Identity theft involves someone stealing personal information such as names, addresses, social insurance numbers, credit card information, and other details to pretend to be someone else, often to access bank accounts, apply for loans or credit cards, make purchases, or hide criminal activities. Common signs of identity theft include unfamiliar accounts or transactions, credit denials, or missing money. If identity theft is suspected, one should report it to the police, notify banks and credit agencies, and monitor credit reports for fraud. Preventative measures include keeping information private, using passwords, not sharing devices on public WiFi, and reporting theft promptly. Identity theft increased 13% in 2011 compared to 2010, likely due to increased smartphone and social media use providing more opportunities for

1. Tiina Antikainen 1103920

2. Definition
• Identity theft is a form of stealing someone's
identity in which someone pretends to be
someone else by assuming that person's identity.
• Typically in order to access resources or obtain
credit and other benefits in that person's name.

3. What identity thefts are looking for?
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Social Insurance Numbers
• Full address
• Mother’s maiden name
• Username and password for online services
• Driver's license number
• Personal identification numbers (PIN)
• Credit card information (numbers, expiry dates and the last
three digits printed on the signature panel)
• Bank account numbers
• Signature
• Passport number

4. What they do with the information?
• Access your bank accounts
• Open new bank accounts
• Transfer bank balances
• Apply for loans, credit cards and other goods and services
• Make purchases
• Hide their criminal activities
• Obtain passports or receive government benefits

5. How to know if your identity was
stolen?
• Frequently monitor your: Hard copy, on-line financial accounts
and your credit card reports for any unusual activities
• Investigate further if you find out there is unfamiliar accounts
in your name
• You have applied for credit and are unexpectedly turned down

6. What to do if identity is stolen?
• Report it to the police
• Inform your bank and credit card companies
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your
credit reports
• Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been
tampered with or opened fraudulently
• It is important to do all these steps as soon as you find out
your identity is stolen

7. How to prevent my identity to be
stolen?
• Always keep your personal data private
• Keep your data secure with passwords or in a locked storage
device
• Never pay your bills on a public Wi-Fi hotspot
• Keep key personal information on social networking sites
private
• Be sure of the applications you download
• Watch where you leave your phone (Do not let anyone use
your phone without your supervising)
• Make sure you report identity thief as quickly as possible (The
sooner you act, the less you will lose and the more likely law
enforcement can catch the fraudsters)

8. Identity thefts increasing
• It is important to be aware of the problem
• Compared to 2010, in year 2011 identity theft incidents
increased 13 present
• Reason?
• The use of smartphones and social media has been increasing->
more opportunities for the thefts
2011 statistics
of identity
crimes

9. Bibliography
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_theft
• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/ab
out-identity-theft.html
• http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/id-theft-vol-
eng.htm
• http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/why-id-theft-increased-
in-2011-and-how-you-can-protect-yourself/
• http://drjonpbloch.blogspot.fi/2012/02/identity-theft-fastest-
growing-crime-in.html