What is Identity Theft - Identity Theft Explained

What is Identity Theft

5 types of Identity Theft:

Financial Identity Theft
Definition: Perp Assumes victim’s identity in order to steal money

False Tax Returns
Definition: Perp Assumes victim’s identity in order to steal money, specifically thru filing false Tax Returns

Child Identity Theft
Definition: Perp assumes a victim child’s identity in order to steal money

Medical Identity Theft
Definition: Perp assumes victim’s identity in order to get free medical care

Character/Criminal Identity Theft
Definition: Perp assumes victim’s identity so that a crime committed goes against the victim’s Criminal Record instead of the perp

Financial Identity Theft

Typically how it looks:
One. Perp withdraws $ from victims bank acct or investment acct. Two. Perp charges $ to victims existing credit card. Three. Perp opens new lines of credit, eg credit cards, in victims name, then Perp charges $ to the new credit line. Four. Perp buys a home or car in victims name. etc

Stories
Victim notices that several thousand dollars has been withdrawn from her checking acct. He immediately reports it to the bank. Working with the bank, it is discovered that the perp walked into a branch of the bank (in a city the victim has never been in) and withdrew the money, showing a driver’s license as ID. The driver’s license was evidently forged, as the victim’s driver’s license was never lost or stolen
Soon after, same Victim receives a collection letter about a past due store credit card that several thousand dollars has been charged to. The victim not only never opened an account with this store, but has never shopped at this store. What has happened is the perp impersonated the victim to open the store credit card, then proceded to charge a couple of thousands of dollars to the card.
Soon after, same Victim receives a several collection call from a completely different past due store credit card. He never opened an account with this store either.
Soon after, same Victim gets a bill for a few hundred dollars from a store credit card that he actually does have. Problem is the charges are for the prev month, but the victim has not used that card in a couple of yrs.

False Tax Returns

Typically how it looks:
Perp takes victim’s social security number and files false tax return. The refund check is sent of course is not sent to the address of the victim, but to another address that the perp give the IRS.

Stories
Victim files his taxes & expects a refund – which never comes


Child Identity Theft

Typically how it looks:
Child Identity Theft – One. Weakness in Social Security system is that a Social Security number is attached to a name only, not to a gender or DOB. So if a child is not the only person with their name, it would not be too difficult for someone with the same name to switch and start using their clean credit history. Two. You end up finding out your child has been affected when they apply for a student loan or for their first credit. Three. You end up finding out your child has been affected when they get bills in the mail.

Stories
It is found out the a two year old boy has thousands of dollars in credit card debt & has even filed bankruptcy.


Medical Identity Theft

Typically how it looks:
Perp uses victims ID for a doctors visit, other medical care or to obtain prescription drugs. Typically the victim only becomes aware of it after they receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from their insurance co. This is particularly dangerous because the victim’s medicla records may be changed

Stories
Extreme story: Woman victim gets a call from the hospital informing her that her new born baby has tested positive for illicit drugs. But the fact is the victim has not had a baby. The worst part is that Child protective services threaten to take her real children away, calling her an unfit parent. Victim ended up having to take a DNA test to prove the new born baby was not hers


Character Identity Theft

Typically how it looks:
One. You get arrested for a crime committed by the identity thief. Two. The perp is stopped for a traffic violation. Perp gives the cop fake license with victims name on it. Violation goes on the victims DMV Record

Stories:
Victim had his credit card stolen. The credit card is then used to purchase & download child porn from an illegal website. The website is shut down & authorities seize it’s records. When authorities trace the victims cc to him, the police show up at his door & arrest him.