| Identity theft (or "identity fraud" as it is also known) is | | | | months. Even ordinary junk mail can be used in identity |
| accomplished when a thief obtains sufficient personal | | | | fraud, and "pre-approved" loan offers are as good as |
| details about you, to be able to impersonate you in | | | | gold bars to identity thieves. |
| some way. This "impersonation" is commonly limited to | | | | Dumpster diving |
| using your name and other private information to | | | | There are people (they are commonly known as |
| obtain financial gain. | | | | "dumpster divers") who make their money out of |
| There are, however, more sinister forms of identity | | | | sifting through trash to find discarded documents |
| theft which involve a fraudster assuming a victim's | | | | containing personal details. Every personal document |
| entire identity. In these cases the identity thief might | | | | you throw away needs to be shredded before it is |
| obtain a driver's license and passport as well as | | | | thrown out. |
| opening bank accounts etc in the name of the victim. If | | | | Phishing email fraud |
| the fraudster decides to leave the country and live | | | | Phishing emails can be very effective for identity |
| abroad under a different name, the chances of | | | | thieves. It is easy to be taken in by a phishing email |
| catching him are so remote as to be virtually | | | | because they usually appear to be 100% genuine. The |
| impossible. | | | | way phishing works is that you receive an email |
| Identity theft can be accomplished on the strength of | | | | purporting to be from your bank, or some other |
| very little documentation; a bank account number and | | | | company you deal with. The email warns you that |
| a utility bill with matching name and address gives an | | | | there has been a security breach, and then usually |
| identity thief an easy way into your private identity. | | | | asks you to click on the link in the email and log into |
| The key to prevention of identity theft is awareness. If | | | | your account to check or update some information. If |
| you make yourself aware of how identity theft is | | | | you click the link it takes you to a phony website |
| accomplished, you have the power to protect yourself | | | | (again looking 100% legitimate) and, when you log in, |
| and your family from the heartache identity theft can | | | | everything you type will be recorded and downloaded |
| cause. | | | | by the fraudsters. |
| The following are six very common ways in which | | | | Stealing documents |
| thieves obtain information to enable them to | | | | Take care of all your documents; even an old credit |
| accomplish identity theft. | | | | card receipt can be useful to identity thieves. All |
| Card Skimming | | | | documents containing personal details should be kept |
| To accomplish identity theft through card skimming, all | | | | out of sight and preferably locked away in a safe |
| the fraudster needs is the chance to get hold of your | | | | place. Don't make the mistake of thinking your |
| credit card details. This is often done by using a small | | | | documents are safe in your home, visitors such as |
| electronic device to scan the card details, but it can | | | | cleaners and maintenance engineers, could be using |
| also be done by simply writing down the details. To | | | | their job as an easy way to steal valuable |
| avoid loss due to skimming fraud, make sure your | | | | documentation. |
| never let anyone take your credit card out of your | | | | Privacy breaches by third parties |
| sight when you offer it in payment. | | | | A legitimate company (eg your credit card company) |
| Mail Interception | | | | can be the source of leaked private information. This |
| If you move house, make sure you tell every company | | | | might be accidental, for example if there is a glitch in a |
| who might write to you that your address has | | | | computer security system. Such leaks also occur |
| changed. To be safe, you should have your mail | | | | when a member of staff decides to sell clients' |
| redirected by the Post Office for at least the first six | | | | information to identity thieves. |