has become a growing problem in recent years. Tax fraud identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to file a false tax return in your name in order to receive a refund.
There are several ways that identity thieves can obtain your personal information. They may steal your mail, hack into your computer, or even go through your trash (again!). Once they have your personal information, they can use it to file a false tax return in your name and receive a refund.
We hope the examples of identity theft covered in this article will make you more vigilant about your personal information. There is a multitude of ways of taking advantage of your personal data - take good care of it. Why not check out what Clinked can offer? Whether you need to store and share documents securely online or want to take better care of your clients' data and keep business communication secure, Clinked can help.