Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2003/Identity theft

Is your identity safe from theft?

The term 'identity theft' describes types of crimes where perpetrators either create or assume another's identity for the purpose of deceiving a victim. In most cases the creation of the false identity is an act in preparation for committing a crime.

Identity theft often occurs when someone else knows the right identification keys (for example identification numbers and passwords) to authenticate themselves to a computer system as if they were you.

That person is then, for all practical purposes, you – they are able to buy, sell, or enter into commitments or debts for which you may be held responsible.

Identity theft is much more prevalent now that many of us conduct so many transactions on-line. While there are a number of low-tech methods that can be used by identity thieves (such as searching for personal data in rubbish bins, stealing your mail or your wallet), there are a number of electronic methods that can be used to get your personal information.

Some of these methods may involve remote access Trojans (or backdoors) that give the thieves unlimited access to the information on your computer, or via scam e-mail, that poses as a request from a legitimate company or government body asking you to verify your details. They may even be able to access other information that you have shared on the internet.

It is vital that you realise that certain personal information is precious, and that you should stay active in taking steps to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. The following is a brief list of some of the information (which often seems harmless) that you should protect and not share electronically, unless strictly necessary:

• Your full name and address
• Your family's names
• Your phone number
• Information regarding your living situation, such as your estate agents name (if renting) or mortgage information (if buying)
• Tax File Number (TFN) and tax return details
• Credit card and other account numbers
• Documents relating to credit history
• Medicare number or related health or insurance information
• Driver's licence
• Other financial information or
• Employment details (including salary).

This article was first published in the Defence Equity Magazine.