How to Steal an IdentityHow to Steal an Identity

My Name Is… My Name Is…

Richard HollisRichard Hollis

David Burton David Burton

Sean BennettSean Bennett

……Call me IshmaelCall me Ishmael

??

The DefinitionThe Definition

“Identity theft is the pilfering of a individual’s personal identification

information, such as name, date of birth, passport number, drivers licence, credit

card number, mother’s maiden name etc. in order to commit fraud”

First Recorded TheftFirst Recorded Theft

Genesis iii: 13Genesis iii: 13

…and the woman said, “The serpent beguiled

me, and I did eat”.

Identity theft is the world’s fasted

growing crime

According to …According to …

Why?Why?

1. Hard to identify

2. Hard to stop

Why?Why?

3. “That’s where the money is”.

That’s Where the Money is…That’s Where the Money is…

2012Name, Address DOB = £.25

Credit card # = £.25

Expiry date = £ .25

Security Code = £.25

Total = £1.00

2006Name, Address DOB = £1.00

Credit card # = £1.00

Expiry date = £ 1.00

Security Code = £2.00

Total = £5.00

2001Name, Address DOB = £2.00

Credit card # = £2.00

Expiry date = £ 3.00

Security Code = £3.00

Total = £10.00

Chat Up Line # 63Chat Up Line # 63

In March 2008 there were 76.8 million National Insurance numbers in the UK*.

*U.K. Information Commissioner's Office

UK Population = 61 million

The Price We PayThe Price We Pay

• Identity fraud accounts for a criminal cash flow of £12m per day.

• The mean fraud amount per victim is currently estimated at £5,783.

• The mean resolution time is over 100 hours per victim.

• Over 75% of victims are unable to clear up associated credit problems after 6 months.

Fraud BreakdownFraud Breakdown

Who Are You ?Who Are You ?

Three Elements Three Elements

1. Attributed

2. Biometric

3. Biographic

Attributed IdentityAttributed Identity

• Your name

• Date of birth

• Place of birth

• Mother’s name

• Father’s name

• Family members

• Your raceCharacteristics ascribed to Characteristics ascribed to

you at birthyou at birth

Biometric IdentityBiometric Identity

• Your height

• Your weight

• Color of your eyes

• Color of your hair

• Color of your skin

• Birthmarks

• Your DNA

• Your fingerprints

• Your footprints

• Your retinal pattern

• Your smell…

Your distinguishing physical Your distinguishing physical characteristicscharacteristics

Biographic IdentityBiographic Identity

• Birth certificate• School records• Work permit• Drivers license • Places of employment• Places of residences• Marriage certificate (s)• Divorce certificate (s)• Credit history• Death record

Your life story informationYour life story information

2 Types 2 Types

Attributed

Biometric

Biographic

Temporary Bullet proof

Attributed

Biographic

Top Ten Tips Top Ten Tips How to Steal an IdentityHow to Steal an Identity

Tip Number 1 Tip Number 1

• Take one that’s not being used

– Friend (or frenemy)– Neighbour– Dead relative– Pensioner or invalid– Child– Co-worker– Person sitting next to you?

Birth & Marriage NoticesBirth & Marriage Notices

Genealogy SearchesGenealogy Searches

List PensionersList Pensioners

Death NoticesDeath Notices

Get a Life…Get a Life…

People Search EnginesPeople Search Engines

Google ‘emGoogle ‘em

Tip Number 2 Tip Number 2

• Go through their mail– Credit card applications– Credit card statements– Bank statements– Loyalty card promotions– Membership applications– Telephone calling cards – Tax information – Pay stubs - receipts

Tip Number 3 Tip Number 3

• Go through their trash– Credit card applications– Credit card statements– Bank statement– Loyalty card promotions– Membership applications– Telephone calling cards – Tax information – Pay stubs - receipts– Credit card carbons

Tip Number 4 Tip Number 4

• Ask for it!

– “Pretexting” phone call– Letters to former employers– Military records– FOIA requests– DPA requests– Public records

Credit Reports Credit Reports

Credit Reports Credit Reports

Tip Number 5 Tip Number 5

Buy the information

– Marketing companies– Mailing lists– Targeted media– Email databases– Membership lists– Private detectives– Cyber sleuths

Mailing ListsMailing Lists

Marketing Companies Marketing Companies

Private InvestigatorsPrivate Investigators

Tip Number 6 Tip Number 6

Buy an ID

Buy Two…Buy Two…

Buy Three…Buy Three…

That’s Where the Money is…That’s Where the Money is…

• Passport: £350

• Driver’s license: £75

• Birth Certificate: £50

• Bank statements: £50

• University Degree £45

• Utility statements: £50

• Insurance certificates: £25

Tip Number 7 Tip Number 7

• Cookies• Applets• Trojans• Phishing• Pharming• Harvesting• Botting!• Data Base Theft

Hack one!Hack one!

ArmiesArmies Up Their Sleevies Up Their Sleevies

Starter Kit…Starter Kit…

Sam Spade very effective freeware tool that crawls websites searching and grabbing email addresses and address histories etc..

Data Base HackingData Base Hacking

• AKA: “The Mother Load”

• One stop shopping for your all your identity data needs…

• Think…Amazon, eBay, Visa, MasterCard…

• Think Google

Data ShadowData Shadow

Chat Up Line #18 Chat Up Line #18

In one week, the average person living in Britain has 3,254 pieces of personal information stored about him or her in databases.*

*Evening Standard Survey August 2008

Chat Up Line #27 Chat Up Line #27

The average UK citizen is in over 750 databases.**UK Information Commissioner's' Report: “What Price Privacy?” 2009

FactFact

You and I are bought and sold every day

Data =Data =

Why Bother Hacking?Why Bother Hacking?

Why Bother?Why Bother?

Why Bother? Why Bother?

Why Bother?Why Bother?

Tip Number 8 Tip Number 8

• Make one

Make OneMake One

Make OneMake One

Tip Number 9 Tip Number 9

• Old schoolOld school

– Steal a walletSteal a wallet

– Steal a purseSteal a purse

– Kidnap someoneKidnap someone!!

Tip Number 10 Tip Number 10

• Don’t get caughtDon’t get caught

Don’t Get CaughtDon’t Get Caught

• Once you have it: Take control of it Change mailing address Open new accounts using a new

(false) address Request higher credit limits Never drain the account Charge repeated small amounts

to cards Move on…

Face of an Identity ThiefFace of an Identity Thief

Ricky Leonard Swaner, 50, arrested by FBI in Feb 2006 on multiple-count Federal indictment fraud, identity theft and obtaining possession of over 2 million dollars of controlled substances by fraud.

Reduce Your Risk Reduce Your Risk

•WAKE UP !

• Practice ID discipline• Protect information

– Personnel– Client - database– Credit card– Company

Protect YourselfProtect Yourself

• BE PRO-ACTIVE!

• Look after your identity

• Don’t give it away

• Don’t throw it away

• Don’t sell it

• Don’t let it be taken from you

• Look after it as if it belonged to you

Questions ? Questions ?

26 Dover Street 26 Dover Street LondonLondon

United KingdomUnited Kingdom+44 (0)20 3170 8955+44 (0)20 3170 8955

+44 (0)20 3008 6011 (fax)+44 (0)20 3008 6011 (fax)