Abstract This paper discusses identitytheft in terms of its impact, its character and its prevention. In the paper, particular attention is given to the types of primary identitytheft classifications, some online methodologies of identitytheft and finally, some preventive measures. The paper discusses how identitytheft is found to be a massive problem in terms of financial losses to both corporations and individuals and is expected to grow in severity over the next few years.
From the Paper "Identity theft occurs when an unauthorized person obtains another's name and a piece of critical identifying information about that person such as a credit card or bank account number, social security number or driver's license number. With these two pieces of information, someone can open credit card accounts in someone else's name and go on spending sprees for personal items or for things that can easily be sold. When bills are not paid, the delinquent account shows up on that person's credit report. The identity thief can change the mailing address on the victim's credit card account thus delaying the discovery of the theft. The imposter then runs up big bills on the victim's account, and since they are being sent to the new address, one would have no way of knowing any of this was going on."
Abstract The paper discusses the growing issue of identitytheft through a case study. Due to the subject's fear of telling his wife what had happened, especially so he should not lose faith with her, the paper looks at the consequences and implications of his actions.
From the Paper "On his twenty-seventh birthday, Matthew Beck discovered that someone had stolen his identity and charged over one-hundred thousand dollars on his credit cards. He didn't tell his wife for more than two weeks, not only because he had no idea how to break such awful news to her, but because she had read an article about identity theft right after they'd bought their new home and had asked him if he thought something like that could happen to them. His immortal words, "honey, you worry too much," had reassured her, for she trusted him implicitly. He had convinced her back in 1999 that they shouldn't buy any Enron stock, and ever since the infamous Texas corporation had imploded, costing stockholders hundreds of millions of dollars, she had always let him have complete control over the handling..."
Abstract This paper discusses the problems that federal, state and local authorities face when prosecuting cyber identitytheft, noting that it is not a simple procedure. The paper explains that individuals that steal the identity of others online often use multiple servers and locations to make it almost impossible to trace the person who is responsible for the identitytheft. The paper also explains that when identitytheft occurs in a country where traditional Internet crime is not considered a prosecutable offense the country where the nation occurred has a difficult time in locating the criminal and extraditing the identity thief for the purposes of prosecution. Finally, the paper notes that many United States prosecutors are hesitant to prosecute these crimes because they generally involve low profile cases that take extensive amounts of time to investigate and prosecute.
Abstract This paper explains that what makes identitytheft such a concern for the public is not simply the number of people it happens to but the fact that it can occur without the victim's knowledge. The author points out that the primary difference between identitytheft perpetrated over the internet and identitytheft perpetrated in other ways is the speed by which personal information can be obtained and the distance it can travel. The paper relates that the essential preventative steps are fairly simple and require very little effort, but most people still fail to adhere to all of them; (1) Review your credit reports at least every six months, (2) shred all of your personal papers, receipts, old utility bills and pre-approved credit card offers before you toss them in the trash, (3) keep your social security card and birth certificate in a safe place other than your wallet or purse and (4) have your name removed from mailing lists for pre-approved credit card offers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
IdentityTheft on the Internet
IdentityTheft: Managing the Risk Management
What's New for the Future of IdentityTheft Prevention
From the Paper "Insurance companies have an obligation to provide you with the greatest protection imaginable from identity theft. "Insurance agents should warn affluent customers of their heightened risk. . . . Public figures should also be concerned about this risk because much of their private information may be publicly circulated." (McElwee 76). Children-particularly those of college age-can present an additional risk of identity theft. College students regularly receive credit card applications and often simply throw them out, posing a threat to both themselves and their parents. Households should invest in paper shredders, and shred all unwanted mail and documents that could potentially contain personal information."
Abstract The topic of cyber crimes encompasses many different crimes. This report defines cyber crime, and goes into depth regarding the specific crime of identitytheft. It includes the definition of cyber crime, and specific techniques used to obtain an individual's personal information used to establish false identity, how to prevent the information from being compromised, as well as additional information should one become a victim of identitytheft. This paper also includes real world examples stemming from personal experience.
