Basics Beginner: Introduction to Identity Theft

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Thieves can steal your Social Security number in order to _______.

Make you pay their taxes

Open up accounts in your name

Opening up new forms of ID

All of the above

All of the above. Because your Social Security number is used in so many places, it is the most useful piece of information to a thief.

You should be wary of emails that claim to come from the IRS because _______.

Those emails are watched more closely by the IRS

Those emails are tapping into your computer

The IRS does not send emails to people

The IRS does not send emails to people. Any email claiming to be from the IRS is not legitimate and should be reported.

Federal law enforcement agencies investigate every case of suspected identity theft.

True

False

False. Federal law enforcement agencies will only investigate cases of suspected identity theft if the dollar amount is very high, or if many people are victimized by the same perpetrator.

If someone is looking over your shoulder at an ATM, what might he or she be hoping to see?

Your PIN number

Your credit card number

Either your PIN number or your credit card number

Either your PIN number or your credit card number. A thief might be looking for either of those, or maybe both.

Your credit record can affect your ability to get a job.

True

False

True. Some employers check your credit record as part of their background check on you.