What is identity theft on the internet? Identity theft occurs when another individual gets access to your information and poses as you, obtaining money or materials through the use of your money without your knowledge.  This information includes but is not limited to your social security number, birthday, address, account number, and passwords.  This thief will pose as you with that fraudulent information for any number of purposes.

            How could something like this happen?  Many people that are new to the web often fall victim to this, through the means of many scams.  A common way is calling phishing where a fake e-mail is sent to you for linking to what appears to be something credible that requires your personal information. Usually this contains some type of message proclaiming immediate action is required to gool you in. Phishing can also include means of viruses or key loggers that are downloaded onto your system. These are just some of the possibilities, as they go even as far as someone being pickpocketted on the subway. This is why you need good anti-spyware, but more importantly a smart internet and downloading sense.

The 35-44 demographic age group has the highest rate of identity fraud currently in our generation.  This is usually due to transmission through friends that have been infected before them.  It is not a coincidence that this is usually the starting age group that is computer-unfriendly by just missing the rise of the PC booming age.  My personal belief is that the best way to know what is and isn’t safe on the internet is through education of another that has the experience, as well as learning on your own.  You can’t go wrong with the trial and error method.  It will also teach you computer resourcefulness in fixing your own problems as well.

            Currently this is a hot issue in our modern era of commerce and trade.  The government is getting more and more involved every year with identity theft. The Department of Justice has prosecuted many cases of identity theft and fraud under a wide assortment of federal statutes.  But this hasn’t been enough since identity theft is at one of its strongest points in time.  Identity theft is recoverable, but is a huge hassle to the modern day consumer.  The future might drastically change this problem, with the introduction of biotechnology becoming more prevalent.  But in the mean time, we must try to prevent this nuisance as much as possible.  Running spyware daily is recommended, and learning what sites to visit and not to visit is invaluable to every user.  If you’re smart with what you give your information out too, you should be as safe as you possibly can be.  But that’s just it; no one is entirely safe from ID theft no matter what they do.  So be as cautious as you can, because the internet can be a dangerous place to an unsuspecting newcomer.