| Everyone has probably heard of identity theft. It is a | | | | their identities are being used for this types of activities |
| crime committed when another person utilizes the | | | | and little do they know that when criminals perform |
| identity of another person to gain employment, commit | | | | their illegal acts, the name that is actually at stake are |
| crimes or acquire financial rewards. It is typically | | | | theirs. There are various criminal activities where |
| referred as a silent crime that can kill instantly because | | | | identity theft can be utilized like computer and cyber |
| of the fact that most victims of identity theft do not | | | | crimes, money laundering drug trafficking, alien |
| realize that their identity has already been stolen until | | | | smuggling, and organized crimes. Money laundering, |
| everything is too late. Charges have already been | | | | more specifically, can be performed by opening new |
| made on their credit cards, bank accounts have | | | | accounts under their victims' name and using these |
| already been drained, and crimes have already been | | | | accounts to launder huge amounts of money. |
| committed at the expense of the victim. There are a | | | | With the many variations of identity theft, still the most |
| couple of things that identity thieves do with the | | | | prevalent are credit card frauds. This can be done |
| personal information that they get. Often they utilize | | | | when, for instance, you dined in a restaurant and you |
| these to commit the following: | | | | used your credit card to pay for your bill. As you are |
| 1. Financial fraud - This type of identity theft typically | | | | on a hurry, you did not bother picking up the receipt |
| includes social program fraud, credit card fraud, | | | | from the restaurant which can contain a lot of |
| computer and telecommunications fraud, bank fraud, | | | | information that can be taken advantaged of like your |
| mail fraud, tax refund fraud, and a whole lot more. As | | | | credit card number, your name and signature. |
| a matter of fact, secret service agency of the US | | | | Identity theft in its simplest for is credit card fraud. It is |
| Government have investigated 25 different types of | | | | the most common and easiest to accomplish. Other |
| financial identity theft that have been committed by | | | | than the scenario that was described above, it can |
| different individuals, involving millions of victims that are | | | | also be initiated with pre-approved credit card offers |
| totally unaware of the theft that is taking place. | | | | that come to your mailbox that you immediately |
| 2. Criminal activities - This type of identity fraud often | | | | discarded to your garbage bin. These types of mail |
| includes stealing another person's identity and using this | | | | also contains very sensitive information that when held |
| fraudulent identity to commit crimes, gain legal entry to | | | | by the wrong hands, can really get you into trouble. For |
| a specific country, obtain special permits, deliberately | | | | this reason, it is important that you dispose your trash |
| hide another person's identity, or worst, commit violent | | | | properly especially if they contain information or data |
| acts of terrorism. Often, victims are also unaware that | | | | that criminals can use against you. |