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According to a 2009 Javelin Strategy & Research report, 9.9 million U.S. citizens were victims of identity theft in 2008. Vital information is in the hands of those handling credit applications, rental services, documents related to health care service, etc. No one is immune. According to a 2009 Newsweek report, that includes the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Ben Bernanke, also a victim of an identity theft.

How Does Identity Theft Occur?

Information such as name, address, phone numbers, social security numbers, bank and credit card information is a goldmine for identity thieves. In addition to common thefts, identity thieves obtain personal information by stealing it from third-party vendors who have records of this information, such as financial institutions.

The most obvious means of obtaining vital information is by stealing a purse, wallet, or mail. Thieves will contact people by email, phone or mail with claims of being a legitimate business outfit. They may find information in personal and business trash dumps. Credit and debit card numbers can be stolen by skimming information from a data storage device.