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On the Rise in China: Identity Theft

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Have you ever purchased a new car, and then received a phone call from an insurance company? Been immersed in the happiness of your newborn baby when a sample pack of formula is delivered by courier to your home? Found that decoration companies are the first to send messages of congratulations (even before your mother) as soon as you have bought your first new house? So, you may ask, where did these people obtain my information?

In recent years, with the development of information technology, acquiring personal information, which bears social and economic interest has become relatively simple. This has lead to more and more criminal cases of identity theft in China. It has been reported lately, that one only need spend ¥100 through a website to obtain the personal information of 1000 individuals; information that includes the full names, ID numbers, home addresses and phone numbers for a diverse group of people such as as bank clients, company shareholders, insurance policy owners and luxury car drivers.

One of the website’s users, in just in four months, armed with 50 pieces of purchased personal information, successfully applied for dozens of credit cards from different banks and subsequently and maliciously ran up an overdraft of ¥140,000.

So what is identity theft?
Identity theft is the illegal acquisition of identity information of others, such as ID number, driver’s license number, bank account number, credit card number etc., in order to counterfeit that individual’s identity. It may occur in any aspect of our life; through the internet, at banks, telecom and traffic control departments, at hospitals, insurance companies, post offices, real estate agencies, travel agents; the list goes on. All are receivers of citizens’ personal information, and may well also be suppliers of such. Without governmental supervision, individuals’ information will be repeatedly transacted through a supply and demand network.

For the past few years, theft of identity has become a globally serious crime. Statistics show that every year nearly ten million people’s personal information is stolen in the United States. In China, identity theft grows year by year, the process developing various types; by stealing the user ID and password of someone with whom the thief became acquainted on QQ or Msn, then making fraudulent requests to friends of the victim; by means of software to steal a phone number and borrow money from others by usurping the rightful owner; by stealing the password of an online bank account and transferring funds to the thief’s account; or by means of ATM card copying equipment to record the information stored in the magnetic strip.

As a result, in 2009 the People’s Congress passed the criminal law amendment which stipulates that illegal access, transaction and offering up individuals’ information will be treated as a crime with the purpose of effectively fighting against the rising crime trend; a historic step in the protection of citizen’s legitimate rights and interests.

How can we prevent identity theft in our daily life? Experts advise taking the following precautions: when using a copy of an ID card, it is better to indicate on the copy to whom the hardcopy is offered and for what purpose it is to be used. You can also cross a line at the end of every paragraph on hardcopies, preventing others additional words. Check your statement account of credit card frequently to make sure that there is no erroneous purchase record. Shred any paper with your personal information on it before discarding. Keep your ID card in a secure place and immediately report its loss. Finally, do not reveal your bank account or ID number when using online messaging services.

 

Disclaimer
This article is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Although the information in this article was obtained from reliable official sources, no guarantee is made with regard to its accuracy and completeness. For more information please visit dandreapartners.com or WeChat: dandreapartners.

 

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