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"Identity Theft" Article
 Article Directory Home Legal Identity Theft

Identity Theft Comes In Many Forms

By Expert Author: Aazdak Alisimo
View Summary | Submitted: 2007-08-24 | Word Count: 421 words
Aazdak Alisimo
The digital revolution has helped give rise to some amazing advances. Alas, it has also created a new plethora of opportunities for criminals and identity theft represents one area where crime seems to be paying for the most part.

The phrase identity theft generally means what it sounds like. It is the theft of a person's identity by another for some profitable purpose. That being said, identity theft actually comes in a number of different forms.

Mention identity theft and most people think of stolen credit cards. This occurs, but is actually the end result of the theft. Credit card accounts are not the target of most criminals, social security numbers are.

With a social security number, an identity thief can take many financial steps. They can open multiple credit card accounts. They even apply for a loan once they establish a second address.

Another area where social security numbers are being turned into criminal profits is fairly new. Many illegal immigrants are required to show valid social security numbers to hold jobs. Guess where those numbers are coming from.

The sale of social security numbers to people who need them to hold a job causes another massive problem for the victim. Taxes. The IRS receives a report of all earnings per social security number. If you under report, you will be contacted.

Then there is the classic bank account scheme. The first identity theives simply took social security numbers, opened bank accounts with them and wrote bad checks. It still happens today and banks will come looking for you eventually.

You gotta talk with your peeps! In the case of identity theft, there is little reason to pay for it. More and more victims of this crime are finding their information is being used to fraudulently obtain and run up mobile phone service bills.

The horrific thing about identity theft is it occurs without the victim knowing it. The identity thief always uses an alternative address, so you have no way of discovering what is going on until it is much too late.

Is there any way to learn if you are a victim? For most people, it only happens when they try to charge something to a credit card and it gets rejected. For others, realization hits when access to their bank account is denied.

Identity theft is one of the more aggravating crimes out there. If it happens to you, expect to spend months trying to get the mess worked out. Businesses and the government are getting better at dealing with it, but it is still a nightmare.
About the Author/Author Bio

What is identity theft? Find out at ArticlesonIdentityTheft.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Identity-Theft-Comes-In-Many-Forms/99548

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Article Directory Home Legal Identity Theft

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