Group 1:Kristi Amatto, Maria Encalada, Ben Giang, Mehar Gill, Corinne Lewis --- Identity Theft



Identity theft refers to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data for fraud, deception and/or economic gain. To date identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and the United States.

Sizing up the problem
According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 16% of the respondents reported to having been victims of identity theft. In 2008 the Competition Bureau of Canada received more than 15000 complaints in regards to identity theft. According Better Business Bureau, identity theft costs consumers, banks, retailers and other businesses approximately $2.5 billion a year.

How identity is stolen
Identity Theft can occur in a variety of ways, from simple things such as someone finding your lost wallet to more advanced techniques such as a computer hacking. The chart to the right of the page illustrates many of the common techniques used to steal one's identity

What Stolen Identity is Used For
Stolen identity can be used for a variety of things, when it involves purchases they can range from simply items you find at your local grocery store to more luxurious items such as cars, RV's, houses, etc. The chart to the left illustrates some of the more popular activities stolen identity is used.

Famous Cases
Identity Theft often makes the headlines when it happens to a large group of people or someone note worthy.


 * During the 2008 US presidential election Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin was a victim of Identity Theft. A 22 year college student using only what he found on Google and Wikipedia was able to hack into Mrs. Palin’s Yahoo email account and leak confidential information to the masses. Using Yahoo’s forgot password feature and answering a series of questions related to Mrs. Palin’s personal life (readily available on both Wikipedia and Google we might add) the young hacker was easily able to access the account at will.


 * A hacking at the Federal Aviation Administration led to the theft of personal information on more than 45,000 employees and retirees. 48 files were stolen in the hacking with 2 containing personal information that could lead to the identity theft of thousands of current and exec employees.




 * In 2001 Abraham Abdallah, a New York busboy through an elaborate scheme attempted to steal millions from celebrities, executives, and even politicians. Abdallah used library computers, web enabled cell phones, voicemail accounts, and couriers for the scam that would span six months. After gaining access to social security numbers, home addresses and birth dates of his victims Abdallah would pose as them and attempt to access more information from organizations such as Equifax, Goldman Sachs, etc and attempt to withdraw millions in their name. Abdallah was arrested by authorities before his plan could go into full effect in what police authority dub “Operation CEO”.


 * In the United States the theft of US Veteran identities for medical and societal benefit has been on the rise, the identities of dead war veterans being used for such purposes have been traced back to soldiers who died in World War I.

Preventing Identity Theft
There are many things one may do to try and prevent Identity Theft, a few of common and recommended techniques are listed below.

Credit Cards

 * Keep track of when credit card bills are supposed to arrive, and call the company if they’re late
 * Review all statements to ensure no unauthorized purchases / withdrawals
 * Check your credit annually

Mail

 * Shred items with your name and address, do not discard in waste or recycling
 * If you are away from home, have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail or have Canada Post mail holding set up

Phone

 * Don’t give out credit card numbers  or other personal info over the phone unless you initiated the call, or it is a trusted person

Wallet

 * Carry only essential ID. Leave SIN card passport and birth certificate at home or in safety deposit box

Computer

 * Make sure computer has firewall, virus protection and online security and privacy safeguards
 * Ensure passwords are difficult to guess and changed often
 * When shopping or banking online look for padlock symbol at lower right corner of screen which means the info you provide is secure
 * Log out of all sites on public or shared computers and ensure no one can look over your shoulder
 * Limit the amount of info you give out about yourself online

What to Do If You Are a Victim of Fraud


In the case you are a victim of Identity Theft it is advised you take the following actions to prevent further damage, they may be a pain in the short run, but will ensure minimal damage in the long run.


 * Cancel credit cards and get new ones issued, ask if any accounts have been opened in your name
 * Advise your bank, close any compromised accounts 7 recreate new passwords and pins
 * Report incident to the police

Resources for Canadian victims of Identity Theft
If you are victim of identity fraud and require more information, it is advised you contact the following organizations.


 * Phone Busters National Call Centre (PNCC)
 * Credit Reporting Agencies: Place fraud alerts on your credit reports by contacting the credit bureaus that operate in Canada
 * Equifax Canada
 * Trans Union Canada