received an e-mail The effort criminals put into
message from "Paypal" not stealing your identity staggers
to long ago. The e-mail the imagination.
stated that PayPal needed me to
update and verify my security With Phishing also called brand
information for their database. I spoofing, criminals set up phony
didn't. One of the sentences in but legitimate looking websites
the e-mail read: then spam you with e-mail like
the one described above in the
"Complete the necessary hopes of catching a percentage of
verification tasks within 5 days, Internet users. No reputable
or your account might get business will ever ask ask for
temporarily suspended." your personal information via
e-mail information.
That didn't sound like the PayPal
I've been doing business with for Phishing just became a parent to
several years. The grammar of a newborn child called
"your account might get "pharming". Hackers plant phony
temporarily suspended" raised an information into DNS servers.
alarm bell. Also the logo while This allows them to match domain
quite professional looked odd. names with the database of IP
addresses maintained by various
But the obvious giveaway was web hosting companies. In other
knowing Paypal would never words you type in a web address
contact me at an e-mail address I press enter and get rerouted to
never gave them. I could have bogus websites where identity
become a victim of a technique thieves are waiting to grab any
called phishing. Just another of your information.
form of Identity theft.
2003 saw identity thieves target
Ebay account holders, this year more chances for identity theft
it's Paypal's turn but any but the majority of cases
company with a database of according to the Better Business
information remains a target. Bureau happen offline. Mail fraud
public spying known as "shoulder
Choicepoint a veritable or telephone scams that target
clearinghouse for the insurance the elderly surfing" contribute
industry finds themselves trying greatly to this epidemic.
to explain how identity thieves
tapped into their system to Unfortunately senior citizens
defraud 145,000 customers across face another threat known as the
the U.S. Investigators in "sweetheart scam" in which a
California place that number criminal offers to run errands or
closer to a half a million. do chores around the house for
the express purpose of taking
The hackers apparently used control of the victim's finances.
previously stolen identities to
apply for and receive business
licenses then bought information Taking control of someone's
from ChoicePoint whose database finances can also happen in a
totals 19 billion public records. restaurant, department store or
any legitimate place of business
. When a clerk swipes your card
The FTC estimates that this year twice without your knowledge then
alone identity theft will cost stores the information for later
the business community 4.2 use this is know as skimming.
billion dollars and 8 billion by Often the clerk will make a
the end of 2006. duplicate card with your info to
go on a buying spree or sell it
Easy access to computers provide on the black market. The illegal
selling of credit card luxury vehicles. According to
information as you might have authorities, since the thieves
already guessed is big business. stole the social security # of
children as well as adults, the
Identity theft has forced many damage won't be fully known until
financial institutions to revamp these young people start applying
their ATM's due to criminal for credit later on.
rigging. A person uses the ATM
but after putting in the pin# the Law Enforcement officials believe
machine keeps the card. Usually the next step with this criminal
when the person goes to report outfit involved applying for
it, the thief strikes, taking health care positions. Hospitals
card, pin # and most importantly and doctor offices provide a
the victim's identity. wealth of personal information.
Perfect for Identity thieves
The methods of madness can
include something simple like These methods along with old
going thru your trash known as fashioned robbery show why
dumpster diving or an elaborate identity theft according to the
hoax similar to the one reported Department of Justice maintains
by the Associated Press. it's ranking as the number one
and fastest growing crime in the
A family in the Pacific Northwest US for 5 consecutive years.
posed as tax preparers and used Unfortunately, it will maintain
stolen identities to go on buying that status for the near future.
sprees across several states that
included million dollar homes and
About the Author:
Daryl Campbell owns and operates http://winthemarket.com.
He has written a 4 part report on Identity theft. Grab your free copy at http://digbig.com/4djxq. Learn more about this worldwide epidemic and how you can protect yourself.
http://digbig.com/4djxq
Read more articles by:
Daryl Campbell
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
