Sarah Machajewski - Identity Theft in the 21st Century

Published in 2018 by
Lucent Press, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC
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New York, NY 10010

Copyright 2018 Greenhaven Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning
Gale and Greenhaven Press are registered trademarks used herein under license.

All new materials copyright 2018 Lucent Press, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Designer: Deanna Paternostro
Editor: Siyavush Saidian

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Machajewski, Sarah.
Title: Identity theft in the 21st century / Sarah Machajewski.
Description: New York: Lucent Press, 2018. | Series: Crime scene investigations | Includes index. Identifiers: ISBN 9781534560833 (library bound) | ISBN 9781534560840 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Identity theft--United States--Juvenile literature. | Online identity theft--Juvenile literature.
Classification: LCC HV6679.M33 2018 | DDC 364.16330973--dc23

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Foreword

Introduction:

An Invisible Crime

Chapter One:

Bad Business at the Bank

Chapter Two:

Identity Theft in the Mailbox

Chapter Three:

A Closeup Look at Credit Card Fraud

Chapter Four:

Posing as Someone Else

Chapter Five:

Computers, Cybercrime, and Identity Theft

Chapter Six:

Staying Safe

Notes

For More Information

Index

Picture Credits

About the Author

Foreword

F or decades, popular television programs and movies have depicted the life and work of police officers, detectives, and crime scene investigators. Most of these shows and films portray forensic scientists as the brains responsible for cracking cases and bringing criminals to justice. Undoubtedly, these crime scene analysts are an important part in the process of crime solving. With modern technology and advances in forensic analysis, these highly trained experts are a crucial component of law enforcement systems all across the world.

Police officers and detectives are also integral members of the law enforcement team. They are the ones who respond to 911 calls about crime, collect physical evidence, and use their high level of training to identify suspects and culprits. They work right alongside forensic investigators to figure out the mysteries behind why a crime is committed, and the entire team cooperates to gather enough evidence to convict someone in a court of law.

Ever since the first laws were recorded, crime scene investigation has been handled in roughly the same way. An authority is informed that a crime has been committed; someone looks around the crime scene and interviews potential witnesses; suspects are identified based on evidence and testimony; and, finally, someone is formally accused of committing a crime. This basic plan is generally effective, and criminals are often caught and brought to justice. Throughout history, however, certain limitations have sometimes prevented authorities from finding out who was responsible for a crime.

There are many reasons why a crime goes unsolved: Maybe a dead body was found too late, evidence was tampered with, or witnesses lied. Sometimes, even the greatest technology of the age is simply not good enough to process and analyze the evidence at a crime scene. In the United States during the 20th century, for example, the person responsible for the infamous Zodiac killings was never found, despite the earnest efforts of hundreds of policemen, detectives, and forensic analysts.

In modern times, science and technology are integral to the investigative process. From DNA analysis to high-definition surveillance video, it has become much more difficult to commit a crime and get away with it. Using advanced computers and immense databases, microscopic skin cells from a crime scene can be collected and then analyzed by a forensic scientist, leading detectives to the home of the culprit of a crime. Dozens of people work behind the scenes of criminal investigations to figure out the unique and complex elements of a crime. Although this process is still time-consuming and complicated, technology is constantly improving and adapting to the needs of police forces worldwide.

This series is designed to help young readers understand the systems in place to allow forensic professionals to do their jobs. Covering a wide range of topics, from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to 21st-century cybercriminals, these titles describe in detail the ways in which technology and criminal investigations have evolved over more than 50 years. They cite eyewitnesses and experts in order to give a detailed and nuanced picture of the difficult task of rooting out criminals. Although television shows and movies add drama to the crime scene investigation process, these real-life stories have enough drama on their own. This series sticks to the facts surrounding some of the highest-profile criminal cases of the modern era and the people who work to solve them and other crimes every day.

Introduction

An Invisible Crime

B rendan Peterson set out on a cold December day with big plans in mind. He was headed to a jewelry store in downtown Chicago and he was very excited. I was going to buy a ring, he said. I was going to propose to my girlfriend, Mara, on Christmas Eve, so I was running over to the store during my lunch hour. She didnt know I was proposing that soonit was going to be a big surprise.

The jewelry store had a ring Brendan knew Mara would love. When it came time to pay, he decided to use his credit card. He handed the salesperson his credit card, and when the salesperson walked away, Brendan began thinking of how he was going to propose. His daydreaming was quickly brought to a halt. When the salesperson came back, she told Brendan there was a problemhis credit card had been declined.

Brendan was surprised to hear this, thinking the salesperson may have somehow entered the credit card number incorrectly. It must have been a simple mistake. I called the customer service number [of the credit card company] from the store, he said. I was told that I had several other [Visa] cardseven the one I only use for businessthat were maxed out, and that they would not accept a charge from me. It wasnt a mistake.

Understanding Identity Theft

Brendan did not use the credit cards himselfthe cashiers news came as a total shock. So what happened? Brendan was a victim of identity theft. Identity theft happens when somebody steals another persons personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, or credit card number, and uses it without their permission. Typically, the information is used for their own personal gain or for profit. Identity theft is a serious crime, but it is not a new one. Ever since people have been storing their money in banks, identity theft has occurred. People try to claim they are someone they are not, and sometimes, the protective measures banks have in place are not enough.