How Does Criminal Identity Theft Occur
Though criminal identity theft isnt as common as some other types of ID theft, it can entirely upend your life. Here are some of the most common ways fraudsters commit criminal identity theft:
- Stealing Your License or SSN: By stealing your SSN or drivers license and presenting it to law enforcement upon arrest or investigation, criminals can evade legal repercussions leaving you with the consequences of their actions.
- Stealing Online Information: Many people think that just because they keep their social media profiles private that their personally identifiable information isnt easy to locate online. This is entirely false. People-search sites collect highly sensitive information on individuals and publish it for the world to see. Your identity might just be a few clicks away for any thief who cares to look for it. To protect you from the risks associated with sensitive information exposure, we made OneRep, a privacy tool that scrubs your personal details off of 192 people-search sites.
Social Security Combats Fraud
Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local levels to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.
To meet this challenge, we work closely with the Office of the Inspector General which investigates allegations of fraud and seeks to bring offenders to justice. The OIG refers cases to U.S. attorneys within the Department of Justice, and other state and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution as a federal crimes.
Visit our OIGs Investigations page to view a list of recent fraud investigations.
Identity Sold On The Dark Web
Once your data has been taken, particularly during a data breach where the thief can grab many victims’ information at once, it may be sold on the dark web. Even though each piece of information may only yield a few dollars, if a thief has thousands of account numbers, addresses, and names, their profits can add up quickly.
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Take 5 Steps For Better Online Security
In addition, its important to strengthen your online security to help avoid all types of online scams. Take action to improve your digital posture by following these steps:
Take Action If You Are A Victim
There are steps you can take if your Social Security number or other personal information is compromised.
If your Social Security number is compromised and you know or suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS recommends these actions:
- Respond immediately to any IRS notice: Call the number provided.
- If your e-filed return is rejected because of a duplicate filing under your Social Security number, or if the IRS instructs you to do so, complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft AffidavitPDF. Use a fillable form at IRS.gov, print, then attach the form to your return and mail your return according to instructions.
- Visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps you should take right away to protect yourself and your financial accounts.
See Identity Theft Victim Assistance: How It Works for more information about how the IRS can help you.
If you previously contacted the IRS and did not have a resolution, contact us for specialized assistance at . We have teams standing by to help you.
Fraudulent Returns
If you believe someone has filed a fraudulent return in your name, you can get a copy of the return. See Instructions for Requesting a Copy of Fraudulent Returns.
Dependents
Data Breach
Not all data breaches or computer hacks result in tax-related identity theft. Its important to know what type of personal information was stolen.
Assigned an EIN Not Requested
Some tips:
Phishing Emails and Scams
You can report other suspicious online or emailing phishing scams to .
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What Can I Do If My Child Is An Identity Theft Victim
The credit reporting agencies do not knowingly maintain credit files on minor children. If you suspect that your child’s information has been used fraudulently, you should notify the three major credit bureaus. You may be able to do this by calling the bureaus at the toll-free numbers below. Follow the cues for “fraud” on the automated phone systems.
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Give the child’s name, Social Security number, and other requested information. The phone systems will probably give you a response of “no file found” or “information does not match.” This is good news. You should follow up by writing to the credit bureaus. Report the suspected identity theft and ask them to confirm in writing that they have no file on your child. Sample letters are at the back of this Information Sheet.
If there is a file in your child’s name, you will be told that a fraud alert is placed on the file. You will also be sent instructions on how to get a copy of the child’s credit report from each of the credit bureaus. There will be no charge for these copies.
What should I do when I receive a credit report on my child?
If any of the credit bureaus sends you a report, call the credit bureau at the number on the report. Explain that the report is associated with a minor who does not have a credit history. The credit bureau will help you begin the process of clearing your child’s credit records See Identity Theft Victim Checklist for more information.
Protect Documents That Have Personal Information
Keep your financial records, Social Security and Medicare cards, and any other documents that have personal information in a safe place. When you decide to get rid of those documents, shred them before you throw them away. If you dont have a shredder, look for a local shred day, or use a marker to block out account numbers.
