How do people even do the whole 'identity fraud' thing?

I just don't understand. If you were to sell or buy information of a person. What would even be valuable?

How would you even pass along that information?

Everything encrypted I assume?

Multiple people at once?

What would someone even do with that information? I don't understand how people steal identities.. Ok so you get information, now what?


Comments


[27 Points] ForLol_Serious:

You study the person who's info you have. Then once you know everything there is to know about said person you kill him and get rid of the body. Then you assume your new identity and live out the rest of your life.


[5 Points] al_eberia:

Once you have the information you use it to convince companies that you are that person. Then you buy things, take out loans and withdraw their cash.

Some examples:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/03/sign-up-at-irs-gov-before-crooks-do-it-for-you/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/08/a-life-or-death-case-of-identity-theft/


[4 Points] None:

I wish my identity was worth stealing


[1 Points] None:

I looked at for a map


[1 Points] Thoughtsofamaniac:

It really depends on what type of info you have and what you intend to use it for.

People who do ID fraud for cash typically try to get as much info as possible including CC numbers/security number, social security info, bank account info etc. Using this type of info, an unscrupulous bastard with skills and the right knowledge of low security places could take out loans in another person's name, buy shit on their credit, use their card info to write onto blank cards and spend those in store, etc.

Idk about current procedures but info used to be sold openly in some IRC channels if you had the right knowledge of where to go. Rip-offs happened often but a lot of people made a lot of profit at the same time. Buying it on the DNM is also an option, but obviously yeah you would want to encrypt with shit being as it is. If you sell to multiple people it's basically useless and may get someone busted if they try to use it and the info has already been used and flagged.

There is another use of identity fraud though, and that's by people who want to disappear. It's less common now since death certificates etc are shared electronically and always required, but back in the day at least you could sometimes find info of people who had babies that had died or something along those lines for which a death certificate was not produced. Buying this info, if the person used it right, would allow someone to assume an entirely new identity and reap the benefits it allowed, including passport applications, drivers licenses, etc. This is more for people that want to ghost themselves and completely disappear. Tbh if it can be obtained or found this info is probably still a lot more valuable than financial info, because it is harder to come by and provides more benefits for different people.


[-2 Points] xanax_xombie:

You burn the info and leave the poor bastard alone who's life(s) your going to ruin financially so you can having a Macy's shopping spree.

Don't be a low life thief brah.