Outline.
Abstract
What is Cyber Crime?
IdentityTheft: what is it?
Types of identitytheft Keeping you safe from such crimes
What to do if you become a victim
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Browsing through the US Department of Justice's Website for the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, cyber crime is a handful of crimes where the primary method of operation or M.O. involves the use of computers or attacks on secure electronic data. The scope of these crimes includes unauthorized access to networks, computers databases, fraudulent money transfers or electronic wire transfers, piracy, espionage and gambling. The invention of the internet creates a new place for people to conduct business, and a very discrete and anonymous place for criminals. Everyday more and more people engage in commerce online, accessing bank accounts and making purchases entirely online. The internet creates a larger arena for crime, and creates more instances of opportunity for crime that requires little technical knowledge and provides a tempting cloak for a person to commit crimes. There are more and more crimes that have moved from the streets to an online environment, taking everyday crime and turning it into a cyber crime. Anything that is illegal, and is committed using computer technology in this virtual environment is cyber crime."
Abstract The writer of this paper defines identitytheft as a crime that is committed in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses the personal information of someone else. This paper explores this particular problem and its impact on society. This paper details the various methods of identitytheft. The reports of incidence most frequently involve the withdrawal of money from a personal bank or financial account, while the worst cases involve completely pilfered identities, with vast debts accumulated and crimes committed in the victim's name. This paper delves into published reports which claim that identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the U.S., with over 9.9 million victims reported. The writer discusses the flaws in technology that enable computer hackers to obtain one's personal information as well as the available strategies to thwart this growing problem. This paper details the workings behind mandatory internet service provider coverage, which is among the most feasible solutions to the problem of identity fraud. This paper also examines various cases involving identitytheft and fraud, including that of ChoicePoint, who recently announced that the personal information of 145,000 members had been stolen by thieves.
From the Paper "The use of privacy software by the ISPs would establish an early wall of protection and an immediate source of blame; for example, in the case of the Lowe's security breach, while hackers were at fault for committing the actions, the wireless networking system that made the whole so gaping a twenty year old in a Grand Prix could step through it suggests a critical lack of responsibility on behalf of the service provider as reflected in their software. The May 10 Hearings on Identity Theft and Data Broker Services, as documented by the Sensenbrenner Advocates Watchdog for Judiciary lobby group would suggest that the Federal Government agrees. Testimonies included Kurt Sanford, President and C.E.O at LexisNexis, Douclas Curling, President and CEO at ChoicePoint, Jennifer Barret, the Chief Privacy Officer at Axcom, and Mark Rotenberg, President and executive Director at Electronic Privacy Information Center, among others."
Abstract Over the last few years, the number of reported cases of identitytheft has skyrocketed, from 86,000 reported cases in 2001 to over 700,000 in 2002. It is by far the fastest growing crime in the United States. Perhaps what is even scarier than the crime itself is the ease with which the crime can be pulled off. Discusses the crime of identitytheft, ways in which it occurs, ways to prevent it and what to do if it does occur. The paper also investigates the way in which the internet has contributed to the rise in identitytheft.
From the Paper "Experts have suggested many different ways to reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft. Many of these suggestions are extremely easy and worth the trouble. The first suggestion is to tear up all credit card bills, bank statements, and any other sort of document that has personal information on it. The next suggestion is that social security numbers should be kept as private as possible. They stress that the social security card should not be carried around, and that social security and drivers license numbers not be written on checks. They also say that social security numbers, along with all personal information should never be given out unless the person asking for it has a good reason to need it. Another way to prevent possible identity theft is to always be on the look out for people that may be eavesdropping on conversations or watching what is being written down. This prevents the "shoulder surfing" technique. The next tip is to never respond to suspicious E-mails or phone solicitors. This is especially true of E-mails and solicitations that request identifying information."
