Drivers may want to keep the following story in mind if they ever get into a fender-bender in the future.
A Phoenix, AZ man was recently busted for committing identity theft on a hit-and-run victim. The man – who was accused of getting into an accident with the victim in 2008 – supposedly delivered a letter sent by some “detectives” that claimed the victim was at fault and needed to pay for damages.
The victim emailed the fake detective agency to say he was not at fault and received an email back with an attachment. After trying to open the attachment, the victim's computer crashed. Soon after that, he discovered his computer was infected with a virus and he found unauthorized charges on his credit card. He was a victim of another type of "hit-and-run" crime: identity theft.
A search of the accused man’s house uncovered keystroke logger software and documents and access devices with the victim's personal information. Investigators also discovered that someone obtained pre-paid credit cards using that information and had them delivered to a private mailbox rented in the victim's name with a fake driver's license.
In many ways, identity theft is like a hit-and-run accident, since the guilty party disappears and the victim is left with the damages. Most experts agree that identity theft could become far more prevalent because of the current economic situation. According to Javelin Research, almost ten million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2008, and that figure is expected to rise.
Identity theft is a federal crime in which a person obtains key pieces of personal identifying information (PII) – such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers – and uses them for personal gain. With identity theft, the best defense is a good offense. People need to know what is contained in their personal information – including criminal background checks – before identity theft strikes, not after.
MyBackgroundCheck.com offers individuals background checks to help them to control their personal information and prevent identity theft. By giving themselves a personal background check, individuals can secure, monitor, and protect their PII. For more information on MyBackgroundCheck.com’s personal background check services, please visit www.mybackgroundcheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364.
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