Identity Theft Blog

Insiders Are Increasingly Becoming Identity Thieves

2008-12-10T01:14:00.000-08:00

By Julie Knubley
Increasingly, insiders (disgruntled employees) who have access to databases in the workplace are committing identity theft. Often they sell victims' personal data to street criminals who use it to commit the crime. While companies are so consumed with protecting customer information, securing employee's sensitive information gets thrown on the backburner. Because of the lack of protection of employee records, they are a prime target for thieves, who may very well work in the cubicle down the hall or right next to you. Worst of all, the thief may be a co-worker you have lunch with.

Employees' stealing from employees is much more common these days. Everyday information collected through job applications, data maintained in personnel files, or used to provide healthcare benefits are more likely to be used by thieves, then information provided by customers when purchasing products and services. This reminds me of how scared people are to give out their credit card numbers and such; when in all reality, it's their fellow co-workers that they should maybe be more frightened by. How does that old saying go? You can't trust anybody!

Once inside a company, identity thieves seem to have a fairly easy time obtaining the right amount of information about employees to rent apartments, buy cars, and apply for credit cards. Oddly enough, these perpetrators do not necessarily have to be in highly trusted management positions in the company to have access to information that may be very sensitive, however, we have all heard and read stories about crooked executives who abused their authority.

One of the most common methods to obtain access to employee data files is to seek employment as a temporary worker. These positions last just long enough to grab the sensitive information they need and disappear. The applicants are unknown to the company and are given access to company systems without the background checks or other controls used in hiring permanent employees. Does this make any sense to you? Basically, this is the same as allowing a complete stranger to stay the night at your house while you're gone! I understand that background checks cost companies money, however, if I were the boss I would much rather pay the fee now, than run the risk of a potential breach.

Disgruntled former employees who leave the company intending to do harm, or current employees with access to data files that are left unsupervised for long periods of time, also pose a severe threat to companies. Even cleaning crews have been found to rummage through desks and trashcans after hours, searching for receipts, bills, and other information. I hold the same feelings towards house keeping at hotels. I never keep anything in my room that could potential cause me harm if obtained by a stranger. Employees at third-party vendors providing services relating to the human resource function also pose a huge threat. A recent survey has found that the risk of confidential data being lost or stolen is 43% higher when it is outsourced rather than held in-house.

Organizations can take several steps to protect the confidentiality of their employees' information, including the following: Conduct background and criminal checks on prospective employees who will have access to personal information, only hire temporary workers that have had background checks, restrict access to personal information to those employees on a need to know basis, keep an eye on temporary workers' activities at all times, provide cross-cutting shredders for employees to dispose of personal, customer, and fellow employee information, use other identification numbers other than Social Security Numbers to identify employees in computer systems and in their health plans, train staff with access to personal information about keeping that information secure and the risk involved when not doing so. It is always a good idea to keep personal information in locked file cabinets and password protected computer files. If at all possible, refrain from giving anyone else access to your file and computer.

Companies can limit the amount of damage done to the potential victim by quickly identifying the breach when it occurs. Alerting those individuals whose information may have been compromised as soon as possible is crucial. Minimizing the losses for both the employee and the organization are the ultimate goal.

Hello, my name is Julie and I am an ID Theft Specialist for SOLUS Identity Theft Protection. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please visit our website at http://www.solusid.com to learn more about Identity Theft and Identity Theft Protection. Check out our blog at http://www.oneidproblog.com to join the discussion. Knowledge is power!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Knubley

Can Credit Monitoring Really Fight Identity Theft?

2008-12-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

By Charles Perez
Protection against identity theft is one of the biggest concerns for consumers today and rightly so, this crime has shown a progressive growth over the last few years, spiking in numbers of cases on holiday seasons. For today's busy consumers, it may be confusing whether to simply buy identity theft insurance or sign up for credit monitoring. Either way people are looking for peace of mind when it comes to the security of their identity. But it's important that you as consumer don't get too comfortable with your decision to opt for either one of these choices until you understand what the service really does.

Credit monitoring is an important piece in the equation of total identity theft protection, which involves this and other aspects. Credit monitoring services may emphasize the importance of protecting against credit fraud, but as mentioned above, identity theft involves more than just your credit or the monitoring of your credit report.

Let's quickly analyze what a credit monitoring service does for you. Companies that offer this service, usually also offer additional services, and often it is your credit card company that offers the service of watching after your credit card transactions in order to detect credit fraud, but they may fail to mention that it is only the credit card you have with them that they're watching after, but still call it credit monitoring. Yes, a savvy marketing trick.

