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Identity Theft

Identity Theft Protection At A Glance

Identity Theft Protection At A Glance

What is Identity Theft?
As more consumer purchases are made online with the advancements of computer technology, identity theft has unfortunately become an everyday occurrence. It is estimated that nearly $50 billion dollars were fraudulently usurped through identity theft practices, with the average victim losing $6,000.
As defined by the Federal Trade Commission, Identity Theft occurs when a person uses another person’s personal and financial information, such as their name, address, bank account information or Social Security number. An estimated 9 million American’s are victims of identity theft annually.
Identity thieves access the aforementioned information by taking part in numerous fraudulent activities such as phishing, pretexting and skimming. Other more simplistic means to steal someone’s identity include obtaining personal information from the garbage or the outright theft of information.

Identity Protection:
Identity protection includes any action that actively protects your identity. As technology advances, there are more avenues an identity thief can take advantage of. That being said, as technology continues to evolve, there are also more ways to protect such unfortunate situations from occurring. Although the largest portion of identity theft occurs electronically, there is still an enormous amount of identity theft that occurs through other means.
The simplest and arguably most effective way to protect your identity is to destroy all documents that hold your personal information; credit card offers, bank statements, bank letters, and all documents that store your personal or financial information should be shredded before they are thrown out. The Internal Revenue Service suggests that all individuals should store their financial information from the past seven years in a secure area; anything past this point should be shredded.
Since the advent of the Internet, personal and financial information has become more accessible to identity thieves and other parties looking to expose the information. All computers connected to the Internet maintain a level of susceptibility of being hacked.
The installment of firewalls, antivirus and anti-spyware software are necessary to protect your computer from such vulnerabilities. Furthermore, when you purchase items online, be sure that you are doing so from a reputable site or one that is secured through the installment of anti-piracy software.
In addition to firewalls, a user can take advantage of identity theft protection companies, such as Lifelock. These companies offer a consumer or business with numerous resources to protect their information from falling into the hands of identity thieves. These companies will monitor your credit scores and financial information to ensure that no scams or thievery have taken place.
Additionally, identity theft protection companies will exhaustively monitor your personal information and review all transactions, credit card applications and address changes to ensure that fraudulent maneuvers are not affirmed. Subsequently, if fraudulent actions were indeed committed against your account, identity theft protection services, such as Lifelock, will quickly respond to the illegal actions and will dedicate an exorbitant amount of time and money to hire experts, investigators, lawyers and consultants to facilitate the recovery of funds or information. 

5 Topics to Know About Identity Theft Statistics

5 Topics to Know About Identity Theft Statistics

What should I know about Identity Theft?

·Identity theft is a form of cheating or fraud of another person’s identity where someone pretends to be someone else by usurping that person’s identity. When someone else’s form of identity is stolen, the fraudulent party then assumes access to the victim’s resources, benefits, and financial information. As a result, the victim of identity theft will suffer adverse consequences as they are responsible for holding accountability of the perpetrator’s actions.

When you realize your identity has been stolen contact an identity theft lawyer to acquire legal advice and assistance.

·There are numerous forms of identity theft, but in all cases, the victimized party is exposed to the actions of the aggressor’s illegal obtainment of the individual’s financial and personal information.

Identity Theft Statistics

·In the United States, as many as 12 million Americans are victims of identity theft per year.

·40-50% of identity theft victims are made aware of identity theft within 3 months of the illegal action. 10-20% of the victims; however, take 4 years or longer to discover the illegal infiltration of their personal and financial information.

·Victims of identity theft spend from 3 to 5,840 hours repairing damages realized through identity theft. This wide range is due to the varying levels of severity present in the crime—a lost credit card, for example, will require less time repairing than a compromised social security number. The total average of time spent repairing the damages realized through identity theft is approximately 330 hours.

·26-32% of victims will spend a period of 4 to 6 months dealing with their particular case, while 11-23% of victims will take over 7 months to repair and resolve the consequences of their particular case.

