Vaughnahue asked:

Identity Theft Commercial Directed & Edited by Vaughn K. Donahue

Vaughnahue asked:

Identity Theft Commercial Directed & Edited by Vaughn Donahue

No Mean City asked:


Is identity theft a misdemeanor or a felony?

IvanPomedorov asked:


??
Edit: That’s what I figured, just wanted to make sure I’m not missing something….

Gary Y asked:


When people get ssn numbers what do they do with them ive always wondered how people steal other peoples identities

clarence eskew asked:


I have a real concern about identity theft and I have no knowledge on how to protect myself from it other than the standard steps for protecting from credit card and bank card. Someone may have gotten (likely) some of my personal information including my SIN # and license #.
Any suggestions?

Identity theft is a serious issue that is faced by many people in the US. According to the studies, two out of five people is affected by ID theft in every one hour. Identity theft is simply a term used to depict illegal or fraudulent activities that is done by a criminal or a thief using another person’s identity. This usually happens when a person steals your valid documents or data including social security card, credit cards, driver’s license, or any other records that contain your most valid information. As per the records of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), about ten million Americans become victim of ID theft every year.

People can become a victim of identity theft irrespective of their age, sex, and income level. A skilled identity thief may adopt a variety of methods or options to steal your sensitive personal, business, or financial information. Pick pocketing wallets or purses containing your personal information such as credit cards, social security card, and ATM card is one of the most common ways through which your identity could be stolen. Identity theft may also occur via a process, namely, dumpster diving, in which criminals search your trash in order to check whether you have thrown accidentally any important bill or vital bank papers. Another unscrupulous method that is used for identity theft is skimming, for which thieves use a kind of compact special device to clone your credit card or debit card details. Thieves also lean on such conventional options as phone and raiding your mail box in order to steal your personal information. With the advent of the internet, online ID theft is also increasing.

Once your identity is stolen, thieves use it for several purposes like gaining job using social security card, opening new accounts in your name, opening a new phone account, opening bank accounts, and taking loans, however running up bills as well as charges in your name. In short, whatever the methods used to retrieve or steal your identity, the after effects of identity theft is severe, and it can really create havocs in the victim’s life. Some people are affected by bad credit while some people may lose their job as well as reputation due to ID theft. There are also some people who may be accused of crime as a result of ID theft.

Precaution, ie being careful all time, can prevent you from being a victim of ID theft. Never answer to phone calls requesting for your credit card or other personal details. Likewise, check several times before throwing even a piece of paper, as your trash may become another person’s treasure box. Further, verify your credit and bank statement in regular intervals. In case, if you find any suspicious transaction, report it to your bank or Credit Card Company. In such circumstance, if your identity is stolen, immediately file a police report and inform it to Federal Trade Commission.

By: Steve Cabouli

About the Author:

protomike asked:


A couple friends and I want to go on a tour of the white house, but one has drug possession charges & identity theft charges. & since there are thorough back ground checks before going on a tour of the white house, would she be able to go on the tour?

Thanks.

Credit card identity theft has become a huge problem for millions of Americans. Have your identity stolen is not something that you can easily resolve. Fixing ruined credit as a result of credit card identity theft can be a long and frustrating process that can sometimes plague an individual for the rest of his or her life. In order to prevent this kind of thing from happening to you there are several preemptive measures you can take.

First off you should be aware of your spending habits. If you use credit daily for small purchases and online transactions you should keep a log of your transactions. When you get your statement at the end of the month you can cross check the bill with the purchases you have made to make sure that everything matches up.

A lot of the time identity thieves will try to stay under the radar by only making small purchases that most card owners would overlook if they are not keeping close tabs on their spending habits.

Recently major companies have come up with ways to ***** down on credit card identity theft. You should check with your company to see if they offer any of these newer services. Some companies will offer to send automated texts to your mobile phone after each transaction.

These services may come with a small fee each month but it is definitely worth paying it to make sure that you are adequately protecting your credit information. If it becomes a nuisance to receive a text after each transaction then you can set your account to only send notifications for purchases that are over some monetary amount.

Another great service that card companies supply is notification of unusual spending patterns. These automated services can let you know if there has been an unusual charge to your account or if your card is being used outside of your normal spending area.

The way this process works is if your card has been flagged by the software the company uses for an unusual purchase the company will either call you or send an email or text message to verify that the purchase is valid. You can work with your card company to let them know what kinds of things you would like to be alerted to so that you can customize the service that they are offering to meet your needs.

By: Simon Kudhail

About the Author:

Chugga asked:


She has been using my name on all utility bills and used a credit card under my name which has resulted in a Default judgment in my name preventing me to get any type of loans for school and has actually declined some jobs in my name. I didn’t think it would come this far, but this is ridiculous. I want to have my own life own job and everything, and she has taken the stuff away it seems like. Sometimes I **** living now.