Frank & Honest

• Life »
• Your Security:

Identity Theft

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is a crime in which a person gets your personal information, such as your Social Security or driver’s licence number, and uses this information to get loans, credit cards, or buy things, all in your name.

Many young people wrongly believe that identity theft is an issue that only afects older people. Young people under the age of 29 now make up 31 percent of the 10 million identify thefts that happen each year in the U.S.

Identity thieves look for easy targets. Teens are especially at risk because they often know little about finances and credit reports. Teens who become victims of identity theft usually find out about the crime the hard way–when they apply for a driver’s licence or a credit card.

Identity thieves use many different ways to get your information.

They get information from businesses or other places by:

• stealing records or information while they’re on the job
• bribing an employee who has access to these records
• hacking these records
• conning information out of employees
• They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
• They may look through your rubbish bin, the rubbish bins of businesses, or public rubbish dumps in a practice known as “dumpster diving.”
• They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer’s authorised access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
• They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as “skimming.” They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
• They may steal your wallet or purse.
• They may complete a “change of address form” to divert your mail to another location.
• They may steal personal information they find in your home.
• They may steal personal information from you through e-mail or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as “phishing” online, or pretexting by phone.

Be very careful about giving out your personal information, especially if you are contacted and asked for personal information, whether by phone, e-mail or IM. Safe companies that have good reputations do not contact their customers asking for personal information.

See our page on preventing identify theft.

Frankandhonest.com is brought to you by ASK Education & Training Ltd. We provide training for young people and organisations working with young people. This site was created in response to countless requests from young people for a place to get answers.