What methods do identity thieves employ?




				What methods do identity thieves employ? Theft of wallets and purses was once the most common way to obtain identity documents and account information. Today, identity thieves attack virtually every area of an individual's life, wherever personal information is stored or sent. These are among the most common methods: · Dumpster diving in trash bins for credit card statements, loan applications, and other documents containing names, addresses, account information, and SSNs · Stealing mail from unlocked mailboxes to get preapproved credit offers, credit cards, utility bills, bank and credit card statements, investment reports, insurance statements, benefits documents, and tax information · Impersonating a loan officer, employer, or landlord to get fraudulent access to credit files · Insider access to names, addresses, birth dates, and SSNs in personnel or customer files · Shoulder surfing at ATM machines and phone booths to capture PINs · Online sources of personal data, such as public records and fee-based information sites .



	What is identity theft? How can a criminal steal my personal identity? Are there laws against identity theft? Can you determine where the identity thief got my information? If I become a victim, will you be able to solve my problem? What methods do identity thieves employ?