Companies that offer true credit monitoring have the task of monitoring your credit report from all three credit bureaus, although that's not always the case. So it's important that you ask and get a clear answer to whether they monitor all three credit bureaus or only one, how often they monitor your credit, what exactly the monitor and how many times can you request a copy of your report. If there is a limit, any additional requests will cost you extra fees.

So this credit monitoring service will typically cover:

New accounts being opened under your name
Credit inquiries
Address changes
Collections accounts
Negative changes on your credit report
Closed accounts
Credit line increases

It can certainly be very useful to know when some of these activities take place on your credit report, so any additional service that can be included to this list of features at no additional cost would be a plus. But the question remains, Can credit monitoring really fight identity theft? Well that all depends on who you ask, a credit monitoring company may insist that this is what you want if you're looking for identity theft protection.

The correct answer is: "Not if you're looking to cover every aspect of your identity". Our identities are not based on our credit reports alone. When identity theft strikes it isn't always through credit fraud. With the convenience of the internet, there are so many opportunities for identity thieves to get an easy pay day.

To answer the question in a different way, credit monitoring can not stop identity theft, it can only inform you of the illegal activities once they have started so that you can take immediate action. Yes you can certainly minimize the length of the damage by acting quickly, but something has to happen for you to take action.

What's a better option? Since you are considering outsourcing the monitoring of your personal information, then don't dismiss the possibility of becoming a victim of identity theft in other ways, such as medical identity theft, or having utility and phone accounts opened in your name. These are aspects that credit monitoring can not help you with. So instead do some research on what identity theft really is, how it happens and what ways people can be victimized besides credit fraud. You may be shocked to find out how your identity can be used.

The take away message here is for you to take action and become proactive in the protection of your own identity. Once you do your research and assess your own risks then begin your search for a system of total identity theft protection, only then will you have peace of mind.

Need more direction? Visit us at IdLockNetwork.com to download a Free Identity Theft Prevention Guide. If you need to start protecting your identity now, review our top Identity Theft Protection Services providers and begin automating the process to protect your identity today. Please take some time to study the content at IdLockNetwork.com and send us your feedback and questions. Remember that only you are responsible for your information, no one else can take proactive steps to secure it like you can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Perez

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Identity Theft

2008-12-06T01:10:00.000-08:00

By John Rasor
You may not know that you are a victim until you are denied a loan, credit card or anything else the requires a credit report. Suddenly you discover someone has opened accounts in your name and of course not paid them. What could you have done?

BUY A SHREDDER You can find a small easy to store shredder for less that $20 at almost any office supply store. There is no reason not to have one of these. Any document that includes personal information or your Social Security number should be shredded before you throw it away. Believe it or not there are folks out there that are regular dumpster divers. Shredding your documents makes it impossible for thieves to steal your account numbers.

KEEP YOUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS HIDDEN AND SECURE You would think that most people are perfectly trustworthy but some are not. Is it possible that an appliance repair man, handy man or even a guest in your home could access your personal financial documents? Not if they are under lock and key!

PROTECT OUTGOING MAIL Think of everything that goes in your mail. Checks give potential thieves your name, bank account number and routing number. Credit card account numbers are listed on the very coupons they mail each month to send your payments in. You do not want this stuff to get in the wrong hands. If you haven't graduated to the great convenience of on line bill paying you should consider dropping off your bills at the nearest post office rather than leaving it out in your mail box where anyone can get it. Make sure your online bill pay offers encryption and other security measures to keep your transactions safe from criminals.

BE CAUTIOUS OF SOLICITORS Don't give out your credit card number, Social Security number, or any sensitive financial information by email and don't do it by phone unless you initiated the contact. Make sure you trust the business before divulging any information.
OPT OUT OF CREDIT CARD AND JUNK MAIL SOLICITATIONS The three major credit bureaus have a toll free number (888-5OPT-OUT) that allows you to take your name off marketing lists that are sold to credit card companies. Registering will not eliminate all credit card solicitations, but will cut down the volume quite a bit. The less offers you get in the mail means less chances thieves will have to steal them. There was a reported 10 million cases of identity theft last year alone. Don't let it happen to you. Reduce your exposure by following these simple tips.

http://www.creditscorecowboy.com

CreditScoreCowboy.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score reports, Identity theft protection software, and a BLOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rasor

Are You an Ongoing Victim of Identity Theft?

