5 Categories of Identity Theft
One kind of crime that is widely used now-a-days and already became a big problem in the society is stealing money or other benefits from a person through pretending to be that particular person. It basically involves the stealing of a person’s personal identity. That crime is often called identity theft, but some calls it identity fraud or impersonation since it is not really possible for a person to completely steal one’s identity.
Identity thieves aim to identify information which they can use illegally in order to complete their motives. They often target Social Security Numbers, credit cards and banking account numbers which require personal codes. Public records, usernames and passwords are also included on the list of the identifying information that is often stolen. These are easy to steal because these are often used by people. The advancing world of technology also contributes for the success of the identity thieves through browsing social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, hacking files and stealing electronic mails.
Once they get the necessary information, they can start their operation. Opening new credit accounts, taking out loans in the victim’s name, stealing money from financial accounts or using available credit are just few of the things that they can do to their victims.
Moreover, based from the Identity Theft Resource Center there are five categories of identity theft. The first is the business identity theft wherein one uses another’s business name to obtain credit. Using another identity when involved to crimes is the second category which is also known as the criminal identity theft. Here, the thief impersonates someone for the purpose of disguise from authorities which will leave a clear record to their part. He or she can then continue the dirty works once succeed in concealing his/her true identity.
Using another’s identity to acquire services and to use one’s identity in his/her daily life are included on financial identity theft and identity cloning, respectively. Lastly, having access to medical services or drugs using another’s information, name, or even part of a persons’ identity is called medical identity theft. Medical records of the victim will be affected without his or her consent.
Bigger kind of id theft includes illegal immigration, terrorism and espionage which will definitely affect the security of a country. These are done by bigger and more dangerous groups which are funded to do such operations. These operations are more likely to result to more complex problems.
On the other hand, there are individuals who steal the identity of others for non-financial reasons and just for self pleasure. Receiving praises or attention for the victim’s achievement is an example of it which is labeled as identity theft in the media
Identity thieves provide their victims with nightmares and headaches once they found out that their identity was stolen because they are the ones who will face the consequences of being the victims of identity theft. Though according to a survey conducted by the Carnegie Mellon University, there is only 2% possibility of being a victim of identity theft, we should still take care and secure our own identity.
Tina L. Douglas is a skilled writer from California. With numerous experiences in the field of writing for several financial institutions, she is greatly qualified across a variety of economic issues. Her notable pieces of writing involve credit identity theft protection or simply credit theft protection.
Author: Tina L Douglas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Tags: self credit repair, do it yourself credit repair, credit score repair
