Identity Theft: Understanding and Preventing Cybercrime
Medical identity theft is a type of identity theft that involves the theft of an individual's personal and medical information. This can include their name, date of birth, social security number, medical insurance information, and other sensitive data. The thief may use this information to obtain medical treatment or drugs, file fraudulent insurance claims, or sell the information on the black market.
One example of medical identity theft is when a thief uses a victim's information to obtain prescription drugs. With the opioid epidemic in the United States, this has become a significant problem. Thieves may also use the victim's information to receive medical treatment, which can result in erroneous medical records for the victim.
Another example is when a thief files fraudulent insurance claims using the victim's medical information. This can lead to the victim's insurance being canceled or the victim being denied coverage. In some cases, the victim may not even be aware that their insurance has been used fraudulently until they receive a bill for services that they did not receive.
To protect against medical identity theft, individuals can take several steps. These include:
There are also laws in place to help protect against medical identity theft. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires healthcare providers and insurance companies to protect the privacy and security of patients' medical information. In addition, many states have laws that require notification of individuals when their personal information has been compromised in a data breach.
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