·Nearly $250 billion a year is lost by businesses who are victims of identity theft. On average, a victim of identity theft will lose between $2,000 and $14,000; victims will subsequently spend an average of $851 to $1,400 in expenses related to their case.

Aftereffects of Identity Theft

·50% of identity theft victims experience trouble getting loans or credit cards as a result of identity theft.

·20% of victims will experience higher credit card rates, while 16% of identity theft victims have higher insurances rates because of the theft.

·72% of identity theft victims will have trouble resolving or terminating the negative information left on their credit reports or other information left on their personal records.

What Information is used by the Fraudulent Party?

·Nearly one third of identity theft cases revolve around checking account fraud.

·2/3 of victim’s personal information is used to open new checking or credit accounts.

·30% of victim’s personal information is used to purchase a cell phone service.

·12% of identity theft victims end up having warrants issued in their name for financial crimes committed by the identity thief.

Steps taken to Prevent Identity Theft

As technology continues to improve, numerous companies (such as LifeLock) continue to develop cutting-edge techniques and programs to offer identity protection means to the average consumer or business. Various security requirements, encryptions and anti-piracy software produced by such companies as LifeLock are used to secure personal and banking information and impede identity thieves from conducting fraudulent activity. 

Wire Fraud Defined

Wire Fraud Defined

What is Wire Fraud?
Wire Fraud refers to a type of crime that is committed through the use of technologically-based communication system, including: telephones, computational systems, online networks, the Internet, or electronic databases.
The term ‘Wire Fraud’ originated from the term ‘wiring’ which is innate in modern technological devices. Due to the advancements in computer technology and the increased presence of information and financial data to exist in an intangible format, the potential of Wire Fraud has increased greatly.
Those who commit wire fraud typically do so by “hacking” into an individual’s personal computer or a network of computers. Regardless of the medium, those who participate in wire fraud typically usurp personal and financial information to commit subsequent forms of fraud. The exchange of such information on a technological device is susceptible to such illegal actions; when personal or financial information is breached it can be rapidly used to purchase items, open up new accounts, or commit identity theft.
To prevent wire fraud from taking place, an individual must understand and review the implications that enshroud online transactions. When purchasing a product online for instance, a consumer must be sure that the portal used to purchase the goods is a secured site and does not allow third parties to access the personal or financial information offered. Additionally, an individual should also download or purchase various security programs, such as firewalls, to prevent a hacker or third party from acquiring personal information.

Wire Fraud vs. Fraud 
Fraud encompasses any criminal act in which the intention of purposefully defrauding, deceiving or the misrepresentation of a product or service has taken place. That being said, Wire Fraud allows for anonymity of those who participate in the illegal action, regardless of the mechanism used or the medium where the fraud takes place.

The Nature of Wire Fraud
The following crimes are commonly classified as Wire Fraud:
Solicitation: Solicitation is classified as the intended recruitment of either knowing or unknowing participation in a criminal act
Identity Theft: The criminal act involving the illegal and unlawful acquiring of personal information belonging to another individual with the intent to commit a criminal act
Cyber Crime: A criminal genre in which crime is committed through the usage of computers, the Internet, or virtual networks; this can include – but is not limited to hacking, phishing, SPAM, email fraud, and online stalking


Reporting a Wire Fraud Offense
In the event that an individual has been made aware of an ongoing Wire Fraud, or has been party to a Wire Fraud that has occurred in the past, they are encouraged to contact their local authorities or law enforcement department in order to report the details of the offense. In the event that an individual wishes to do so in an anonymous fashion, they have to opportunity to contact the appropriate government department, such as the National Crime Prevention Council through their telephone number: (202) 466-6272.

All You Need to Know About Network Security

All You Need to Know About Network Security

What is Network Security?
Network security is a virtual preventative measure undertaken in order to protect the content of digital databases, computer systems, and electronic networks responsible for housing information and facilitating electronic activity.
The implementation of Network security measures including secured websites, required password authentication, heightened profile-based security measures, telephone or email-based confirmation methods with regard to online purchases, the investigation of purchases or activities that do not follow specific – and individual – trends of behavior, and contractual compensatory means and financial restitution sponsored by the commercial operation in question.
Upon undertaking such communicative measures, the prospect of identity theft may be minimized through increased safety measures, digital transaction analysis, and procedures featuring financial investigation.

