The Young Victims of Identity Theft
By admin | October 21, 2008
Ronald Hudkins asked:
According to the Federal trade Commission there was an estimated half million children who joined the ranks last year with the unfortunate distinction of becoming victims of identity theft. An advocacy group called the Identity Theft Resource Center identifies relatives as being involved in more than half of the child identity theft cases reported in the United States in year 2006.
It should be noted however, the thief is not always someone who knows the child. It is suspected by this resource center that identity theft of children is increasing so rapidly precisely because kids are such good targets. They further believe children are victimized because they usually have a spotless record and because they aren’t using their credit and as such; the crime can go undetected for years.
Now that most infants by law have social security numbers, thieves have discovered they may be the easiest targets of all. Thieves have years to manipulate these identities and create a considerable amount of damage. Infants and children remain lucrative targets because they typically don’t use their social security numbers until their late teens and discover the theft problem upon applying for a first job, a student loan or a credit card. When families and their children finally find out, the burden of proof falls on them.
Some of the most common tactics of identity theft (but not limited to) include parents using their children’s’ Social Security numbers to open up new credit accounts, and “dumpster diving” thieves stealing credit offers mistakenly sent to children too young to make use of the application themselves.
Helen Simmonds, a detective in a local police department, has been handling identity theft investigations. It was noted that almost all involved Social Security numbers issued in the early 1990s to children who are now turning 16, 17 and 18, and trying to obtain credit for the first time. It is believed by the investigator that there is going to be an epidemic [of such cases] not just locally but; across the nation.
It then should come of no surprise that credit-monitoring services are beginning to target concerned parents, offering to monitor children’s identities. At LifeLock, credit monitoring for your child costs only $25 annually in addition to a $10 monthly charge for adults. LifeLock also takes actions to basically audit the Social Security Administration annually on the child’s behalf to find out if there’s been any work history related to the child’s identity number.
A spokesperson for the SSA advises that parents can simply call their local Social Security office and get that information free of charge. However as a concerned consumer and parent you need to know; if thief is using your child’s Social Security number, but with a different name then your child’s, the SSA will not find a matching record for your offspring.
One of the major credit reporting agencies: Experian - recently launched FamilySecure monitoring service which alerts parents as soon as anyone applies for credit using their child’s name. However, at $19.95 a month, the cost might be a bit cumbersome to many family budgets.
Parents that remember or have the time whom want to contact the three Credit Bureaus to determine if there is any activity on their children’s credit can use the following contact Information and procedures;
Experian Call 1-888-379-3792, select the Fraud option. Parents have to mail in documentation, including proof that they are the parent or legal guardian for the child, such as a birth certificate for the child and driver’s license for the parent. If the child does not have a credit file, Experian will notify the parents in writing. If a credit file exists, Experian will provide a copy to the parent so they can dispute any fraudulent information. The bureau will attach a notice on the file that it belongs to a minor, to prevent lenders from issuing credit in the future.
For Equifax Mail a request to: Equifax Information Services, P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348. Attach documentation identifying you as the child’s parent (see above). If a credit record exists, Equifax will delete any fraudulent accounts, take the report offline and flag the Social Security number as one belonging to a minor. Parents cannot receive a copy of the fraudulent report.
Actions for TransUnion require a parent to Email childidtheft@transunion.com TransUnion will email back instructions on requesting a file. If one exists, the bureau will lock the file until the child turns 18, so his or her information cannot be used to obtain credit.
TIPS for ID Theft Prevention:
Don’t give out personal information: never reveal anything about yourself unless you initiate the contact or if you request a phone number that you may call back to authenticate the representation being made (do not give out your Social Security number, phone number, date of birth, or credit card numbers or carry your Social Security Card).
Watch your mail: make sure you collect it right after it is delivered if it is out in the open and accessible to others.
Shred important documents: SSN, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, date of birth and pre-approved credit offers (you can stop these by going to.
Pay attention to your billing cycle: missing bills could indicate theft.
Use reputable and secured websites: always use a secure browser, when paying online check to make sure it’s secure (https: instead of http: identifies a secured server that encrypts the information you submit).
Protect your PC: protect against viruses and spyware, use a firewall, and don’t download attachments from people you do not know.
Do not carry your Social Security card or that of you children’s in your wallet, purse or automobile. Secure the cards in a safe place when not specifically needed.
There are services that charge for protective and proactive identity measures to safeguard the good name and credit of adults and minor children. If you do not have the time or expertise to put needed safeguards in place make room in the budget for the available experts.
Thief’s have the time and ability to steal and ruin your identity. Don’t think for a minute it can’t happen to you or your family members because millions of others were just as confident and lost.
Create a video blog…instantly.
According to the Federal trade Commission there was an estimated half million children who joined the ranks last year with the unfortunate distinction of becoming victims of identity theft. An advocacy group called the Identity Theft Resource Center identifies relatives as being involved in more than half of the child identity theft cases reported in the United States in year 2006.
It should be noted however, the thief is not always someone who knows the child. It is suspected by this resource center that identity theft of children is increasing so rapidly precisely because kids are such good targets. They further believe children are victimized because they usually have a spotless record and because they aren’t using their credit and as such; the crime can go undetected for years.
Now that most infants by law have social security numbers, thieves have discovered they may be the easiest targets of all. Thieves have years to manipulate these identities and create a considerable amount of damage. Infants and children remain lucrative targets because they typically don’t use their social security numbers until their late teens and discover the theft problem upon applying for a first job, a student loan or a credit card. When families and their children finally find out, the burden of proof falls on them.
Some of the most common tactics of identity theft (but not limited to) include parents using their children’s’ Social Security numbers to open up new credit accounts, and “dumpster diving” thieves stealing credit offers mistakenly sent to children too young to make use of the application themselves.
Helen Simmonds, a detective in a local police department, has been handling identity theft investigations. It was noted that almost all involved Social Security numbers issued in the early 1990s to children who are now turning 16, 17 and 18, and trying to obtain credit for the first time. It is believed by the investigator that there is going to be an epidemic [of such cases] not just locally but; across the nation.
It then should come of no surprise that credit-monitoring services are beginning to target concerned parents, offering to monitor children’s identities. At LifeLock, credit monitoring for your child costs only $25 annually in addition to a $10 monthly charge for adults. LifeLock also takes actions to basically audit the Social Security Administration annually on the child’s behalf to find out if there’s been any work history related to the child’s identity number.
A spokesperson for the SSA advises that parents can simply call their local Social Security office and get that information free of charge. However as a concerned consumer and parent you need to know; if thief is using your child’s Social Security number, but with a different name then your child’s, the SSA will not find a matching record for your offspring.
One of the major credit reporting agencies: Experian - recently launched FamilySecure monitoring service which alerts parents as soon as anyone applies for credit using their child’s name. However, at $19.95 a month, the cost might be a bit cumbersome to many family budgets.
Parents that remember or have the time whom want to contact the three Credit Bureaus to determine if there is any activity on their children’s credit can use the following contact Information and procedures;
Experian Call 1-888-379-3792, select the Fraud option. Parents have to mail in documentation, including proof that they are the parent or legal guardian for the child, such as a birth certificate for the child and driver’s license for the parent. If the child does not have a credit file, Experian will notify the parents in writing. If a credit file exists, Experian will provide a copy to the parent so they can dispute any fraudulent information. The bureau will attach a notice on the file that it belongs to a minor, to prevent lenders from issuing credit in the future.
