Top 5 Types of Identity Theft and How to Spot Them. Public Service Announcement

We’ve all heard of identity theft. We may even know someone it has happened to. Knowing the different types of id theft lessens the chance that it will happen to you.

Email Identity Theft

A common one is identity theft through email. The thief sends you an email claiming to be a representative of a financial institution that you do business with, such as a bank or credit card company. Ironically, they tell you that they suspect there has been fraudulent activity on your account. Feeling worried, you may be all too quick to give them the information they are asking for to help resolve the “problem.”

Phishing for ID Theft

A somewhat similar type of identity theft is called “phishing.” The thief poses as the agent of a credit consolidation company and tells you there is a problem with your credit or that you need to view your credit report. They tell you can do this for a fee. The thief pockets the fee and the “credit consolidation company” disappears.

Turning Your Trash into Cash

Another type of identity theft takes advantage of the credit card offers you receive in the mail and discard. Known as “dumpster diving,” the thief rifles through your trash in search not only of pre-approved credit card offers, but anything such as bank statements, information on existing credit card accounts, and tax documents.

You can avoid this by shredding all mail that contains personal information. But thieves sometimes use another tactic that is much harder to prevent: they may get to your mailbox before you do, and snag those pre-approved credit card offers. You weren’t expecting them so you wouldn’t miss them.

Once the thief has managed to open an account in your name, they call the credit card company, posing as you, and have the mailing address changed on the account. You don’t receive the bills that are being racked up in your name, so you are not aware that you are the victim of identity theft until you discover that your credit has been destroyed.

Spying on Your Private Information

There are a couple of tactics that identity thieves use almost right under your nose. In one, called “shoulder surfing,” the thief manages to view and record a financial transaction, or part of one, as you are making it. While you are either at an ATM or on your cell phone, the thief uses a hidden video camera, such as the one in his or her cell phone, to get a picture of your transaction.

Skimming our Identities

One more type of identity theft to be aware of is called “skimming.” Skimming occurs when you give your credit card to someone to pay for something, such as a meal in a restaurant. While in possession of your card, they run it through a process that can read the info encoded in the magnetic strip on the back.

As technology evolves, so do the types of identity theft. By being informed and using your instincts you can protect yourself and your identity.