If you get statements with personal information in the mail, take your mail out of the mailbox as soon as you can.
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What Are The Consequences Of Criminal Identity Theft
If someone is caught for a crime and gives law enforcement your information, it could tarnish your name and go unnoticed for years. Here are some common penalties that criminal identity theft victims experience:
- Fines and Jail Time: According to the Identity Theft Resource Center , identity thieves often use stolen IDs to evade traffic or misdemeanor violations. Once the perpetrator doesnt show up in court, youre the one who will get issued the fines and maybe an arrest warrant.
- Criminal Records: So many important steps in life require a background check. Whether youre about to fill out a college application, want to adopt a child, or so much more, fraudulent criminal records could be a major hurdle.
- Loss of A Current or Potential Job: If youre wrongly tied to white-collar crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, or any other illegal activity, you could be out of a job once your employer finds out. This can also make it very difficult to get a new job since employers will see your criminal record.
- Further Crimes: Of course, if a thief already has enough personal information to impersonate you, they will likely try to commit other crimes concerning your finances. They may also sell your information on the dark web.
Use Strong Passwords And Add An Authentication Step
Use a password manager to create and store complex, unique passwords for your accounts. Dont reuse passwords. Adding an authenticator app can reduce your risk. Dont rely on security questions to keep your accounts safe your mothers maiden name and your pets name arent hard to find. Think carefully about what you post on social media so you don’t give away key data or clues about how you answer security questions.
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How Do I Fix Criminal Identity Theft
If you have reason to believe that your identity has been stolen, act immediately. Here are some actionable steps to take:
- Contact Companies Where Fraud Occurred: The FTC recommends getting information from the companies where the fraud took place, and then ask them to close or freeze your accounts until this all blows over.
- Place a Fraud Alert at a Credit Bureau: Every year, you get one free fraud alert option. You can contact any of the three major credit bureaus to enable the alert. That bureau will then notify the other two. This alert requires all businesses to verify your identity before opening up a new line of credit in your name.
- Immediately File a Report: If you know youre a victim of identity theft, immediately file a report with the following entities
Identity Theft And Assumption Deterrence Act And Legal Implications
Before the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, identity thieves were prosecuted for specific crimes like stealing mail or producing fake replicas of government documents. The Act made identity theft a separate federal crime and gave it a broad definition.
According to the act, an identity thief “knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law.”
Outside of defining identity theft, the Act also gave the Federal Trade Commission the ability to monitor complaints and offer resources to victims of identity theft. In federal courts, identity theft is punishable by up to 15 years in prison or $250,000 in fines.
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What Are Signs That My Child May Be A Victim Of Identity Theft
Bills, credit cards or debt collection calls to your home in your child’s name may be signs of identity theft. If your child receives a pre-approved credit offer, it might mean that someone is using the child’s identity. But it might be just a marketing offer as a result of your opening a bank account or college fund in your child’s name. When opening a bank account for your child, ask the bank to remove your child’s name from marketing lists.
Identity Theft Protection Best Practices
There are several physical and technical methods for protecting your identity, both in the physical world and in the digital one. These are tips for physically protecting oneself from identity theft:
- Protect your social security number. Keep your social security card in a secure location and do not carry it on your person.
- Do not share personal identity information with an untrusted source.
- Shred documents containing sensitive information, even unopened invitations for credit cards.
- Collect your mail daily and keep it secure.
- Watch your financial statements and bills for any discrepancies.
- Be aware of billing cycles. If statements are late or do not arrive, contact the company immediately.
- Review your credit reports once per year.
- Store your personal information in a safe and secure place.
Here are some best practices for protecting your digital identity and avoiding identity theft online:
If you believe that you are the victim of identity theft, it is important to act promptly. Report identity theft to the proper authorities right away.
If you are the victim of tax fraud, contact the IRS, while if you are the victim of unemployment fraud, contact your states labor department. For medical identity theft and fraud, contact your medical provider, Medicares fraud office if you have Medicare, and/or your insurance company.
