Could I Be The Victim Of Identity Theft?
One of the most common forms of credit fraud …is committed by ‘stealing’ the identity of another individual. Someone obtains your identity details and uses them to obtain credit for themselves, leaving you with the potential liability for this debt, a damaged credit reputation or Credit Rating and the inconvenience of amending your credit file held by a Credit Reporting Agency. Studies show identity fraud victims typically know the person who uses, or tries to use, their identity. You are at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft, or may already be a victim, if:
- you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving license
- post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all
- you identify entries on your personal credit file from organisations you do not normally deal with
- items have appeared on your bank or credit-card statements that you do not recognise
- you applied for a centrelink benefit but are told that you are already claiming it
- you receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven’t asked for
- you have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite believing you having a good credit history
- a mobile-phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge
- you have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours
- financial institutions that you do not normally deal with contact you to chase an outstanding debt
If you live in Australia and are over 18, please be very careful and guard your identity closely.
Identity Theft and a List of other Common Scams
20th September 2009, 2:59am Original Story By BILL KAUFMANN , CALGARY SUN
How these frauds work
Inheritance scheme: Targets are told a wealthy stranger died and are asked to help with banking. The come-on arrives in a lengthy letter asking for help in transferring large amounts of money. Recipients are assured large sums of money for little effort in return for their bank account data. Funds are then stolen from the victim’s bank account.
Identity theft: Names, SIN or credit card numbers are hijacked. Signs of such theft are letters or phone calls stating approval or denial by a creditor when no application was made. Collection agencies contact victims demanding money; credit card statements arrive for purchases never made. Credit card statements no longer arrive.
Cheque overpayment: A phoney cashier’s or personal cheque is received by the seller of a good or service for more than the amount owed. They’re asked to deposit the cheque and wire the excess funds back to the purchaser. The deposited cashier’s cheque is then returned as counterfeit and charged back to the seller.
Advance fee: The Nigerian letter scam, the pitch begins as a request for an urgent business transaction which can arrive through paper mail, e-mail or fax.
What scams are presented as a money-making investment or involves payment of up-front fees…
The 1-900 ploy: Usually through the regular mail, the victim is urged to phone a 1-900 number to discover how much money they’ve won. The offer often states the call costs around $4.99 a minute. The prizes end up being minimal while $35 is lost with every call.
Vehicle warranty package: Mail or phone calls deliver an unsolicited buyer beware type-pitch. They offer vehicle warranty that might already be owned by the victim. Emergency or grandparent scam: A grandparent is contacted by phone caller claiming to be a grandchild who says they’re in some sort of trouble requiring a financial bailout. The money is sent by a company like Western Union or Money Gram before the grandparent can verify the story.
Pyramid or Ponzi schemes: These depend on luring an ever-growing number of investors who pay off those who came before them. Finding newcomers is more vital than selling any product that might be at the core of the pitch.
Puppy scam: Classified ad racket promises a puppy after all fees are paid. Fees — which include shipping and customs charges — are sought in advance and paid through a money transfer company. Photos of the pets are used but the animals never actually exist.
Lottery fraud: Tricks victims into thinking they’ve won a jackpot. Fees are asked to be paid up-front before the prize can be claimed. The winning claims are made by free e-mail accounts like Yahoo and Hotmail, which legitimate lotteries don’t use.
Bogus charities: Caution should be taken when an unfamiliar charity comes calling.
Phishing: A ploy that elicits financial data and passwords from Internet users. This con uses replicas of real businesses to trick users into supplying credit card and social insurance numbers and bank account data. The information can be used to commit identity fraud.
Vacation schemes: Unsolicited vacation offers; sometimes, these come-ons involve a prize that has to be paid for.