Electronic Threats Prevented by Network Security


Computer Virus
A computer virus is a digital program that intrudes into a specific entity and subsequently reproduces itself and causes damage and harm to the contents of that computer; as a result, computer viruses can be created with the intent to cause harm and/or damage with regard to electronic networks and digital databases. Network Security measures may be undertaken in order to prevent programs of this nature from entering respective computer terminals and online networks.

Hacking
Within a virtual setting, hacking is the illegal, unlawful entry into the computer terminal or digital record database in the possession of another individual; typically, this potential breach of network security takes place with malicious intent, resulting in the theft of information or damage to software. The fraudulent act of illegally assuming the identity of another human being without their consent with the intent of committing fraud, theft, or unlawful purchase may occur subsequent the information – both personal or financial – obtained through unlawful means.


Spyware
Spyware is illegal and illicit software implanted within the personal computer terminals or networking systems belonging to individuals typically unaware of its presence. Once inside of a computer system absent of sufficient network security, the perpetrator of this crime may be allowed unlawful access of unauthorized, private, restricted, privileged, and personal data.

Preventative Measures of Network Security
Companies providing methods of Identity theft prevention have employed protective measures ranging from securing online perimeters to communicative transmission inquiring about the validity of unsubstantiated activity; these types of companies have found their respective niche within the prevention of identity fraud upon providing protection in lieu of infringing on personal privacy.

Firewalls
A firewall is an electronic security measure that can be found in a large majority of computer terminals and electronic networks with the regard to the proliferation of the prevention of crimes taking place on a virtual level. Due to the constant exchange of digital information with regard to virtual connections implemented by the Internet – in addition to a host of other electronic communicative means, the potential of illicit infiltration of harmful and damaging software is heightened.
The institution of a network security tool such as a firewall allows for the analysis of digital information being transmitted into the perimeter of individual – or network – computer terminals. Upon analysis, the firewall will alert the user with regard to any potential threats existing.

Virus Protection

Virus Protection is a type of software that is designed in order to protect a computer terminal – or computational networking system – from the destruction that can be caused by a computer virus; Virus Protection can take place in a variety of methods. 
Virus Protection can deter the entry of viruses into computer systems by creating a filter that disallows the entry of foreign or unrecognized programs; in the event that a program that is otherwise unfamiliar to the Virus Protection program wishes to gain access to a computer’s framework, the Virus Protection program will prompt the user with the option to allow a specific program entry – upon this prompt, a Virus Protection program will typically explain the innate risks of a virus upon access to a computer or network. 
Virus Protection programs can also perform routine searches spanning the entirety of the contents located within an individual computer terminal, which are targeted to identify and expel any software perceived to be harmful to the inner-workings of that computer terminal.

Importance of Cyber Security

Importance of Cyber Security

What is Cyber Law?
Cyber Law is a legal field that consists of a variety of legal specialties that may be instituted in the event of the regulation and authorization of events taking place within a virtual setting. Due to the fact that Cyber Law is considered to be one of the most recently-developed legislative specialties, legal parameters and protocols within technological legality involves a vast array of online activity. Cyber Law is a legal field consisting of a multitude of corollary avenues and jurisdictions, including the legal, ethical, and lawful use of computer systems and online networks.

Jurisdictions of Cyber Law
Cyber Law may typically maintain its jurisdiction with regard to any or all activity that takes place within the setting of a virtual, electronic realm; electronic criminal activity facilitated through the usage of electronic network, technologically-based communication systems, as well as the regulation of electronic correspondence:


Identity Theft
Identity Theft is the criminal act of illegally and deceptively assuming the identity of another individual without the expressed consent with the intent of committing a crime; fraudulent and illicit attainment of personal information through the usage of unsecured websites can be prosecuted through Cyber Law. Through the use of stolen documentation attained upon illicit means of electronic acquisition – individuals can fraudulently assume the identity of others in order to engage in fraudulent purchases and illicit economic gain.


