Identity Theft: the Fastest-Growing Crime in the US

People concerned about the possibility of crime in their lives may often imagine scenarios of being mugged or having their properties entered by intruders, but not all crimes involve a physical interaction with the victim. Increasingly, concerns over identity theft are causing scores of people to consider how and by whom their information is handled, as the consequences of identity theft can be devastating. Though identity theft may have seemed like a fringe criminal activity a few decades ago, it is today among the fastest-growing crimes in the United States, and has become more popular in many other places around the world, as well. This type of crime takes advantage of personal information about a given individual; while people may not always be aware of how that information serves them, identity thieves can sometimes use the data for financial or other gains. Examining some of the most common threats to identity security is a first step towards preventing and effectively responding to this type of crime.

By far the most common type of identity theft revolves around credit card fraud. While in the past, people may have been fairly safe from this type of attack provided they kept their actual card secure, the popularity of online shopping and subsequent data storage has made it far easier for identity thieves to take advantage of credit cards. Criminal activity involving stolen credit cards online may also be fairly difficult to track or even notice in the first place, especially if email accounts or other virtual possessions have been hi-jacked. In most cases, identity thieves are able to gain access to credit card information because of poor security practices on the part of the card holder. Though there are many legitimate reasons to use a credit card online, and some companies make a great effort to keep information and transactions secure, some uses may put card owners at risk for fraud. Only divulging credit card information to parties that have been carefully verified –and checking to see whether the card information is stored-- is a good idea for those who wish to avoid this frustrating situation.

Credit card data may be particularly vulnerable to theft and misuse, but there are other types of information that can help identity thieves profit off of their victims. The basic information found on bills and other correspondence with utility companies and other entities can be stolen by identity thieves and used against the victim. Though this data may seem innocent enough, those who have access to basic name and address data along with account numbers and other information particular to the victim may be able to manipulate accounts and gain access to other types of properties. As an identity thief's ultimate goal is to convincingly impersonate their victim, they are typically after as much information as they can possibly get, no matter how banal it may seem. The more an identity theft knows about a person, the more likely they'll be able to convince stores, services, authorities, and even people who know the victim that they are, in fact, the victim. Keeping personal papers well-organized and tightly secured is an absolute necessity for anyone concerned about identity theft.

Some people are particularly susceptible to identity theft because of their ignorance about personal safety online. Many modern online services offer easy access to people unfamiliar with information security, and such people may put themselves at serious risk for identity theft without their knowledge. Fortunately, there are a few basic measures that can be taken to minimize the risk of identity theft online. Proper password creation is of great importance when storing personal information online or creating a personal account. Though many people use a common word, name, or date as a password, this can make it especially easy for identity thieves to hack into an account and gain access. Though it may take some time and effort to memorize more complex passwords containing multiple characters, numbers, and cases, the heightened security is well worth it. Paying attention to web addresses is also a wise idea for those concerned about identity theft. Sometimes, thieves create pages or entire sites that look very similar to trusted web properties in an effort to get people to type in their passwords or other information. By checking company privacy policies when purchases are made online or personal data is otherwise required, people can better understand the risks they may be subjecting themselves to by dealing with a given business.

Identity theft has become one of the most prominent criminal problems in the US, and continues to plague individuals and even entire businesses with the loss of finances, credibility, and other assets. Responding to this threat with sensible protection and a broadened awareness of the risks involved is ideal.