Low-tech Methods Still Used for Identity Theft

With all of the news of data breaches and identity theft committed by hackers, many are concerned with electronic security, and they are right to do so. However, while we seek to protect ourselves online and companies seek to protect their employee and customer information, we must not forget that there are identity theft methods that require little or no access to a computer or the Internet.

According to a study from the University of Ithaca's Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP) on closed ID theft cases, identity thieves still rely on low-tech old-school methods such as dumpster diving and mail theft. Thieves also gained information on potential victims through public records. The Internet or technological devices were only used in about half of the examined identity theft cases. In fact, the Internet was the sole method used in less than 10 percent of the cases. Granted these numbers are a few years old (2001 to 2004), and the use of technological methods has probably risen. Also, this data relies on the cases of identity theft that were reported and closed, and many cases go unreported either because they are undetected until the thief is long gone or because the victim knew the thief and decided not to report a friend or family member.

While this study obviously cannot tell the whole story, it can serve as a reminder that identity theft can be committed in many ways. While you want to protect your electronic data, you want to protect yourself on other fronts as well. These low-tech methods will continue to be used to commit identity theft because they do not require knowledge or access to hi-tech devices.