Illegal Information Capturing Technology

Within the scope of Cyber Law, a computer virus is a program created to infiltrate a computer terminal belonging to another individual with the intent to cause damage, harm, and destruction of virtual property. In certain cases, Spyware – defined as computer programs facilitating the unlawful collection of data – may allow individuals to access to the personal and private information belonging to victims of these crimes.
Phishing is a criminal act of fraud involves the illegal and unlawful attempt of to attain restricted, unauthorized, and privileged information through means of fraudulent, deceptive communicative requests. Due to the expansiveness of technological discovery in tandem with the ability for information and data to exist in an intangible format, the potential for identity theft has increased greatly within the legal setting of cyber law.

How to Prevent Electronic Identity Theft
Due to technological innovation, electronic identity theft is considered by many to be one of the most recently-developed crimes, credited – in part – to the ongoing advent of computer-based technology. This type of technology relies heavily on the Internet and online activity, and as a result, regulations and oversight of this type of activity has been expressed in the spectrum of preventative measures involving the cessation of electronic identity theft.
Companies providing methods of Identity theft prevention – including Lifelock, which is one of the most widely-acclaimed and recognized – have employed protective measures ranging from securing online perimeters to communicative transmission inquiring about the validity of unsubstantiated activity; these types of companies have found their respective niche within the prevention of identity fraud upon providing protection in lieu of infringing on personal privacy. 

Encryption Explained

Encryption Explained




What is Encryption?

Encryption is a means of electronic security that involves
methodologies facilitated in order to provide the protection of digital and
virtual information systems, which are considered to be classified, private,
personal, or restricted to viewing on the part of authorized individuals. Electronic
trespassing measures undertaken in order to achieve the unlawful entry into –
or access of – personal computer terminals belonging to
victims of cyber-crime, may include the illicit and unlawful access of
informational databases and digital record systems.

Encryption
Terminology

The necessity to protect vital – and oftentimes privileged –
information has been observable throughout the annals of history; historians
have discovered coding and masking techniques with regard to clandestine
communication employed for hundreds of years. Modern Encryption techniques have
adapted to the growing need of privacy, safety, and protection resulting from a
respective ability to access information as per the technological advances of
the Digital age.

A cipher is mathematical equation that
correlates to the decoding process of a message or text that has been encrypted

A code provides a replacement for a text or
message, while a cipher is an encryption methodology that must be deciphered in
order to reveal the message or text in question

Administrative
Encryption

Cryptology is the scientific field specializing in the
development, advancement, and synthesis of the Encryption process The
Department of Digital Rights Management (DRM) is considered to be at the
forefront of the creation, regulation, authentication, and development of a
majority of the Encryption facilitated by the Federal Government.

Why is Encryption
Necessary?

Due to the fact that the criminal activity known as
‘Hacking’ is conducted with the intent to commit a crime, Encryption provides
for the protection and safety of digital information. Due to technological
innovation, electronic identity theft is considered
by many to be one of the most recently-developed crimes, credited – in part –
to the ongoing advent of computer-based technology. This type of technology
relies heavily on the Internet and online activity, and as a result,
regulations and oversight of this type of activity has been expressed in the
spectrum of preventative measures involving the cessation of electronic
identity theft.

Computer Fraud and Identity Theft

 

Computer fraud is a
type of theft involving the criminal act of electronically obtaining the
personal – or private – information belonging to another individual or entity
through the use of technological – albeit illegal, unlawful, unethical, or
fraudulent – means. Within the realm of computer fraud, the criminal act of electronic
identity theft is defined as the act of illegally assuming the
identity of another human being without their consent with the intent of
committing fraud, theft, exploitative acts, and harm.


The
receipt of economic gain at the expense of victims of identity fraud takes
place through the deliberate misrepresentation of personal information or private
data; in many cases, this type of electronic data is attained through the
electronic infiltration with regard to computer systems containing electronic
data.


