Identity Theft: Your Credit Card Numbers Are for Sale

You are a commodity and your personal information is for sale. If you've been a victim of identity theft, chances are a hacker sold your information to someone in a chat room.

ABC News reported that there has been an estimated 8.1 million identity theft victims in 2008.

One way thieves are obtaining the personal information they sell in chat rooms is by hacking in to online stores. They can get your personal banking information as well through ATM scams and theft done through the cashier at the cash register.

Computer hackers can also purchase your personal information by logging directly in to websites and eStores. eStores are online storefronts built and maintained by individual webmasters. Buying a data file containing someone's personal information is as easy as adding it to a shopping cart and checking out through Paypal.

Hackers are stealing and trading shopper's names, birthdates, addresses, telephone numbers, mother's maiden names, social security numbers and credit card numbers.

Once hackers have the information they need they log into chat rooms where the trading is as quick paced as that of the New York Stock Exchange.

When a hacker enters the chat room he or she announces their goods to the room. Often an entire profile (a victim's personal information) is offered for as little as a dollar a piece.

News anchor Elizabeth Leamy did an experiment in which she was able to convince a hacker to give her a sample profile for free. The hacker provided full details in an active chat room for everyone to see including the other hackers.

Hackers selling your personal information rely heavily on lingo for protection from other hackers. For example, a ripper is someone that rips off the other hackers for mere sport. It is not uncommon for a hacker to ask another chatter if they are a ripper and then request a free sample as proof.

To the dismay of those victimized, these thieves and hackers are not individual people sitting at their computer trading information. The majority of identity sellers belong to major crime rings located in foreign countries. Because of their location the U.S. government is unable to pursue or prosecute these organizations.

The victim is commonly left floundering for a way to salvage what's left of their credit and trying to prevent any further damage.

The proper authorities, organizations and companies have to be notified as soon as possible. Sometimes the process is lengthy due to the sheer volume of reports that are made each day.

Should you find yourself a victim of identity theft, make sure you contact your credit card companies, bank, social security office, department of motor vehicles and the police.

To futher protect your identity and report identity theft contact The Federal Trade Commission. And if you haven't already done so, I suggest you order a copy of your credit report and keep an eye on your personal information.