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Is Your Neighbor an Identity Thief?

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

Identity theft is a crime that occurs when someone gains access to your personal information and uses your name for financial fraud. These thieves exploit your identity to make purchases using credit cards and bank accounts in your name, rent apartments and even obtain medical services. Previously, it was generally believed that identity thieves were individuals close to the victim. However, in a recent study, surprising information was revealed about the identities of ID thieves.

Are identity thieves lurking around your street corner?

Recent studies of case files from the Secret Service have revealed who these identity thieves really are. The Economic Crime Institute is a working group which recently studied sets of cases on identity theft from the records of the U.S. Secret Service, dating from 2000 to 2006. The findings of the group provide us a look at victims and the criminals involved in major ID theft cases.

The study brought two surprise percentages that may change opinions regarding ID theft criminals. Only 8% of the identity theft criminals were relatives or friends of the victim. Up to this point, it was thought that most of the identity theft crimes were committed by someone known to the victim.

The second interesting finding in their research revealed that 36% of identity theft crimes were committed by women. This is more of an equal split between genders than other types of crimes. This new research gives new elements in helping the law agencies understand the typical profile of identity thieves. The study found a high number of female culprits; however, many could be part of a boyfriend and girlfriend or a husband-wife team.

10 types of identity thieves

Strangers: These are truly people that you do not know and have never met, even though they will have your most prized possession: your identity. These identity thieves take your identity in many ways, such as stealing your mail and going through your trash.
Husband-and-wife: Teamwork has benefits, and it holds true for identity thieves. These teams are powerful because they give each other credibility. In addition, as they take turns being the imposter, this duo of identity thieves makes it harder for authorities to track.
Professional thieves: These people make their living stealing identities. It may be that they have become accustomed to living large, much like a habit, and cannot live as well with a regular income.
Roommates: Maybe you got paired up for your first year of college with the wrong person. Roommates have access to everything that you do, including your purse or wallet while you are in the shower.
Family members: It is hard to imagine a parent stealing his child’s identity, but there are cases that report it being true, as well as the vice-versa case. Family members almost always have access to your birth certificate, social security numbers, as well as your name and address. Ex-husbands and wives will often steal your identity just to “get back at you.”
Friends: Not the kind of friend that you would want, but they spend time in your house and make offers to help you balance your checkbook and review your statements for your credit cards. That sounds kind enough, right? There are also your disgruntled ex-best friends who know everything about you….even your social security number.
Drug addicts: It is hard enough to think straight when having withdrawals and no money to feed the addiction, let alone having any sense about right and wrong. Studies demonstrate that the most common occupation for methamphetamine users is being an identity thief.
Highly organized criminal gangs: They work in almost invisible ways, as the corporate structure and organization of these groups allow them to execute their identity theft crimes flawlessly and seamlessly. Criminal groups from Russia and China are notorious for their involvement in financial fraud and identity theft. Because of international boundaries and convoluted legal systems, it is a very effective and low-risk way to gain easy cash.
Employers: Who else has every right to ask for a copy of your social security card and also your driver’s license? What would stop a dishonest employer from using it to apply for credit? One poor woman in San Diego had her identity stolen by her employer, who opened new credit card accounts and cell phones in the employee’s name.
Stranger as a guest: Sometimes nice people have really bad taste in friends, such as your son or daughter. They may bring home a harmless looking friend that sees your checkbook on the table and wonders how easy it would be to grab it while no one notices.

How to Protect Yourself

The most obvious is to guard your personal belongings, even in your home. Don’t leave your checkbook on the kitchen table, place your wallet or purse in a safe place in your bedroom, shred all financial documents before throwing them in the trash, and form other basic habits on protecting your identity.

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