| Identity theft is a vibrant and growing criminal enterprise | | | | arrested. |
| and consumer advocates have called it the easiest | | | | Identity theft scams can also occur over the phone. |
| crime because we live in a society where cash is | | | | Never answer personal questions about bank |
| seldom carried and most wallets are filled with plastic. | | | | accounts, credit card accounts, or other information |
| By posing as someone else, thieves have found that | | | | over the phone. Legitimate credit cars companies |
| they can steal in a way that leaves victims powerless | | | | never ask for account numbers over the phone. Hang |
| and police uninterested. | | | | up the phone and if the person gave a company |
| It is difficult to say how widespread identity theft is | | | | name, call the Better Business Bureau and report the |
| because there is no standard definition of the crime. | | | | company. |
| However, there is an increasing number of complaints | | | | Identity theft can affect anyone at any time during their |
| to the government, business and consumer groups. | | | | life. It is important to understand the risks of buying |
| Credit reporting firms say fraud inquiries have soared | | | | things on the internet and answering questions over |
| from less than 12,000 annually in 1992 to more than | | | | the phone that can give another person the |
| 700,000 today. The biggest problem with identity theft | | | | opportunity to steal money before you fall into the |
| statistics is that cases can go for years and years | | | | snare of an identity theft scam. |
| before being detected. | | | | In many states, stealing someone's identity is still the |
| Identity theft encompasses a variety of different | | | | perfect crime because there is little that can be done |
| crimes such as credit card fraud, stealing an ATM | | | | to prosecute it. These states simply do not have any |
| card, using someone's Social Security number or | | | | separate statues addressing identity theft. Most states |
| confiscating someone's driver's license. The identity | | | | have provisions for prosecuting credit card fraudulent |
| thieves usually use this information to buy everything | | | | acts or forgery but there are no provisions or |
| from cars to toys, leaving the person's credit rating in | | | | recourse for identity theft. The crime is prevalent |
| ruins. Imposters have been known to commit crimes, | | | | nationwide and the consequences of it are immense. |
| then give their fake identity to police when they're | | | | |