Three Ways That Identity Theft Can Happen to You

Identity theft is a frightening risk in modern society that can cause lasting problems for victims. Opportunistic strangers use names, identification codes, passwords, addresses and other personal information to impersonate innocent people and take advantage of financial, medical or professional resources. In worst-case scenarios, victims may not find out for months or even years that identity theft has occurred.



In 2002, Richard M. Stana, Director of Justice Issues for the U.S. General Accounting Office, appeared before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Government Information with a report entitled "Identity Theft." It pointed to across-the-board increases of cases of identity theft and possible fraud alerts recorded by consumer credit agencies. The report indicated that in 1999, the government-established Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse fielded 445 identity theft or fraud-related calls weekly. By 2002, that number had risen to 3,000 calls weekly.



Identity theft can cause victims financial harm, emotional stress and a lessened sense of security, the U.S. General Accounting Office reported. Being able to identify ways that identity theft can happen to you is the first step toward avoiding it.

Credit Card Theft

Credit card theft is one of the top ways that identity theft can happen to you. It can be accomplished in different ways. The financial information website Young Money reports that waiters sometimes write down credit card information such as card type, number, expiration number and three-digit security code. They sell this information to identity theft criminals.

Identity theft criminals also may take advantage of unwary individuals using credit cards to make online purchases on unsecured networks at bookstores, coffee shops or home computers, using spyware to capture credit card information.

Social Security Card Theft

Social Security Card theft is another way that identity theft can happen to you. Because Social Security numbers are a primary identifying tool for private matters involving credit procurement, health insurance and other security-heavy entities, knowing someone's Social Security number is a powerful key to unlocking vast amounts of information.

Identity thieves may use Social Security numbers to change important credit card information (such as a billing address) establish new credit lines or divert Social Security payments, according to the U.S. government's Social Security website.

Social Security numbers can be harvested from a surprisingly large net including lost wallets, old dental forms, or applications for housing or jobs. When possible, avoid listing Social Security numbers on mundane or unsecured forms.

Medical Identity Theft

Medical identity theft can happen to you. Individuals may seek medical attention under someone else's identity to avoid paying fees or to avoid embarrassment when being treated for sensitive conditions, such as HIV, according to Young Money.

This could lead to dangerous misinformation on personal medical records, including allergies, blood type or medical conditions that might lead health insurance companies to deny coverage in the future, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Identity thieves may obtain your personal information by rummaging through the trash bin for old medical bills or prescription bottle labels.