How do they get your Personal Information? 

In a survey conducted by the FTC, only 50% of all victims knew how their personal information was stolen - the other 50% still have no idea!

There are many methods in which personal information can be stolen.

The first list show how we can control or take measures to prevent the theft:

  • Information carelessly divulged by victim: Creative scams by thieves can trick us into giving personal information, such as the thieves calling you pretending to be someone from your bank, utility company or another company that would already have your information asking you to confirm your details with them for security reasons. Thieves could also call other people, claiming to be someone they are not, to verify your personal information. 'Phishing' scams on the Internet or via physical mail are designed to extract your personal information - identity thieves are masters at deception and persuasion.
  • Old fashioned theft: Physically stolen wallets/purses is still a favourite for identity thieves as it contains so much personal information. Dumpster diving is also popular where thieves will rummage through dumpsters in search for pre-approved credit card offers, bank statements, utility bills or anything similar containing personal information. Thieves will also search for mail in mailboxes that may contain bank and credit card statements, utility bills, checks and once again any other mail that contain personal information or account numbers.
  • Unsecured or observed transactions: Unsecured credit card transactions over the Internet, phone or mail provide an easy method for thieves to steal your details. Physical location transactions are susceptible to shoulder surfing or skimming.
  • Family, friends, colleagues, neighbours: Leaving your personal information around the home, at work or in the car for people to see provides easy opportunities for theft of personal information - who is watching? Allowing people to overhear telephone conversations while you give out personal information is also another easy way to gain information - who is listening?
  • Internet Related Fraud: Internet Fraud is designed to extract your personal information, or poor internet security allows hackers access to your computer where personal information might be found.

The second section shows methods in which we have no control over:

  • Fraudulently obtained credit reports: Thieves posing as landlords, employers and loan officers might gain access to your credit report which contains a gold mine of personal information.
  • Dishonest employees with access to your personal information: Over our lifetime, we give our personal information to dozens or even hundreds of different entities; utility companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, telephone companies, accountants, solicitors, motor vehicle departments, manufacturers (warranty cards) etc. Information held by these entities is freely available to employee's of the entity. These employees may have a criminal mind themselves, but more often than not, criminal fraud rings search people out who have access to consumers personal information and offer to supplement their income in exchange for this information.
  • Hackers in Corporate Databases: High tech thieves can hack into corporate databases and steal consumers personal information.

 

Man looking pensively at laptop

 

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