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 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:00 am Post subject: How are the thieves that steal our identities? |
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Dear friends..
Please let me know if their is a way to prevent identity theft.
How do these identity thieves work out their plans?
I was really shocked to read about identity thefts in the past but that was quite case specific.
So, would like to know more..
Bulldwarf
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Bulldwarf
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:20 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | How do these thieves work out their plans? |
It's quite simple.
The identity thieves are people who have access to that information.
For example, insurance agents have access to just about every aspect of a person's life, SS#, Driver License #, Address, Phone #, Maiden Name, Spouse's name, Bank act. #s...etc.
Identity theft is an inside job.
Just like Bernie Madoff...how did he steal billions?
He had access to the money.
This is also akin to computer viruses.
Could it be some of the same people who sell the computer anti-virus software are the same ones who created the virus in the first place?
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GarySpicuzza
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:58 am Post subject: |
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You know Gary I actually always did wonder about the virus thing. I have heard people often say that it was the big software companies that create the virus to keep their own business going. Wonder if there is any truth to it?
Bulldwarf, There are plenty of ways to protect your identity. A person must always protect their Social Security number. One of the biggest ways to do that IMO is to keep checking your credit report. You are given three free pulls a year and should use them. Also keep an eye on balances when your statements come in to be sure the amount due is not going up dramatically. They also have agencies now that monitor your credit report for you for a monthly fee. Gosh this reply could go on and on but there are some good examples. |
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fireyone
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:03 am Post subject: |
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I think what Gary has said is quite right...the identity thieves are often the people who have access to the personal information of individuals, the bank people in most of the times.
Phishing is another form to acquire information from the innocent consumers. So, stay away from e-mails alluring you to provide them with your personal information.
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bandit baby
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:14 am Post subject: |
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Identity thieves often only depend on our carelessness to gain profit. Some of us handle our valuable personal information so carelessly that they hardly find it difficult to get it out of us. The soft targets are the elderly.
The elderly are often very trustworthy and try to avoid conflicts. They also face problems in coping up with the modern days techniques. Hence, its easy to pretend to help them and get the information out.
We need to keep this aspect in mind while installing new machines in the banks and other public utility offices.
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Nolen M
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:26 am Post subject: |
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| Soemtimes though even our banks ATM's are not safe. I had seen a story on some program where a guy had put cameras in the area of an ATM and some type of scanner. He was collecting peoples ATM card information and stealing their money. Also something that does not (maybe) qualify as Identity theft but still can damage a persons life is when another person has near or the same name as you (John Smith as an example) and they egt the two names confused. Seen that happen to a in law. You think their social security numbers would keep this from happening but when the in law asked they told him even the social security numbers were very close to the same. Never even thought of that intil I seen it happen to someone close. |
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fireyone
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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It is interesting to see them contact the credit card companies posing as the real card holder. If they succeed in changing the address, they would use the card holder's account balance. It becomes difficult for the poor card holder to catch it, since the new bills would be forwarded at the new billing address.
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anonymous00
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: insurance |
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| Also with phone calls. A 'Client' of mine kept getting phone calls from a ( so-called) CC company stating that someone had made a "transaction with her CC. This company wanted me to "verify her CC information." OHHH YEAHHH!..'like' I'm REALLY going to do that! I reported this incident to the police. Just becareful WHAT information you give out to WHO over the phone. |
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sdchargersfan
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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| You know Anon, I bet that happens more than we think. Changing the address and not recieving the bills could let the other person build up quite a bill only to leave someone pay for it. I think if I had a common last name and was going to nam my child, at least now that ID fraud has come to light, I would make it an unusual meddle name or something. I always wondered why the have not come up with some better ways of preventing fraud. One would be to put a picture ID of the person on the card. Of course it would only protect you if you made the purchase in person and not over the phone but it would maybe cut down on some credit card fraud. |
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fireyone
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Identity thieves often only depend on our carelessness to gain profit. |
Quite agreeable!
But there are some important personal information that would always go out and you can't really keep a check on it. Take the example of our check-leaves. Whenever we issue a check, it bears the account number printed on it. Now, say 3 months down the line I see a certain balance getting debited to my checkin a/c..no clues! How about that? (the bank would automatically claim to be protective and safe towards my account)
So, I guess its not always that we'd be careless to lose important information. Another thing I hate is when unknown telecallers ask for the 9 digits.
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anonymous00
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:24 am Post subject: |
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If the none digits is your social security number I would NEVER give it out. Now usually when say like a monthly billing company or credit card company calls (and you have an account with them) I see they ask for just the last four and some do not ask at all. My Dell account they ask for passwords and other verifying information and not my social secuity.
I also never thought about the check numbers when you send out a check, you have a really good point there. |
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fireyone
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject: insurance |
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| When I call about my Savings account, I have through the Military, they ask me for the last 4 #'s of my SS#.......if I talk to a REAL person or the automated system. Gotta put in my password, Government ID, etc. |
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sdchargersfan
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| Most banks will ask for alot more information than just your last four, mine makes me have a 4 digit pin and my account number, then they will ask for a phone number and my address. They are very secure. |
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goodnatured
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Most banks will ask for alot more information than just your last four, mine makes me have a 4 digit pin and my account number, then they will ask for a phone number and my address. They are very secure. |
Goodnatured, just be careful about who you are offering this information. As mentioned in the above posts often times the scammers are the insiders of the banks, who have an easy access to your personal information.
I've heard of an incident where the bank people sourced the PIN information of the customers and transacted on their ATM cards. Therefore, its advisable that you change the PIN number of the ATM card after receiving it from the bank. Also never divulge such information to a stranger soliciting to help you. |
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JeremyHolter
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Jeremy, Is it really true about insiders at the bank? You know that is really a scary idea. Who better to know your information and the amount in your account. Maybe this would be a good advantage of being poor. Less likely they would want your information LOL.
Good natured, I have a four digit pin and my whole social security number at one bank and the other only asks for the account number and pin. If the real theifves are the insiders well I can not see a way a person could protect themselves. ID fraud has become quite the lucrative business. Insiders could easily sell the information wiht no strings attached and make a bundle. Wow I never even thought of this..it really is scarry. |
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fireyone
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