Types of Quiet Crime
Not every crime committed involves making a lot of noise. Some crimes are committed without the victim even knowing what has happened until months later. Cyber crimes often fall into this category. Software piracy often occurs without the knowledge of the victim. Few people who are not employed by the software industry worry about piracy. The most common silent crime in the United States today is identity theft.
Identity theft occurs when someone takes someone else’s social security number and uses it to gain a legal advantage or benefits. The reasons can vary from something as simple as not being a US citizen or something as complex as someone wanting to be someone else to buy items that require an established credit rating.
Identity theft is hard to track until certain events occur in the system. When someone does get their identity stolen, the damage is often hard to fix as well. Credit bureaus, banks and other institutions are not always sympathetic to the plight of the victim. As business, the banks want to recoup their losses. When a person does found out someone tried to steal his identity, he can issue challenges on the loans taken out in his name. Services such as Lifelock force banks and other business to prove the customer’s identity.