For Equifax Mail a request to: Equifax Information Services, P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348. Attach documentation identifying you as the child’s parent (see above). If a credit record exists, Equifax will delete any fraudulent accounts, take the report offline and flag the Social Security number as one belonging to a minor. Parents cannot receive a copy of the fraudulent report.
Actions for TransUnion require a parent to Email childidtheft@transunion.com TransUnion will email back instructions on requesting a file. If one exists, the bureau will lock the file until the child turns 18, so his or her information cannot be used to obtain credit.
TIPS for ID Theft Prevention:
Don’t give out personal information: never reveal anything about yourself unless you initiate the contact or if you request a phone number that you may call back to authenticate the representation being made (do not give out your Social Security number, phone number, date of birth, or credit card numbers or carry your Social Security Card).
Watch your mail: make sure you collect it right after it is delivered if it is out in the open and accessible to others.
Shred important documents: SSN, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, date of birth and pre-approved credit offers (you can stop these by going to.
Pay attention to your billing cycle: missing bills could indicate theft.
Use reputable and secured websites: always use a secure browser, when paying online check to make sure it’s secure (https: instead of http: identifies a secured server that encrypts the information you submit).
Protect your PC: protect against viruses and spyware, use a firewall, and don’t download attachments from people you do not know.
Do not carry your Social Security card or that of you children’s in your wallet, purse or automobile. Secure the cards in a safe place when not specifically needed.
There are services that charge for protective and proactive identity measures to safeguard the good name and credit of adults and minor children. If you do not have the time or expertise to put needed safeguards in place make room in the budget for the available experts.
Thief’s have the time and ability to steal and ruin your identity. Don’t think for a minute it can’t happen to you or your family members because millions of others were just as confident and lost.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Topics: Relationships | No Comments »
Lifelock Getting Picked
By admin | October 20, 2008
APRPEH asked:
Since February 2008, Lifelock, the company that guarantees that your identity will not be stolen has been hammered by legal problems. Lifelock charges consumers $10 a month for the privilege of allowing the company to manage your Fair Credit Reporting Act right to a free initial security alert and which automatically opts out a consumer from pre-approved credit offers for six months. The Lifelock website states:
LifeLock, the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, offers a proven solution that prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens. We’ll protect your identity and personal information for only $10 a month - and we guarantee our service up to $1,000,000. Lifelock website
A consumer must know what it is they are shopping for and buying. Part of the education of the consumer comes from the vendors or retailers where the consumer shops. Lifelock, as quoted above claims that their product “prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens”. Prevents? Come again? It would make sense to say, in the careful speech of legalese, “reduces the likelihood of identity theft” or “works to protect your identity”. The word “prevents” clearly implies a non-conditional protection. A consumer reading this, if he or she is able to overcome their natural inclination to say “too good to be true” might jump at the opportunity to purchase such protection.
But can Lifelock truly prevent your identity from being stolen. Three legal actions aimed at Lifelock beg to differ. First, on February 13, 2008, the Montana Attorney General, Mike McGrath opened a civil investigation of Lifelock based upon the appearance of CEO Todd Davis’s Social Security Number in a full page advertisement in the Great Falls Tribune. Assistant Attorney General Jesse Laslovich is quoted as saying in an article in the same newspaper “… there also are some businesses cropping up that may only claim to protect people from identity theft”, pointing out the nature of Lifelock’s business is the utilization of no-cost initial security alert placed on the credit file by the three credit repository agencies upon request. An additional concern implied by the Attorney General is that the advertisement including Davis’s Social Security Number may itself be contributing to attempted identity fraud, “The Social Security number in the advertisement is registered to numerous people, Laslovich said. Thats probably because people see it and try to use it to open lines of credit, he added.” Great Falls Tribune
Lifelock’s second blow came from the credit repository Experian filing a civil suit in the Federal District Court of Central California announced on February 21.
Experian’s suit alleges that Lifelock is abusing the Fair Credit Reporting Act right to an initial security alert, essentially comparing the use of the alert in a permanent fashion to crying wolf. The Fair Credit Reporting Act states in § 605A (a)(1) that “… a suspicion that the consumer has been or is about to become a victim of fraud or related crime, including identity theft,…” is the definition of an initial alert’s purpose.
Experian also claims that Lifelock’s advertising is “false and misleading.” Another claim is that Lifelock’s ordering of credit reports for it’s customers (which are provided free of charge according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act when requesting an initial fraud alert, § 612. Charges for certain disclosures (d) Free disclosures in connection with fraud alerts ) is being conducted “without adequate disclosure”, meaning that consumers are unaware or are not told by Lifelock that the credit reports they receive are provided free by the credit repositories per federal law. Experian goes on to claim that companies are not legally able to place the fraud alerts for consumers which seems to be a stretch provided that consumers are authorizing the company to do so.
Experian’s most pertinent complaint involves the applying of initial fraud alerts without the imminent fear of or possibility of fraud. The credit bureau’s argument is that the protective nature of an initial security alert will be diminished if the alerts become too common place. Experian argues that creditors will essentially be forced to treat every initial alert as equal implying that eventually the alerts will be ignored.
Lifelock is counting on the practice that creditors will always place a telephone call to the consumer upon discovering the initial security alert. However, The Fair Credit Reporting Act does not require a creditor to make a telephone call to the consumer every time an initial security alert is found, but is permitted to “ take reasonable steps to verify the consumer’s identity and confirm that the application for a new credit plan is not the result of identity theft” meaning that it is possible that the use of database to verify the personal identifying information of the consumer probably suffices to meet the requirements of the law. If the database does not reflect new fraudulent activity, the alert may not work. Another possibility is to mail a letter to the consumer. Experian seems to have a good point.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
§ 605A. Identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and active duty alerts [15 U.S.C. §1681c-1]
(h) Limitations on Use of Information for Credit Extensions
(1) Requirements for initial and active duty alerts-
(B) Limitation on Users
(ii) Verification. If a consumer requesting the alert has specified a
telephone number to be used for identity verification purposes, before
authorizing any new credit plan or extension described in clause (i) in
the name of such consumer, a user of such consumer report shall
contact the consumer using that telephone number or take reasonable
steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application
for a new credit plan is not the result of identity theft.
Lastly, on 28 March 2008 a class action suit was filed in Arizona against Lifelock alleging similar claims as the Experian suit:
The lawsuit alleges that the three-year-old company defrauds customers by offering services it cannot legally perform, and by touting a $1 million guarantee that the suit alleges is wildly misleading. press release
The class action suit based upon Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act and the Arizona Insurance Code alleges that Lifelock misleads the consumer by overstating the protection it affords and reiterates the Experian claim that Lifelock cannot legally order the consumer’s credit report. The class action suit also calls into question the highly advertised $1,000,000 guarantee. The press release reports that the guarantee’s actual language is:
LifeLock will not pay any losses directly to the consumer and does not cover consequential or incidental damages to identity theft. The guarantee is limited to fixing failures or defects in the LifeLock services and paying other professionals to attempt to restore losses.
So a consumer who does become a victim of identity theft at the very least can claim remuneration from Lifelock for professional identity restoration services, something that could have been purchased on a monthly basis for not too much more than Lifelock’s $10 fee from competitors of Lifelock.
Will Lifelock survive this legal onslaught? Are more suits or investigations coming? Only time will tell. What is for certain is that Lifelock’s attorneys are going to be very busy in 2008. Lifelock continues to secure funding from prominent industry financial leaders such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc most recently $25 million in January 2008.