2008-12-04T01:09:00.000-08:00

By Darren Cason
A person that becomes a victim of identity theft is a victim for life. This is because no matter how often the law reassures you that they are trying to fix the problem, they are lying. I was a victim of identity theft. The second time this occurred, I reported the problem to the police. Their reaction was to ask a few questions and give me a report number - no further action was taken. So I reported both this and the crime to the Federal Trade Commission (this was in 2000), but I am still waiting for a response - and the perpetrator is still committing the crimes!
When I informed the credit bureaus of my dilemma, they made no attempt to remove the charges. They simply put a comment on my records to the effect that it was "resolved". I am aware of other people who have faired far worse, some of whom have been summoned to court to answer for debts that they could not possibly have incurred. These people lived on the opposite side of the world to where the perpetrator was committing the offenses. How outrageous is it that the victims of crime have to suffer again and again because so few who could make a difference decide to act.

It is the case that with most instances of identity theft that is not involving a company, but rather an individual, they will receive little or no assistance at all. These individuals are denied credit because of the ramifications of the identity theft and are often placed in financial hardship. Some states place a "freeze" on credit reports. This should be the case in all states as it prevents anyone except the rightful owner of the credit to review the reports. The majority of states will place "fraud alerts" for up to three months on a credit report, but this achieves little - nothing is removed from the report. It can actually give the wrong impression.

It appears then, that it is our responsibility to protect ourselves from identity theft. Thieves are finding it increasingly easy, with the advancements in technology, to "steal" a person's identity. Government data bases are protected by sophisticated "firewalls", but still this is not enough to prevent thieves from hacking into accounts.

The newer credit cards available have microchips in them. These are supposed to prevent identity thieves from using them. This is not the case, as most identity thieves are already aware of the technology behind the chip and are able to bypass it.

The biggest and most "convenient" place for an identity thief to work is the world wide web. Even with firewalls and anti-hacker programs, anti-virus software and spy detectors, it is still not entirely safe to use the Internet. In 2004, an estimated eleven million people fell prey to identity theft, most of which were through the Internet.

It is the case that some cases of identity theft were perpetrated by friends, neighbors, family members or colleagues. One such case involved a couple, who moved from England to the States. When they arrived, they discovered that their identity had been "stolen" and they were left to answer a summons for debts they did not incur.

Some creditors and financial lenders will go so far as to accuse a victim of identity theft of fabricating the story to avoid paying debts or to avoid any poor credit rating, even when it has been proven that they were not responsible.

You can't always get what you want but you can find what you need on the subject of increase credit rating. Today you too can gain from our years of experience, visit debtjerk.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Cason

Identity Theft and You

2008-12-02T01:06:00.000-08:00

By Joseph Devine
In the digital age, our personal lives and information are exposed in ways never before seen.
When you search the internet, advertisements become personalized for things in your area or things you like. You use your credit card for purchases over the internet and in stores, and often times you do not need to sign anything for your purchase. Our banks are online, our house, our children's accomplishments, pictures of our families-in short, everything. Why is this bad? Well, with the added convenience of having everything at our fingertips comes the risk of the unfortunately common crime of identity theft.

Identity Theft

There are four main ways in which thieves can steal your identity:

· Stealing information for your bills-If you throw out your bills in the trash make sure you shred them so none of your personal information can be stolen

· Storing your credit card information on websites-if you have an account with a website where you often purchase something from, they will often save your credit card information for future use, but these sites are not very secure and can be easily broken into, exposing your credit card information

· Spam email-if you get information from someone you do not know, it is usually spam. Giving personal information to spammers is a very dangerous action, one that should be avoided, as often times spammers will sell your information to identity thieves

· General Theft-you should always keep a copy of all your identification and credit cards so that if your wallet is stolen you have all the phone numbers and credit card numbers at your finger tips to cancel everything immediately and lessen the damage a thief can caus

Often times the only way to figure out if someone is using your identity is to get an annual credit report to make sure things are right. The Federal Trade Commission believes that over 8 million people a year are a victim of identity left.

Need More Information?

If you would like more information on identity theft visit www.attorneysandlawyers4you.com
Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Protecting Your Child's Identity - Theft Begins at Birth

2008-11-30T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Gary Grant

Think your child is too young to become a victim of identity theft?

Think again.

Identity theft can happen to your child the minute they are given a social security number. No matter what your child’s age, criminals can take their social security number and do quite a bit of damage to their credit and reputation.

Most parents use their child’s social security number for numerous important reasons, for example, medical insurance and tax returns.But think twice before giving out their social security number for sport sign-ups and other activities that casually ask for this ever-so-important number.

