Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America today
and 1 in 4 U.S. households fall victim each year according to the Federal Trade
Commission. More than half of all Identity Theft takes place on the job and is due
to human error. The workplace has become increasingly attractive for identity theft
because criminals are aware of the Personal Data stored there.
The top five areas are:
Driver’s License Identity Theft
Thieves use your information to
acquire a drivers license or claim to be you during a traffic stop etc…
 “An 82-year-old grandmother, quit driving during the Truman
administration.” In 2001 she “suddenly found herself in what she describes as a ‘living
hell’ after one of her neighbors, arrested on drunk-driving charges …
pretended to be her. ‘I was told there were warrants for my arrest … I was
afraid to answer the phone’.”
(Source: AARP Bulletin)
Social Security Identity Theft
Thieves use your Social Security
Identity to gain employment or to report income under your name etc…
 A Chicago woman “applied for a job at a local Target
department store and was denied. The reason? She already worked there –
or rather, her Social Security number already worked there. Follow-up investigation
revealed the same Social Security Number … was used to obtain work at 37 other
employers.”
(Source: MSNBC)
Medical Identity Theft
Thieves use your Medical Identity to acquire Insurance Benefits, Rx,
Medicare, Medicaid, Medical tests etc…
 “A
retired… schoolteacher has found out the hard way about the newest form of identity
theft -- using someone else's information to obtain medical care. Hospital bill collectors
demanded Lind Weaver, 57, pay for the amputation of her right foot after an
identity thief obtained care under her name..."
(Source: United Press International)
Character / Criminal Identity Theft
Thieves mask criminal activity behind your identity
 “A
Tyler man who stole a doctor's identity nine years ago is behind bars after undercover
detectives learned he was calling in prescriptions, posing as a patient to pick them up,
and selling the medications on the street. He…, confessed to stealing the identity of
Dr. Robert Chouteau, a Dallas orthopedic specialist, .... Henderson also said he used the
doctor's Drug Enforcement Administration numbers to obtain prescription narcotics”.
(Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph)
Financial Identity Theft
Thieves use your information to open new accounts or to gain access
to existing accounts etc…
- In 2003, The Korinke family was sued by Homecoming Financial Network
INC., a division of GMAC, for $75,000, plus attorney fees.
- In 2001, an imposter got hold of a line of credit, switched the
address, and the Korinkes never received the outstanding bills.
- Homecomings … claimed the Korinkes had been negligent.
“The Korinkes were slow to discover and report the identity theft … as such,
Korinke is liable for any and all sums attributed to his negligence.**”
- Korinke’s attorney said “victims who don’t have the
means to find a good lawyer, may be losing out in battles with financial
institutions.”
Identity
Theft is not just about Credit Cards! |