How much of this last funding round will be spent in legal fees or payouts remains to be seen.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Since February 2008, Lifelock, the company that guarantees that your identity will not be stolen has been hammered by legal problems. Lifelock charges consumers $10 a month for the privilege of allowing the company to manage your Fair Credit Reporting Act right to a free initial security alert and which automatically opts out a consumer from pre-approved credit offers for six months. The Lifelock website states:
LifeLock, the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, offers a proven solution that prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens. We’ll protect your identity and personal information for only $10 a month - and we guarantee our service up to $1,000,000. Lifelock website
A consumer must know what it is they are shopping for and buying. Part of the education of the consumer comes from the vendors or retailers where the consumer shops. Lifelock, as quoted above claims that their product “prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens”. Prevents? Come again? It would make sense to say, in the careful speech of legalese, “reduces the likelihood of identity theft” or “works to protect your identity”. The word “prevents” clearly implies a non-conditional protection. A consumer reading this, if he or she is able to overcome their natural inclination to say “too good to be true” might jump at the opportunity to purchase such protection.
But can Lifelock truly prevent your identity from being stolen. Three legal actions aimed at Lifelock beg to differ. First, on February 13, 2008, the Montana Attorney General, Mike McGrath opened a civil investigation of Lifelock based upon the appearance of CEO Todd Davis’s Social Security Number in a full page advertisement in the Great Falls Tribune. Assistant Attorney General Jesse Laslovich is quoted as saying in an article in the same newspaper “… there also are some businesses cropping up that may only claim to protect people from identity theft”, pointing out the nature of Lifelock’s business is the utilization of no-cost initial security alert placed on the credit file by the three credit repository agencies upon request. An additional concern implied by the Attorney General is that the advertisement including Davis’s Social Security Number may itself be contributing to attempted identity fraud, “The Social Security number in the advertisement is registered to numerous people, Laslovich said. Thats probably because people see it and try to use it to open lines of credit, he added.” Great Falls Tribune
Lifelock’s second blow came from the credit repository Experian filing a civil suit in the Federal District Court of Central California announced on February 21.
Experian’s suit alleges that Lifelock is abusing the Fair Credit Reporting Act right to an initial security alert, essentially comparing the use of the alert in a permanent fashion to crying wolf. The Fair Credit Reporting Act states in § 605A (a)(1) that “… a suspicion that the consumer has been or is about to become a victim of fraud or related crime, including identity theft,…” is the definition of an initial alert’s purpose.
Experian also claims that Lifelock’s advertising is “false and misleading.” Another claim is that Lifelock’s ordering of credit reports for it’s customers (which are provided free of charge according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act when requesting an initial fraud alert, § 612. Charges for certain disclosures (d) Free disclosures in connection with fraud alerts ) is being conducted “without adequate disclosure”, meaning that consumers are unaware or are not told by Lifelock that the credit reports they receive are provided free by the credit repositories per federal law. Experian goes on to claim that companies are not legally able to place the fraud alerts for consumers which seems to be a stretch provided that consumers are authorizing the company to do so.
Experian’s most pertinent complaint involves the applying of initial fraud alerts without the imminent fear of or possibility of fraud. The credit bureau’s argument is that the protective nature of an initial security alert will be diminished if the alerts become too common place. Experian argues that creditors will essentially be forced to treat every initial alert as equal implying that eventually the alerts will be ignored.
Lifelock is counting on the practice that creditors will always place a telephone call to the consumer upon discovering the initial security alert. However, The Fair Credit Reporting Act does not require a creditor to make a telephone call to the consumer every time an initial security alert is found, but is permitted to “ take reasonable steps to verify the consumer’s identity and confirm that the application for a new credit plan is not the result of identity theft” meaning that it is possible that the use of database to verify the personal identifying information of the consumer probably suffices to meet the requirements of the law. If the database does not reflect new fraudulent activity, the alert may not work. Another possibility is to mail a letter to the consumer. Experian seems to have a good point.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
§ 605A. Identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and active duty alerts [15 U.S.C. §1681c-1]
(h) Limitations on Use of Information for Credit Extensions
(1) Requirements for initial and active duty alerts-
(B) Limitation on Users
(ii) Verification. If a consumer requesting the alert has specified a
telephone number to be used for identity verification purposes, before
authorizing any new credit plan or extension described in clause (i) in
the name of such consumer, a user of such consumer report shall
contact the consumer using that telephone number or take reasonable
steps to verify the consumer's identity and confirm that the application
for a new credit plan is not the result of identity theft.
Lastly, on 28 March 2008 a class action suit was filed in Arizona against Lifelock alleging similar claims as the Experian suit:
The lawsuit alleges that the three-year-old company defrauds customers by offering services it cannot legally perform, and by touting a $1 million guarantee that the suit alleges is wildly misleading. press release
The class action suit based upon Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act and the Arizona Insurance Code alleges that Lifelock misleads the consumer by overstating the protection it affords and reiterates the Experian claim that Lifelock cannot legally order the consumer’s credit report. The class action suit also calls into question the highly advertised $1,000,000 guarantee. The press release reports that the guarantee’s actual language is:
LifeLock will not pay any losses directly to the consumer and does not cover consequential or incidental damages to identity theft. The guarantee is limited to fixing failures or defects in the LifeLock services and paying other professionals to attempt to restore losses.
So a consumer who does become a victim of identity theft at the very least can claim remuneration from Lifelock for professional identity restoration services, something that could have been purchased on a monthly basis for not too much more than Lifelock’s $10 fee from competitors of Lifelock.
Will Lifelock survive this legal onslaught? Are more suits or investigations coming? Only time will tell. What is for certain is that Lifelock’s attorneys are going to be very busy in 2008. Lifelock continues to secure funding from prominent industry financial leaders such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc most recently $25 million in January 2008.
How much of this last funding round will be spent in legal fees or payouts remains to be seen.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Topics: Ethics | No Comments »
How Do the Identity Stealers Work to Steal an Identity?
By admin | October 16, 2008
Randy Vezina asked:
Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For professional identity stealers, this information is as good as gold mine.
Professional and Skilled identity Stealers may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
1. Skimming: These professional steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card. Do you let the waiter/waitress walk away from your table with credit card in hand? How about the gas station attendant? These are just some of the ways identity thieves can skim your card(s)
2. Dumpster Driving: In this method the thieves search for various bills and pieces for paper on which one might have scribbled some personal information. This can happen at work from the little garbage can beside your desk. Do you put your garbage out at night or even in the morning? If so, identity thieves will steal the entire garbage bag and take it to a safe location where they can pick it apart.
3. Phishing/Malware: These ID stealers are hard at work thinking up creative ways to get malware software on your computer using appealing Web sites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories, these criminals try to lure consumers to links that will download malware, especially on computers that don’t use adequate security software. Then, they use the malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. They also can pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address: These criminals divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. Where they can collect your personal information form those bills.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing: It is the most common forms of identity theft where in the these stealers steal billing related mails and credit card statements from their victims. They also resort to stealing their wallets and purses to get credit card details and other such information. They may also resort to bribing and getting such vital details from people who have access to it.
6. Pre-texting: They move step ahead in their job, by using false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. Pretexing is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretenses. Pretexers sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, to steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. Pretexing is against the law. Pretexers use a variety of tactics to steal your personal information and commit identity theft. For example, a pretexter may call, claim he’s from a research firm, and ask for your name, address, birth date, and social security number. When the pretexter has the information he wants, he uses it to call your financial institution. He pretends to be you or someone with authorized access to your account. He might claim he has forgotten his check book and needs information about his account. In this way, the pretexter may be able to obtain other personal information about you such as your bank and credit account numbers, information in your credit report, and the existence and size of your savings and investment portfolios. Keep in mind that some information about you may be a matter of public record, such as whether you own a home, pay your real estate taxes, or have ever filed for bankruptcy. It is not pretexing for an identity thief to collect this kind of information.
