What gets stolen in Identity Theft?

Identity Theft involves criminals stealing the personal details of others, which can then be used by the thief for personal gain. Identity theft comes in a variety of forms and can be divided into 4 categories:

The most common types of stolen details are of course, credit card and bank account numbers. These are the types we are most aware of and quite simply, these allow the thief to access our financial accounts, which are then either emptied completely or charged with fraudulent purchases. There is nothing more horrifying than checking your bank balance to find it completely empty!

However it’s not all doom and gloom. As major companies and organizations become more aware of fraud and identity theft, they are constantly improving security for personal accounts. Yet as the industry is developing new ways to keep criminals out, fraudsters are finding ever more creative ways to get their hands on your personal information.

I’m going to talk to you about the techniques criminals are using to get their hands on your private details right now in 2008, and how they use them to steal your identity. Some of these methods may be more familiar to you than others, so I’m going to explain how the technique works, then explain the preventative measures you can take to protect yourself. I’ll also cover some of the newly emerging techniques that pose the greatest risks to your personal information today.

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