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Identity Thieves Not Big On Technology

Posted by kdawson on from the not-much-hacking-involved dept.

alphadogg sends us to Network World, as is his wont, for a summary of a new study of identity theft based on the outcomes of more than 500 Secret Service cases from 2000 to 2006. Here is the study report (PDF). The AP has coverage emphasizing other slants on the findings. Among the surprises: just 51% of convicted ID thieves were sent to prison. Only 20% of the cases involved use of the Internet, and such cases may be on the decline. More perpetrators used good old-fashioned dumpster diving and stealing stuff out of mailboxes.

6 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Good thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    My mail slot goes straight to a shredder so I'm safe.

  2. Re:Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics... by Tanman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Team Leader: Mr. Cheney, please calculate our chances of successfully finding the correct identity theft information from our study of 517 obscure cases of random WMDs in Iraq this time.

    Mr. Cheney: 0.0001273% repeating, of course

    Mr. Bush: G.DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUB-YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABUSH!

    PEW PEW PEW PEW!

    Team Leader: Damnit, G.Dubya!

    Mr. Bush: Tacos rule!

  3. Three more by ls+-la · · Score: 2, Funny

    And a fire.

    1. Re:Three more by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nuke it from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
  4. Steal Their Identity Too by jellie · · Score: 1, Funny

    If they're not so tech-savvy, I say we send out "V1@gr@ for Identity Thieves" emails en masse, and see who responds. Then we'll steal their info.

    After all, all of the respondents must be identity thieves. Damn them!

  5. But but, I learned on Slashdot just yesterday by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Technology breeds crime

    --
    God spoke to me.