2.  Definition  How thieves steal identity  Origin  Possible impacts on the small island nation of Vanuatu  Precaution Measures

3. A person using another person’s Personal information (Name, Credit card Information)without authorization to illegally commit fraud and other crimes. (Federal Trade Commission, 2012) According to Spam Laws (2012), identity theft was less common in the past however currently increasing due to multiple ways in which we process information that have changed.

4. According to the U.S. Postal Services, there were almost ten million incidents of identity theft in the United States in 2004 at a cost of $5 billion to consumers (National Crime Prevention Council, 2001) Earliest record – in USA, 1960’s. Reported by the “Athens Messenger” a Ohio newspaper. A US serviceman stealing the identity of a soldier in order to serve in the Army but died and his real identity was revealed by his sister.

5.  Dumpster Diving Rummaging through trash looking for bills or pieces of paper with one’s personal information.  Skimming Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing one’s card.  Phishing Pretending to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get one to reveal their personal information.  Changing Your Address Diverting one’s billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.  Old-Fashioned Stealing Stealing wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; stealing personnel records, or bribing employees who have access. [Source: Federal Trade Commission]

6. REMEMBER to NEVER reveal personal information over phone call, e-mail or text message. Shred sensitive personal documents Changing one’s Personal Identification Numbers and passwords regularly Minimizing the number of people who has ones personal information Reporting any suspicious activity especially mails. [source: Bram, 2012]

7. One incident- a women trying to gain access to another lady’s retirement fund – both having the same name however different date of birth. Particular crime increasing but are strictly dealt with by the concerned authorities.

8. Bram, T. 2012, “Avoid Identity Theft, Life Hack”, [online], viewed on 02 November 2012, Available at http://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/avoid-identity-theft-9- preventative-measures.html http://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/avoid-identity-theft-9- preventative-measures.html Martin, G. 2012, “Identity Theft” The Phrase finder, [online], Viewed on 02 November 2011, Available at http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/identity-theft.html http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/identity-theft.html National Crime Prevention Council, 2012, “Identity Theft”, Viewed on 02 November 2012, Available at http://www.ncpc.org/newsroom/current-campaigns/identity-theft http://www.ncpc.org/newsroom/current-campaigns/identity-theft Spam laws, 2012, “The history of identity Theft”, [online], Viewed on 02 November 2012, Available at http://www.spamlaws.com/id-theft- history.htmlhttp://www.spamlaws.com/id-theft- history.html FotoSearch, 2012, “Identity Theft Stock Photos and images” [online], Viewed on 03 November 2012, Available at http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/identity-theft.html http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/identity-theft.html