Identity Theft - Research Paper Example

IDENTITY THEFT Identity theft is a serious and new crime that the legal system is currently grappling with. It is not an easy one to deal with and its repercussions are serious. It can take years to recover from this kind of crime. Taking peoples most personal information and using it in malicious ways can be a devastating experience. There are a number of useful precautions that a person can take to ensure that their personal data is protected and is not vulnerable to theft by criminals. The first is to ensure that you have strong passwords protecting your online information.

You should not use your name as a password or your birthday. It is always best to use a combination of numbers and letters. Do not write your password down in your house. Also, it is very important to never leave your wallet unattended. Your credit cards or social security numbers are very valuable in the hands of thieves. Personal information like your middle name or your birthday should be guarded and not posted on facebook for everyone to see. It can be used against you by thieves. These days people will steal not only your money, but your identity.

You must be very careful. Criminals use identity theft to open up new bank accounts in your name and get new credit cards. They might also apply for social assistance and bank loans. They will run up your bills without a care in the world. This can be devastating to a persons credit and can cause untold financial hardship. Be very careful! Work consulted Wallace, H. & Roberson, C. (2008). Principles of Criminal Law (4th Ed.). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 9780205582570