Identity Theft Methods and Fraud Types
Atefeh Tajpour, Suhaimi Ibrahim, Mazdak Zamani · 2013
Abstract Identity-based crimes are considered to be one of the most significant and growing problems of the last 20 years due to the significant economic harm these offenses pose for victims. Availability of personal information data on the internet has increased the possibility of this cyber crime. Identity theft crime comes out by combination of cybercrimes from one side and lake of users’ awareness and training also disregard to safeguard personal data from another side. The best tool that consumers have to protect themselves from identity theft is education and awareness which often times leads to early detection. This paper provides comprehensive definition of identity theft, different methods and fraud types of this crime. Keyword : Identity Theft, Cyber Crime, Identity Fraud, e-Commerce 1. Introduction Cyberspace is the digitized and networked work area people enter when using the Internet. Online users “surf” cyberspace to exchange information, for communication, for entertainment, to buy and sell products and services, to navigate and use public and private transportation, share their interests, and make financial transactions across a wide range of sectors, both nationally and internationally. This private information is misused for different purposes such as opening new account, gain control over victims’ credit account, gain benefits from government and withdraw law by using fake identity. Unfortunately identity theft methods are hidden to the victim because usually people is aware when they denied for new loans or credit cards, disproved employment or when debt collector asks payment for a debt that victim did not cause. Sometimes victims spend billions of dollars annually to compensate the effects of identity theft and personal data breach [1]. Private information is valuable and has the main role in many organizations relationship. Developing information technology brings good advantages for improving these relations but unfortunately cyber crimes increase either. Information as the blood of organization is the essential part of information system so the security of information system should be provided strongly because our daily life is more depended to computer systems [2]. Identity theft is a cyber crime growing rapidly in the world. Proper care must be taken by the customers to protect their identity and it is also their responsibility to take measures to disallow any data breach. 2011 was the year of data breaches, more than 232.4 million identities were exposed as indicated in Figure 1.