Identity theft 'is more than stolen credit card numbers'

There is more than one type of identity theft, including stealing credit card details, according to one website.

Some people may consider identity theft to just be people stealing credit card numbers, however that is not the case.

This is according to Computer World – a technology news site – which maintains there is much more to it than gaining access to somebody's credit cards.

Mortgage fraud can be a result of a passive method of conning someone, whereby a person is monitored via social networking sites and by mail so that people can then impersonate that individual to a third party, which could include another Aussie credit-based provider.

The active method is a different type of identity fraud, in which the victim is convinced into doing something, such as being lured to a fake website and entering details or via a bogus phone call or letter.

Hackers recently gained access to a Queensland web-based grocery store's computers and stole nearly $2,000 from online shopper Bianca Jade-Stubbs, the Mercury reported.

By Mark Hornby