Identity Theft Myths and Facts

There are a lot of misconceptions about identity theft. I'd like to clear a few of those up for you.

Myth: The main danger from this crime is a financial one.

Fact: The financial losses from identity theft are massive, to be sure, totalling $46 billion. This would more accurately be called identity fraud, though. Identity theft facilitates many other types of criminal activity such as terrorism, blackmail, pedophilia and tax evasion.

Myth: Identity theft is pretty cut-and-dried -- someone steals your SSN or credit card information and opens accounts in your name.

Fact: Again, this would be more appropriately termed "identity fraud." The truth is that identity theft takes many forms. Sometimes a stolen identity is not even used by the criminal, as in the case of database break-ins. In many cases the person will simply clone the victim's identity to conceal themselves from authorities, a common practice amoung pedophiles and ex-convicts. In some cases the stolen identity is used to obtain medical treatment. In some cases, the identity is only partially stolen (common among illegal immigrants who will use Joe Blow's SSN under the name Paco Bellgrande.)

Myth: I don't need to worry about identity theft because I have nothing to steal.

Fact: Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the unemployed have recently become a favorite target of identity thieves. Why? Because they probably will not invest the 30 cents a day to protect themselves and thus make easy targets.

Myth: If I do become a victim, I am protected from financial loss.

Fact: It is true that legislation puts the burden on financial institutions, but it is also true that the burden of proving that your identity was stolen falls on the victim. It can take years to sort everything out. How much is your time worth? Plus, as mentioned, financial losses are only a tiny part of the picture.

As you can see, there are many misconceptions about this crime. The main fact that needs to be known is that 10 million Americans will become victims every year. You don't want to be one of them, do you?

Do yourself a favor and protect yourself.

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.

You Should Buy Identity Theft Protection

People who know me have asked me about this blog. They're like, "What's up with that identity theft protection blog of yours?"

And I act puzzled even though I know what they're getting at, "What do you mean?"

"It looks like you're just trying to sell that identity theft protection product."

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Well, it's just... a little crass of you. You're usually so informative."

This offends me a little, frankly. Crass? Trying to protect people from the fastest growing crime trend in the world is crass? Is that even a word? Jeez, it's not like I'm telling people they can make a jillion dollars on the Internet if only they pay $399 for my special secret "program." The product I'm promoting happens to be freakin' amazing, inexpensive, and -- I dare say -- necessary in this day and age. Every time someone tries it, it makes them safer. It makes me feel good to help people protect themselves. What's wrong with that? It's an honest dollar.

Do I want to sell you something? Not exactly. I want you to be safe, and I want to give you a chance to try a way of being safe for free. If that's crass, then so am I.

Oh, and by the way, this blog is informative.
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PS -- I'll make you a deal right now: I won't sell you anything you don't need. You need this

Buy Identity Theft Protection Because...

...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If you had cancer, you'd want to find out about it as soon as possible, would you not? Identity theft is exactly the same. The sooner you catch it, the better. That's why you need to use tools to check up on yourself and your status in the Big Computer in the Sky. If someone runs around for months or years using your identity, they will create a big mess for you, guaranteed. If you can catch them in the first month or week, you're ahead of the game.

Also buy it because it costs less than cheeseburger a month.

Seriously, educate yourself about this issue. There is a very good chance that your identity will be stolen at some point. If you are not using one of these excellent products, there is a good chance that you will not catch the crime until it is well advanced.

Isn't peace of mind worth 30 cents a day? Isn't your family worth that much?

It's as simple as that. If you have anything to lose, it stands to reason that you can afford ten bucks a month to protect yourself from this incredible crime wave. If you have anything to lose, somebody could be taking it from you right now. Ten million Americans will have their identities stolen this year. Do yourself a favor and don't be one of them!