Do you want to learn about Identity Theft Prevention & Identity Theft Protection. Stop Identity Theft with LifeLock. LifeLock can guarantee identity theft never happens to you. To see how lifelock identity theft protection works
Content
Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For professional identity stealers, this information is as good as gold mine.
Professional and Skilled identity Stealers may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
1. Skimming: These professional steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card. Do you let the waiter/waitress walk away from your table with credit card in hand? How about the gas station attendant? These are just some of the ways identity thieves can skim your card(s)
2. Dumpster Driving: In this method the thieves search for various bills and pieces for paper on which one might have scribbled some personal information. This can happen at work from the little garbage can beside your desk. Do you put your garbage out at night or even in the morning? If so, identity thieves will steal the entire garbage bag and take it to a safe location where they can pick it apart.
3. Phishing/Malware: These ID stealers are hard at work thinking up creative ways to get malware software on your computer using appealing Web sites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories, these criminals try to lure consumers to links that will download malware, especially on computers that don’t use adequate security software. Then, they use the malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. They also can pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address: These criminals divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. Where they can collect your personal information form those bills.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing: It is the most common forms of identity theft where in the these stealers steal billing related mails and credit card statements from their victims. They also resort to stealing their wallets and purses to get credit card details and other such information. They may also resort to bribing and getting such vital details from people who have access to it.
6. Pre-texting: They move step ahead in their job, by using false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. Pretexing is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretenses. Pretexers sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, to steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. Pretexing is against the law. Pretexers use a variety of tactics to steal your personal information and commit identity theft. For example, a pretexter may call, claim he’s from a research firm, and ask for your name, address, birth date, and social security number. When the pretexter has the information he wants, he uses it to call your financial institution. He pretends to be you or someone with authorized access to your account. He might claim he has forgotten his check book and needs information about his account. In this way, the pretexter may be able to obtain other personal information about you such as your bank and credit account numbers, information in your credit report, and the existence and size of your savings and investment portfolios. Keep in mind that some information about you may be a matter of public record, such as whether you own a home, pay your real estate taxes, or have ever filed for bankruptcy. It is not pretexing for an identity thief to collect this kind of information.
Do you want to learn about Identity Theft Prevention & Identity Theft Protection. Stop Identity Theft with LifeLock. LifeLock can guarantee identity theft never happens to you. To see how lifelock identity theft protection works
Content
Topics: Security | No Comments »
Child Identity Theft
By admin | October 6, 2008
Randy Vezina asked:
When a child is born, a parent may apply for a Social Security number for that child. A child’s Social Security number is very much sought after by identity thieves. The child identity thief could be a family member (uncle, aunt cousin), another adult who has access and is allowed in your home, someone who has stolen your mail or hacked into your computer. We think we know who the child identity thief could be, but we don’t.
Most parents apply for the baby’s SSN so that they can claim the child on their taxes and you must submit the SSN on the official tax forms, so now, anybody who has the means to see that tax form can copy the child’s information. The child’s identity could be stolen at the hospital or at a health professionals’ office. What about the dishonest legal professional who sells the child’s identity to an unscrupulous client. It does not matter what profession a person is in, they have the potential to be dishonest.
The thief could be anybody. Typically, your not going to check your child’s credit rating (why would you), so your not going to know their identity has been stolen. Now the identity thief has more than a decade to create a new identity for him and gain credit cards, loans, cell phones, utilities, bank accounts, drivers license etc. etc. The crime is not discovered until your child has grown and applies for her first education loan, apartment, credit card or job! By now, the trail has become ice cold and your child’s credit record has been cut to ribbons. In all likelihood all of the accounts opened in her name have been purchased by a collection agency.
It would be very difficult for your child to repair what has happened because of the difficulty in tracking down the original loan applications and transaction records if the original account has been through several hands because of companies merging and being bought-up. Our children need to be taught about the dangers of providing their personal information and your personal information when they are logged onto the net. Today’s kids have a burning desire to log into the many chat rooms and social networking sites and they may be asked for personal information on a registration screen or by an identity thief.
The preventative identity theft company, LifeLock, has already launched the first-of-its-kind Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program. Now, LifeLock’s subscribers can add the children’s ID theft program to their existing full suite of ID theft preventative services. The children’s theft prevention program is for minors 16 years and younger. A recent study in the state of Utah revealed that 1,800 Social Security numbers assigned to children 12 years of age and younger had been forged, according to the state’s Identity Theft Task Force.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has advised that between 5% and 7% of identity theft victims are under the age of 18 and if you include college-aged individuals, it is almost 20%.
“Due to the extreme increase in ID theft among minors, we have taken the initiative to develop a first-of-its-kind program to protect children,” said Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock. Tracking credit bureau activity and monitoring depository accounts are considered standard when dealing with identity theft. But Davis insists that working with the Social Security Administration and identifying work activity from unusually young minors is a red flag that warrants further investigation. “LifeLock is in the process of working with local and federal agencies, as well as leaders in Washington D.C. to lead the efforts in protecting our children from identity theft. This is a critical aspect of our overall service,” continued Davis. “As the Utah investigation demonstrated, sadly, there are numerous victims yet to be discovered.” LifeLock subscribers can pay $10 per year for the Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program through which LifeLock will regularly audit the credit bureau, monitor depository banking accounts, and track any unusual “work activity” with the Social Security Administration on behalf of LifeLock’s youth customers. All minors enrolled in the program will also benefit by LifeLock’s standard $1 million guarantee.
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When a child is born, a parent may apply for a Social Security number for that child. A child’s Social Security number is very much sought after by identity thieves. The child identity thief could be a family member (uncle, aunt cousin), another adult who has access and is allowed in your home, someone who has stolen your mail or hacked into your computer. We think we know who the child identity thief could be, but we don’t.
Most parents apply for the baby’s SSN so that they can claim the child on their taxes and you must submit the SSN on the official tax forms, so now, anybody who has the means to see that tax form can copy the child’s information. The child’s identity could be stolen at the hospital or at a health professionals’ office. What about the dishonest legal professional who sells the child’s identity to an unscrupulous client. It does not matter what profession a person is in, they have the potential to be dishonest.
The thief could be anybody. Typically, your not going to check your child’s credit rating (why would you), so your not going to know their identity has been stolen. Now the identity thief has more than a decade to create a new identity for him and gain credit cards, loans, cell phones, utilities, bank accounts, drivers license etc. etc. The crime is not discovered until your child has grown and applies for her first education loan, apartment, credit card or job! By now, the trail has become ice cold and your child’s credit record has been cut to ribbons. In all likelihood all of the accounts opened in her name have been purchased by a collection agency.
It would be very difficult for your child to repair what has happened because of the difficulty in tracking down the original loan applications and transaction records if the original account has been through several hands because of companies merging and being bought-up. Our children need to be taught about the dangers of providing their personal information and your personal information when they are logged onto the net. Today’s kids have a burning desire to log into the many chat rooms and social networking sites and they may be asked for personal information on a registration screen or by an identity thief.
