Identity
Theft
Identity
theft what happens when someone’s private information,
such as a social security number or password, is stolen
and then consequently used in order to commit a crime or
make fraudulent purchases. Often a user will not know about
this crime until after they get a bill or are questioned
by authorities.1
It is not a new concept in crime. Before the Internet became
as popular as it is now, thieves could easily go through
someone’s garbage and find a copy of a credit card
receipt. This method could often provide the thief with
the necessary information to enable them to steal that person’s
identity. As the times have changed, so have the methods
of transaction and unfortunately, identity thieves have
adapted to the change just as quickly as the trusting consumers.
The Identity
Theft Protection website states that “every 79
seconds someone becomes a victim of identity theft.”2
Useful personal information can often be given to the thief
by use of viruses
If you believe that you have become a victim of identity
theft, please visit the Identity Theft website and follow
the three steps provided. It says that a victim should change
his or her passwords and close accounts, contact the local
police department and contact the credit bureaus that are
listed on the website.3
