Identity thieves may use a variety of low- and high-tech methods to gain access to your personally identifying information. For example:
They get information from businesses or institutions by:
- stealing records from their employer,
- bribing an employee who has access to the records,
- conning information out of employees, or
- hacking into the organization's computers.
They rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or dumps in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
They obtain credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to credit reports or by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for and a legal right to the information.
They steal credit and debit card account numbers as your card is processed by using a special information storage device in a practice known as "skimming."
They steal wallets and purses containing identification and credit and bank cards.
They steal mail, including bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, or tax information.
They complete a "change of address form" to divert mail to another location.
They steal personal information from your home.
They scam information from you by posing as a legitimate business person or government official.
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Identity thieves may use a variety of low- and high-tech methods to gain access to your personally identifying information. For example:
- bribing an employee who has access to the records,
- conning information out of employees, or
- hacking into the organization's computers.
Information from Consumer.gov