More often than not, it is the people closest to you who end up causing you the most pain and suffering - not just emotionally and physically - but financially as well.
We'd all like to be able to assume that friends and family members can be trusted. But in reality the opposite tends to be true.
The Better Business Bureau reports that about 50% of all identity theft victims have a personal relationship with the individual who committed the crime.
People who we are well acquainted with can access sensitive information as well as things like your personal checks.
While there's no reason to be constantly suspicious of the people you know and love, it's important to keep an eye out for warning signs that could be possible motives for committing identity theft or fraud.
Holding a Grudge
If there's someone you know who is harboring resentment against you or someone in your family, they could decide to seek revenge by sabotaging your personal finances.
There are many reasons that relationships go sour, but disagreements over money tend to be one of the most common. Many times estranged spouses or ex boyfriends and girlfriends end up becoming identity thieves.
When a marriage ends in divorce, and emotions are running high, financial disputes can lead to decisions made out of anger and bitterness. Because couples tend to share financial responsibilities as well as bank accounts and even credit cards, separating from this sort of relationship can be tricky.
If you are going through a messy break up, it might be wise to open a new checking account and order checks with only your name printed on them.
Asking Too Many Questions
When someone you know seems to be snooping around about your personal life and personal finances, realize that they could have dishonest motives.
Watch out for people who seem a little bit too interested about how you handle your money. Keep an eye on nosy houseguests who could be poking around in your mail or your medicine cabinet.
If someone asks about your mother's maiden name and wants to compare social security numbers during the same conversation - you should obviously smell a rat!
Dealing With Debt
People with their own money problems can resort to extreme measures to try and resolve their situation.
There may be people you know who are desperate enough to resort to stealing your identity or committing fraud.
If there are people in your circle of friends who are living beyond their means, that could be a red flag. Some people will stop at nothing to continue the type of lifestyle they want to live - even if it means resorting to criminal activity.
Feeding an Addiction
People often do irrational things in order to feed addictions to drugs and alcohol. Addictions can also be very expensive. Unfortunately this often means people will take advantage of trusting friends and relatives in order to get a fix.
If you become a victim of identity theft and there is someone in your life dealing with an addiction, it might be wise to consider them a suspect.
Remember, alcohol and drugs aren't the only types of addiction. Someone with a gambling problem is even more likely to need money to continue their compulsion. Those struggling with mental health problems like bi-polar disorder or manic depressives could also be suspects.
It may seem harsh to be suspicious of people dealing with things like financial problems, mental disorders and addiction. But just because you confront someone about possible identity theft doesn't mean your relationship has to be ruined.
Your intervention could be what they need to address the problems in their life. If you really care about that particular person, you should be able to find it in your heart to forgive and forget.
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