Identity Theft - Past and Present

While our society has become increasingly aware of identity theft and the importance of protecting their identity, the crime itself is nothing new. Identity theft continues to evolve as each new technology is introduced; if there is a way to identify yourself through the internet, ATM or I.D. number, then there is a way to steal it.

Identity theft of the past was grittier and direct. Back in the 1950s, many people called identity theft of the past -dumpster diving- since many criminals literally went through their victims' trash to find important personal information. As the use of telephones expanded, so did the ability to scam people. Many times people would call unsuspecting victims to inform them of winning a prize. All they needed to do was release their personal information and the prize was all theirs. Sounds fishy to us, right? Well, before identity theft was so prevalent, there was much less of a need to be suspicious.


Another easy way to steal an identity in the past was to simply steal someone's passport or social security card, but unless you looked very similar to your victim, it wasn't of much use, since applying for a credit card used to involve applying in person with a photo ID. While new technology helps speed up the process of obtaining credit, nearly anyone with your information can take out a credit card in your name.


One of the greatest stories of identity theft, and one that served as notorious authority on privacy law was the case of Frank Abagnale. If you've seen the movie -Catch Me if You Can- starring Leonardo DiCaprio, then you know the case. Abagnale posed as reputable characters, including a pilot, doctor and an assistant attorney general. In the meantime, he racked up over $4 million in bad checks-and this was $4 million in the 1960s! Abaganle couldn't evade the authorities forever and was eventually caught.


In the 1980s came the use of credit reports to verify your financial history, and again, along came a way to manipulate the system. Your credit report became a very important instrument for showing your financial worth, but if it fell in the wrong hands, it could have account numbers, social security numbers, and nearly every piece of information necessary for stealing your identity.


Last came the internet, which combined nearly every kind of transaction yet; you can make phone calls online, do banking online and even obtain a credit report online. The internet became one central hub for millions of people's personal information. While most all banking sites and online shopping have worked hard to secure their sites from identity theft predators and hackers, thousands of people still have their identity stolen each year. Luckily, as we become more aware of identity theft, many people are taking measures to keep themselves safe. One way is to keep your personal information as anonymous as possible, somekeyword companies can help keep your contact information completely anonymous. Are you doing enough to stay safe?

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