| Like most crimes, identity theft can be | | | | his target well, by the time he's drained all |
| actually be quite fascinating, even thought | | | | the bank accounts and maximized his |
| it's dangerous and malicious at the same | | | | borrowings, he can walk away with potentially |
| time. Have you ever wondered how it | | | | hundreds of thousands of dollars. By the |
| occurs?Basically, identity theft has occurred | | | | time the victim realizes what's happened and |
| when a thief steals another person's | | | | proves it wasn't him, the chances of finding |
| confidential information, usually only known | | | | the criminal are extremely low. He's long |
| to that person, and uses it to assume that | | | | since disappeared. Laws have become tighter, |
| person's identity. Usually the thief uses | | | | but sadly the number of victims is still |
| the information for financial gain by | | | | rising every year.Some of the things to watch |
| committing fraud. Quite often the victim | | | | out for, that may signal you're the victim of |
| either doesn't know what's happened, or | | | | identity theft, include:- receiving bills for |
| doesn't find out until much later. By then, | | | | an account you didn't open |
| the criminal has long disappeared into | | | | |
| anonymity. The victim is left with a ruined | | | | - unexplained charges or fees on your credit |
| reputation, a credit report full of black | | | | card statement |
| marks, unpaid debts and demands for | | | | |
| payment.Even worse, it regularly happens that | | | | - not receiving bills or statements at the |
| the victim is arrested as the one responsible | | | | usual time |
| for all the fraud, because it's assumed the | | | | |
| victim is responsible. After all, it was | | | | - unauthorized withdrawals or transfers on |
| done using his or her identity. It can take | | | | your bank account |
| a long time to prove the crimes were | | | | |
| committed by an identity thief, and even | | | | - collection agency notices from accounts |
| longer for the consequences of the identity | | | | you don't know about |
| theft to be removed. The victim can suffer | | | | |
| for years.The rise of the internet has made | | | | - calls or letters about goods you didn't |
| it much easier for computer savvy criminals | | | | buy |
| to hack into classified information and steal | | | | |
| identities. This has resulted in an alarming | | | | - entries on your credit report about loans |
| increase in identity theft followed by | | | | you didn't apply forIdentity theft is a |
| fraud.Banks have always been the target of | | | | serious crime, with consequences that can |
| criminals, and stealing identities through | | | | last for years. Be diligent about your |
| bank records has been in existence for a long | | | | finances, and with any luck it either won't |
| time. Now stealing bank information is one | | | | happen to you, or you'll discover it before |
| of the major ways a criminal can profit from | | | | it's too late.Timothy Gorman is a successful |
| identity theft. Sometimes the thief will | | | | Webmaster who has witnessed first hand the |
| make regular withdrawals from a bank account | | | | effects of identity theft when one of his |
| until it is wiped clean. Another option is | | | | family members became a victim. He is the |
| to use the stolen identity to apply for loans | | | | publisher of Stop Identity Theft |
| and credit cards. Once the criminal has | | | | Resourcesinfo. A website that provides a |
| personal information, he can obtain a | | | | information on preventing identity theft and |
| driver's license, and getting credit from | | | | teaches you how to safeguard your own |
| banks becomes much simpler. All the | | | | personal and private information in order to |
| statements go to a temporary address | | | | keep from becoming a victim of identity |
| belonging to the thief, so the victim has no | | | | theft. |
| idea what's going on.If the criminal picks | | | | |