When a criminal gets a hold of your child’s social security number, they can rack up credit and a criminal report for your innocent son or daughter.And most of the time, this activity goes unnoticed because until these children become adults and apply for loans, colleges, and jobs, they don’t know anything has happened to their reputation until then.Which is why it’s a great idea to obtain an annual credit report for your child—yes, even though Bobby might be four, he may have a credit record of a 55 year old man.Your child’s credit report should come back not on file if this is not the case then someone is using their name and identity.

There are so many ways a criminal can use your child’s identity.Not only is there financial identity theft (using their information to obtain credit cards or bank loans and racking up the charges), there is criminal identity theft (where the criminal gives your child’s information as their own) and identity cloning (where your child’s information is sold on the black market to numerous people).

Your responsibility as a parent is to be sure your child is safe from identity theft and to help keep them from becoming a victim.It is better to be proactive about your child’s identity than to wait until it happens and perform “damage control.”Ordering his or her free credit report is essential.You can do it at freeannualcreditreport.com don’t use the free credit report websites run by the credit bureaus as they are only free trials. Another option is to consider using an identity protection service like Lifelock, TrustedID and LoudSiren. Identity protection services available on the web, can help protect your child from the growing crime of identity theft.

Gary P Grant is an identity theft expert who enjoys contributing articles to various websites and venues that share his passion for public education in regards to identity theft and identity theft protection. For more information on visit Identity Theft.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Grant

Financial Crisis and Holiday Season May Increase Identity Theft

2008-11-28T01:04:00.000-08:00

By Jason Shafer
This year with the combination of financial crisis and holiday pressures identity theft is likely to increase. Identity theft impacts more than 8 million Americans each year, costing them thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to resolve. Although identity theft can never be fully prevented there are some steps to greatly reduce your risks.

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

Check your account balances and activity regularly; monitor your billing cycles for missing bills or statements.

Use email-based account "alerts" to monitor transfers, payments, low balances, withdrawals and review your credit report.

Protect your Social Security number; give your number only when absolutely necessary and ask to use other types of identifiers instead.

Treat your trash and mail carefully; shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements.

Be on guard when using the Internet, as it can leave you vulnerable to online scammers, identity thieves and more.

Select intricate passwords; avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name or your birth date. Combinations of letters, numbers and special characters make the strongest passwords.

Verify a source before sharing information; don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact. Ask for a call back number and search online for overseas banking information.

Store information in secure locations at home and the office, especially if you employ outside help or are having work done in your house.

Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.

Jason Shafer is an ID Theft Specialist with SOLUS Identity Theft Protection. Your identity is your most valuable asset. To learn more about identity theft and identity theft protection please visit http://www.solusid.com Read more by visiting our blog at http://www.oneidproblog.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Shafer

How to Stop Identity Theft Before it Destroys Your Finances

2008-11-26T01:03:00.000-08:00

By Marte Cliff

My friend was beside herself when she called. She said "I have not been visiting porn sites - honest! But the bank won't remove those debits from my account, and now I'm overdrawn and the checks I wrote are bouncing! This is a nightmare and I don't know what to do!"
She was distraught - and with good reason. Her identity had been stolen, and the thief had been having a good time. In her case, she felt that her personal reputation was being destroyed along with her finances. Her thief had been paying for access to sites that gave her a label she definitely didn't appreciate.

Her first call to the bank led her to believe that they would reverse those debits, remove the overdraft charges, and honor the checks she had written. But it didn't happen, and later phone calls informed her that she would be responsible for the debits.

What should she have done?

Instead of just calling the bank to dispute the debits, she should have immediately filed a police report, and then using the information from the police report, filed a notice with the credit bureaus, alerting them to her status as a victim of identity theft.

Legally reporting such an incident gives it the credibility the bank needs in order to reverse the debits and remove the overdraft status. Having her police report in hand, she'd have gotten far more cooperation from bank officials than she got by saying "I don't visit porn sites!"

She should also have canceled her bank account and credit card numbers - getting new ones with different account numbers. Since she tried to solve the problem at the bank level, her thief had an extra 2 or 3 weeks to do his damage.

Next she needed to find out if the thief had stolen more than just her bank account. If he had gotten the numbers from her debit card, he could well have all of her credit card numbers plus the information from her driver's license.

And he had. He was using her credit cards at gas stations and had already tried to open a new account, using her name and social security number, with a new address. He'd have succeeded if he hadn't overdrawn her bank account, putting a big "black mark" on her credit report.

After several months, my friend got her finances straightened out, but she could have avoided a lot of trouble if she'd taken 2 simple preventative steps:

Kept a close watch on her checking account - it's easy to go on line every few days and check to see that the transactions really are yours. And she should have balanced the statement each time it arrived.

