The FBI has called identity theft the fastest growing white-collar crime. White-collar crime usually indicates that the criminal behavior is coming from someone of respectability or higher social status. In reality though, identity theft doesn't require the skills of a genius socialite; all it takes to victimize a vulnerable party is a few key pieces of information and a little boldness.
On the other hand, criminals aren't just targeting ordinary people in the community. Famous folks, targets of respectability and higher social status, have been the focus of fraudsters as well. A New York man was arrested a few years ago under suspicion of stealing many identities, among them Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Ted Turner.
It may be surprising that the rich and famous can be impersonated along with everyday Joes, but thieves don't need to be professional actors. Much can be done under the cover of anonymity. All that is really required is an Internet connection.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Reality Check: Put Your Trust On A Diet
For the most part, we want to trust the people we live and work around. Constantly questioning the motives of everyone we come across on a daily basis can make us paranoid - not to mention bad company. Still, some things, such your social security number and other personal identifiers, are better left revealed to only a few select individuals.
When someone asks you for sensitive information, try to discern if it's really necessary to share it. Unfortunate circumstances and desperation can cause people to victimize individuals they ordinarily would never dream of hurting, such as friends and family members.
Take for example a recent case concerning a supposedly trustworthy minister, Raymond L. Clayton Sr. An 82 year old parishoner of Clayton's congregation received a strange phone call concerning an overdue credit card bill. The unfortunate grandmother soon found out that $25,000 was owed through credit cards opened in her name.
Pat Tomedi, treasurer of the congregation for 17 years, had been scammed by someone who she placed a great deal of trust. The pastor was recently found guilty and sentenced for his crime.
The purpose of this article isn't to scare people into mistrusting everyone they care about. Instead, it should encourage people to practice smart methods of minimizing their risk. A few simple preventative measures could have alerted Pat Tomedi to this violation of her trust, way before the $25,000 bill arrived. These preventative measures will be the subject of future entries at deFraud.
For the full story of Pat Tomedi and Clayton the crook, see this WNEP news article .
When someone asks you for sensitive information, try to discern if it's really necessary to share it. Unfortunate circumstances and desperation can cause people to victimize individuals they ordinarily would never dream of hurting, such as friends and family members.
Take for example a recent case concerning a supposedly trustworthy minister, Raymond L. Clayton Sr. An 82 year old parishoner of Clayton's congregation received a strange phone call concerning an overdue credit card bill. The unfortunate grandmother soon found out that $25,000 was owed through credit cards opened in her name.
Pat Tomedi, treasurer of the congregation for 17 years, had been scammed by someone who she placed a great deal of trust. The pastor was recently found guilty and sentenced for his crime.
The purpose of this article isn't to scare people into mistrusting everyone they care about. Instead, it should encourage people to practice smart methods of minimizing their risk. A few simple preventative measures could have alerted Pat Tomedi to this violation of her trust, way before the $25,000 bill arrived. These preventative measures will be the subject of future entries at deFraud.
For the full story of Pat Tomedi and Clayton the crook, see this WNEP news article .
Friday, February 1, 2008
Identity Theft Resource Center
Have you been victimized by identity theft? Are you interested in cleaning up the damage?
The Identity Theft Resource Center (www.idtheftcenter.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating consumers and helping victims.
The website includes specific scam warnings. It is a good idea to look at their scam warnings periodically to stay on top of the latest attempts at ripping everyone off. If you encounter something strange through email or over the phone, don't hesitate to do a web search or investigation into whether the offer or correspondence is legitimate. Don't take any chances because many thieves have polished their fraudulent messages quite professionally.
The Identity Theft Resource Center (www.idtheftcenter.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating consumers and helping victims.
The website includes specific scam warnings. It is a good idea to look at their scam warnings periodically to stay on top of the latest attempts at ripping everyone off. If you encounter something strange through email or over the phone, don't hesitate to do a web search or investigation into whether the offer or correspondence is legitimate. Don't take any chances because many thieves have polished their fraudulent messages quite professionally.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Fraud Can Make You Money...Legally
Believe it or not, a person can make money from fraud and identity theft without arousing the attention of the police. Nationally and internationally, the fraud situation has spawned an entire industry.
Special fraud investigators are used by companies to track down customers who misrepresent themselves. Ignoring the problem can prove very expensive for businesses, so there is a demand for fraud specialists. Additionally, individuals having personal problems with identity theft or fraud can hire private investigators that have experience dealing with fraud related crimes.
How does a person crack into that side of the fraud business? Well, a number of colleges and universities offer degree programs in fraud investigation. Having a fraud degree on a resume will likely give a person an edge over other job candidates. Others have found success by pursuing indirectly related law enforcement or criminal justice programs.
The fraud issue doesn't look like it will be going away any time soon, but smart people looking for an interesting line of work can turn this negative issue into a positive.
Special fraud investigators are used by companies to track down customers who misrepresent themselves. Ignoring the problem can prove very expensive for businesses, so there is a demand for fraud specialists. Additionally, individuals having personal problems with identity theft or fraud can hire private investigators that have experience dealing with fraud related crimes.
How does a person crack into that side of the fraud business? Well, a number of colleges and universities offer degree programs in fraud investigation. Having a fraud degree on a resume will likely give a person an edge over other job candidates. Others have found success by pursuing indirectly related law enforcement or criminal justice programs.
The fraud issue doesn't look like it will be going away any time soon, but smart people looking for an interesting line of work can turn this negative issue into a positive.
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