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Consumer Advice What is identity theft?
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by:
NC
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What is identity theft?
(NC)—Identity theft
occurs when someone uses your personal information without your
knowledge or consent to commit a crime, such as fraud or theft.
Once they steal the information and manipulate it, identity thieves can
invade your personal and financial life. They can use stolen identities
to conduct spending sprees, open new bank accounts, divert mail, apply
for loans, credit cards, and social benefits, rent apartments and even
commit more serious crimes which, once arrested, they pin on their new
identity.
ID
thieves get your personal information by:
• Stealing personal and private information from wallets,
purses, mail, your home, vehicle, computer, and Web sites you've
visited or e-mails you've sent.
• Retrieving personal information in your garbage or recycling
bin by "dumpster diving".
• Posing as a creditor, landlord or employer to get a copy of
your credit report.
• Tampering with ATM and terminals at stores, which enables
thieves to read your debit or credit card number and PIN.
• Buying the information from a dishonest employee working
where personal and/or financial information is stored.
• Removing mail from your mailbox.
• Searching public sources, such as newspapers (obituaries),
phone books, and records open to the public (professional
certifications).
For more information on how to protect yourself from ID theft, and
other common consumer scams, visit ConsumerInformation.ca . It's a Web
site created by federal, provincial, territorial governments and their
partners specifically to provide Canadians with convenient, one-stop
access to hundreds of objective, reliable, current consumer information
sources.
- News Canada
About the author:
News Canada
Circulated by Article Emporium
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