| While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has | | | | indictments across the U.S., individuals have been |
| opened up whole new world of opportunity for identity | | | | charged with obtaining and using personal information |
| thieves. | | | | through various ways. In Miami, two individuals were |
| According to the FBI, identity theft is the top online | | | | indicted for illegally tapping the computer networks of |
| fraud. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says that | | | | restaurants using the cover of a dummy corporation. |
| identity theft is it's number one source of consumer | | | | A clerical worker at the New York State Insurance |
| complaints - 42 percent of all complaints, in 2001. | | | | Fund pilfered office files and used stolen identities (of |
| The thief will use your personal information to open | | | | people across the country as well as fellow office |
| credit card accounts, cell phone accounts, open bank | | | | workers) to obtain goods and services. A phlebotomist |
| accounts in your name and write bad checks-leaving | | | | at Kaiser Permanente admitted to using the personal |
| the victim with the bills and ruined credit ratings. Identity | | | | information of patients and employees in order to open |
| thieves may pose as representatives of banks, | | | | credit card accounts in various names. |
| Internet service providers and even government | | | | Recently, an FTC investigation into a work-at-home |
| agencies to get you to reveal your Social Security | | | | scheme spawned an incredible "scam-within-a-scam" |
| number, mother's maiden name, financial account | | | | when a man pretending to be an FTC employee |
| numbers and identifying information. | | | | emailed hundreds of the scam's victims. He requested |
| In a recent article ( MSNBC reported the case of a | | | | personal information stating that it was to be used as |
| man who fell victim to a fraudulent job listing that was | | | | evidence in the case. |
| posted at According to the article: | | | | While it's impossible to completely eliminate the |
| "It was just the job lead Jim needed: a marketing | | | | chances of becoming a victim, you can minimize the |
| manager position with Arthur Gallagher, a leading | | | | risk by putting the following to practice: |
| international insurance broker. And only days after Jim | | | | --If a would-be employer asks you for any personal |
| responded to the job posting on Monster.com, a | | | | information you should ask them for their contact |
| human resources director sent along a promising | | | | information and then separately look up the company's |
| e-mail. We're interested in you, the note said. The | | | | information and contact them to verify that they |
| salary is negotiable, the clients big. In fact, the clients | | | | actually exist. While it's not unusual for an employer to |
| are so valuable and sensitive that you'll have to submit | | | | ask for certain work-related information (like your work |
| to a background check as part of the interview | | | | history and former employers), it is not appropriate for |
| process. Eager for work, Jim complied- and sent off | | | | them to ask for personal information (like a social |
| just about every key to his digital identity, including his | | | | security number) unless you are actually being hired |
| age, height, weight, Social Security number, bank | | | | (and you've checked them out to make sure they're |
| account numbers, even his mother's maiden name." | | | | legitimate). Even then, you should never be asked for |
| Jim spent the day canceling his credit cards, checking | | | | financial information such as a credit card number. |
| his balances and contacting the credit bureaus, but he's | | | | --On online resumes, never include your social security |
| concerned that his information is now "out there". | | | | number and keep even your work history brief. |
| There are warning signs that can tip you off to | | | | --Check your credit card statements often. Believe it |
| fraudulent job listings. While these items don't | | | | or not, many people never even check them! |
| necessarily mean that the listing is a scam, they are | | | | --Be sure to follow up with creditors if your bill doesn't |
| indications that you should do further checking. | | | | arrive on time. A missing credit card bill may mean that |
| --Incorrect grammar and spelling errors | | | | an identity thief has changed your billing address to |
| --Phone or fax number area codes don't match the | | | | cover their tracks. |
| address given | | | | --Order your credit report from one of the major credit |
| --Unrealistic salary | | | | bureaus each year and verify that everything is |
| Online job databases are not the only places that | | | | correct. |
| identity thieves cruise for personal information. In recent | | | | |