Abstract This paper outlines the growing risk of identitytheft. It discusses why identitytheft needs to be taken seriously by legislators and the ways in which legislators may actually be part of the problem. Specifically, the paper argues that too many prospective bills are not being pursued at a time when identitytheft is claiming millions of victims in America and that Congress should be implementing better regulations.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
From the Paper "There can be little question that identity theft is a growing problem in America. For example, a 2003 survey by the Federal Trade Commission found that more than 10 million Americans had experienced identity theft in one form or another within the past year. As well, recent data bank breaches at the Bank of America and at Lexis-Nexis clearly indicate that, even when Americans think their private information is safe and secure, it really may not be (Moye, 2006). Furthermore, other evidence indicates that people of all ages can fall victim to identity theft - and thieves can access personal information distressingly easily, using low-tech, low-skill procedures such as dumpster-diving and having someone from within a business provide information on clients (Young, 2005). The troubling thing about this is that the government has failed utterly to put in place regulations that really protect Americans."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identitytheft is the fastest growing form of white collar crime, costing American consumers and businesses approximately $50 billion in the United States in 2006. The writer discusses that the ever-increasing use of the Internet presents more targets of opportunity, particularly among new computer users unfamiliar with high tech information theft scams. However, the common perception that on-line activity is the greatest threat to personal information security is inaccurate; actually, more identitytheft results from traditional off-line consumer transactions, especially those whose procedures typically involve relinquishing physical possession of a credit card to an employee who leaves the presence of the card's owner, such as in restaurants. The writer maintains that the most important method of protecting one's personal information on-line is through the use of passwords. Passwords should never be based on personal information like birth dates, because these are easily deduced by identity thieves with access to that information, which many people divulge in on-line personal profiles. The writer concludes that likewise, one's wireless connection should have all security features enabled and all software updates, especially anti-virus software.
Outline:
Introduction - Understanding the Problem
Protecting Private Information Off-line
Protecting Private Information On-line
General ID Information Safety
From the Paper "One of the easiest sources of other people's private information is household trash. Therefore, it is essential to use a cross-cut paper shredder to destroy any papers containing personal information such as financial accounts, credit card statements, credit card applications and loan offers, and medical records, which often include Social Security numbers within patient billing information.
"With your Social Security number, identity thieves can obtain drivers licenses in your name, as well as open bank accounts and lines of financial credit which they can exhaust, leaving you the debtor of record. In many instances, thieves may submit fraudulent change-of-address forms at the post office enabling them to redirect your mail to an alternate address. Therefore, any apparent disruption, reduction, or delay in mail should be reported to the local post office for confirmation of your address on record and any recent change requests."
Abstract The paper discusses the steps an individual can take in order to protect his identity and shows how important it is to be able to detect suspicious behavior and activity everywhere. The actions that consumers can take if they have been the victim of identitytheft are explained and the ways in which identity fraud has been dealt with by different companies is outlined. The paper also relates the results of a survey where five people were questioned concerning their experiences and opinions regarding identitytheft.
From the Paper "The largest transaction a family, or individual will make is when they purchase a home. The first step in buying a home is to make sure that the family and/or the individual understand the risks of identity theft and how serious it can become. The Federal trade commission receives 15,000 to 20,000 consumer complaints every week. Identity theft can ruin a person's credit and derail that person's real estate dreams.
"In fact, many consumers first learn they are victims of identity theft when they are in the process of renting or buying a home. This means that a person's or family's real estate dreams can be dashed in a moment because they were unknowingly a victim of identity theft. There are different avenues of choice a person can make in deterring identity theft and ensuring that one does not become a victim of such a crime."
