Compromised or Stolen Identity

• People are vulnerable to identity theft threats and other forms of compromising of personal information via online as well as day-to-day real world activities and pursuits. ID theft includes stealing of names, credit and debit card numbers, Social Security numbers, insurance information, driver's license information, and postal, courier and express mail with addresses. Sophisticated identity thieves are also capable of stealing encrypted passwords and misusing face recognition and biometric fingerprint authentication measures of users to steal IDs, log onto bank websites and defraud them.
  
  

Online Vulnerabilities

• The ubiquity of the Internet and its adoption by millions of users has increased the threats of identity theft. As millions of users spend hours online to surf, work, shop, bank, entertain and study, they are also susceptible to the many prevalent online threats. Identity thieves, cyber criminals and hackers use a variety of means to steal personal and confidential information stored on PCs, bank user ids and passwords; send spurious and spam mails to users; and plant spyware and other rogue programs during freeware and shareware download activities.
  
  

Criminal and Fraudulent Activities

• Fraudsters, scam artists, criminals, online crime syndicates and other anti-social elements misuse stolen identities or other personally identifying information. Credit card and debit card information, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of victims are fraudulently used for personal gain, ulterior motives or various illicit activities. New bank accounts are opened in different states, credit cards used for various purchases; online withdrawals are done from stolen bank or PayPal accounts and government documents misused to gain benefits.
  
  

Long-term Repercussions

• According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 9 million Americans have to contend with stolen identities each year. These and other victims have to face long-term repercussions of their stolen identities. Follow-ups with postal authorities, police, banks and creditors can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Financial losses due to infiltrated bank accounts, ATM withdrawals and other unauthorized transactions, recurring legal fees can be quite substantial. Possible inaccuracies in credit reports can affect credit history and hamper resuming of normal lifestyles.
  
  

Prevention Measures

• Postal authorities, government agencies, social advisory organizations and law enforcement agencies warn people about the perils of ID threats through advisories, bulletins and emails. Some key preventive tips can go a long way in thwarting the possibilities of ID theft and safeguarding all personal information. Shredding unwanted documents and postal mail, using robust anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, not divulging personal information on the phone, avoiding clicking on unsolicited emails and attachments, quickly executing online banking activities, and changing and securing passwords frequently can help secure your identities and prevent ID theft.