What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft refers to the unauthorized acquisition of a person’s identity information and the misuse of this information. Many crimes can be committed with stolen identity information, such as committing fraud, creating credit card debts, and opening fake accounts.
Types of Identity Theft
Financial Identity Theft: Theft of financial information such as credit card information and bank account numbers.
Medical Identity Theft: Theft of health insurance information and medical records.
Child Identity Theft: Theft of children’s identity information and the misuse of this information over many years.
Tax Identity Theft: Theft of tax numbers in order to obtain a tax refund.
Causes of Identity Theft
Phishing Attacks: The collection of personal information through fake e-mails or websites.
Data Breaches: The leakage of large amounts of personal information as a result of hacking companies’ databases.
Stolen Mail and Wallets: Theft of documents in physical media.
Social Engineering: Gaining people’s trust and obtaining personal information.
Precautions to be Taken Against Identity Theft
Using Strong Passwords: Creating complex and unique passwords.
Storing Identity Information Safely: Storing documents in a safe place or protecting them by digitally encrypting them.
Protecting Yourself from Phishing Attacks: Not clicking on suspicious e-mails, not accessing unknown links.
Tracking Credit Card Transactions: Regularly checking your credit card statement.
Securing Social Media Settings: Ensuring that personal information is not publicly available.
Fraud Crimes and Legal Responsibilities
Fraud means that a person obtains unfair gain by misleading someone else. Fraud crimes are evaluated within the scope of the relevant articles of the TCK. In fraud crimes, the victim must be misled and harmed.
Defense Methods Against Fraud
Getting Legal Consultation: Learn your legal rights by consulting a lawyer and initiate the necessary procedures.
Filing a Complaint: Filing a criminal complaint against the person who committed the fraud crime. Filing a Lawsuit for Material Damage Compensation: Initiating legal proceedings to recover the damage you have suffered.