IDtheft

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General identity theft resources

Many US organizations have to comply with red flag rules introduced by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) in 2003 in order to reduce America's identity theft epidemic.

Some IT users still chose ridiculously weak passwords, given the option.

If you do ever get hit by identity thieves, here are the steps recommended to undo the mess.

“ID theft puts an ugly face on your good name. A con artist who knows your Social Security number, bank account information or other personal details can temporarily become you in order to commit fraud. Fixing the damage could take years. Here's how to reduce your risk.”

The World Privacy Forum offers advice on medical identity theft. Aside from the fraud affecting the providers of health services, medical identity theft can result in inappropriate changes to your medical records and downstream issues that could prove life-threatening, for you.

Synthetic identity fraud involves chimaeras, in other words combining personal data from one or more people with fake content to create synthetic IDs.

CIFAS, a UK financial services industry body actively addressing identity theft through credit reporting and inter-bank fraud reporting, maintains a useful page of case studies and provides several resources on identity theft.

The Identity Theft Resource Center is a Californian-based non-profit group publishing a wealth of materials on identity theft e.g. a fact sheet on overcoming the emotional impact of identity theft that offers support for the victims, and information on federal identity theft laws. Many of their resources are also available in Spanish.

Find out how vulnerable you are to identity theft by completing this automated identity fraud safety quiz by the Better Business Bureau. Practical advice on how to reduce your risk is given at the end.

Here’s a CERT Cyber Security Tip on preventing and responding to identity theft.

Identity theft - don’t become a victim is a UK Government Home Office website on identity theft with information for both individuals and businesses.

A UK Treasury policy/discussion paper on curbing financial crime and terrorism proposes more data sharing between the authorities, more funding for the Charities Commission to tackle terrorist abuse of charities and other anti-money-laundering measures.

The ultimate guide to identity theft prevention identifies the main ways in which identities are stolen: your mail, your computer, your trash. It’s a shame they missed your friends and family but still, it’s a worthwhile guide.

A UK Government-sponsored website on identity theft by the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee, yet another well-meaning public security awareness initiative, estimated that around 100,000 people have suffered identity theft in the UK (~1 in 600 people or 0.17% of the population) with costs amounting to £1.7bn (~0.1% of GDP). What’s more, they ‘show their workings’ on the site, giving some confidence to the financial estimate. In contrast, the National Consumer League’s PhishingInfo.org site claims the (US?) victimization figure is one hundred times higher at an amazing 1 in 6 people (17%).

An identity theft fact sheet from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada offers solid information and straightforward advice. ABC’s of fraud is an online quiz, also from Canada, on various forms of fraud including identity theft. The Canadian government’s Safe Canada identity theft page provides some questions and answers.

Expert Law offers pragmatic advice on recognizing and responding to identity theft.

Make IT Secure is a beautifully clear and succinct Irish website on identity theft. Ideal if you don’t have time to wade through reams of info.

Mari Frank in California has a great radio show on privacy and identity theft topics. She also has a great website with a ton of information about identity theft. Mari’s books are recommended for general consumption, perhaps provided to personnel as an awareness action not only to help them protect their own personal data but also making them more aware of the need to protect the personal data they handle during their own daily work activities.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission piece online brokerage accounts: what you can do to safeguard your money and tour personal information warns those trading their stocks and shares online to beware identity theft. It’s unusual to see the three main types of control laid out so clearly: eight tips on how to avoid being scammed (preventive controls) offer sound advice, as do the two on identifying that you have been scammed (detective controls) and three on how to resolve such issues (corrective controls).

The Identity Theft and Assumptions Deterrent Act made identity theft a specific crime in the US since at least 1998.

The US Office of Inspector General offers sound advice to students and prospective students about identity theft scams targeting them. A typical example is a phone call to a prospective student asking them for their banking information ‘in order to process an application fee’. Students seldom have much money but fraudsters can obtain credit in their names and rack up bigger bills quicker than even the most profligate party animals.

US victims of identity theft are encouraged to report the details to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a collaboration between the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center.

General identity theft resources

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