A Credit Union E-Course

Lesson Three
How ID Theft Can Happen – To You

If you’re like most people, every time you hear about identity theft at some level you begin thinking,  “This is all very good information…. but identity theft will never happen to me.”

Well, it can happen to you. It can happen to anyone.

As identity theft becomes more common, criminals are becoming more and more innovative. They’re becoming more savvy technologically and more deceptive.

The most obvious way that identity theft can occur is through direct theft, such as by someone’s stealing your wallet or purse, sifting through your trash for credit card and debit card numbers, or breaking into your home and stealing identifying information.

But there are more subtle—and frankly, more dangerous—means that criminals can use to get a hold of your information as well.

ID thieves may steal, bribe, or hack into business records or account numbers from a place in which they work.

They might pose as an authority figure, such as a landlord or employer, and then try to legally gain access to your credit report.

Or, they might steal information from you over the phone or online by posing as a legitimate business. Doing this through e-mail is known as “phishing” and is one of the more common—and dangerous—methods of identity theft for consumers today.

You’ll learn more about phishing in the next lesson, Gone “Phishing.” But for now, accept the fact that identity theft can happen to anyone. By acknowledging that it can happen to you, you’ve taken the first step to protect yourself from its evils.

Action Step: Acknowledge that in today’s world, everyone is vulnerable to identity theft.

Next Lesson: Gone "Phishing"

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