Kept a watch on her credit cards - that's also a simple matter of going to the site and looking at the transactions since your last statement. Of course, she should balance the statement each month and check up on any transactions she doesn't recognize.

Identity theft is big business now - so it pays to take precautions!

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter and former Realtor. After helping hundreds of customers obtain home loans over the years, she fully understands the importance of protecting and building credit.

The recent surge in identity theft led her to research the subject and learn ways that consumers can protect themselves. Her new website: http://www.allcreditscoresnow.com offers articles and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marte_Cliff

What to Do If Your Wallet Or Purse is Stolen

2008-11-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Gary Grant

It happened to my wife. A few years ago, she had her purse hanging on the back of her chair at a restaurant, and when she went to pay the bill, it wasn’t there anymore. Someone took it.

No one saw who took it. And it had her entire life in it—checkbook, credit cards, license, Blackberry, cellphone, and all sorts of business cards and receipts with personal information. Luckily, per my earlier request, she did not carry her Social Security number.

Little did she know the work that she and I would have to do to protect her identity from this criminal. With access to all that personal information, this criminal could of had a hay-day if we did not know what to do.

Here is what to do if your purse is stolen
• Call all credit card and debit card issuers
• Call the local police and open a police report for your missing property
• Call the three major credit reporting agencies and freeze your accounts
• Contact your bank’s fraud department and discuss options for protecting your account
• Check your credit reports – a lot – and watch for suspicious activity
• Report your missing driver’s license to the DMV
• Replace the locks on your house and your car if your keys have been stolen
• Write down everything that you had in your wallet, even makeup.
• Consider enrolling with an identity theft protection company
Of course, there are numerous other things you can do to protect yourself and save some steps in the event this ever happens.
• Make copies of the front and back of all your cards in your wallet and purse on a regular basis. This ensures that you have the numbers readily available and the phone numbers to call if the cards are ever stolen.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report. That way, if anyone tries to open credit cards or bank loans under your name, you will be contacted for verification.
• Never keep social security numbers or copies of birth certificates with you. Lock them in a safe and keep those at home.
• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended in a public place.

These may all seem like obvious steps to take to protect your identity, but you’d be surprised at how many people fail to follow these simple instructions. Don’t be one of them—stay on top of your identity and protect it at all times. The damage that can be done takes longer to fix than preventing the activity in the first place.

Gary P Grant is an identity theft expert who enjoys contributing articles to various websites and venues that share his passion for public education in regards to identity theft and identity theft protection. Go here for more information if you end of with a Stolen Wallet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Grant

Identity Theft Lawyers - What to Look For in an Identity Theft Lawyer

2008-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Caleb Liu
In 1998 the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act was implemented in the United States to give citizens legal protection due to such circumstances. As a result many lawyer's now specialize in the area of identity theft. Almost 10 million people have fallen victim to such scams so having an expert in the area on your side is very important.

It can take years to get all of the issues with identity theft resolved and most people don't know the course of action to take. A lawyer can take care of all the details for you. Legally identity theft is classified as the theft of personal information including credit cards, driver's license, social security cards, and account numbers.

Internet identity theft is rampant because it is much harder for law enforcement to track down those responsible. Even though being found guilty of identity theft can result in a 25 year jail term it does little to deter criminals from engaging in such behavior. Even with the help of a good identity theft lawyer there isn't a high percentage of people caught for their part in identity theft crimes.

These criminals are smart and they know how to hide themselves and the funds or items they have stolen. Many of them have experience with computer hacking. They know how to break into the database of a bank or other entity even though so major security programs are in place.
As a result they continue to rob people of their money, their possessions, and their own safety. It is generally the victims that feel like they are serving a criminal sentence as may areas of their life have been ruined. Lawyers give them hope that they can rebuilt their credit and become financial secure once again. Emotionally though being a victim of identity theft is very difficult to work through.

You may find you have to struggle to prove you are a responsible and reliable individual after being the victim of identity theft. A good identity theft lawyer can help you with this as well. It isn't going to be cheap to work with such a professional but it is going to be well worth the results.

It is unbelievable but some people have lost their job or their home due to being the victim of identity theft. Do everything you can to keep your personal information protected. Shred all materials that have any type of personal information on them before you place them in the trash. You also want to make sure any online sites you visit are secure.

If you found this information on Identity Theft Lawyers useful, you'll also want to read about Identity Theft Shield.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caleb_Liu

Identity Theft Protection - You Are Not Doing Enough

2008-11-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Jon Arnold
Unless you have been living under a rock or in a cave in recent years, you are probably aware that identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of this century. That said, it is truly both amazing and alarming that more people are not using methods and practices that can provide them with identity theft protection these days.

