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Michigan Identity Theft

 

Michigan Identity theft is when a criminal uses your name, social security number or other personal information to commit a crime for financial gain in the state of Michigan. ID theft has become has become an epidemic in the U.S. and around the world, with millions of people becoming victims of identity theft each year.

 

Michigan Identity Theft Statistics

 

Michigan identity theft criminals are developing more innovative ways to access your personal and financial information. The results are more destructive than ever and can completely ruin your financial standing. The ID theft epidemic is growing and it’s coming to your state. In fact, do you have any idea how pervasive Michigan identity theft has become? Don’t forget, the Michigan identity theft statistics you’re about to review include Michigan credit card fraud, Michigan bank fraud, Michigan loan fraud and several other forms of identity theft.

 

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Types of Identity Theft in Michigan

 

Whether you are exploring the vast and sometimes suspicious world of the Internet, or innocently leaving a piece of mail for your postal carrier in Michigan, identity theft can hit you in hundreds of ways. ID thieves are experts at getting to personal information. They can access your credit card or bank information through the Internet, the mail, or even on the phone. If you want to be vigilant about protecting yourself, you must always be wary of ID theft. It is the primary method for guarding against identity theft. Yes, there are national and Michigan identity theft laws to help, but by the time they are put into action, you can be out hundreds or thousands of dollars.

 

Michigan Loan Fraud

Types of Loan Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
Business/ Personal / Student Loan	2.9%	2.6%
Auto Loan / Lease	1.9%	1.95%
Real Estate Loan	1.2%	1.2%
Unspecified	0.1%	0.2%
Total	6%	5%

 

Loan fraud comes in several forms. A thief using a victim's name to take out a loan is one form of ID theft. But, Michigan loan fraud scams also include advanced-fee loan fraud scams, where criminals place fraudulent advertisements in newspapers or online, in which consumers are asked to call an 800 or 900 phone number to apply for a loan. The thief then says he can only approve the victim if they provide a small advanced processing free, usually around $300. The thief takes the money and runs. This scam is sometimes known as the Nigerian loan fraud scam, since the con artists often claim to be Nigerian government officials.

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Michigan Bank Fraud

Types of Bank Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
Existing Accounts	6.4%	8.5%
Electronic Fund Transfer	6%	6.6%
New Accounts	3.4%	3.6%
Unspecified	0.1%	0.1%
Total	15%	18%

 

Not every bank hires honest, upstanding employees. This means that a bank employee might use your personal information for his or her own financial benefit. He or she may use your identity to acquire credit cards or create new accounts in your name. “Phishing” is another Michigan bank fraud crime that often involves a fraudulent online auction or online bank. Emails from these ID thieves may direct consumers to a counterfeit banking website. The information is then used to commit purchases or drain the credit card accounts of consumers.

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Michigan Credit Card Fraud

Types of Credit Card Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
New Accounts	16.3%	16.5%
Existing Accounts	11.2%	11.9%
Unspecified	0.2%	0.1%
Total	27%	28%

 

Credit card fraud is when an ID thief uses someone else’s lost or stolen credit cards or credit card information for his or her financial gain. Michigan credit card fraud criminals can access your credit cards by stealing your wallet, stealing your mail, finding a receipt with your credit card information, or overhearing you on the phone giving out your credit card number. Michigan credit fraud criminals will even get your credit card information by sending you a phony email or by making a fraudulent phone call to your home or cell phone.

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Michigan Phone or Utilities Fraud

Types of Phone and Utilities Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
Wireless	13.2%	10.0%
Telephone	12.4%	11.9%
Utilities	6.3%	11.9%
Unauthorized charges to existing accounts	0.9%	11.9%
Unspecified	0.6%	0.1%
Total	29%	28%

 

An ID thief gains access to phone service in your name and then makes unauthorized phone calls. These calls may seem like they are coming from your cellular phone or your home phone. And the charges will show up on your bill, which you will have to dispute.

