IDENTITY THEFT

The term identity theft is used to refer to a fraud, wherein an individual pretends to be someone else, in order to gain some or the other benefits he is not rightfully entitled to. In most of the cases, crimes pertaining to identity theft are related to financial issues. However, there are some cases, wherein the perpetrator intends to spoil the image of the victim or put him/her in a trouble.

The act of Identity theft can be broadly categorized into several types based on the motive of the perpetrator. Business identity theft refers to a scenario wherein the perpetrator pretends to be someone else, in order to get credit from the market, while criminal identity theft, refers to a scenario wherein the criminal pretends to be someone else when he is caught. The problem, in both the cases is that the victim has to bear the brunt of the perpetrators misdeeds. In most of the cases, by the time the victim realizes that someone has stolen his identity to commit some crime or fraud, it is too late. The victim is bound to have a tough time convincing the authorities that he is not responsible for the alleged malpractices. Identity fraud, i.e. the fraud committed by the perpetrator by posing to be someone else is a web of deceit, which is very difficult to come out of.

The only way to prevent such happening is to make sure that the people with whom you share crucial information are TRUSTWORTHY.

One must monitor his/her credit reports and other financial documents regularly specially in case of identity thefts in a business.

Using good antivirus programs, visiting trustworthy websites, changing passwords quite often, not clicking on suspicious links etc are some ways in which internet identity theft can be prevented.

Even after taking measures to prevent identity theft if one feels that any of his/her  vital information is compromised, it should be immediately reported to the concerned authorities, lodge a police complaint, and also a complain with the  Federal Trade Commission or Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline, who monitor such frauds very intensely and come out with fast results.

Unitedworld Executive.