Some of those people probably think that it cannot happen to them because they very rarely if ever shop online or purchase anything online. But here is a news alert for you: identity theft is not limited to people that shop or purchase online. In fact, recent studies show that online activity really does not have a lot to do with the instance of identity theft.

In other words, if you are not taking steps to prevent identity theft from happening to you and having YOU become the next victim of it, the question is not one of "if" you will be a victim, but rather a question of "when".

You need to understand how identity theft occurs so that you can protect yourself. You probably get offers in the mail several times a week, perhaps even daily. These offers are for low interest credit cards, specials on things where you have purchased from this company in the past, and virtually anything else. The US postal service is great for delivering these messages directly into your hands since there is not (yet) a spam filter for catching mail delivered by the postal system, so these companies know that at some point, you will at least have to TOUCH the junk mail they sent you, even if it is just to grab it and throw it away.

There is your first mistake. That piece of junk mail that you just threw in the trash could be the "keys to the kingdom" for some dumpster-diving identity thief. Think about it, that piece of junk mail has your name, your address and what else? Does it have your account number from the last purchase you made with this company? Does it display your driver license number? Maybe your social security number? If it is from your bank, does it display your account number?

Often times, this is more than enough information for someone to grab your identity, open some accounts in your name and start charging merchandise to the hilt. The credit industry is in tough shape these days, but at the same time it is still a very competitive industry, and adequate checks are frequently not performed to ensure that a new account really does belong to you, since these companies are so anxious to get new customers on board with them. And that lack of adequate checks translates into opportunities for people who are using inadequate identify theft protection measures.

Recently a study was performed in the midwest to go to the dump and go through some trash there. In less than two hours of trash-sifting, no less than two dozen papers were found with consumer names, addresses, and enough other information to have opened new accounts in the names of those people. If the results of that study do not open your eyes to the potential problems here, you are just not paying attention.

Identity theft protection is not just something that should be used by the rich and famous, but is something that everyone should use. Some say that it is a sad day when you cannot even safely throw something in the trash. Perhaps, but it is a much sadder day if you find out that you have been a victim of identity theft.

For more insights and additional information about Identity Theft Protection as well as finding many resources available to help you stop and prevent identity theft from happening to you, please visit our web site at http://www.idtheftprotectiontips.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Arnold

Protect Yourself From Phishing Email Scams

2008-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

By Caden Flynn

Today, threats of identify theft come in many forms. It is important that you learn how to recognize these fraudulent emails, to protect yourself from identity theft. Personally, I delete all emails sent from people I do not recognize.

Most fraudulent emails pretend to come from banks or other institutions that you would ordinarily trust. They use this trust in an attempt to get you to give up your personal information. Most of these emails tell you that the bank has "reviewed your account", and that you need to confirm your information. Ironically, many such emails tell you that giving them your personal information will help protect your account from identity theft.

These emails will tell you to click a link in the email, which appears to lead to your bank site. The email will likely tell you not to reply to the email, but that the best response is to click the link and "log in" to your account. There, you will be directed to enter your login information, and probably other financial details as well. Commonly requested information in phishing email schemes include bank routing numbers, account numbers, PIN numbers and passwords, and Social Security numbers. You should not give these numbers out online, even if you believe the request to be legitimate. Banks and other financial institutions will never send you emails requesting this information.

However, these links do not direct you to your real bank's website, but a site that has been created to look just like it. Both the email and the website are made to look legitimate, but they are not. If in doubt about the legitimacy of an email, go directly to your bank's site. DO NOT click on the link in the email; type in the real website address directly. Any legitimate concerns with your account can be found on the real website.

If you cannot tell if an email is legitimate, here are some tips. Phishing emails will be directed to "valued customer" or another generic greeting, while real emails use your name. These emails often have grammatical errors or misspelled words, another tip-off that you are reading a scam email.

If you accidentally respond to one of these phishing emails, you need to contact all of your account providers immediately. Change your passwords and PIN numbers, and keep a close eye on activity in your account. If you are a victim of such a scheme, do not feel guilty or ashamed. Identity theft is a relatively new threat, and it is easy to fall for such a scheme.

Variations of scam emails include those claiming that you have won money, and need to respond with your information to claim it. These emails should be deleted immediately as well for your personal protection. Never respond unless you know who sent the email. If in doubt, contact that person or company directly to find out if the email is legitimate. Never trust links in the email to take you to a legitimate site, as the vast majority will not.

