Celebrity, wealth and a battalion of body guards might seem like things that would deter identity thieves. But even the rich and famous can fall prey to identity theft. High-profile Americans from the Supreme Court to the basketball court and the White House to the house of blues have had their identities compromised.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is the latest famous person to join the ranks of the millions of common folks who have their identities stolen every year. Multiple news reports say Roberts has been paying cash at D.C. area businesses, and explaining that his credit card information had been stolen. A Supreme Court spokesperson told an ABC reporter that the chief justice's credit card numbers had been used, according to one ABC.com.
While it may seem that a very recognizable name would be less appealing to identity thieves, fame doesn't seem to be a deterrent. First lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were among a number of famous people who had personal identifying, credit or financial information stolen and posted to a Russian website earlier this year. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, celebutante Paris Hilton, and actors Mel Gibson and Ashton Kutcher were also targeted in that attack.
Identity theft against celebrities is nothing new, and the culprits use the same tactics against famous people that they apply against average Americans. From picking through a celebrity's trash and stealing credit card information to cyber attacks on bank, brokerage and other financial accounts, identity thieves steal information in a number of ways.
The steps that can help ensure protection from identity fraud remain the same, whether you're anonymous or famous:
• Before you trash documents (including receipts, statements, credit card offers, catalogs, etc.) that contain identifying information, run them through a cross-cut shredder.
• Use up-to-date security software and encryption for all electronic communications, including on your smartphone.
• Employ secure, difficult-to-guess passwords for all your accounts.
• Lock up important paperwork, such as tax forms, passports and Social Security cards.
• Monitor your credit accounts, bank accounts and other financial accounts regularly.
• Vigilantly protect your Social Security number.
You may never have the financial resources of a celebrity or the legal clout of a Supreme Court justice, but you can still take steps to protect your identity. When it comes to identity theft prevention, all Americans really are created equal.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is the latest famous person to join the ranks of the millions of common folks who have their identities stolen every year. Multiple news reports say Roberts has been paying cash at D.C. area businesses, and explaining that his credit card information had been stolen. A Supreme Court spokesperson told an ABC reporter that the chief justice's credit card numbers had been used, according to one ABC.com.
While it may seem that a very recognizable name would be less appealing to identity thieves, fame doesn't seem to be a deterrent. First lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were among a number of famous people who had personal identifying, credit or financial information stolen and posted to a Russian website earlier this year. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, celebutante Paris Hilton, and actors Mel Gibson and Ashton Kutcher were also targeted in that attack.
Identity theft against celebrities is nothing new, and the culprits use the same tactics against famous people that they apply against average Americans. From picking through a celebrity's trash and stealing credit card information to cyber attacks on bank, brokerage and other financial accounts, identity thieves steal information in a number of ways.
The steps that can help ensure protection from identity fraud remain the same, whether you're anonymous or famous:
• Before you trash documents (including receipts, statements, credit card offers, catalogs, etc.) that contain identifying information, run them through a cross-cut shredder.
• Use up-to-date security software and encryption for all electronic communications, including on your smartphone.
• Employ secure, difficult-to-guess passwords for all your accounts.
• Lock up important paperwork, such as tax forms, passports and Social Security cards.
• Monitor your credit accounts, bank accounts and other financial accounts regularly.
• Vigilantly protect your Social Security number.
You may never have the financial resources of a celebrity or the legal clout of a Supreme Court justice, but you can still take steps to protect your identity. When it comes to identity theft prevention, all Americans really are created equal.