What to Look for in 2009 for Identity Theft

Brian Koerner — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:08:59 +0000

As we start 2009, identity theft experts from around the globe are checking their crystal balls and compiling predictions of what you’re going to see in the field of identity theft in the new year. As I once again dust off my crystal ball and peer deep inside, here’s what I think is in store for you in 2009.

More scams. That’s right, my crystal ball tells me that 2009 will be chock full of identity theft-related scams. Not surprising, considering the economic climate. When the economy goes belly-up, those people who walk the line on a good day will go to the dark side when the days get bad. They’ll do whatever it takes to get money, even if it means stealing your precious name.To make matters worse, today’s economic climate has turned people with good character desperate. And although they might not go to the dark side and become your neighborhood identity crook, when good people get desperate, they certainly are more prone to falling victims to these scams. Identity crooks thrive on the vulnerable, and the current economic situation is making many of us exactly that. In fact, scams related to real estate, jobs and credit (all affected by the current economic climate) will be on the rise. I’m even going to go out on a limb here — while overall identity theft crimes may or may not rise this year, I’d bet that we’re going to see an increase in new credit-related fraud due to the tight credit climate. When those who walk on the edge can’t get their own credit, they’ll get it using your precious name.

Consumer education. Without a doubt, consumers appear to be more interested in educating themselves on identity theft-related issues. They want to understand the different types of identity theft and what they can do to protect themselves against them. They’re also looking more and more into available protection services and how to choose a service that meets their needs.

Increased legislation. Every other week, it seems like there’s a big breach with thousands of consumer’s information being compromised. Without a doubt, “data breach central” has caused many states to take initiatives and create legislation in the interest of the consumer. With over 40 states passing or considering such legislation, more are sure to follow, and the federal government is getting involved in the game as well.

Consumer-driven services. More and more consumers are inquiring about identity theft-related consumer services to help them prevent, detect and remedy an identity theft incident.

CreditFYI Blog » identity theft trends

What to Look for in 2009 for Identity Theft