Is identity theft taken seriously?

Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

Should I be concerned about identity theft?

The identity thief may use your information to apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services. These acts can damage your credit status, and cost you time and money to restore your good name.

What is the most serious threat of identity theft?

Tax identity theft is one of the most dangerous and damaging types of identity theft. If a criminal steals your Social Security number, name, and birthdate, they can file for taxes under your name.

Can identity theft ruin your life?

You could lose your life savings

If an identity thief gains access to your financial information — such as your account numbers or login information — they can empty your life savings and rack up debt in your name. Scammers have a multitude of ways they can get your financial information.

What are the 3 main consequences of identity theft?

Identity Theft Explained - And What To Do About It

Do identity thieves ever get caught?

Identity thieves and cybercriminals do get caught and more of them are being held accountable for their crimes than ever before. But that doesn't mean that cybercrime is decreasing or that it is anywhere remotely near under control.

What is the most common identity theft?

Financial identity theft.

This is the most common form of identity theft — when someone uses another person's information for financial gain.

What are 2 things you should do if your identity is stolen?

Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account. Contact any of the three credit reporting agencies and ask that a free fraud alert be placed on your credit report. Also ask for a free credit report.

How do you survive identity theft?

What to do if you are a victim of identity theft?

What type of people commit identity theft?

Unfortunately, in many reported identity theft cases co-workers, friends, employees, neighbors and family members see an opportunity to commit identity theft and take advantage.

Who is usually targeted for identity theft?

However, the Consumer Sentinel Network reports that the group most affected by identity theft is millennials aged 30-39.

How long does it take to recover from identity theft?

The wide-range of identity theft-related crimes makes it hard to put a clear timeframe on recovery. However, on average, it can take over six months and 100–200 hours of your time to discover, resolve, and recover from the effects of identity theft [*].

What is a red flag for ID theft?

Red Flags are suspicious patterns or practices, or specific activities that indicate the possibility of identity theft. For example, if a customer has to provide some form of identification to open an account with your company, an ID that doesn't look genuine is a “red flag” for your business.

How can I protect my SSN from identity theft?

You can lock your SSN by calling the Social Security Administration or by creating an E-Verify account. Also, you can contact all three of the nationwide CRAs to place a freeze on your credit reports.

How likely am I to be a victim of identity theft?

What are the odds of being a victim of identity theft? Studies have found that 4.5% of people in the US become victims of identity fraud every year. Americans are much more likely to have their identity stolen when compared to other people. One million children also become victims of fraud crimes every year.

How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes.

Can I change my Social Security number?

To request a different Social Security number, contact your local Social Security office for an in-person appointment.

What are the first signs of identity theft?

What does identity theft usually begin with?

Identity theft usually begins when your personal data is exposed through hacking, phishing, data breaches, or other means. Next, a criminal makes use of your exposed information to do something illegal, such as opening an account in your name.

What is the fastest growing type of identity theft?

Synthetic identity theft — where criminals combine your Social Security number (SSN) with other names and identities — is the fastest growing type of identity theft in America [*].

How is identity theft investigated?

INVESTIGATING IDENTITY THEFT

Law enforcement must accept the complaint, prepare a police report and provide the complainant with a copy, and investigate the alleged violation and coordinate the investigation with other law enforcement agencies if necessary (CGS § 54-1n).

Why is identity theft difficult to investigate?

Identity theft usually involves numerous jurisdictions, and the matter is further complicated if the internet has been used in any way to commit the crime. Due to this very nature of identity theft, it is very difficult to investigate.

Why is identity theft difficult to prove?

"In identity theft cases it is difficult to identify the suspect(s) as they often use inaccurate information such as addresses and phone numbers," it states. "Frequently the investigator cannot find evidence to prove who actually used the victim's name and/or personal information over the phone or Internet."

How much does it cost to deal with identity theft?

A further study from Javelin Strategy & Research found that identity fraud cost US businesses an estimated total of $56 billion in 2021. When company employees fall prey to identity theft, there is a risk of a serious data breach or ransomware attack on that company.