Identity theft

From ArticleWorld

Identity Theft is the unlawful and act of assuming another person's identity with intent to gain or cause injury, without the person's consent.

The crime if committed for espionage, blackmail, to ruin another person's life and for immigration purposes.

In the United States, identity theft is punished with more severity, thanks to the passage of the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act.

Under the said law, a person found guilty of stealing personal identity and using it to commit another offense, will get an additional penalty of two years imprisonment.

Those who commit the crime and use it to promote terrorism will get the additional penalty of five years imprisonment. Furthermore, those convicted of aggravated identity theft will not be allowed to go on probation.

Method

The theft of another person's identity can be done in various ways but the crime is usually achieved by intercepting or stealing another person's email, hacking a computer to get personal information and infiltrating an organization.

The incidence of identity theft depends on the country's legal system and its business regulations. Some countries have a common ID system that is used to prove a person's identity especially in bank and government transactions.

Among the factors responsible for an increase in the crime are:

1. Marketing strategy of credit card issuers in readily approving and issuing credit cards based only on documents submitted and without a physical interaction with the applicant.
2. The increasing use of online and telephone transactions due to its convenience has also given rise to the revelation of personal information in unsecured channels.
3. The internet revolution can be blamed for the rise in the number of personal information that is published in the net.

How to avoid becoming a victim

The present technology has made everyone vulnerable to identity theft but there are ways to avoid becoming a victim to the crime.

1. Lessen the use of snail mail in transactions involving financial documents as these can easily be intercepted and stolen.
2. Monitor your bank account transactions regularly so you will be able to notice any discrepancy in the financial figures or transactions.
3. Check your garbage for important papers before throwing them away. Your garbage may be a source of useful information for scavengers who are in cahoots with criminals.
4. Be wary of telephone marketers or other people asking for your personal information through the telephone. When in doubt as to their legitimacy, ask for their office address and number and call them back.