What is identity theft?

Question

give answer

Answer 1

Here is a portion of my daily BBC, NEWS, that I receive via email from BBC London, England. Will give you an indepth insight as what identity theft is and what other crimes are being committed on the Internet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7120251.stm

Minddoctor, France

Answer 2

So what is identity theft? Simply put, it's when a thief uses a victim's unique identifying information — Social Security Number, credit card accounts, even home address — to commit fraud or other crimes in the victim's name.

Identity theft generally takes two forms: "account takeover," which occurs when the thief uses the victim's existing financial accounts to buy things; and "application fraud," which is when the thief uses the victim's personal information to create new accounts — or even a whole new life — in the identity theft victim's name.

If you think someone has stolen your identity:

1. Your first step when identity theft prevention efforts fail is to notify the fraud unit at one of the credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — that your identity has been stolen.

2. Next, write to each of the bureaus immediately via certified, return-receipt mail to request a free copy of your credit report and an extension of the fraud alert to seven years.

3. Close any and all accounts found in your credit reports that point to identity fraud.

4. File a police report with the police department in your town or in the town or city where the identity theft occurred.

5. Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. To file a complaint online, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft. You can also call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or, for TTY access, at 1-866-653-4261.

6. Look into services designed to help you restore your identity.

more info on identity theft: http://identity.privacymatters.com/learning-center.aspx

Good luck to you, hope this helps!

Answer 3

What Is Identity Theft




What To Do If You Are a Victim?
We have probably seen the television commercials that warn comsumers about the threat of identitity theft. In one of the funniest, the victim on camera looks like a big guy on a riding lawn mower, but sounds like "the prettiest girl in the whole development!"
Unfortunately, for those who have been victims of identity theft, there is nothing at all humorous about the experience.

People have not only lost their credit ratings, money, and reputations due to identity theft, spent years trying to straighten out their lives, have been refused loans, educational opportunities, job offers, and have even been arrested for crimes they did not commit.

The following articles look at what identity theft is, how it can be prevented, and what to do if you think you have become a victim:


New Law Stiffens Penalties for Identity Theft
The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, which increases existing penalties for the crime of identity theft, establishes aggravated identity theft as a criminal offense, and establishes mandatory penalties for aggravated identity theft.

Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You
Identity theft or identity fraud, the fastest growing crime in the United States, is the taking of a victim's identity for financial gain or to conceal the real identity of the perpetrator.

If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
You can spend years and a lot of money to clean up the mess from having your identity stolen.

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Identity Theft Online
Reliable Identity Theft Resource. Find Identity Theft Information.
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Here are the first steps that you need to take, according to the Federal Trade Commission

Answer 4

Someone pretending to be you, with your information, who usually wants to steal your money.

There are so many things you need to do to protect yourself that you don't have time to deal with them all. On average, victims of identity theft spend 40 hours cleaning up the mess that someone else created.

You have 5 identities that need protecting: Your Character ID, Drivers License ID, Financial ID, Social Security ID, and your Medical ID.

You need just 3 things in place to protect yourself. Access to an attorney (24hrs), your credit reports monitored and a company that provides identity restoration services.

Are you fed up yet? Write to me today.
I'm a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist.
[e-mail]

Answer 5

when you give out your personal information like your credit card number or your social security number people can take it and pretend to be you :D
hense the name "IDENTITY theft".....

Answer 6

someone who's thefted your identity.

Answer 7

When some bastard uses your SSN and other personal info and opens accounts and uses you credit card and racks up a sh*t load of bills. It is totally illegal, take immediate action if you think you identity has been stolen.

Answer 8

where some` steals ur identity. u should kno that from what it is called!

Answer 9

you can answer any questions you have here