How to Prevent
Electronic Identity Theft

Companies providing methods of Identity theft prevention –
including Lifelock, which is one of the most widely-acclaimed and recognized –
have employed protective measures ranging from securing online perimeters to
communicative transmission inquiring about the validity of unsubstantiated
activity; these types of companies have found their respective niche within the
prevention of identity fraud upon providing protection in lieu of infringing on
personal privacy. 

What You Need to Know About Electronic Forgery

What You Need to Know About Electronic Forgery

What is Forgery?
Forgery is defined as the criminal act that includes the purposeful defrauding, misleading, deception, and misrepresentation of a product, service, or item with the intent to deceive. The scope forgery is a vast one; forgery can include the production of falsified documents, counterfeited items – products intended to resemble other products, and the misrepresentation of fraudulent identification.
The criminal act of forgery can take place in a variety of settings; however – with regard to identity theft – the act of unlawfully recreating the likeness of the signature belonging to another individual or entity with the intent of providing deceitful authorization for economic gain is one of the foremost methodologies undertaken.

How is Forgery Facilitated in order to Commit Identity Theft?
Forgery charges can span the realm of legality; both the nature, as well as the crime itself – with regard to any or all the victims involved – with allow for the a shift within the respective setting in which the act of forgery takes place:
Electronic Forgery
The misuse of computer networks, the internet, and various avenues within the online community in order to defraud potential victims of identity theft is classified as electronic – or online forgery. Electronic Forgery is quite common within the digital age, which can include the illegal and unlawful reproduction of endorsements in the form of electronic signatures in order to illicitly assume the identity of the victim of identity theft.

Financial Forgery
Criminal – fraudulent – activity applicable to the events involving the exchange and circulation of monies or currency may be classified as financial forgery. Identity theft resulting from this type of forgery can occur in a variety of fashions, including fraudulent purchases through the use of finances – and financial information – belonging to the victims of this crime.

Commercial Forgery

Forgery involving business activities, commercial endeavors, or professional operation of the provision of products or services is classified as commercial forgery; items unlawfully purchased with illegal and illicit finances may result from identity theft.


Governmental and Administrative Forgery
Administrative forgery includes the vast expanses of laws, acts, ordinances, and legislation with regard to the Federal Government of the United States; identity theft in an administrative realm may include the unlawful duplication of documentation or the illegal officiating of government-mandated forms and requirements.

How to Prevent Electronic Identity Theft

Due to technological innovation, electronic identity theft is considered by many to be one of the most recently-developed crimes, credited – in part – to the ongoing advent of computer-based technology. This type of technology relies heavily on the Internet and online activity, and as a result, regulations and oversight of this type of activity has been expressed in the spectrum of preventative measures involving the cessation of electronic identity theft.
Companies providing methods of Identity theft prevention – including Lifelock, which is one of the most widely-acclaimed and recognized – have employed protective measures ranging from securing online perimeters to communicative transmission inquiring about the validity of unsubstantiated activity; these types of companies have found their respective niche within the prevention of identity fraud upon providing protection in lieu of infringing on personal privacy. 