Abstract This paper discusses two main types of identitytheft: account takeovers, when thieves steal existing accounts such as credit cards and use them; and "true name" fraud, stealing the entire identity, which is more dangerous because thieves may get replacement driver's licenses, start new accounts, get mortgages, jobs, and entire lives based around this stolen credit. The author points out that identitytheft is very problematic and troubling for the victim because it can take months or even years for the victim to realize that something is wrong, and by that time, it may be too late to do anything about it. The paper urges persons to protect their private information and stay actively involved with their credit reports and bank accounts so that they have the earliest possible warning of the crime.
From the Paper "?Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America.? Every year over 900,000 people have their identity's stolen. The FTC, a leading law enforcement agency that deals with identity theft, estimates that on just one of the many national hotlines there will be about 200,000 calls a year. Between 1992 and 1997 inquires regarding identity theft put into the TransUnion Credit Bureau Fraud Victim Assistant Department was multiplied almost 15 times over as it went from 35,000 complaints to 523,000."
Abstract This paper explains that there are various types of identitytheft (1) Using fraudulently obtained personal information of another person, such as a social security number, driver's license number and date of birth, to open a falsified bank, credit card or cellular telephone or to obtain false loans; (2) giving another person's personal information to a law enforcement officer when the criminal is arrested and (3) selling stolen identities. The author points out that, in addition to the financial losses, the person whose personal information has been used will have an erroneous credit or criminal history, which is often expensive and time-consuming to correct. The paper relates that the increasing use of computer technology and credit cards will continue to make identify theft much easier, thereby, requiring individual to better protect their personal data. Long quotations.
From the Paper "Part of the problem lies with the consumers themselves. They often are careless about keeping receipts, or not destroying copies of their credit card statements, which means that someone is likely to find numbers, even social security numbers in the trash and then use them. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, 85% of identity theft victims find out about the crime committed to them due to an adverse situation, such as being denied employment or credit, notification by police or collection agencies and receipt of credit cards or bills never ordered. In other words, 85% of consumers only find out about Identity Theft after it is too late."
Abstract This paper explains that the identity thief no longer needs to master the technical intricacies of computer science and hacking before setting out to appropriate a stranger's personal data. The author underscores that all the identity thief has to do is join one of the new on-line social networks, such as YouTube, FaceBook or JDate. The paper relates that many fans of these sites are alarmingly honest giving out their personal data, such as their social background, financial status, places of residence and career position. The author describes the method by which the identity thief gauges the desirability of a potential target and the way identitytheft affects the victim.
From the Paper "In addition, these same networking sites can often aid the identity thief in selling his stolen information to eager buyers: "The ability for hackers to go onto the Internet and chat up fellow hackers is as old as the Net itself. But with identity theft becoming a more popular form of fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), more attention is being paid to chat rooms that serve as flea markets for hackers." Again, anonymity is a major incentive here, and the FBI's dismal failure at apprehending the thieves stems directly from the fact that criminals always operate under the cover of multiple screen names."
Tags: anonymity safety buyers, invasion of privacy, chat rooms
Abstract This is a paper on the topic of identitytheft. The paper explains how hackers use social security numbers to steal a person's identity through the computer.
Abstract This paper explains that in the 7/3/2006 issue of Business Week, Dean Foust, the author of "ID Theft: More Hype than Harm", argues that identitytheft is really more hype than harm. The paper relates that Faust discusses the public's hysteria which pertains to identitytheft and claims that the public overreacts with the issue of identitytheft since it really is not as bad as it seems to be for the victim. The paper reflects on Foust's assumptions and claims regarding the seriousness of the identitytheft problem in the United States today.
From the Paper "According to Foust, it is not easy to convert stolen data into money. Because of the media attention that identity theft is receiving today, many consumers are on alert for such activity and from the first indication that someone else is using their information, the consumer will call banks, credit card companies, license bureaus and other places and either cancel their accounts, report the possible theft, and information the agency that they suspect unauthorized use. However, there are many consumers who are not aware of what is happening until it is too late."
