WHAT types of identity theft thieves are engaging in # Wants to find out

One of the most damaging types of identity theft is more common than you think. Do you make sure you don't have your social security card in your wallet or purse?

Do you shred every document you have with your social security number on it after you don't need it anymore? Not many people do.

This might sound like it would take a lot of work but just call a phone company and ask them what they need to open a new accouhnt. They need an address, social security number, name, and birthday.

All it takes is someone to call you up, confirm your social security number and say you won some type of prize. People get really excited and will offer all kinds of information.

Name and birthday are always just spit right out. Now, someone just ordered a modem, phone, cable, and every single accessory a phone company offers and you are the one responsible for the bill.

Sure, this can easily lead to an arrest but often, these thieves only rent a room somewhere until they get all this stuff and leave.
Depending on the motivation and intelligence of the identity thief, they can create complete identities to get illegal immigrants across the border, rent homes, get utilities, and even get legal employment all pretending to be you.

It could take months or even years to realize there is someone out there screwing with your life. The end result could be devastating. Imagine the IRS thinking you have 3 homes even if they are rentals and nowhere near the income to pay for them.

The IRS would take a very close interest in your life and nobody likes that.

Everyone has heard about identity theft and what happens to the victims.
How did they even get into that terrible situation?
Most of us naturally assume this could never happen to us because, let's face it, we live pretty boring lives. Why would anyone want to be us right?

It's this thinking that puts everyone at risk.
The usual goal of the average identity thief is to get cool stuff. They might be unskilled in a trade and make just enough money to skim by in life and decide they will risk jail time in the pursuit of living good for even just a little while.

Many identity thefts get solved because the thieves aren't terribly good at it or they learned how to do it by some other criminal.

Most stores in the US have some type of surveillance so once the thief maxes out a credit card, they are tracked down within a couple of months. They might enjoy their new Playstation 3 for a while but in the end, they will spend a long time in jail.

So how do you know if you are prime victim? Identity thieves look for easy targets. If they wanted to put effort into something, they'd have a real job.

Thieves look for average people that wouldn't expect it to happen to them. The elderly are prime targets for identity theft. Many elderly people don't have many friends and love to talk to just about anyone.

On the phone or even in person, someone can offer to help them with finances or pretend they won a contest or inheritance and if the person is trusting and believes the con artist, they might give out their personal information.

Not just elderly people do this. You may know someone or even be someone who is naturally trusting of other people. Educate yourself and loved ones on how these thieves operate and you will be a lot safer.

Identity theft is when a criminal acquires and uses someones personal information and then uses that information to, in a sense, become that person for a while.

The most common uses of identity theft are credit card and check fraud. Some other uses that can occur are illegal immigration, blackmail, crime or just attacking an individual for revenge.

Identity theft can really destroy someones life for months or even years. The most common result is destruction of credit.

People often get credit cards and open bank accounts in the victims name and buy all kinds of expensive merchandise they can either keep or sell for cash.

Many people love and hate their check books. They are absolutely unnecessary in today's world but people are naturally stubborn and will continue to use paper checks.
These little rectangular pieces of paper have the ability to ruin your life for years. .

People view checks as convenient and may be scared to get a debit card because it requires changing their old routine.
What makes simple checks so damaging is the fact they have an enormous amount of your personal information on them. Every single check has your bank account and routing numbers right there on the bottom.

In skilled hands, just these numbers alone can enable someone to get money right from your account and deposit it in their own. Sure you will find out on your next bank statement but by then, the damage is done.

Another important piece of information on a paper check is your full name and address. Many married couples put the name of their spouse on there as well.
Now they have two identities to steal. Identity thieves absolutely love it when people are foolish enough to put social security numbers on the check too. There is no reason anyone should ever do that.

If your social security number is on there with your name, address, account number and routing number, you might as well walk strangers into your house and give them all of your bank statements, credit card bills, and utility bills.

It's just ridiculous. If your check book is stolen, even if you cancel the checks, the information is all still on them. Be very careful to keep your checks secure and put as little information on them as possible on them.