The preventative identity theft company, LifeLock, has already launched the first-of-its-kind Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program. Now, LifeLock’s subscribers can add the children’s ID theft program to their existing full suite of ID theft preventative services. The children’s theft prevention program is for minors 16 years and younger. A recent study in the state of Utah revealed that 1,800 Social Security numbers assigned to children 12 years of age and younger had been forged, according to the state’s Identity Theft Task Force.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has advised that between 5% and 7% of identity theft victims are under the age of 18 and if you include college-aged individuals, it is almost 20%.
“Due to the extreme increase in ID theft among minors, we have taken the initiative to develop a first-of-its-kind program to protect children,” said Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock. Tracking credit bureau activity and monitoring depository accounts are considered standard when dealing with identity theft. But Davis insists that working with the Social Security Administration and identifying work activity from unusually young minors is a red flag that warrants further investigation. “LifeLock is in the process of working with local and federal agencies, as well as leaders in Washington D.C. to lead the efforts in protecting our children from identity theft. This is a critical aspect of our overall service,” continued Davis. “As the Utah investigation demonstrated, sadly, there are numerous victims yet to be discovered.” LifeLock subscribers can pay $10 per year for the Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program through which LifeLock will regularly audit the credit bureau, monitor depository banking accounts, and track any unusual “work activity” with the Social Security Administration on behalf of LifeLock’s youth customers. All minors enrolled in the program will also benefit by LifeLock’s standard $1 million guarantee.
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How Do You Choose an Identity Protection Service?
By admin | October 6, 2008
Charles White asked:
cacy of technologies has generated intricate crimes to be possible. Have you watched those films featuring a group of local goons stealing a highly-guarded museum operating right at a backyard? How about flicks in which ordinary Mr. Joe transforms into a very rich and powerful businessman after “pilfering” another person’s identity? So do I make myself clear: technology makes no bounds for what can be done today. Let’s speak about the mentioned films here …
Identity theft is a fast-growing crime in the world, most especially in America. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 10 million Americans experience identity theft every year. That’s really a lot, huh! With your own ID, criminals may get a credit card, open a new line of credit, rent an apartment, or open a telephone account. They can practically create, or more aptly waste, a life at your expense. The victim may not find out about the theft until after the crime is complete or until you are contacted by a debt collector. Now that’s really awful!
So how do you define identity theft anyway? According to identitytheftlabs.com, the definition of “identity theft” varies from Webster’s to Wikipedia and others. The Web site suggests that the FTC, in this case, does a fine job of outlining the situation. Identity theft, says FTC, is when someone uses your personal information, like your SSN, name, bankcards, etc. without your authorization, to perpetrate fraud or other crimes.
How serious is this kind of crime? Identity theft is a very serious crime. While some victims can resolve problems quickly, others spend thousands of dollars and vast amount of time to resolving damage to their good name and credit records. Some victims of identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or have education, housing, or car loans rejected. In rare cases, people have been arrested for crimes they did not commit.
Identity theft can be avoided if you keep your identity at utmost privacy. But then again a lot of organized theft rings operating online and offline to steal your identity. These criminals are always one step ahead and constantly trying to find ways to overcome obstacles to their operations. Having stored your identity and information on any server puts you at potential risk for identity theft.
There are identity theft protection plans being offered by financial institutions which reimburses for out-of-pocket expenses up to a certain dollar amount and helps with the process of contacting creditors, writing affidavits and filing reports. Some plans are free as part of checking or savings account and others may charge a monthly fee.
But there is a better way to avoid identity theft… avoid it at the onset! With services provided and accessible online, there are companies that extend proactive identity protection from these possible issues for just $0.25 to $0.30 per day. These companies not only furnish the best protection from identity theft but also support their services with identity insurance guarantees of up to one million dollars.
Among others, LoudSiren, LifeLock and Trusted ID are good examples of companies that have combined a few basic technologies into very affordable and valuable services. You can easily decide for yourself which company to choose by comparing the track records of Lifelock, LoudSiren and Trusted ID. Additionally, there are also available online reviews for these companies that cater to theft protection.
Content
cacy of technologies has generated intricate crimes to be possible. Have you watched those films featuring a group of local goons stealing a highly-guarded museum operating right at a backyard? How about flicks in which ordinary Mr. Joe transforms into a very rich and powerful businessman after “pilfering” another person’s identity? So do I make myself clear: technology makes no bounds for what can be done today. Let’s speak about the mentioned films here …
Identity theft is a fast-growing crime in the world, most especially in America. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 10 million Americans experience identity theft every year. That’s really a lot, huh! With your own ID, criminals may get a credit card, open a new line of credit, rent an apartment, or open a telephone account. They can practically create, or more aptly waste, a life at your expense. The victim may not find out about the theft until after the crime is complete or until you are contacted by a debt collector. Now that’s really awful!
So how do you define identity theft anyway? According to identitytheftlabs.com, the definition of “identity theft” varies from Webster’s to Wikipedia and others. The Web site suggests that the FTC, in this case, does a fine job of outlining the situation. Identity theft, says FTC, is when someone uses your personal information, like your SSN, name, bankcards, etc. without your authorization, to perpetrate fraud or other crimes.
How serious is this kind of crime? Identity theft is a very serious crime. While some victims can resolve problems quickly, others spend thousands of dollars and vast amount of time to resolving damage to their good name and credit records. Some victims of identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or have education, housing, or car loans rejected. In rare cases, people have been arrested for crimes they did not commit.
Identity theft can be avoided if you keep your identity at utmost privacy. But then again a lot of organized theft rings operating online and offline to steal your identity. These criminals are always one step ahead and constantly trying to find ways to overcome obstacles to their operations. Having stored your identity and information on any server puts you at potential risk for identity theft.
There are identity theft protection plans being offered by financial institutions which reimburses for out-of-pocket expenses up to a certain dollar amount and helps with the process of contacting creditors, writing affidavits and filing reports. Some plans are free as part of checking or savings account and others may charge a monthly fee.
But there is a better way to avoid identity theft… avoid it at the onset! With services provided and accessible online, there are companies that extend proactive identity protection from these possible issues for just $0.25 to $0.30 per day. These companies not only furnish the best protection from identity theft but also support their services with identity insurance guarantees of up to one million dollars.
Among others, LoudSiren, LifeLock and Trusted ID are good examples of companies that have combined a few basic technologies into very affordable and valuable services. You can easily decide for yourself which company to choose by comparing the track records of Lifelock, LoudSiren and Trusted ID. Additionally, there are also available online reviews for these companies that cater to theft protection.
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What you Should Know Before Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection Company
By admin | October 4, 2008
Bernard Pragides asked:
Are you thinking of subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company? Given the growing crime rate of identity theft, it is definitely wise to take this particular action in protecting yourself from identity theft. Here’s what you should know before subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company.
An Identity Theft Protection company usually offers the following services:
1. Tracking of credit report, police report and medical records. Whenever your credit card is used or whenever your social security number is included in an application form, your Identity Theft Protection company will notify you. If the transaction was unauthorized, the company would then make a trace to find out who tried to use your identity. The company will also track down any unknown addresses that are affiliated with your name and will also take a look at the DMV records in your state.
2. Alerts in case of any suspicious activity. Once detected, your account will be frozen and you will have to confirm if it is indeed unauthorized. If it is unauthorized, your account will continue be frozen and the company will notify the authorities. If it is authorized however, your account will be reactivated immediately. This is very helpful as normally the only way you would know of this is if you are already harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit only to find your credit rating has been thrashed.
3. Assistance in the process of clearing credit. Should the thieves be successful in using your identity, the company will help you with the police regarding warrants, as well as assist you in getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren’t yours.
