What is identity theft? What can individuals do to make this crime more difficult for criminals?

Answer 1

Refer to pages 57 and 58 of the main text for a discussion of the crime of identity theft. An important way to make this crime more difficult for criminals, is for individuals to be more cautious in giving out personal information over the Internet, especially as it relates to financial transactions (e.g. credit card numbers.) Also be aware when making purchases in stores that other customers behind you or next to you do not obtain information you are passing on to a salesperson such as name, address, phone number, store account number, date of birth, your driver's license number, and so forth. Destroy important papers with personal information about you (e.g. Social security number and your bank account number) by using a shredder before depositing them into disposing unit. Being careless allows identity thieves the ability to steal important information and make you the victim of perhaps the fastest growing financial crime in the United States.