IDENTITY THEFT

- Identity theft happens when someone uses information about you without your
permission.

What kind of information?

It can be your name and address or your Social Security number -- or the account numbers for
your credit cards, bank accounts, or medical insurance. This is sometimes called your personal
information.

How could a thief get my information?

A thief can get your personal information in person or online. They might steal your garbage or
mail to get your account numbers. They might steal your information from a business or medical
office. They might steal your wallet or purse to get the information. Or they could trick you into
sending information in an email.

What does an identity thief do with my information?

An identity thief can buy things with your credit cards or get new credit cards. The thief can
open a phone, electricity or gas account, steal your tax refund, or get medical care. They can
even pretend to be you if they are arrested.

Why should you care if someone steals your identity?

The thief can clearly cause all kinds of trouble for you. The bottom line is this: you will be
responsible for what the thief does while using your personal information. This is true even if
you don’t know about the bills.

How do you know if someone steals your identity?

1. Read your bills
2. Watch your bank account statement
3. Check your mail
4. Get your credit report
In the Philippines, there are three common types of identity theft which results to fraud:
1. Credit/Debit Card Fraud - This is done through "skimming", wherein your information
stored in your card's magnetic strip is stolen when the card is swiped on transaction. Once
the thieves get a hold of this information, a fake card containing the victim's information
is reproduced and can now be used for criminal activity.
2. Internet Scams - The Philippines is one of the world's biggest users of social media sites.
Through this, anyone can literally be anyone. Just by creating a new account, criminals
can pose as sellers, buyers, family members asking relatives for monetary help. Anything
is possible.
3. Electronic scams - These e-mails may contain messages informing the recipient that their
certain online account needs to be updated; therefore, logging in to a realistic-looking
website is necessary. By logging in these websites, personal information of the recipient
is now ready for stealing. Information such as date of birth, government numbers, contact
information, etc. are a few examples of what these criminals are looking for.

So what can we do to not be a victim and not suffer the repercussions? Here are preventive
measures that we can practice:
1. Practice safe internet use. If you receive spam e-mails, text messages asking for personal
information, delete it right away. Also make sure that your computer's anti-virus software is
updated to make sure your computer is not vulnerable to hacking and that the information stored
in your computer is protected.
2. Shred Private Records. Once you've paid your bills or withdrawn money from the ATM,
destroy the statements or receipts. This way, your personal records are not going to be easily
available and may take a while to decipher. Make sure that any numbers or other personal
information are not legible once thrown in the rubbish bin because one of the ways that these
criminals obtain information is through dumpster-diving, looking for receipts and paper
statements from the trash.
3. Beware of Scams. Make sure that the person you're communicating with on social media is the
real person. If you happen to engage with someone who stole someone else's identity, protect
your personal information. Don't give out birth dates, government and personal contact number.
4. Be vigilant. Be responsible. Be brave. If you feel that you've been a victim or about to be a
victim of identity theft or any kinds of fraud, don't hesitate to report it to the authorities. Any
persons found to be guilty of identity theft will have to serve time according to the specifications
of the Cybercrime Act of the Philippines.