An Identity Theft Protection company offers various plans:
The basic plan usually covers tracking of your credit report and alerts in case of suspicious transactions. You will also receive notifications every time a new account is opened or a new inquiry appears on your report. Given the rise of competition in lending, note that many lenders offer this basic plan for free.
Meanwhile, in a more detailed plan, you can receive monthly reports (as compared to yearly reports in a basic plan) and counseling services. Some Identity Theft Protection companies also cover out-of-pocket fees in case you become an identity theft victim. This detailed plan usually charges a reasonable fee of $100 per individual or $150 per household annually.
There are also comprehensive plans available which covers each and every cost the consumer incurs through identity theft. Obviously, this service would warrant higher fees.
A few examples of top-notch Identity Theft Protection Companies include LifeLock Identity Theft Protection and Equifax Credit Monitoring Service. Note that Lifelock offers $1,000,000 Identity Theft Protection Service Guarantee.
Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company is just one of the ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. There are other simple steps you can take like being more cautious in all your transactions and being more careful with regards to your personal information. You certainly can’t go wrong with taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft.
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Are you thinking of subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company? Given the growing crime rate of identity theft, it is definitely wise to take this particular action in protecting yourself from identity theft. Here’s what you should know before subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company.
An Identity Theft Protection company usually offers the following services:
1. Tracking of credit report, police report and medical records. Whenever your credit card is used or whenever your social security number is included in an application form, your Identity Theft Protection company will notify you. If the transaction was unauthorized, the company would then make a trace to find out who tried to use your identity. The company will also track down any unknown addresses that are affiliated with your name and will also take a look at the DMV records in your state.
2. Alerts in case of any suspicious activity. Once detected, your account will be frozen and you will have to confirm if it is indeed unauthorized. If it is unauthorized, your account will continue be frozen and the company will notify the authorities. If it is authorized however, your account will be reactivated immediately. This is very helpful as normally the only way you would know of this is if you are already harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit only to find your credit rating has been thrashed.
3. Assistance in the process of clearing credit. Should the thieves be successful in using your identity, the company will help you with the police regarding warrants, as well as assist you in getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren’t yours.
An Identity Theft Protection company offers various plans:
The basic plan usually covers tracking of your credit report and alerts in case of suspicious transactions. You will also receive notifications every time a new account is opened or a new inquiry appears on your report. Given the rise of competition in lending, note that many lenders offer this basic plan for free.
Meanwhile, in a more detailed plan, you can receive monthly reports (as compared to yearly reports in a basic plan) and counseling services. Some Identity Theft Protection companies also cover out-of-pocket fees in case you become an identity theft victim. This detailed plan usually charges a reasonable fee of $100 per individual or $150 per household annually.
There are also comprehensive plans available which covers each and every cost the consumer incurs through identity theft. Obviously, this service would warrant higher fees.
A few examples of top-notch Identity Theft Protection Companies include LifeLock Identity Theft Protection and Equifax Credit Monitoring Service. Note that Lifelock offers $1,000,000 Identity Theft Protection Service Guarantee.
Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company is just one of the ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. There are other simple steps you can take like being more cautious in all your transactions and being more careful with regards to your personal information. You certainly can’t go wrong with taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft.
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How Damaging Stolen Identity Can Be
By admin | October 3, 2008
Puripong Koomsin asked:
Just recently, I received an email from a priest stating that his email address has been accessed by a different person. He added that the person who stole his email address uses it to solicit money from friends. The person even created stories like he had been abducted and is now trapped in an unknown island and needs money in order to survive. He ended his message by saying that he is safe and all right and there is nothing to worry about. He has no idea how it happened and apologized to those who might have fell for the unauthorized emails.
This is an example of identity theft. It may not have damaged the priest financially but if he hadn’t known that someone else is using his identity to generate money, his reputation would have been greatly affected.
Identity theft is an illegal use of another person’s identity. The usual objective of people who use someone else’s identity is to steal money or acquire other benefits. One reason why people pretend to be someone else is to get away from a crime he or she committed. Another reason which may seem extreme is to assume the person’s role and live his life. This is also happening in the business world, other businesses would use other organization’s name to take credit for the other organization’s achievements.
Unfortunately, identity theft can happen to anyone at any place or time. It chooses no one. An individual’s identity may already be stolen without him knowing it. Most of the time, individuals only know that their information has been stolen when they could no longer apply for a loan or they have been sent bills for items they did not purchase. When these happen, it would be very difficult to undo the damage.
If you are a victim of identity theft then you should take actions immediately. If this involves credit cards, contact the agency who issued the card and insist that you speak with someone responsible for fraud protection. It is also important that there is a written complaint to document the proceedings of your claim to innocence.
It is best to ask for copies of credit reports from three chief reporting agencies. Verify and be certain that debts and loans included are those you have incurred. It is always better to file a police report. Retain a copy because creditors might look for proof that you have been a victim and not an irresponsible credit holder.
Identity theft is very damaging. It cannot only cause havoc on your finances but will also break the reputation you have taken cared of for years. Because of this, it is important for us to be mindful of our actions. We should be careful to whom we give our information. Thieves may just be waiting for us to drop a card or forget a paper containing our identification numbers.
In this fast paced era, the only ones who can really protect us from being taken advantage of, is ourselves.
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Just recently, I received an email from a priest stating that his email address has been accessed by a different person. He added that the person who stole his email address uses it to solicit money from friends. The person even created stories like he had been abducted and is now trapped in an unknown island and needs money in order to survive. He ended his message by saying that he is safe and all right and there is nothing to worry about. He has no idea how it happened and apologized to those who might have fell for the unauthorized emails.
This is an example of identity theft. It may not have damaged the priest financially but if he hadn’t known that someone else is using his identity to generate money, his reputation would have been greatly affected.
Identity theft is an illegal use of another person’s identity. The usual objective of people who use someone else’s identity is to steal money or acquire other benefits. One reason why people pretend to be someone else is to get away from a crime he or she committed. Another reason which may seem extreme is to assume the person’s role and live his life. This is also happening in the business world, other businesses would use other organization’s name to take credit for the other organization’s achievements.
Unfortunately, identity theft can happen to anyone at any place or time. It chooses no one. An individual’s identity may already be stolen without him knowing it. Most of the time, individuals only know that their information has been stolen when they could no longer apply for a loan or they have been sent bills for items they did not purchase. When these happen, it would be very difficult to undo the damage.
If you are a victim of identity theft then you should take actions immediately. If this involves credit cards, contact the agency who issued the card and insist that you speak with someone responsible for fraud protection. It is also important that there is a written complaint to document the proceedings of your claim to innocence.
It is best to ask for copies of credit reports from three chief reporting agencies. Verify and be certain that debts and loans included are those you have incurred. It is always better to file a police report. Retain a copy because creditors might look for proof that you have been a victim and not an irresponsible credit holder.
Identity theft is very damaging. It cannot only cause havoc on your finances but will also break the reputation you have taken cared of for years. Because of this, it is important for us to be mindful of our actions. We should be careful to whom we give our information. Thieves may just be waiting for us to drop a card or forget a paper containing our identification numbers.
In this fast paced era, the only ones who can really protect us from being taken advantage of, is ourselves.
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Seven Tips to Avoid Identity Theft
By admin | October 2, 2008
Dewey Kearney asked:
According to the FBI identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States and is probably going to get worse as technology grows. Identity thieves rob more than 500,000 Americans every year. Your credit can be damaged, and fixing it can cost you hundreds of dollars and take hundreds of hours of your time. You might become a victim if you don’t take steps to protect yourself!