Report any spam emails you receive by clicking the "report spam" link in your email inbox. This will help them devise more ways to keep these emails from ever reaching your inbox in the first place.

Ready, Set, Learn more on the topic of protection from identity theft. It's time for a better insight on debtjerk.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caden_Flynn

5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

2008-11-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

By Ryan Franklin

Over the past five years 27 million United States citizens have become victims of identity theft. That means that nearly 10% of the total population has been a victim of this crime. An identity thief can strike anyone at anytime. If you think it could never happen to you then you are exactly the type of mark these criminals are looking for.

With all the new technologies available it is incredibly easy for someone to get your information, if they want it. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent identity theft.

Prevent Identity Theft by Protecting Your Trash

While most people are concerned about protecting their information from the high tech identity thieves, there are still many that practice the technique called "dumpster diving". If you just throw away important statements and documents you might as well be handing the criminals your ID on a silver platter.

You should invest in a high quality crosscut shredder. Put every document that has even the smallest bit of personal information through your shredder before you trash it. This includes bank and credit card statements, old bills, credit card offers, and ATM receipts, and even simply documents with your address on them.

Prevent Identity Theft by Protecting Your Mail

Many people go out of their way to shred their mail, but they do not even think about someone stealing their identity from the mail in their mail box! Stolen mail is one of the main ways that criminals can get your information. If you leave important documents in your outgoing mail, they can simply open up your box and take it. The criminal will surely thank you for not making them go through your trash to get that info.

When you are mailing out important information (such as bills or applications) drop them off at the post office, instead of leaving them in your mail box before you go to work. That little red flag you put up tells any crook that there is something good inside. When you go out of town have your mail stopped, and never leave mail in your mailbox overnight.

Prevent Identity Theft by Protecting Your Computer

This is the area people worry about the most. We hear a lot about how easy it is for hackers to steal all our information, and how it is unsafe to use credit cards online. The truth is, the internet is probably the safest place for your information if you apply the proper precautions.

I feel safer using my credit card online than I do in the store. Reputable online stores provide secured check out pages that encrypt your personal information. Also, unlike using your card in person there isn't anyone looking at your card (or making a physical copy) that you need to worry about.

Every computer connected to the internet needs to have a high quality internet security system. These programs are constantly updated and do a good job of protecting you from anyone trying to make an assault on your information. Do not skimp on this purchase and make sure you program is constantly update.

Prevent Identity Theft by Protecting Your Information

If you are quick to give away your private information then none of these other tips will matter. Keep your private information a secret unless it is absolute necessary to give it out. Fake phone surveys are an easy way for a thief to easily get you to hand over private info.

If you get a letter or email that looks to be from your bank, asking to give someone a password or other information always be skeptical. Many crooks will doctor up documents or websites that look official, just to steal your information. It is always better to be too cautious than too loose with your private information.

Prevent Identity Theft With Identity Insurance

While all the above tips are a great start for stopping an identity thief, the truth is it might not be enough to stop a determined criminal. The thieves are getting smarter everyday, and law enforcement is still 10 years behind in protecting you from this crime. Some companies have seen the need for this sort of protection, and have gotten into the identity insurance business.

For only the price of a movie ticket each month you can be sure that your good name will be safe. This protection is even backed by a $1,000,000 guarantee. If you would like to sleep easy at night knowing you and your family are safe from identity theft just Click Here>> Identity Insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Franklin

How to Protect Your College Student From Becoming an Identity Theft Victim

2008-11-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

By Julie Knubley

According to various studies, including the FTC complaint study, the 18-29 year old age bracket continues to account for almost 30% of all identity theft complaints. Nowadays, it's not enough to send your college freshman to school with a laptop, cell phone, books and clean clothes. A cross-cut shredder and a locking box large enough to hold a laptop, loaded with current computer security software, are equally important. Think about all of the sensitive and important information on our laptops these days. Losing a laptop is just as devastating as losing your cell phone. I remember when I was in school I kept everything on my laptop and I knew if it were ever stolen or got lost I would have a serious issue. These protective measures are critical steps in protecting your teen's belongings and personal identifying information. It is also imperative to talk to them about identity theft, scams and other rip-offs they might encounter while living on their own for the first time. The first credit card offer I received was in college. I wish my parents had warned me because I gladly accepted it and got into a little bit of trouble, mostly because I was uneducated about identity theft at the time. My parents ended up bailing me out and never did catch the thief who used my information for a credit card of their own. Let's just say someone got a semester's worth of school books for free, on my dime!

