FBI agent provides valuable information on how to combat, prevent identity theft
Jamie Bell
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: News
An FBI special agent came to UNO last week to conduct a seminar about the ever-growing problem of identity theft, which affects millions of Americans each year.
For the past seven years, identity theft has topped the Federal Trade Commission's annual list of consumer complaints. And the issue continues to grow with people's increased reliance on computers and computer-based systems.
The FBI agent, Robert J. Georgi, is a specialist in cyber crime. He estimated that 45,000 identities are stolen in the Omaha area each year.
Thieves are able to get a victim's information quite easily, Georgi said at a forum in the Milo Bail Student Center's Nebraska Room on Oct. 23. Thieves can resort to methods such as dumpster diving in order to find bank records or voided checks.
Another practice called skimming, Georgi said, involves the thief writing down the victim's credit card number or using a device to scan it.
Online, thieves can hack into computers or they can go phishing. This involves putting up a Web site that's identical to another one, such as a bank's Web site. Thieves use this identical site to trick victims into giving out personal information, such as account numbers.
Identity theft through the use of hacking and the Internet is the biggest problem, Georgi said. Students are often prime targets for this crime.
"I don't have any statistics to back it up," Georgi said, "but active computer users are the biggest targets of identity theft; and those are usually the under 30 set. Every college student has a computer."
When asked what would be the best solution to solving the problem of identity theft, Georgi said jokingly, "Ban all computers. You'd make my job so much easier."
Besides identity theft through computers, a major portion of the seminar focused on ATM theft.
Thieves insert X-ray film with slits in it into ATM slots. The film catches the victim's card, Georgi said. Then, the thief pretends to help the victim get the card back, while looking over the victim's shoulder to memorize the PIN. If victim gives up and leaves thinking the ATM ate the card, the thief pulls out the x-ray film with the stolen card and walks off with full access to the person's bank account.
For the past seven years, identity theft has topped the Federal Trade Commission's annual list of consumer complaints. And the issue continues to grow with people's increased reliance on computers and computer-based systems.
The FBI agent, Robert J. Georgi, is a specialist in cyber crime. He estimated that 45,000 identities are stolen in the Omaha area each year.
Thieves are able to get a victim's information quite easily, Georgi said at a forum in the Milo Bail Student Center's Nebraska Room on Oct. 23. Thieves can resort to methods such as dumpster diving in order to find bank records or voided checks.
Another practice called skimming, Georgi said, involves the thief writing down the victim's credit card number or using a device to scan it.
Online, thieves can hack into computers or they can go phishing. This involves putting up a Web site that's identical to another one, such as a bank's Web site. Thieves use this identical site to trick victims into giving out personal information, such as account numbers.
Identity theft through the use of hacking and the Internet is the biggest problem, Georgi said. Students are often prime targets for this crime.
"I don't have any statistics to back it up," Georgi said, "but active computer users are the biggest targets of identity theft; and those are usually the under 30 set. Every college student has a computer."
When asked what would be the best solution to solving the problem of identity theft, Georgi said jokingly, "Ban all computers. You'd make my job so much easier."
Besides identity theft through computers, a major portion of the seminar focused on ATM theft.
Thieves insert X-ray film with slits in it into ATM slots. The film catches the victim's card, Georgi said. Then, the thief pretends to help the victim get the card back, while looking over the victim's shoulder to memorize the PIN. If victim gives up and leaves thinking the ATM ate the card, the thief pulls out the x-ray film with the stolen card and walks off with full access to the person's bank account.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Al Cobbs
posted 10/28/08 @ 7:05 PM CST
AKCIDTHEFT.com applauds the FBI in assisting to bring more awareness and encouraging consumers to be more proative.
If you have not done so yet, all college students should make sure their credit bureau report is accurate. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 10/30/08 @ 9:31 AM CST
Great advice. There is actually some more free advice here: http://identity-theft.weebly.com
Keep up the good work :-)
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