Identity theft is a growing problem in today’s world. It is growing due to the tactics employed by the perpetrators of these crimes. With access to so much technology and information criminals are finding new ways to conduct fraud. The legal definition of identity theft is, "Fraud related to activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features, and information. Possession of any means of identification to knowingly transfer, possess, or use without lawful authority is a federal crime, alongside unlawful possession of identification documents.
Through evolving technology identity theft is being committed in new ways. In the past identity theft may have consisted of someone going through your trash and finding personal information written down somewhere and using it. Now someone half way around the world can steal your identity through the internet. Some methods used on the internet include fraudulent or fake web sites, untrustworthy websites, phishing for personal information with fraudulent emails, online auction frauds - buyers and sellers, increased Nigerian 419 Advance Fee Fraud, Lottery Advance Fee Scams, Business Opportunities & Work from Home Scams, International Modem Dialing and Cramming, and credit card fraud.