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Identity Theft Research Paper

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Identity theft is the least understood of all problems, though this assumption of our identities for fraudulent purposes is the most alarming of all problems. It is the most rapidly growing crime in the United States. It is quite complex, and this is how fraudsters work. A fraudster gets hold of your personal information, including your social security number and the numbers of your credit cards, among others. It is not so difficult if you are not careful. He/she assumes your identity, runs up astronomical bills, and leaves you holding the bag. This leaves you with a credit record that is totally ruined, and creditors at your door screaming for their money. You may not realize it but your wallet, normally, is full of so much information about …show more content…

Never give out your personal information to anonymous persons on the phone. Also never give out your personal information to those not required to know. Fraudsters are known to call, purporting to be from your bank, to find out your personal details, or asking information to update your personal details. That person should not need it, as your bank already has your personal information on its files. Fraudsters resort to this very old scam of asking you to update your old credit card information - on phone. Never, ever, do give out any such information to people you not personally know. You may also receive calls from fraudsters offering you a prize, or some expensive item, and ask you for your personal information, including your Social Security number, the numbers of your credit cards, their dates of expiry, or even the maiden name of your mother! Beware, and never entertain such phone calls. People also have this habit of printing their Social Security and their personal phone numbers on their bank checks. Why? Why pass out information, unnecessarily, to people who have no need to know. Your employer, your landlord, or similar people may have a legitimate reason to ask you for your personal data, but always find out why they need to have that particular

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