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Be Alert To Phishing And Spoofing
Scammers can make phone calls appear to come from government entities or businesses, and emails that appear to be legitimate may be attempts to steal your information. Initiate a callback or return email yourself, working from a known entity such as the official website, rather than responding to a call or email. And be wary of attachments many contain malware.
How To Prevent Social Security Fraud
When looking to prevent Social Security fraud, watch out for scams that can result in having your Social Security card or number compromised by identity thieves. Outside of limited government authorities, certain medical providers and financial institution in which you have and/or applying for accounts, you should never provide your Social Security information to anyone.
Also, track your credit reports and stay abreast of any changes to your account. Use credit monitoring agencies to provide instant alerts. Check your credit report regularly with Experian CreditWorks. Also, don’t carry your Social Security card around, or store your number in a mobile phone. In general, don’t keep your Social Security number anywhere that presents a risk of being compromised.
Additionally, shred any documents that include personal data, store financial documents and records in a safe place, and install anti-virus protection software on personal computers and digital devices.
If a company or organization requests your Social Security number and you don’t think they should need it, it’s always a good idea to ask why it’s necessary or confirm if it’s optional.
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Oversharing On Social Media
It’s not our fault when a social media site like Facebook or Google+ gets hacked, but oversharing personal information on social media does increase our risk of identity theft in the event of a data breach. A allowed spammers to get around login requirements and access personal information for 30 million users. Likewise, a bug in Google+ gave third-party app developers access to personal information, including name, email, DOB, gender, places lived, and occupation for nearly half a million users. Two months later Google pulled the plug on the social media service when it was discovered another Google+ bug exposed over 50 million users. Should you limit your exposure and delete yourself from social media? If you answered yes, check out our guide.
Protect Documents That Contain Your Medical Information
Keep your medical records, health insurance records, and any other documents with medical information in a safe place. These may include
- health insurance enrollment forms
- billing statements from your doctor or other medical provider
- Explanation of Benefits statements from your health insurance company
An Explanation of Benefits statement tells you the doctor you visited, the date of your visit, the services the doctor provided, the cost of those services, how much your health insurance covered, and how much youll have to pay.
When you decide to get rid of those documents, shred them before you throw them away. If you dont have a shredder, look for a local shred day. If its something thats hard to shred like a prescription bottle use a marker to block out any medical and personal information.
If you get statements with medical information in the mail, take your mail out of the mailbox as soon as you can.
To limit the amount of medical information you get by mail, consider getting your medical bills or Explanation of Benefits statements online.
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Protect Your Medical Information From Scammers Online And On Your Phone
Do not give your medical information to someone who calls, emails, or texts you unexpectedly. It could be a scammer trying to steal your information.
Instead, log in to your online medical account from a website you know is real. Or contact the company or provider using a phone number you know is real.
Protect Your Information From Scammers Online And On Your Phone
If youre logging in to an online account, use a strong password.
Add multi-factor authentication for accounts that offer it. Multi-factor authentication offers extra security by requiring two or more credentials to log in to your account. The additional credentials you need to log in to your account fall into two categories: something you have like a passcode you get via text message or an authentication app, or something you are like a scan of your fingerprint, your retina, or your face. Multi-factor authentication makes it harder for scammers to log in to your accounts if they do get your username and password.
Do not give your personal information to someone who calls, emails, or texts you. It could be a scammer trying to steal your information.
Watch 5 Ways To Help Protect Your Identity.
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How Do I Know If Ive Been A Victim Of Identity Theft
With any type of ID theft, a key to minimizing damage is detecting it early. Checking your credit reports, credit card accounts and bank statements is one way to spot any suspicious activity and take immediate action.
Early warning signs of ID theft may include:
- Receiving bills for items you didnt purchase, accounts you dont recognize, medical care you didnt receive or other services you didnt use
- Finding unknown charges on your credit card or bank statement
- Receiving calls from collection agencies about debts that are unfamiliar to you
- Seeing surprise withdrawals from your checking, savings or other financial accounts
- Receiving unexpected loan application denials, especially if you have a strong credit history
- Discovering that more than one tax return has been filed in your name