Identity Theft Terms – What Is Identity Cloning and Concealment?
Identity cloning and concealment occurs when someone takes the identity of someone else in a bid to conceal their personal identity. The person may want to conceal their identity in a bid to take advantage of an opportunity, which naturally may not be applicable to them. The use of identity cloning and concealment is mostly used in cases of immigrations. The person concealing their identity may be seeking for a visa using false information. Terrorists also use identity cloning to impersonate someone else.
Identity cloning can be used in a wide range of circumstances. Someone may assume someone Else’s grades in a university by assuming their identity. Identity cloning and concealment can affect the job market. The employer may not know the identity of the workers. Identity cloning affects many industries. In the financial sector the clone can get access to credit by assuming the identity of another person. Concealment of identity occurs mainly where the identity thief is trying to conceal their personal identity so as to avoid law enforcement such as arrest.
Identity cloning occurs when someone takes the identity of someone else. The person may use the same social security as someone who is living or even dead. This can be done with criminal intentions such as gaining access to someone’s resources. By assuming someone Else’s identity one may access resources, privileges and rights that he or she could not get if he retained his or her own identity. By cloning the identity thief can access bank loans, or gain visa to a foreign country.
The impact of identity cloning and concealment are many. The identity clone may implicate the original identity holder in a criminal case. This can happen where the identity thief commits a crime in the name of someone else. Crimes of identity concealment can last long, as the person whose identity has been stolen may not be in a position to defend him or herself given the gravity of the matter. The court cases may drag for months as it is hard to pin the identity clones who in most cases are not arrested.
Concealment of one’s identity can be done for criminal reasons. Vital information such as marital status and others can be concealed. The person concealing the information may want to take advantage of certain loopholes in the law to achieve criminal intentions.
Identity crimes are complicated and time consuming, requiring both legal and forensic experts to handle. This makes the identity crimes expensive and very time consuming.
Identity crimes can be very expensive as you can lose entire fortunes due to cloning. The clone used to withdraw money and gain access to goods and services can use your credit card. This is more so in internet related crimes where the credit cards can be used by the clones to access various goods and services in your name.
The government enacted the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) of 2003, requiring all businesses to become compliant to Red Flag Rules. This piece of registration aims at protecting consumers of goods and services from crimes related to identity thefts. All companies dealing with consumers are supposed to comply with these registrations to avoid being penalized by the government and also to avoid being audited by the Federal Trade Commission’s.
The company is supposed to comply with these Red Flag rules of 2003 in a bid to protect their customers and clients. When a company complies it raises its profile as it assures the customers that they are a safe company to deal with. Compliance to the Red Flag Rules will mean more business and higher sales to the company.
Several types of businesses can benefit from companies that offer Red Flag Compliance certifications. Companies such as banks, credit unions, auto dealers, mortgage brokers, health care companies and utilities companies are some of the companies that can benefit greatly by complying with the Red Flag Rules of 2003.
Compliance to these rules will reduce the cost of doing business as the companies can reduce the cost of litigation following suits arising from identity crimes.
Identity crimes such as cloning and concealment can cost the company thousands or even millions of dollars. The company can benefit a lot by complying with the Red Flag Rules of 2003 and save the multiple costs of litigation. Compliance is the most cost effective way as you gain from higher sales and lower litigation. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/redflagsrule/index.shtml
