| By now, almost all Americans understand how | | | | pay the bills. But if they dont pay or stop |
| common the crime of identity theft has become | | | | paying later on, then it again goes against |
| and should also realize that they are prone | | | | your credit history and can affect your |
| to becoming a victim of this horrendous | | | | ability to obtain and maintain these |
| crime. While most have probably heard of the | | | | necessary services. |
| many problems that can result from identity | | | | |
| theft, many may not truly understand what a | | | | A more serious type of identity theft |
| criminal does with personal information once | | | | activity is government documentation fraud |
| they have access to it. Protecting yourself | | | | where a criminal can use your personal |
| means understanding what a criminal may do | | | | information for many different purposes. |
| once they have your personal information so | | | | They may get a drivers license or state ID |
| you can monitor suspicious activity. Once | | | | with your information and their picture. One |
| your personal information has been | | | | common practice of identity theft is the |
| compromised, thieves can commit many crimes | | | | usage of someone elses Social Security number |
| including bank or credit card fraud, | | | | for employment purposes. While this practice |
| utilities fraud, governmental documentation | | | | does happen with people who are on the run |
| fraud, and even criminal fraud. This article | | | | from the law or wish to stay hidden for some |
| will discuss the different ways a thief may | | | | other reason, it is more likely that an |
| use your personal identity information and | | | | illegal immigrant without a Social Security |
| what methods you can use to protect yourself. | | | | number of their own will commit this crime. |
| | | | The Social Security administration is not |
| The most popular and most common way of using | | | | well equipped to detect this type of problem |
| someones personal information is bank or | | | | and it may go on for years unless the IRS |
| credit card fraud and this type of fraud can | | | | notices some abnormality at tax time. |
| be very detrimental to the victim. A thief | | | | Another problem that often arises is when the |
| may get a new credit card using your name and | | | | person using your Social Security number |
| social security number, many times using an | | | | files for unemployment. There was a case |
| alternate address so you never see any bills. | | | | several years ago at a small company where an |
| Once the criminal has this credit card they | | | | employee, unknown to the employer, was an |
| can run up charges until the card is maxed | | | | illegal immigrant and was using somebody |
| out and never making a payment will put the | | | | elses Social Security number. This employee |
| negative information on your credit history | | | | was put on a two week temporary layoff and |
| file. The thief can do a similar thing by | | | | filed for unemployment with the false Social |
| opening up a bank account in your name. They | | | | Security number that they had been using for |
| will write bad checks and secure loans with | | | | years. By a matter of chance, the legal |
| no intention of paying anything back so this | | | | owner of the Social Security number filed for |
| will also end up as a negative mark on your | | | | unemployment benefits the very same week |
| credit history file. Both of these methods | | | | which created a red flag for the Social |
| may be difficult to catch in the beginning | | | | Security administration department. |
| because if the thief is using an alternate | | | | |
| address, you will stop receive billing | | | | Possibly the most frightening type of fraud |
| statements from current accounts and never | | | | is where a person who has access to your |
| receive a statement on a new account. There | | | | person identity information gets arrested for |
| are even some more technologically advanced | | | | some reason and supplies the authorities with |
| criminals that can, after gaining access to | | | | your information. If they do immediate jail |
| your pin number, clone your ATM card and | | | | time, the worst that will happen is that you |
| drain your bank account dry. | | | | will develop a criminal history but if they |
| | | | are required to return for a court trial at a |
| Another common activity of identity theft | | | | later date, you may encounter some real |
| criminals is to commit utilities fraud with | | | | problems. The fact that they are already a |
| your personal information. A thief may open | | | | criminal who has stolen your identity means |
| up new phone, electric, gas, or other utility | | | | that they are unlikely to bother showing up |
| service account using your information. This | | | | for their court appointment and a warrant |
| scheme can extend into accounts for cell | | | | will be issued in your name. Something as |
| phones, cable TV, sewer and water, and some | | | | simple as a traffic violation can land you in |
| criminals have been known to even rent | | | | jail, wondering just what is going on. |
| apartments, all in your name, and like bank | | | | |
| fraud, the smart criminals will have all | | | | After learning what an identity theft |
| bills and statements sent to a different | | | | criminal can do with your information, you |
| address so you will not be aware of any | | | | should now realize that it is important to |
| suspicious activity until after the damage is | | | | take necessary steps to protect yourself. |
| already done. This crime be sometimes have | | | | Instead of taking the chance of becoming a |
| less negative impact on the victim because if | | | | victim, you would be much better off to take |
| the criminal is obtaining monthly services | | | | some proactive steps to eliminate or reduce |
| using your name, they may very well wish to | | | | your risk of identity theft. |
| keep these services active and will actually | | | | |