Identity theft is a serious crime. You should never use someone else’s identity for a purchase, even if you think you have permission. Doing so could come back to haunt you.
Identity theft has become a more prominent issue in America because of how the way people pay for goods, services and experiences has changed in the last couple of decades. Online shopping has made it more common for people to put their credit card numbers online and to have their personal information exposed.
This can make it tempting for people to use others’ information to make purchases, especially when it’s known that a credit card company will simply cancel a fraudulent purchase on a card, even if it the money was already spent. That being said, if the company locates the person responsible for that theft, then that person could face serious repercussions.
Online shopping makes accidental identity theft more likely
Have you ever made a purchase online when using a shared computer? Maybe you made a purchase on a public computer, like at a library or shared office. If you don’t check the card numbers that have been saved carefully, you could end up charging someone else’s card for a purchase you’ve made. Depending on what it is, you may never realize what you did until you get contacted by the authorities.
Identity theft can happen accidentally. If you realize that it has, it’s in your best interests to cancel any purchase made as soon as you realize what happened. It’s also in your best interests to learn more about potential defense options.