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Michigan Government Documents or Benefits Fraud

Types of Gov't Documents Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
Fraudulent Tax Return	3.9%	10.0%
Drivers License Forged	1.4%	11.9%
Gov't Benefits Applied For / Received	0.9%	11.9%
Other Forged Govt Documents	0.5%	11.9%
Social Security Card Fraud	0.2%	11.9%
Unspecified	0%	0.1%
Total	7%	28%

 

Document Fraud is when identity thieves in your state create, sell, or use counterfeit identity documents such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, or social security cards for financial gain or to perpetrate criminal activity. Under normal circumstances, the original documentation these criminals find is through illegal activities. These activities can be as basic as a mugging or a home invasion robbery – or they can be more planned, such as paying off someone within a company in order to provide an employee’s personal documentation.

Benefits Fraud is basic identity misrepresentation in order to gain illegal access to the U.S. Some identity thieves use benefits fraud to get work in the U.S., while others attempt to use this misinformation for the purposes of criminal activity – and at times, terrorist activity. Documents Fraud and Benefits Fraud often go hand in hand.

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Other Identity Theft in Michigan

Other Types of Identity Theft	Michigan	All Locations
Other	12.2%	10.0%
Illegal / Criminal	1.8%	11.9%
Internet / Email	1.7%	0.1%
Medical	1.8%	11.9%
Apartment / House Rented	0.6%	0.1%
Insurance	0.4%	0.1%
Property Rental Fraud	0.3%	10.0%
Bankruptcy	0.3%	11.9%
Child Support	0.2%	0.1%
Magazines	0.3%	11.9%
Securities / Investments	0.1%	0.1%
Total	19%	28%

 

ID theft can show up at your doorstep in a number of forms. There are the standard methods, such as online “phishing,” mail fraud, false documentation and so on. But ID thieves are constantly developing new and innovative ID theft tactics. One is called “trashing,” while others call it “dumpster diving.” Criminals literally sort through the trash in order to find documentation that could lead to one’s personal or financial information.

 

There is another way ID thieves are accessing the information of innocent people across the country. In a way, it’s innovative – but it’s actually simply taking something that’s been around for years, giving it a name and truly honing the art of its deception. Today, it’s called “social engineering.” This is the art of social networking in order to achieve financial gain or social status. Often, it can involve blackmail – especially when it comes to celebrities. Surely you’ve heard about personal tapes being held for ransom and then distributed to the public. Sometimes the social engineering is in the workplace. Perhaps it’s someone pretending to be a vendor or a secretary in order to get personal or company financial information. Keeping your wits about you at all times is critical to thwarting this form of ID theft.

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Michigan Employment Related Fraud

Types of Employment Fraud	Michigan	All Locations
Employments Related Fraud	5%	12.7%

 

Employment fraud can be through employment classified ads, Internet classifieds, seminars, pyramid schemes, and other deceptive employment practices. Basically, it’s a form of false advertising. Positions are falsely represented and people are taken advantage of – either for their labor or their cash. Often, the misinformation distributed is for government jobs. Sometimes their claim is that no experience is necessary and other times the job ads claim to offer booklets and information to get you started. Of course, this information costs you money – and there really isn’t a credible position waiting for you.

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Michigan Credit Protection

Michigan Identity Theft Laws

 

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law passed in 2003, which allows consumers to order one free credit report from each credit reporting agency once every 12 months. The start date of these 12 months is dependent upon your state of residence.

 

There are states that have their own individual identity theft laws. Some states even mandated Credit Freeze laws. These laws allow consumers to place a temporary freeze on their credit, preventing I.D. thieves from using/accessing credit cards or other accounts in unwary consumers' names. Check to see if your Michigan identity theft laws include credit freeze laws.

 

Where specific criminal identity theft laws do not exist, the practices may be prohibited under other laws. Contact your state Attorney General or local consumer protection agency for specific Michigan identity theft laws or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft to learn more.

 

Monitoring your credit is protecting your credit. Start by obtaining a copy of your credit report. Then, find an online credit monitoring and ID theft protection service that will guard your credit and your financial standing. Click here to instantly access your credit report and hire a credit protection service to help you.

 

Michigan Credit Protection

 

Complete credit protection requires monitoring your credit 24/7. To ensure identity theft protection and to prevent identity theft in the future, hire a service that provides instant notification about any significant changes to your credit, including immediate email alerts about potential identity fraud and any suspicious activity on your account. Click here to instantly activate your credit monitoring service and obtain a copy of your credit report.

 

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