Guide 2 Identity Theft - How To Protect Yourself |
Guide 2 Identity Theft Books Shredders Basic Information What is Identity Theft How It Happens Types of Identity Theft Warning Signs Commercial Identity Theft Access Codes Watch Out For Credit Card Risks Public Records Debit & ATM Cards Passports Spoofs & Phishing Stolen Checks Unsolicited Card Offers Security Tips Credit Reporting Agencies If Your Identity Is Stolen Secure Passwords Links |
Guide 2 Identity Theft > Commercial Commercial Identity TheftJust like individuals, businesses are at risk from identity theft. However, in the case of businesses, the potential losses can be much larger, so this can make them a particularly attractive target to criminals. The identity thief and the confidence trickster have many similarities. It is very easy for a confidence trickster to say: "I work for XYZ Corporation, just charge it to our account". Every businesses wants to make sales, and in the rush to respond to what appears to be a legitimate customer, it can be tempting for businesses to simply accept these instructions, especially if the person appears to be credible and to know all the usual procedures. If the thief that is equipped with a little inside information, like an order number or order form in the correct format, a business card, or some more official-looking identity document, and if there is nothing inherently unusual or suspicious about the transaction, the chances are high that the thief will simply be believed. Sales and customer service people keen for business are much less likely to turn down what seems to be a credible deal than would a suspicious accountant from the back room. Smaller transactions are especially susceptible: a taxi fare, a routine stationery purchase. As these types of purchases are not usually closely scrutinized, they are also much less likely to be detected by a larger company through their internal auditing processes. Some identity thieves are much more ambitious: orders for goods, or sales of services (such as advertising that will never be published), are particularly fertile areas for identity thieves. Nowadays, we tend to think the world has become too sophisticated for a confidence trickster to get away with scams like the legendary "sale of the Brooklyn Bridge". However, the longevity and huge ongoing scale of the famous Nigerian letter or email (requesting an advance money transfer) scam tells us that people and businesses today are as gullible and greedy as ever. A recent BBC report estimated this scam costs the British economy 150 million pounds each year, and that is the cost to just one of the many countries affected by this quarter century old scam. The best defense against commercial identity theft is to have routine verification and documentation procedures in place:
The use of information systems for fast data access and communication improve the odds of early detection and prevention of commercial identity theft. Information systems can also help streamline and facilitate the security procedures needed to prevent fraud. |
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