Identity Theft, Part II.

June 25, 2008

“But he that filches from me my good name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/And makes me poor indeed.” - Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3.

Even Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock (you know, the guy who placed his social security number on the billboards) is a victim of identity theft.

Last week, you read about my unfortunate experience with one form of identity theft. This week, we’ll learn about different kinds of identity theft, and how we may avoid becoming a victim.

While some experts claim that there are 5 or more types, here’s how I categorize them. Financial, Character/Criminal, and Medical.

Many victims of identity theft are actually victims of credit fraud, which happens when someone opens an account in your name for financial gain. In most cases, the credit/bank card issuer will take care of the charges when you dispute them, but resolving the issue often takes in excess of 20 hours of your time - not to mention the frustration and hopefully temporary damage to your credit history. Even worse is when someone uses your information to open a line of credit and you don’t discover it in time. Laws in some states make you responsible for the debt if you don’t report it within 60 days, even if you didn’t know the account existed.

Character/Criminal identity theft is what I experienced, which was described in last week’s article. In some cases, as in mine, someone obtains your driver’s license and replaces your picture with theirs. They get pulled over for speeding, DUI, etc., and guess whose DMV record becomes tainted? Worse, they commit a crime, and when convicted, ruin your reputation or ability to earn a living. You may never even discover the problem until you submit to a background check for that new job, adoption, or firearm permit. Perhaps you’re pulled over for a speeding infraction, and then hauled off to jail for a crime you didn’t commit!

Medical Identity Theft (Reader’s Digest covered this in November, 2006), is now becoming a real issue. The thief goes to the hospital and using your driver’s license, social security number, or health insurance information obtain medical services or treatment. Their ailment now becomes a part of your medical history, and you pick up the tab for whatever bills they incur in your name. Not to mention difficulties in obtaining future life or health insurance.

This all sounds pretty scary. With 10 million victims just last year, it should be. So, what can you do about it?

Educate yourself. Visit websites like http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ and http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html to find out how to protect your information.

Be wary of any request for personal information that you do not initiate. Every day, scammers come up with different (and authentic-looking) ways to trick you into giving up your bank information, credit card numbers, etc. If you receive a communication from your bank or credit card company asking for information they should already have - don’t do it! Instead, contact them directly. You’ll be glad you did.

Ken Ivey is a veteran technology addict, consultant, author, web designer, and President of MidTN Technology, a marketing and web design firm. His website is www.The-Tech-Reporter.com

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