Running Head: IDENTITY THEFT 1
Identity Theft
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IDENTITY THEFT 2
In this age and time, consumers worldwide are demanding business models that follow
their expectations. This demand is prominent among online consumers who want personalized
user interfaces that help them complete their orders wherever they are. Consumers also want
online store inventory to be available free and fast, and secure from hacking. These expectations
of consumers have allowed online criminals to steal consumers' identities by mimicking their
personal data, where they use these details to obtain goods or steal money from consumers'
online profiles.
Identity theft is stealing personal information from people without their permission.
Because of the increased internet use, consumer data is at the greatest risk. The most common
method of identity theft is due to data breaches, which occurs when a person gains access to an
organization’s data without consent. This data ranges from credit card names and social security
number breaches. Sometimes the motive of the hackers who steal online users' identity is to sell
the data to others for it to be used illegally, and can even land on the dark web. The dark web is a
hidden network of websites where users use special software to hide their identities and
activities, making it a dangerous place for an innocent online user.
A recent case of identity theft happened in the United States where the seven individuals
were arrested for social security numbers fraud. According to the U.S. Office of the Inspector
General (2022), the individuals were found faces 10 years imprisonment for theft of government
property through false statements and concealment of identities to fraudulently benefit from the
social security department. Social security identity theft occurs when scammers use a person
social security numbers to steal government or take loans pretending to be victims. The
Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) estimates the economic impact of identity theft to be
more than 2 billion dollars annually.
IDENTITY THEFT 3
Identity thieves do not limit themselves to only getting physical information on a person.
They also pry into people's lives through the web. They will phish for electronic information
with false emails, text messages, and websites crafted to steal data from anyone who visits the
site (How does identity theft happen?). With so many ways for identity thieves to steal, it is
important to know how to protect your identity. With modern technology and resources, a person
can monitor the various sectors an identity thief would attack (Australia Department of Home
Affairs, 2022). People should ensure that they have access to their bank accounts and monitor
their accounts regularly.
It is important to implement two-step verifications to double verify a person every time
they log in to a bank account. They should also ensure that they are notified anytime their bank
account is logged in or of failed login attempts. Regularly check bank statements to ensure that
there is no unauthorized purchase on any accounts. The same care should be taken with credit
reports. Many resources will monitor credit reports and notify a person if new accounts are
started. Taking the initiative to ensure that everything related to identity is being monitored can
be the difference between keeping your identity or it being stolen.
Questions
1. How does a person know that their identity has been stolen?
2. What signs should a person look out for to ensure their identity is secure?
3. Is phishing same as identity theft?
IDENTITY THEFT 4
References
Australia Department of Home Affairs (August 25, 2022). Identity crime in Australia. Retrieved
on November 2, 2022 from https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/criminal-
justice/cybercrime-identity-security/identity-crime
U.S. Office of Inspector General (October 5, 2022). Seven individuals indicted for social security
fraud. Retrieved on November 2, 2022 from https://oig.ssa.gov/news-releases/2022-10-06-
seven-individuals-indicted-for-social-security-fraud/
