Woman Arrested With ID Info of 100 Victims
When one thinks of identity theft, a hacker at a computer stealing the information of an unsuspecting victim often comes to mind.
But sometimes, criminals illegally obtain the information of multiple individuals all at one go, experts are now saying.
Reports on Dec. 1, 2008 outlined the story of a woman who was arrested and found to have the credit card numbers of more than one hundred people. The information had been listed on four typewritten pages and was stuffed into her purse.
Police were luckily called on a hunch from a motel clerk, who saw the suspect rummaging through the motel dumpster. The clerk had the credit card number checked and discovered that the credit card the woman had used to check into the hotel was stolen.
She was locked up on $750,000 bail with 27 counts of ID theft, but Everett police say it may be difficult to track down all one hundred-plus names on the woman’s list. It’s worth noting that the suspect may have made purchases off any number of the victims’ IDs.
Receipts: Giving your Information Away
How did this woman (and others in similar recent cases) get a hold of the identifying information of so many people? The fact that she had been “dumpster diving” would seem to show that the old-fashioned method of reading discarded receipts is alive and well.
Though it hasn’t yet been proven exactly how the Everett woman obtained her information, the tale is a cautionary one against throwing away receipts or any other information without having shredded them first. Tossing an unaltered receipt in a public bin is tantamount to handing your identity over to a criminal who could be waiting for just such an opportunity.
Identity for Sale
In addition to hands-on methods, criminals might purchase lists of identifying information. Using methods such as phishing (obtaining information via fraudulent e-mails) or placing card-reading devices on ATMs (skimming), multiple credit card numbers can be obtained. The thief then sells his or her lists to people looking to cash in on this growing crime.
Preventing ID Theft
As the case of the Everett woman illustrates, properly disposing of credit card receipts can dramatically cut one’s chances of becoming an ID theft victim. ID thieves often peruse neighborhoods as well (sometimes posing as joggers or dog-walkers), so shred information you’re throwing away at home, too.
Sharpen your internet safety skills by making sure never to click on a link in an e-mail that seems to be advertising a financial service. These can activate viruses that seek to read your information…and hand it over to an eager ID criminal.
Of course, prevention is better than cure, so be sure to monitor your own bank and credit card accounts on a regular basis. (Get some help with a good credit monitoring program, which will alert you to suspicious activity.) Being your own advocate, and protector, is the most basic and important step in preventing a problem that doesn’t discriminate and hit anyone, anywhere.
