One of the most alarming identity theft facts is that it is the fastest growing crime, as per the Federal Trade Commission.

Each year, over 10 million people fall victim to identity theft. Drug traffickers have also resorted to the practice of identity theft in order to support their trade, and drug users too have joined the bandwagon in order to feed their habit.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, and very cheap, alternative to cocaine and heroin. Meth addicts are well known for stealing personal information from mailboxes in order to finance their drug use. Now, they are increasingly using the Internet in order to commit identity theft in the USA and Canada.

According to law enforcement agencies, identity theft is fast becoming the number one crime of preference among meth users.

Identity theft facts also state that if you are an unfortunate victim, it can take several hundred hours and possibly thousands of dollars to rebuild what has been destroyed.

Legal experts see three main reasons for why drug traffickers are committed ID theft:

1. ID theft is a non-violent crime
2. Criminal penalties for first-time offenders are usually light and range from a few days to a few weeks in jail
3. Meth is a drug that gives a long lasting high and this enables users to effectively carry out a crime that takes longer and has several steps before a payoff

The problem of ID theft is increasing in complexity as well as size and is spreading in the West and Midwest of the US. According to law enforcement officers, meth addicts are also venturing into and participating in phishing e-mail scams.

Many of these 'meth-heads' are actually employed within ID theft rings that are run by non-users. A single meth addict might manage to gain possession of over 3000 stolen credit card numbers from stores and websites, such as retailers websites.

This information is then used either to pay for their rent, food and shopping, to buy items for sale - or it is sold to tech specialists who employ these addicts.

The drug's unique effects make the users the perfect ID thieves. These are certainly sad but very real identity theft facts. Meth addicts have longer highs and can stay up for days on end performing menial and repetitive tasks, like testing the validity of the credit card numbers on a website or buying resalable items online.

The addicts resort to various methods to gain information and here are some more unfortunate identity theft facts.

• Dumpsters: Rooting through the trash of customer service call centers, car-rental agencies, financial firms, large retail chain stores and hotels, especially businesses that don't shred their discarded paperwork.
• Mailboxes: Lifting outgoing letters left for the mail carrier pick up, looking for credit and checking account information. Incoming mail gives them credit card balance transfer promotions.
• Cars: Most people leave important things like driver's licenses, cameras credit cards, and laptop computers in parked cars. The credit cards can be sold or used at casinos or stores. Laptops would give access to client and employee databases.

Identity theft facts reveal that the stolen data is used in various ways:

They may create bogus checks with software like Versa-Check using a stolen checking account number, a random name, and fake ID.

They may manipulate bank accounts, change billing addresses, order debit and credit cards, have the bank raise the credit limit or make cash transfers to other accounts.

They may even sell your bank account access to technical criminals and foreign crime groups which could use it to launder money. These global cybercrime groups also use e-mail phishing scams, viruses, spyware and database theft to steal personal information, credit card numbers and SSN.

So be diligent in your efforts to protect your personal information and guard against the crime of identity thefts.

» Identity Theft On The Internet - Phishing For Your Money!
Identity theft on the Internet remains a major concern of law enforcement. The Nigerian fraud letter has been in effect over twenty years now and continues to rip off consumers daily.

» Identity Theft Using Credit Cards - Who’s Been Using My Card?
Identity theft using credit cards is a common practice of ID thieves. Unfortunately, a credit card can be opened in your name by providing only a few verifiable details.

» Identity Theft Worksheets - Highly Useful Tools!
Identity theft worksheets provide the average consumer with the means of learning how to prevent becoming a victim of ID theft, or what to do after you discover your information is stolen.

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