Identiteedivargus (0)

Identity theft
The Estonian Information Technology College
Social , Professional and Ethical Aspects of Information Technology
18.10. 2016
The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness about the threats associated with Identity theft. I will talk about the different types of identity theft, the most common way they take place and what consequences they might have. I will also talk about some of the examples and point out actions everyone can take to minimize the chance of becoming a victim of an identity theft.
What is Identity theft
Identity theft is defined as the deliberate use of someone else 's identity, usually as a method to gain a financial advantage or obtain credit and other benefits in the other person 's name, and perhaps to the other person's disadvantage or loss. The person whose identity has been assumed may suffer adverse consequences if they are held responsible for the perpetrator's actions. Identity theft occurs when someone uses another 's personally identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission , to commit fraud or other crimes.[1] Criminals can even use seemingly harmless pieces of information, such as your date of birth , to commit identity theft. [2]
The different types of identity theft
The Identity Theft Resource Centre sub-divides identity theft into six different categories.[3]

• Criminal identity theft (posing as another person when apprehended for a crime )
  
• Financial identity theft (using another's identity to obtain credit, goods and services )
  
• Identity cloning (using another's information to assume his or her identity in daily life)
  
• Medical identity theft (using another's identity to obtain medical care or drugs)
  
• Child identity theft.
  
• Synthetic identity theft( thief steals pieces of information from different people to create a new identity).
  

How does identity theft happen
There are many different types of schemes identity criminals use. This can range from non- technological to technological schemes. The following is a listing of just some of the most common methods identity criminals have been known to use for obtaining your personal identifiable information.
Dumpster diving
Dumpster diving occurs when someone goes through someone else’s garbage to obtain personal identifiable information off items found in the trash , such as credit card bills , utility bills, medical insurance , and bank statements.[4]
Mail Theft
Mail theft occurs when someone targets your mailbox and removes mail that has pertinent information on it. As in dumpster diving, a thief can take your credit card bills, bank statements; anything that can be used to steal your identity.[4]
Social Engineering
Social engineering is the practice of someone either in person, over the telephone , or computer, uses means to deceive someone else into divulging sensitive information.[5]
Shoulder surfing
Shoulder surfing is using direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone's shoulder, to get information. Shoulder surfing is an effective way to get information in crowded places because it's relatively easy to stand next to someone and watch as they fill out a form, enter a PIN number at an ATM machine , or use a calling card at a public pay phone .[6]
Stealing personal items
Identity thieves can also obtain your personal information by stealing your wallet or purse.[4]
Skimming
Skimming is the act of using a skimmer to illegally collect data from the magnetic stripe of a credit, debit or ATM card. This information, copied onto another blank card's magnetic stripe, is then used by an identity thief to make purchases or withdraw cash in the name of the actual account holder . Skimming works by replacing a card reader like an ATM with a camouflaged counterfeit card reader. The counterfeit reader records all of the data on a credit, debit or ATM card as it passes through the skimmer.[7]
Man-in-the- middle -attack
This type of theft involves criminally intercepting communication between two parties and recording the information without the two parties ever knowing about it. The criminal then uses this information to access accounts and possibly steal the user ’s identity.[4]
Phishing
Phishing is a form of fraud in which the attacker tries to learn information such as login credentials or account information by masquerading as a reputable entity or person in email, IM or other communication channels .[8]
What are the consequences for the victims of identity theft?
Although none of the victim’s personal possessions may have been taken, there can actually be a number of large and serious consequences for victims. Most identity thefts are performed for monetary purposes , but there can also be danger for the victim’s freedom or even life. The internet if full of stories about stolen credit card details , that have been used to order things online, buy gift cards and pretty much everything else imaginable. The more serious cases talk about criminal identity theft, identity cloning and medical identity theft where people have been framed for crimes they did not commit(from speeding tickets and drug posession to funding terrorism), where people have lost their jobs due to not being able to prove their innocence or even cases where people were not able to get the medicine nessecary due to someone else posing as them and collecting the perscription first .
Example:
Anndorie Sachs Has a Baby
Anndorie Sachs was a mother of four enrolled at the University of Utah when she received a call from a gravely serious Child Protective Services representative informing her that she was under investigation because her newborn baby had tested positive for methamphetamines. Sachs was confused by this information, because as far as she knew, she hadn't given birth in years and had never taken methamphetamines. When she told CPS as much, they refused to believe her, and began an in-depth investigation into her life. As the investigation dragged on, it came to light that Sachs' car had recently been broken into, and her driver 's license had been stolen. The thief was a pregnant meth addict who took the stolen license and marched it to the local hospital to give birth under Sachs' identity, even putting Sachs' name on the birth certificate . The child protection service finally did a DNA test to prove once and for all that she wasn't the mother. Unfortunately , for some baffling reason the hospital was still intent on sticking Sachs with the $10,000 bill for the birth (remember, that's the birth of a child who wasn't hers by a woman she didn't know ). And the battle to clear her medical records may never end, because if you become a victim of medical identity theft, your personal information can be changed by the person who stole your identity.[9]
Prevention
Most people think that identity theft is something that happens to someone else in an other country , but 19 people become victims of an identity theft every minute [10] and more than 1 billion records containing personally identifiable information were leaked last year .[11]
Since protecting their personal data should be a priority for everyone, i will list some of the options and suggestions that everyone can do and follow to lessen the chance of becoming a identity theft victim.

• Shred everything that might contain sensitive information before disposing.
  
• Monitor your mail, use a lock for your mailbox
  
• Do not give out any information to a person you do not know. (email credit card details etc.)
  
• Be aware of your surroundings. Cover pinpads, If someone is standing too close , ask them to move .
  
• Use cash if possible, or use pre- paid credit cards
  
• Secure purses and wallets. Also limit the amount of personal information you carry on yourself
  
• Do not use credit cards on unverified sites.Do not allow the waiter to leave the room with your card
  
• Check your credit statements
  
• Do not klick any links that look suspicious
  
• Keep your computer and phone updated to always have the latest security updates.
  

Should you still become a victim of an identiti theft, limit your losses, by blocking all compromised cards, close accounts involved and report to the authorities like police , bank or websites involved.
Conclusion
Altought it is near impossible to make yourself 100% safe from identity thefts, it is important to familiarize yourself with the threats and learn different options, so that you would not become an easy target to the criminals.

• 
  

References.

• https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstrac HYPERLINK " https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=969441 "t_id=969441 [Online][Accessed 15.10.2016]
  
• http://www.identitytheft.org.uk [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• http://www.idtheftcenter.org [Online][Accessed17.10.2016]
  
• http://www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/cimip/idcrimes/schemes.cf m [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• http://resources.infosecinstitute.com/identity-theft-means-methods-recourse/ [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/shoulder-surfing [Online][17.10.2016]
  
• http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/card_skimming.html [Online][17.10.2016]
  
• http://resources.infosecinstitute.com/identity-theft-means-methods-recourse/ [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• http://www.cracked.com/article_19973_the-8-creepiest-cases-identity-theft-all-time.html [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/02/identity-theft-tops-ftcs-consumer-complaint-categories-again-2014 [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
• http://www.safesmartliving.com/identity-theft-statistics/#source-3 [Online][Accessed 17.10.2016]
  
•