Thieves in the Night
Wednesday, February 19th, 2003 Fraud PropertyIdentity theft is one of the fastest-growing crime categories in America. It is also among the most vicious, as its victims are affected catastrophically. Identity thieves prosper by impersonating others, and by using someone else’s social security number, or credit card account. They buy houses, cars and other consumer goods, and make long distance telephone calls costing thousands of dollars. The epidemic growth rate of identity theft has rendered law enforcement efforts to stem it difficult. As the problem metastasizes through our culture it makes victims of consumers and corporations alike, and takes a heavy toll on our economy. “Identity theft is currently out of control, “says Beth Givens, Director of Privacy Rights Clearing House, a consumer privacy rights advocacy organization, home-based in San Diego, California.
