While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for identity thieves.
According to the FBI, identity theft is the number one fraud online. The US Federal Trade Commission says identity theft is the leading source of consumer complaints: 42 percent of all complaints in 2001.
The thief will use your personal information to open credit card accounts, cell phone accounts, open bank accounts in your name, and write bad checks, leaving the victim with bills and ruined credit ratings. Identity thieves can pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers, and even government agencies to get you to reveal your Social Security number, your mother’s maiden name, financial account numbers, and identifying information.
In a recent article (http://www.msnbc.com/news/830411.asp), MSNBC reported the case of a man who was the victim of a fraudulent job offer posted on Monster.com. According to the article:
“It was just the job Jim needed: a marketing director position at Arthur Gallagher, a major international insurance broker. And just days after Jim responded to the job offer at Monster.com, a director of HR sent a promising email “We’re interested in you,” the note read. Salary is negotiable, clients are great. In fact, clients are so valuable and sensitive that you’ll have to undergo a background check as part of the interview process Eager for the job, Jim complied and submitted nearly all the clues to his digital identity, including his age, height, weight, Social Security number, bank account numbers, even his mother’s maiden name “.
Jim spent the day canceling his credit cards, checking their balances, and contacting the credit bureaus, but he’s worried that his information is now “out there.”
There are warning signs that can alert you to fraudulent job offers. While these items do not necessarily mean that the listing is a scam, they are indications that you should perform additional verification.
–Incorrect grammar and misspellings
–The area codes of the telephone or fax number do not match the address provided
–Unrealistic salary
Online job databases aren’t the only places identity thieves look for personal information. In recent US indictments, individuals have been accused of obtaining and using personal information in a variety of ways. In Miami, two people have been charged with illegally intercepting restaurant computer networks using the cover of a shell corporation. A New York State Insurance Fund administrative employee stole office files and used stolen identities (of people across the country and of office mates) to obtain goods and services. A Kaiser Permanente phlebotomist admitted to using the personal information of patients and employees to open credit card accounts in various names.
Recently, an FTC investigation into a work-from-home scheme spawned an incredible “scam within a scam” when a man posing as an FTC employee sent an email to hundreds of victims of the scam. He requested personal information indicating that it was going to be used as evidence in the case.
While it is impossible to completely eliminate the chances of becoming a victim, you can minimize your risk by doing the following:
–If a potential employer asks you for personal information, you should ask for their contact information and then separately look up the company information and contact them to verify that they actually exist. While it’s not unusual for an employer to ask for certain job-related information (like your employment history and past employers), it’s not appropriate for them to ask for personal information (like a social security number) unless they’re actually hiring you (and employers). has checked to make sure they are legitimate). Even then, you should never be asked for financial information such as a credit card number.
–On online resumes, never include your social security number and keep even your employment history brief.
–Check your credit card statements frequently. Believe it or not, many people don’t even review them!
–Be sure to follow up with creditors if your bill doesn’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill may mean that an identity thief has changed your billing address to cover their tracks.
–Request your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus each year and verify that everything is correct.
What to do if you have been a victim of identity theft:
The FTC maintains the Consumer Sentinels Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, the national clearinghouse for identity theft complaints. The FTC established the toll-free identity theft hotline, 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338) and the identity theft website (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) to provide identity theft victims with a central place to report your problems and receive useful information.
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). You can use their online system to file a complaint.
[http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp]
