The statistics on the extent of identity theft is all over the web. It varies for every site but one thing is common, it continues to grow. The victims of identity theft have been multiplying every day. Account hijacking is the most common and most prevalent form of id theft. This can be done by phishing or hacking. Phishing is a form of theft by tricking the victim into putting pertinent information onto a hoax site, like that of a bank or commercial institution. Hacking is a form of theft by deliberately controlling the victim's computer by going through the backdoor access. The Federal Trade Commission has estimated more than two million internet users victimized by this fraud in the year 2004. Of the two million, roughly seventy per cent are doing bank transactions online. Fifty per cent of those became victims of email phishing, the remaining half were victims of unauthorized access to checking accounts.
In 2003, the Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC) was formed to help identify victims of id theft, particularly account hijacking. The groups aim to provide assistance to victims in terms on counter-attacking and recovering from financial losses and restoration of their credit ratings. The group works hand in hand with the Federal Trade Commission in providing the said assistance. ITAC provides victims with information containing the applicable laws depending on their cases, as well as their rights as consumers. ITAC also provides identity management services at no cost to the victims. The group also takes pride of their Identity Theft Sentinel. It is a protection services designed to protect consumers by proactively educating them on how to protect their information. Those who have already been victimized are given assistance on how they could restore their identity.
Financial Companies are also victims of id theft. ITAC assists them by providing identity management solutions. They provide identity risk management information needed to safeguard their clients' information against data breaches and account hijacking.
The Identity Theft Assistance Center works in partnership with the Alliance for Consumer Fraud Awareness, National Cyber Security Alliance, and Protect Your Identity Now. Through data sharing, ITAC also assists law enforcement organizations like United States Postal Inspection Service, and of course, the Federal Trade Commission, in detecting possible attacks and locating thieves.
Aside from all these, ITAC's website provides access to news, information, and opinion that can be useful for any individual, victims or concerned citizens alike.
Tina L. Douglas is a well established author on the topic of identity theft.
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