Identity theft and your online job search

While identity theft is nothing new, the Internet has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for identity thieves.

According to the FBI, identity theft is the biggest online fraud. The US Federal Trade Commission said identity theft was the number one complaint for its consumer complaints - accounting for 42% of all complaints in 2001.

The thief will use your personal information to open a credit card account, a mobile account, open a bank account in your name and write a bad check - let the victim leave a bill and undermine the credit rating. Identity thieves may become representatives of banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies, allowing you to disclose your social security number, your mother's maiden name, financial account number and identity information.

In a recent article [http://www.msnbc.com/news/830411.asp], MSNBC reported on a man who became a victim of a fraudulent work list posted on Monster.com. According to this article:

"This is just the job leader Jim needs: a leading international insurance broker, Arthur Gallagher, is the marketing manager. Just a few days after Jim responded to the job on Monster.com, manpower The resource director sent a promising email. The note says that we are interested in you. The salary is negotiable and the client is very big. In fact, the customer is so valuable and sensitive that you must submit a background check as an interview. Part of it for work, Jim accepted - and almost sent every key to his digital identity, including his age, height, weight, social security number, bank account number, and even his mother's maiden name."

Jim spent a day canceling his credit card, checking his balance and contacting the credit bureau, but he was worried that his information is now "in there."

There are warning signs that can alert you to a fraudulent work list. Although these items do not necessarily mean that the list is a scam, they indicate that you should check further.

- Incorrect grammar and spelling errors

- The telephone or fax number area code does not match the given address

- Unrealistic salary

Online work databases are not the only place where identity thieves can access personal information. In recent US indictments, individuals have been accused of obtaining and using personal information in a variety of ways. In Miami, two people were accused of using the cover of a virtual company to illegally steal a restaurant's computer network. A clerical staff member of the New York State Insurance Fund steals office documents and uses stolen identities [personnel and office workers across the country] to access goods and services. Kaiser Permanente's blood donors acknowledge the use of personal information of patients and employees to open credit card accounts of various names.

Recently, the US Federal Trade Commission's investigation of the family work plan sparked an incredible "scam scam" when a man posing as an FTC employee emailed hundreds of victims of fraud. He asked for personal information indicating that it would be used as evidence in the case.

While it is impossible to completely eliminate the chance of becoming a victim, you can minimize the risk by putting the following into practice:

- If a potential employer asks for any personal information, you should ask for their contact information, then check the company's information separately and contact them to confirm that they do exist. While it is not uncommon for employers to ask for certain job-related information [such as your work experience and former employer], they are not suitable unless you are personal information [such as a social security number]. They are actually hired [you have checked them to make sure they are legal]. Even then, you will never be asked to provide financial information such as credit card numbers.

- Online online meetings that never contain your social security number and keep your work history short.

- Check your credit card statement frequently. Believe it or not, many people have never even checked them!

- If your bill does not arrive on time, be sure to follow up with the creditor. Lost credit card bills may mean that identity thieves have changed your billing address to cover their tracking.

- Order your credit report from one of the major credit agencies each year and confirm that everything is correct.

What if you are a victim of identity theft:

The US Federal Trade Commission maintains the Consumer Sentinel Identity Theft Data Exchange Center, a repository of national identity theft complaints. The US Federal Trade Commission has established the Identity Theft Free Hotline 1.877.IDTHEFT [1.877.438.4338] and the Identity Theft website [www.consumer.gov/idtheft] to make identity theft victims a central location for reporting issues and accessing useful information.

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center [IFCC] is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] and the National White Collar Crime Center [NW3C]. You can use their online system to file a complaint.

[http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp]

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