Primarily, accounts with money attached are the most desirable. So, bank and credit card accounts, mortgages, online payments like PayPal, hire purchase deals, smartphone contracts – anything that requires a big chunk of personal data for approval.
The more complete the data, the more likely it is to sell.
Most people think of the internet and the web as the same thing. In truth, the internet is merely the infrastructure of routers, data hubs, DNS servers, and cabling. The web, like email, FTP, and the torrent network, sits on the internet.
So too, does the
Identity theft is a sordid matter at the best of times. After all, we’re talking about someone taking your place. It might be merely done as a gesture, committing ID fraud online without even making a note of your name (other than to cross it off a list). Or it could be someone turning up at a bank claiming to be you.
But how do these people get their hands on your identity? And what happens next?
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How is your identity stolen?
Your identity is typically stolen in one of three ways.
The first way is when your credit card is cloned or copied by an unscrupulous waiter, waitress, street vendor, or similar. More often than not, this happens abroad or in a big city. It’s less common when you’re at home at places you visit regularly.
Second, identity theft can occur if your details are part of a massive data breach. Consider the Experian data breach in 2015, for example.
The third method of identity theft comes thanks to email, SMS messaging, and …read more
