Identity theft didn\u2019t begin with the digital era \u2014 con artists have impersonated others for centuries \u2014 but the computer age, especially the rise of the internet, has created a number of new ways for criminals to steal your identity and profit from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are more types of identity theft than you might think, using methods from sophisticated hacking to old-fashioned physical thievery. This quick reference guide breaks down the most common forms of identity theft, how to recognize them and what you can do about them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the kind of hacks that garner the most headlines because they can affect thousands or even millions of users at once. Notorious hacks at Yahoo<\/a>, Target<\/a>, Equifax<\/a>, and even the federal government\u2019s own Office of Personnel Management<\/a> exposed millions of Americans\u2019 personal information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Good old-fashioned physical \u201csnail mail\u201d is a rich source of raw material for criminals. If your home has an exterior mailbox, thieves can simply take the actual envelopes. Those with a lower tolerance for risk can also put in a bogus change of address<\/a> with the USPS and have your mail delivered right to them. Once they\u2019ve gotten your bank or credit card statements, preapproved credit offers, or perhaps even credit cards you\u2019ve legitimately ordered, they can loot your good name for all it\u2019s worth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the particularly sneaky ways criminals can misuse your identity is within the taxation system. Most people use their credit and debit cards daily but only interact with the IRS once a year. That means scammers with your social security number can use it to file a bogus return (and claim your<\/em> refund!) or to claim your dependents for a deduction on their return. You often won\u2019t know until you file your return and are refused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n File an Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039<\/a>, with the IRS. Work through the IRS victim assistance process<\/a> to establish your identity and verify that you are, in fact who you say you are. You may need to go to a Taxpayer Assistance Center in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A similar form of identity theft takes advantage of your medical coverage to cover the cost of treatment, medications, medical devices and other benefits. This can happen if thieves manage to secure your SSN, steal mail containing your benefits information, or breach your provider\u2019s computer system. Again, you won\u2019t know until you submit a claim and learn that your benefits are mysteriously maxed out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately query any refused claims with your insurance company. Have receipts or bank records ready when you call, so you can immediately identify which claims are (and are not) legitimate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re on Medicare, submit a fraud complaint to the HHS\u2019 Office of the Inspector General<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another subtle form of identity theft that can \u201cfly under the radar\u201d for extended periods. Criminals steal (or buy) your minor child\u2019s SSN and then use it to create a synthetic identity<\/em><\/a>. In this scenario, the fraudster uses a real person\u2019s SSN to create a fake persona that can be used to launder money, apply for benefits or open up new credit accounts. Aside from those of children, SSNs belonging to elderly relatives or those living in care for other reasons can also be misused in this way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Until your children reach the age of needing credit in their names, the single biggest step you can take is to place a credit freeze<\/a> in their name with the three credit reporting agencies. The same holds for adult dependents under your care, as long as: a) You hold a power of attorney, and b) their existing credit is adequate to their needs. Most new credit requires a credit report, and a freeze blocks those. It can later be lifted as or when necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As scams go, this is one of the all-time classics. It\u2019s a simple concept: Someone sends you an email (or text or social media message) with a link in it. Once you click the link, you\u2019re taken to a malicious site where many things can happen, none of them good for you. Malicious software might be loaded to your computer or phone, for example, or you might see what looks like a legit login screen asking for your username and password (or a \u201cverification\u201d page asking for your personal information or banking information). <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This one can really hurt because it means someone close to you has taken advantage of that proximity. It may be a complete stranger, not someone who\u2019s part of your circle, but it\u2019s still a pretty major violation. It basically means that someone either steals or accesses your wallet, your ID, or your personal devices and steals the personally identifying information they find there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even worse, many sites verify your identity through a code sent to your phone. With hands-on your phone, even briefly, someone can use it to gain entry to your accounts, receive a verification code and then use it to change the passwords and lock you out of your own accounts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes physical access to your devices isn\u2019t even necessary. Most devices now can connect through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and criminals haven\u2019t been slow to exploit vulnerabilities in those wireless connections. The same Bluetooth connection<\/a> you use for your wireless headphones can be used to pillage your phone, for example, and there are many well-established vulnerabilities<\/a> in Wi-Fi as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What To Do About It:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter how identity theft occurs, there are some universal steps you can (and should!) take to limit its potential impact on your life and improve the likelihood of the criminals being caught. In no particular order, here are several of the most important: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Identity theft is a legitimate threat, but it tends to seek easy targets like any other form of criminal activity. If you\u2019re familiar with the most common forms of identity theft and take steps to both minimize your risk and maximize the chances of detecting it, congratulations! You\u2019re no longer the \u201clow-hanging fruit\u201d criminals seek out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may still be victimized \u2014 it\u2019s almost impossible to protect yourself completely \u2014 but you\u2019ll have reduced the odds sharply. That\u2019s a solid win by any standard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Identity theft didn\u2019t begin with the digital era \u2014 con artists have impersonated others for centuries \u2014 but the computer age, especially the rise of the internet, has created a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":24949,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[810],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-identity"],"yoast_head":"\n2. Address Fraud and Mail Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Tax-Related Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Medical\/Insurance Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Child\/Dependent Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Identity Theft From Phishing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Identity Theft Through Wallet\/Phone Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Bluetooth and Network Vulnerabilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some Final Identity Theft Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Fall Victim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
References:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n