Identity Theft
“…the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person for the purpose of assuming that person's name to make transactions or purchases.”
What is Identity Theft?
Misnomer BUT, identity thieves can use your information to commit frauds: - Criminal, Medical, Financial, Ghosting
The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. - NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT at 23% 1964 Billings : (Montana) Gaz. 30 Sept. 17/2 (headline) Four to testify on *identity theft. Four Americans who suffered a theft of their identities were listed Tuesday as government witnesses at the Brooklyn spy trial of a Russian couple, who used their names. Javelin Strategy & Research : Key statistics 11.1 million adults were victims of identity theft in 2009 The total fraud amount was $54 billion The average victim spent 21 hours and $3730 out of pocket resolving the crime 4.8% of the population was a victim of identity fraud in 2009 13% of identity fraud crimes were committed by someone the victim knew History: murder phone/dumpster diving internet
Identity Theft
= rapid growth
Expired credit cards Bank statements Bills Receipts – any form, digital or physical.
*Don’t keep important information on jump-drives
What they need
Application Fraud
◦ uses your social security number and general information to open new accounts that the victim doesn't know about ◦ Mailed to alternate address
Account Takeover
◦ acquires access to current accounts through physical cards ◦ Uses just the cards expiration date and numbers
Kinds of Theft
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The Internet is an enabler. It makes our lives easier in terms of paying bills, checking account information, and making purchases. The same can be said for enabling identity theft and ease of access to con artists.
Online Identity Theft
Use a secure browser Always log out of accounts Don’t download random files from strangers Don’t give out your social security number online ◦ Who’s it going to?
Don’t save information on public computers ◦ or use auto-fill on your personal computer
Be smart
◦ change your passwords and don’t have the same password to multiple important accounts ◦ Same goes with your PIN number
Be informed of the privacy and security policies of sites ◦ especially when making purchases or providing personal information ◦ Check with the BBB and ensure it’s accredited
Preventing online Identity Theft
Be aware of all of your personal information and accounts Don’t release your social security number unless it is necessary Protect your personal checks, account statements and bank info Be wary of what you sign
◦ Your signature is one of the highest valued aspects of committing identity theft successfully.
Check your bank account balance and purchases monthly for fraudulent activity Review credit reports Keep photocopies of your wallet’s contents for your records and to easily cancel accounts Prevent further damage by immediately canceling accounts and contacting the credit bureau, creditors, and police
Preventing Actual Identity Theft
“If you think you've become a victim of identity theft or fraud, act immediately to minimize the damage to your personal funds and financial accounts, as well as your reputation.”
Follow the guidelines set up by the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse to know what to do if you think you’re a victim of Identity theft.
What next?
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Figure out what type of breach has occurred ◦ monitor your monthly account statements very carefully ◦ contact the creditor if your statement does not arrive on time
Step 1
Notify the credit bureaus and establish a fraud alert
◦ Immediately call the fraud department of one of the three credit reporting agencies Equifax fraud department Experian fraud department Trans Union fraud department
◦ When you request a fraud alert from one bureau, it will notify the other two for you ◦ Your credit file will be flagged with a statement that says you may be a victim of fraud and that creditors should take additional steps to verify your identity before extending credit.
Step 2
Order your credit reports ◦ When you establish the fraud alert, you will receive a follow-up letter from each credit bureau ◦ If you are a victim of identity theft, you will see evidence of it on your credit report. ◦ Surveys have found that the sooner individuals learn of identity theft, the more quickly they can clean up their credit reports and regain their financial health.
Step 3
Examine your credit reports carefully ◦ look for signs of fraud credit accounts that are not yours numerous inquiries on your credit report. check that your SSN, address, phone number, and employment information are correct
Step 4
Continue to monitor your credit reports. ◦ follow up in a few months and order another credit report every consumer can receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three national credit bureaus
Step 5
Consider a security freeze. ◦ stronger than a fraud alert
it prevents anyone from accessing your credit file unless you authorize the credit bureaus to release your report inconvenient ◦ You will have to lift the freeze on your credit file if you will be applying for new credit, an apartment, or employment involving a background check ◦ You can write to request that it be lifted for a certain period of time, or for a specific creditor Fee of $10-12
Step 6
Contact the arresting law enforcement agency, the department that originally arrested the person using your identity, or the court agency that issued the warrant for the arrest Explain that this is a case of misidentification and that someone is using your personal information Insist that you are the victim File an impersonation report
◦ confirm your identity
Request that the law enforcement agency establish your innocence which will entail an amended complaint being issued. Request that the law enforcement agency change all records from your name to the imposter's true identity
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Depending on the severity of the case and the state… • • ◦ ◦
Community service Fined 5-30 years in prison Forced to pay expenses
Identity Theft & The Law
Jan. 31, 2000 United States v. Anthony Jerome Johnson Aug. 9, 2000 United States v. Lamar Christian // United States v. Ronald Nevison Stevens 2000-2001 UnitedStates v. Jose Manuel Acevez Diaz
“Biggest Identity Theft Case Ever” - Philip Cummings stole personal information from more than 30,000 customers and then passed that information onto criminals. Losses to the victims are estimated at $50-$100 million
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2009
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THEN "the single largest hacking and identity theft case ever prosecuted.” Albert Gonzalez + accomplices all around the world
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Some Recent Cases
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html#whatifvictim http://www.privacyrights.org/identity-theft-data-breaches http://www.idtheftcenter.org http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft// http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html http://www.privacyrights.org/Identity-Theft-Data-Breaches http://www.identitytheft.org/ http://www.identitytheft.info/victims.aspx http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/ss/factsheet.pdf http://www.identitytheftprotection.org/articles/history-of-identity-theft.html http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/usamarch2001_3.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081701915.html http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2009-08-28-identity-thefthacker-plea_N.htm http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/05/tech/main4323211.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4163237.stm
Works Cited