Identity theft is a PR con job. Think about it - the idea that a criminal can "steal your identity" is patently ridiculous. What they actually do is defraud your bank, or a vendor, or the government, by impersonating you. Instead of taking responsibility for being defrauded and paying for effective countermeasures, these institutions try to convince us that when they get defrauded it is somehow our responsibility. Then they sell us the countermeasures.
It's one of the most impressive strategic manipulations of public understanding that I've ever seen.
Identity theft is a PR con job. Think about it - the idea that a criminal can "steal your identity" is patently ridiculous. What they actually do is defraud your bank, or a vendor, or the government, by impersonating you. Instead of taking responsibility for being defrauded and paying for effective countermeasures, these institutions try to convince us that when they get defrauded it is somehow our responsibility. Then they sell us the countermeasures.
It's one of the most impressive strategic manipulations of public understanding that I've ever seen.