The History of Identity Theft

The concept of identity theft was taking place long before the internet became so popular. Millions of documented transactions relating to embezzlement can be found regarding financial transactions due to identity theft. They also involve taking personal property, and the misuse of a power of attorney. Identity theft covers many aspects including forging checks, traveling under the credit card of someone else, taking insurance funds in someone else’s name, and many other faucets.

The history of identity theft shows the concept of identity theft is not new, but it does seem to evolve as things change over time. The popularity of computers and internet use have made identity theft much easier though. People are easily manipulated into providing their personal information over the internet than in person.

How do People get Access to Your Personal Information?

There are many ways people can get access to your information. It can take place over the computer or just your information written on a check or a face to face transaction. Employees of various institutions have access to personal information including medical records and bank transactions. Just take a look at the history of identity theft and you will see distinct patterns.

It is very easy to rummage through someone’s garbage can to find their credit card statements, bank statements, and other information. This is the most common place to find personal information. Make sure you shred your ATM receipts, your credit card statements, checkbook stubs, and old credit cards before you place them in the trash can.

One way you can protect your identity is  -

In The News...

dBusinessNews.com - ... and confidence in individual identities provided by L-1 Identity Solutions, government entities, law enforcement and border management agencies, and commercial enterprises can better guard the public against global terrorism, crime and identity theft ...

Forbes - ID Tool ToGo Combines Convenience with Multifactor Authentication Superior to Tokens, Smartcards and Biometrics LOS GATOS, Calif., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- TriCipher, the leading provider of multifactor authentication solutions that protect online ...

Patriot Ledger - District Court in Boston charged Johnson with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. It specified that the offenses occurred in Plymouth County and elsewhere in the state. Some of the counterfeit checks were cashed in Stop & Shop supermarkets ...

Forbes - A federal indictment accuses seven people - including two former state employees - of using the identities of nursing-home residents and others in a scheme to help prison inmates make phone calls. The seven are accused of using Social Security ...

Dallas Morning News - The controversial co-founder of LifeLock Inc., a company that helps people fight identity theft, has resigned in the wake of reports about his past run-ins with fraud regulators and law enforcement officials. Robert J. Maynard Jr., a former Dallas ...