Identity theft occurs when someone steals another’s personal
information and exploits their identity without their permission.
Identity Theft and Its Impact on Society
Sunday, November 11, 2012
What is Identity Theft?
Different Methods Identity Thieves Use to Obtain Personal Identity
Identity Thieves can gain access to another’s personal
information by use of their social security number, home address, bank account
information, ATM pin number, among other personal identity information.
Skimming: identity thieves can steal your personal identity
when you have given them access to your debit/credit card or personalized check
for purchasing purposes.
Phishing: identity thieves can send you fictitious emails
from national corporations.
Common Places for Theft: Identity thieves can steal your identity
by means of an unlocked mailboxes, wallets, trash bins, purses, etc.
Why is the advancement in Identity Theft becoming a technological problem?
Identity thieves have enhanced the ways they steal their
victim’s personal identity.
v
They are able to develop viruses in a short
duration such as two minutes.
v
They are able to hack into corporation’s networks
(by use of their own enhanced viruses, Trojans, etc.) and acquire people’s
personal information.
v
Identity thieves create phishing webpages that
deceive people because logging into a website that they believe is legitimate and
secured.
v
They created a system for stealing personal
identities: they purchase their items using the victim’s bank information and
ship it to a specialized address that is used for this illegal act. A middle
man is used for the purpose of signing for the packages that are shipped to the
specific address. Then, the middle man mails the packages to another address
that is regionally close to the identity thief. Finally, the identity thief
picks up the packages from that point on. This is how identity thieves remain anonymous
and are hard to track down.
v
Identity thieves created underground websites
for selling their victim’s personal information. They sell the victim’s
personal information to other identity thieves for as low as five dollars.
The following video also explains how identity thieves steal their victim's identity.
The following video also explains how identity thieves steal their victim's identity.
How does Identity Theft Impact our Society?
Identity Theft is a growing illegal act that has significant
negative affects within our society. Its
victims instantaneously lose their personal identity in a matter of seconds
which permanently alters their future.
v
“An estimated 11.7 million persons, representing
5% of all persons age 16 or older in the United States, experienced at least
one type of identity theft in a 2-year period” (1).
v
Its victims become frantic and stressed because
they are aware that someone else has access to their information and are
capable of using it any way they desire to. Meanwhile, the victim isn’t knowledgeable
of their thief (since majority of identity theft cases aren’t resolved).
v
The identity thief can ruin their victim’s
credit which will hinder the victim from living their life comfortably by doing
such things as buying their own house and car.
v
The various methods that identity thieves use to
steal their victim’s information are common means such as ATM machines,
personalized bank checks, driver’s license, personal mail, among others.
Unfortunately, people are prone to become the next identity theft victims
because people rely on these types of means on a daily basis.
The following is an example of the negative effects of identity theft.
Click on the following links for more information on Identity Theft.
The following is an example of the negative effects of identity theft.
Click on the following links for more information on Identity Theft.
1)
"Identity Theft Research and Statistics -
ITAC Victim Database - Surveys of Identity Theft Victims." Identity Theft
Research and Statistics - ITAC Victim Database - Surveys of Identity Theft
Victims. Identity Theft Assistance Center, 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.identitytheftassistance.org/pageview.php?cateid=47>.
2)
"Identity Fraud Rose 13 Percent in 2011
According to New Javelin Strategy & Research Report." Javelin Strategy
-. Javelin Strategy and Research, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<https://www.javelinstrategy.com/news/1314/92/Identity-Fraud-Rose-13-Percent-in-2011-According-to-New-Javelin-Strategy-Research-Report/d,pressRoomDetail>.
3)
"SmartTalk Technology: Identity
Theft." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FcpX0wxm6s>.
4)
WIVBTV. "Identity Theft: A Nationwide
Epidemic." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZNvob5Dl9U>.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)