How Is Identity Theft Committed?

How does an identity thief accomplish the feat of stealing another person's identity and "becoming" that person? It seems like it should be a pretty tough thing to do, right?

Here is the great paradox: Back in the good old days, before Social Security numbers, computer databases, driver's licenses, credit bureaus, and all the other ways that various government and commercial entities track people, there was no such thing as identity theft. Impersonation, sure, but not the outright stealing of someone's identity. Back then, a criminal might roll into town and say, "Hi, I'm Sharon SoAndSo of Philadelphia. I'd like $20 in credit at the general store."

If "Sharon SoAndSo" looked like a trustworthy person, she got credit. Her name didn't much matter. If she robbed the local bank and skipped town, the U.S. Marshall Service might make a trip to Philly to inquire about Sharon SoAndSo, and when they saw with their own two eyes that you were not the woman who robbed the bank, they knew that that person was impersonating you.

Now things are different. We're all just numbers. If your numbers find their way into the wrong hands, the person who has them can steal your identity. The worst part? For all intents and purposes, they are you.

Basically, identity theft is accomplished when the criminal gets their hands on enough information about you to fill in the blanks. If they know your date of birth and your address, they can accomplish more than you think. (NEVER throw birthday cards in the trash without shredding them thoroughly first!) If they get their hands on your Social Security number, you're as good as toast. (Keep a record of every place you submit your SSN so that if your identity is stolen, you can give that information to the authorities to help them track down the crooks.)

I'm not going to give much more information than that for obvious reasons. Basically, protect your personal information because in this day of data mining, it is you. The IRS agent who shows up on your doorstep to audit you for income you earned as an exotic dancer in Seattle (when you live in Miami) doesn't care if you look like a nice person. They care about the taxes "you" didn't pay as you led "your" double life in Seattle.

Protect yourself. This is real.