Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.
It can strike anyone, but elders may be particularly vulnerable.
Identity fraud is the new crime of the information age.
It occurs when a criminal collects enough personal data on the victim to impersonate him to banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions.
It is a crime in which an impostor obtains key pieces of personal identifying information (PII) such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers and uses them for his or her own personal gain.
It can start with lost or stolen wallets, pilfered mail, a data breach, computer virus, phishing, a scam, or paper documents thrown out by you or a business (dumpster diving).
Stolen identities are on the rise and can happen to anyone, including you.
By knowing some important facts, you can take measures to keep your identity safe.
This kind of fraud is here to stay; learning about how to prevent identity theft is your first line of defense.
It's your identity, your life and your credit at stake.
It is a crime -- and specifically, it's fraud.
It is a serious crime in most countries and is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
It is actually growing at alarming rates.
Typically, identity theft has been more of a criminal concern than an intellectual property concern, but stealing someone's identity is really akin to many intellectual property violations.
Unfortunately, accessing your personal information and data is not as difficult a task as you may think.