Stop Identity Fraud: What Identity Thieves Do With Stolen Credit Cards

Unless you live in a remote village on some tropical island, it’s almost 100% likely that you or someone you know has been a victim of identity theft. Unfortunately, identity theft is a harsh reality that we all have to accept and do our best to prevent. But have you ever wondered what’s really going on behind the scenes when your identity is stolen? How many criminals are seeing your social security number or your credit card information? This is a very scary thing to consider. According to an article on CBSNews.com here’s what’s happening to your information after it’s been fraudulently taken.

If your credit card information is stolen as part of a large breach, it’s more likely that your identity and information will be sold at least once as part of a package deal. Along the path to fraudulent purchases your card will be valued based on such factors as whether it is proven to be active (typically with small purchases that may go unnoticed) and whether other information is included — such as passwords, Social Security numbers, and birthdates that make it easier to open new lines of credit in your name.

Once your card information ends up in the hands of the final “user,” the fraudulent action can take many forms. The thief may make a duplicate card, choose to open up fraudulent accounts in your name, or simply use your existing card to buy items that can be resold for cash. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-identity-thieves-do-with-stolen-credit-cards/

Once you find out that your credit card, social security number or some other personal identifiable information has been stolen, you will have to take some corrective and preventative actions. Start by calling your credit card company and let them know what has happened. If any account were opened fraudulently, you’ll need to contact those companies as well so they can close the unauthorized accounts before more charges are made. File police reports and consider placing a freeze on your credit for at least 90 days. This will prevent anyone from running your credit during that time, so no new unauthorized accounts can be opened.

Use a credit monitoring service to stay on top of daily changes to your credit reports. If any new items pop up that you don’t recognize, it’s likely fallout from the credit card or identity theft. In the future, use some of these tips to help keep your personal information safe.