Here are seven ways you can reduce your risk of identity theft.
Guard Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security number is the key to your credit report and banking accounts – and is the prime target of criminals. Never print your Social Security number on checks. Don’t use them as passwords for your online accounts.
Monitor Your Credit Report
Your credit report contains your Social Security number and your present and past employers. With this information alone someone can often get credit in your name. For instance, store credit card applications usually just ask for your social security number, current address employer.
After applying for a loan, rental or anything else that requires a credit report request that your Social Security number be completely obliterated and your credit report be shredded. A lender or rental manager only needs to retain your name and credit score to justify their decision.
After you apply for store credit pull your credit report. Store employees have access to the applications which contain all the information they need to steal your credit!
Shred All Old Bank And Credit Statements And Write “Junk Mail” Across The Credit Card Offer Applications You Receive In The Mail Before Trashing Them
It is best to use a crosscut shredder for this. These shredders sometimes cost a few dollars more but they are better.
Better yet, apply for the LifeLock service. For just $10 a month they will see that you are removed from most junk mail lists so that you won’t get the “you’re pre-approved” applications in the mail any more.
Do Not Mail Bill Payments And Checks From Home
These can be easily stolen from your mailbox. Modern thieves have developed a method of washing them clean in chemicals and then putting any amount on them choose. Take them directly to the Post Office, mail them from your place of employment or drop them directly into a mailbox.
Always Check The Current Charges On Your Credit Card Statements Before Paying Them. Cancel Unused Credit Cards
It doesn’t hurt to have at least 3 credit cards for emergencies. Anything more than that is excessive and you should think about cancelling them. Cancel the newest ones first though, as credit history is important to your credit score so keeping older cards shows longevity and reflects better on your score.
Never Give Your Credit Card Number Or Personal Information Over The Phone
Unless you initiated the call and trust that business.
There are many other ways to protect yourself but the most important thing is to use common sense. Trust no one when it comes to your identity and keep yourself protected!
Content for WordPress
According to the FBI identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States and is probably going to get worse as technology grows. Identity thieves rob more than 500,000 Americans every year. Your credit can be damaged, and fixing it can cost you hundreds of dollars and take hundreds of hours of your time. You might become a victim if you don’t take steps to protect yourself!
Here are seven ways you can reduce your risk of identity theft.
Guard Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security number is the key to your credit report and banking accounts – and is the prime target of criminals. Never print your Social Security number on checks. Don’t use them as passwords for your online accounts.
Monitor Your Credit Report
Your credit report contains your Social Security number and your present and past employers. With this information alone someone can often get credit in your name. For instance, store credit card applications usually just ask for your social security number, current address employer.
After applying for a loan, rental or anything else that requires a credit report request that your Social Security number be completely obliterated and your credit report be shredded. A lender or rental manager only needs to retain your name and credit score to justify their decision.
After you apply for store credit pull your credit report. Store employees have access to the applications which contain all the information they need to steal your credit!
Shred All Old Bank And Credit Statements And Write “Junk Mail” Across The Credit Card Offer Applications You Receive In The Mail Before Trashing Them
It is best to use a crosscut shredder for this. These shredders sometimes cost a few dollars more but they are better.
Better yet, apply for the LifeLock service. For just $10 a month they will see that you are removed from most junk mail lists so that you won’t get the “you’re pre-approved” applications in the mail any more.
Do Not Mail Bill Payments And Checks From Home
These can be easily stolen from your mailbox. Modern thieves have developed a method of washing them clean in chemicals and then putting any amount on them choose. Take them directly to the Post Office, mail them from your place of employment or drop them directly into a mailbox.
Always Check The Current Charges On Your Credit Card Statements Before Paying Them. Cancel Unused Credit Cards
It doesn’t hurt to have at least 3 credit cards for emergencies. Anything more than that is excessive and you should think about cancelling them. Cancel the newest ones first though, as credit history is important to your credit score so keeping older cards shows longevity and reflects better on your score.
Never Give Your Credit Card Number Or Personal Information Over The Phone
Unless you initiated the call and trust that business.
There are many other ways to protect yourself but the most important thing is to use common sense. Trust no one when it comes to your identity and keep yourself protected!
Content for WordPress
Topics: Business | No Comments »
Are you Afraid of Identity Theft- you Had Better Be!
By admin | September 28, 2008
Dewey Kearney asked:
Have you ever thought how it could affect you if someone stole your identity? According to the latest information available from the FBI you have every reason to fear. This according to the FBI is the fastest growing crime wave in the USA. Not rape as horrible as that is, not mass shootings like the one at the Omaha mall as shocked as everyone was – but stealing identities of people like you and me.
In researching the facts for this article I was amazed at the examples of everyday folks that have had their identity stolen and didn’t have a clue until the damage was done in some cases so completely that it will take years to sort everything out. Sometimes the culprits are found and prosecuted and sometimes they change identities AGAIN and become someone else and move on. They leave in their wake a tragedy of damaged credit and lives that take years to recover from.
We are going to give you a number of examples of the identity theft AND then we are going to give you a solution that I hope you will follow. Be proactive rather than just think this happens to others and could never happen to you. It can indeed.
From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in congressional testimony:
· A NASA engineer went to his bank where he had banked 11 years for a loan and was refused. He had to use his retirement funds for his son’s education.
· A consumer spent three years trying to repair her damaged credit rating due to identity theft and was unable to purchase a new home.
· A department store clerk whose identity had been assumed by a shoplifter has spent several years seeking employment in the retail industry (unsuccessfully).
These are real examples but if you don’t know the persons yourself might be inclined to dismiss this, don’t – it’s real. In an article we published a few months ago entitled, “Be Careful What You Throw Away” we pointed out that there are people who make a living just going through trash looking for that one “jewel” like your bank account number, credit card number(s), social security number or anything that gives them a leg up to “become you”. They open credit cards using that information; even bank accounts, purchase homes and cars then abscond leaving the victim to sort it all out.
Here are a few more examples:
· Thousands of Social Security numbers posted on Texas state government site.
A security expert discovered that he could very easily find personal data from all tax liens and loan agreement notices filed in the state of Texas before June 2005. When he inquired about this the Secretary of State’s office told him it was the individual citizens responsibility to let them know that they didn’t want their SS number published. How are they supposed to know this?
· It’s almost an everyday occurrence to read of restaurant employee skimming customer’s identities.
Waiters have been caught using hand-held computers to secretly steal personal information. This is known as “skimming”. It has been determined that up to 70% of this type of credit card theft is done by restaurant personnel. Security experts warn that you are in danger every time you hand your credit card to a stranger.
· Thousands of Ohio’s state employees had their bank information stolen.
Just this past summer the news reported that a computer back-up tape was stolen from an intern’s car. This put the state officials in Columbus, Ohio into damage control mode. The tape contained the fund-transfer bank information for almost 30,000 state employees.
· Just a couple of months ago the Arizona Republic where we live reported that they have uncovered a mill cranking out thousands of false identities. Their big fear is with our new law going into effect on January 1 requiring employers to verify SS numbers with the Feds before employment, is the identity thefts will increase allowing these illegal folks to continue to work using your name or mine.
Have I convinced you yet that you are in imminent danger? I hope so because everyone is. The problem is this isn’t like locking a window/door to keep a burglar out. It’s a little more complex than that and yet it isn’t, not really. The solution is as close as your computer – It’s called LifeLock!