Misrepresentation Explained

Misrepresentation Explained

What is Fraud?
Fraud is defined as an illegal criminal act that consists of the – alleged – purposeful misleading of a victim in a harmful fashion; the motives that may exist within a fraud charge may be facilitated by the intention of gain through deceit. 
Fraud is a broad classification within the legal spectrum, which can be manifested in a wide variety of forums and settings. Legality surrounding the personal privacy, space, and domain entitled to every citizen of the United States is considered undergoing a breach in the event of a fraud charge, which may include the unlawful use of personal records, documentation, and data belonging to another individual.
Legal Terminology Associated with Fraud
Scam: An illegal, deceptive, and structured plan undertaken in order to purposely defraud its participants
Identity Theft: The illegal assumption of the identity belonging to another individual with the hopes of gain and profit through fraudulent acts; identity theft may take place with the expressed intent of committing fraud, theft, exploitative acts, and harm with the hope of garnering personal profit or gain as result of their actions
Misrepresentation: The deliberate deception or misleading of individual – or entities – in order to fallaciously convey inaccurate information; this is a common theme that takes place within fraud charges
Falsification: The criminal act of and individual’s – or entity’s – attempt to present fallacious or fraudulent facts, documentation, or reports as legitimate or accurate; within the realm of identity theft, the falsification of personal documentation belonging to the victim of this type of fraud may take place in order to achieve economic gain
Counterfeit: The illegal and unlawful reproduction, circulation, or recreation of an item with the intent of defrauding individuals in the midst of purchase
How Does Fraud Take Place?
The prosecution of computer fraud includes any and all parameters with regard to the implicit legislation, decorum, legality, and ethics with regard to computer networks, the internet, electronic commerce, the online marketplace, and commercial activity taking place within a virtual setting; Online Identity theft may take place as a result of the unlawful acquisition of personal, private, and financial information belonging to the victims involved.
The classification of Financial Fraud is applicable to the activity, exchange, and the circulation of monies or currency; in the scope of a charge, financial fraud can occur in a variety of fashions, including the intrusion into the personal or private domain of another individual, clandestine electronic activity with the intent of unlawfully obtaining personal information, and the falsification of documents belonging to the victims of identity theft.

Identity Theft Explained

Identity Theft Explained

What is IdentityTheft?
Identity Theft is definedcriminal act of fraudulentlyobtaining the personal information belonging to another individual, and subsequently assuming that person’sidentity without the expressed consent – this type of fraudulent representation can be facilitated in order to achieve a variety of outcomes. Typically, an individual committing identity theft will utilize deceptive means in order to gain access to the personal and private information belonging to another individual; this can be done through wire fraud or the illegal entry into an individual’s personal records – once this information is obtained, the individual committing identity theft will typically pose as that individual, unlawfully acting in that person’s place in order to achieve economic gain.

Types of Identity Theft
Although the criminal means of Identity Theft can vary in nature and setting, a vast array of negative outcome – in the form of damage, theft, and loss – exist; due to the expansiveness of Identity Theft, the severity of the crime is oftentimes corollary to the severity of the latent consequence(s) – loss sustained as a result of Identity Theft can range from the misappropriation of monies to the unlawful attainment of documentation.
Identity Theft and Cyber Law
Many consider the most common form of Identity Theft to be facilitated through the useof virtual networks. In many cases, virtual networks – akin to a large majority of electronic communicative devices – reside within the jurisdiction of Cyber Law; additional means of electronic identity theft can include information technology networks, telecommunications, and the Internet:
•    Online Identity theft can result in the illegal attainment of stolen property and goods acquired through an online commercial marketplace; this is also known as E-Commerce (electronic commerce)
•    Purchase orders can be placed by individuals in possession of unlawful personal and financial information, while the victim will discover charges incurred for products and goods delivered elsewhere; in order to reduce the risk of capture, individuals well-versed in Identity Theft will request that the goods be shipped to anonymous, remote locations
•    The attainment of passwords
Identity Theft and Immigration Law
The facilitation of Identity Theft as a means to unlawfully attain illegal – albeit official – documentation is not uncommon. In lieu of engaging in the legal procedure of the adjustment of individual immigration status, criminal operations have taken to the illegal attainment of personal information under the ownership of a victim in order to submit fraudulent documentation. As a result, official – and oftentimes governmental – documentation can be acquired in such deceptive means; in a majority of cases, the victims will be unaware as to document and form requests unlawfully conducted in their name:
•    Through the use of stolen – or immigration documentation attained by illicit means – individuals can fraudulently assume the identity of others in order to claim immigration status, adjust employment status, and gain access to unlawful financial accounts
•    Stolen – or fraudulently attained immigration documentation – can pose a security threat, as well; without reputable identification, tabs and records cannot be adequately kept with regard to individuals leaving and entering the United States

Stolen Credit Card Laws

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