LifeLock is a one of a kind. You have heard their advertisement on the radio where their CEO gives his Social Security number and tells who they are and what they can do to protect you. There are several copy cat companies who provide the same service but this is the “ONLY ONE” whose CEO dares to give you his personal Social Security number and also a Million Dollar guarantee if someone steals your identity. No one else gives you that. After we researched this information, both my daughter (my partner) and myself both signed up for this. We were convinced and glad we did.
Enroll with us now don’t put it off. The danger is real. Give yourself a gift of identity security. Do it now!! Visit our site and sign up today. http://www.1-800BadCredit.com
Reference: www.fdic.gov/consumers/privacy/criminalscover
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Have you ever thought how it could affect you if someone stole your identity? According to the latest information available from the FBI you have every reason to fear. This according to the FBI is the fastest growing crime wave in the USA. Not rape as horrible as that is, not mass shootings like the one at the Omaha mall as shocked as everyone was – but stealing identities of people like you and me.
In researching the facts for this article I was amazed at the examples of everyday folks that have had their identity stolen and didn’t have a clue until the damage was done in some cases so completely that it will take years to sort everything out. Sometimes the culprits are found and prosecuted and sometimes they change identities AGAIN and become someone else and move on. They leave in their wake a tragedy of damaged credit and lives that take years to recover from.
We are going to give you a number of examples of the identity theft AND then we are going to give you a solution that I hope you will follow. Be proactive rather than just think this happens to others and could never happen to you. It can indeed.
From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in congressional testimony:
· A NASA engineer went to his bank where he had banked 11 years for a loan and was refused. He had to use his retirement funds for his son’s education.
· A consumer spent three years trying to repair her damaged credit rating due to identity theft and was unable to purchase a new home.
· A department store clerk whose identity had been assumed by a shoplifter has spent several years seeking employment in the retail industry (unsuccessfully).
These are real examples but if you don’t know the persons yourself might be inclined to dismiss this, don’t – it’s real. In an article we published a few months ago entitled, “Be Careful What You Throw Away” we pointed out that there are people who make a living just going through trash looking for that one “jewel” like your bank account number, credit card number(s), social security number or anything that gives them a leg up to “become you”. They open credit cards using that information; even bank accounts, purchase homes and cars then abscond leaving the victim to sort it all out.
Here are a few more examples:
· Thousands of Social Security numbers posted on Texas state government site.
A security expert discovered that he could very easily find personal data from all tax liens and loan agreement notices filed in the state of Texas before June 2005. When he inquired about this the Secretary of State’s office told him it was the individual citizens responsibility to let them know that they didn’t want their SS number published. How are they supposed to know this?
· It’s almost an everyday occurrence to read of restaurant employee skimming customer’s identities.
Waiters have been caught using hand-held computers to secretly steal personal information. This is known as “skimming”. It has been determined that up to 70% of this type of credit card theft is done by restaurant personnel. Security experts warn that you are in danger every time you hand your credit card to a stranger.
· Thousands of Ohio’s state employees had their bank information stolen.
Just this past summer the news reported that a computer back-up tape was stolen from an intern’s car. This put the state officials in Columbus, Ohio into damage control mode. The tape contained the fund-transfer bank information for almost 30,000 state employees.
· Just a couple of months ago the Arizona Republic where we live reported that they have uncovered a mill cranking out thousands of false identities. Their big fear is with our new law going into effect on January 1 requiring employers to verify SS numbers with the Feds before employment, is the identity thefts will increase allowing these illegal folks to continue to work using your name or mine.
Have I convinced you yet that you are in imminent danger? I hope so because everyone is. The problem is this isn’t like locking a window/door to keep a burglar out. It’s a little more complex than that and yet it isn’t, not really. The solution is as close as your computer – It’s called LifeLock!
LifeLock is a one of a kind. You have heard their advertisement on the radio where their CEO gives his Social Security number and tells who they are and what they can do to protect you. There are several copy cat companies who provide the same service but this is the “ONLY ONE” whose CEO dares to give you his personal Social Security number and also a Million Dollar guarantee if someone steals your identity. No one else gives you that. After we researched this information, both my daughter (my partner) and myself both signed up for this. We were convinced and glad we did.
Enroll with us now don’t put it off. The danger is real. Give yourself a gift of identity security. Do it now!! Visit our site and sign up today. http://www.1-800BadCredit.com
Reference: www.fdic.gov/consumers/privacy/criminalscover
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Topics: Personal Finance | No Comments »
Even the Founder of Lifelock Isn’t Immune to Id Theft
By admin | September 23, 2008
Eric J. Nisall asked:
Back in March, I wrote a post in my blog regarding the increase in identity theft occurrences, questioning the need to pay firms to act as watchdogs when it can be done on your own at little out-of-pocket cost. Well, it appears that you may be better off taking matters into your own hands after the founder of LifeLock has seen his own personal information compromised on numerous occasions.
You know the guy, Todd Davis, who in those television commercials gives out his own personal social security number in an attempt to convince you that his company can protect your information for a fee. Well, as it turns out, he was wrong. In an article posted by USA Today, lawsuits are mounting as details emerge regarding Mr. Davis’ own problems with identity theft.
Without reiterating the entire article and the facts surrounding the issue, I will simply point out that Mr. Davis claims that there are no indications on any of his credit bureau reports of identity theft. However, that point is misleading simply because as anyone knows, new information is not reported to the bureaus, or even posted immediately. It may also be a case of a criminal simply not choosing to attempt to steal Mr. Davis identity at this particular point in time. They may very well be laying in wait for a more opportune time to do so. In either event, simply having his information compromised is the point that I stress. Regardless of whether or not fraud is actually committed, the fact still remains that a paying customer can have their personal, confidential information hijacked.
Now, can the same thing happen without paying a fee to a monitoring service? Absolutely! But, why would you spend even the $10 monthly fee if the result is the same as if you had been monitoring your own credit? Simply put, if you take the information from the guide I wrote about back in March, and visit some of the links to consumer groups I have posted on my main business site for GreenBridge Advisors you can put yourself at a decided advantage over potential identity theives.
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Back in March, I wrote a post in my blog regarding the increase in identity theft occurrences, questioning the need to pay firms to act as watchdogs when it can be done on your own at little out-of-pocket cost. Well, it appears that you may be better off taking matters into your own hands after the founder of LifeLock has seen his own personal information compromised on numerous occasions.
You know the guy, Todd Davis, who in those television commercials gives out his own personal social security number in an attempt to convince you that his company can protect your information for a fee. Well, as it turns out, he was wrong. In an article posted by USA Today, lawsuits are mounting as details emerge regarding Mr. Davis’ own problems with identity theft.
Without reiterating the entire article and the facts surrounding the issue, I will simply point out that Mr. Davis claims that there are no indications on any of his credit bureau reports of identity theft. However, that point is misleading simply because as anyone knows, new information is not reported to the bureaus, or even posted immediately. It may also be a case of a criminal simply not choosing to attempt to steal Mr. Davis identity at this particular point in time. They may very well be laying in wait for a more opportune time to do so. In either event, simply having his information compromised is the point that I stress. Regardless of whether or not fraud is actually committed, the fact still remains that a paying customer can have their personal, confidential information hijacked.
Now, can the same thing happen without paying a fee to a monitoring service? Absolutely! But, why would you spend even the $10 monthly fee if the result is the same as if you had been monitoring your own credit? Simply put, if you take the information from the guide I wrote about back in March, and visit some of the links to consumer groups I have posted on my main business site for GreenBridge Advisors you can put yourself at a decided advantage over potential identity theives.
Create a video blog
Topics: Credit | No Comments »