The Identity Theft Resource Center offers these tips for college students of all ages:

Keep your Social Security Card and number in a locked safe place. Do not carry it with you. Don't share it with anyone without knowing why they need it. Most schools now use a student identification number instead of the SSN. Make sure to always ask why that person needs your SSN and inquire if you can use another form of identification for the time being.

Store your laptop in a locking security box when you are not in the room when you do not have it with you. Make sure not to leave it somewhere where you can't visible see it at all times. I would even deter from allowing people to borrow your laptop out of your site.

Use your home address as the permanent mailing address rather than a temporary address used while in school. This will lessen the complications of multiple addresses. Dorm and apartment mailboxes are not always locked and are easily accessible by people who do not have your best interest in mind. Keep in mind that mail theft is the most common form of identity theft.

Obtain and use a credit card and NOT a debit card. Credit cards may be pre-paid or have a low limit, if you so choose. Debit cards are targets for identity thieves. Check your monthly statements as they come in and look for unexplained expenses.

Never supply a phone, in your name, to someone else, i.e. a friend or roommate. The reason they cannot get a phone is probably because they have bad credit to start in the first place. The chances of being paid back are slim.

Never loan credit or debit card to a friend. Again, the reason they cannot get a card is probably because they have bad credit. Co-signing for any cell phone, utility account, car loan or credit card puts you at major, unwarranted risk. Steer clear of this please. It normally always backfires.

Never loan your driver's license or identification card to anyone. They could use it as an ID card when stopped by the police and you will be listed as the offender.

Once you have established credit, check your free credit reports annually. If you have never established credit, you will be told there is no report. If there is a report, check it out and make sure that none of the information is a result of fraudulent activity.

Parents: Talk with your college-bound student about blogging, scams, and tricks con artists use to get Social Security numbers, bank account or credit account numbers and other private information including date and county of birth. Identity thieves could use this information to create a new identity or steal using the information given to them.

I would also highly recommend signing up for an identity theft protection program before you go away to school. One that has 24/7 credit monitoring, unlimited access to your credit report, an expense reimbursement and a full comprehensive restoration feature. Make sure that the company will do all of the work on your behalf in the event you do become a victim.

"All parents with teens or college-bound young adults need to make sure that their teens understand identity theft," encourages Rex Davis, ITRC Operations Director and a parent of two. "I sent my kids to college to help them with their futures. I would be remiss if I failed to educate them about the fastest growing crime today. A college degree doesn't mean much if an identity thief has put your child's credit score in the garbage and affected their ability to get credit or a job."

Hello, my name is Julie and I am an ID Theft Specialist for SOLUS Identity Theft Protection. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please visit our website at http://www.solusid.com to learn more about Identity Theft and Identity Theft Protection. Check out our blog at http://www.oneidproblog.com to join the discussion. Knowledge is power!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Knubley

Identity Theft Protection is it Worth It?

2008-11-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

By Ryan Franklin

You have probably seen the commercial where the CEO of the identity theft protection service LifeLock drives a giant truck around New York City with his real social security number on the side. He then dares people to try to steal his identity, which has been protected by his company's service.

It is a great show of confidence in his product, and many people have used it to successfully protect their identity. The question is; even if we know the identity theft protections works, is it worth it?

In 2007 nearly 10 million US citizens were the victim of identity theft, and this crime cost those victims almost $5 Billion in damages. This is higher than both home invasion and robberies combined.

The average victim spends around 600 hours to clear their name, and it can take years before your credit is restored to where it should be. In some severe cases criminals give your name out during an arrest. When they skip out on bail the police show up at your door to arrest you for a crime you did not commit.

Nobody questions purchasing health, dental, or car insurance and these are all a lot more expensive than identity theft protection. Most people do not think of protecting their identity, because we have never been told how important it really is.

Your credit score is extremely important for your future. Just imagine finding your dream home only to discover that your loan has been denied because someone stole your identity. Just imagine going through a rough patch financially, only to realize that you owe the credit card companies and addition $10,000 for loans someone else too out in your name.

The consequences of identity theft can be devastating for anyone. So if you are asking "Identity theft protection is it worth it" the answer is clearly YES.

If you are ready to protect yourself and your family from this devastating crime just click here to learn more about Identity Insurance

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Franklin

Identity Protection Services - Who is Who?

2008-11-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

By Gary Grant

But there are so many companies out there—who is more reputable? Who has the most benefits? Here is a quick breakdown of some of the best identity protection services.

Lifelock

You probably have seen the commercial—the CEO of Lifelock shows his actual social security number for the world to see. Why would someone do this? It’s because he has just that much faith in his service.

Lifelock will help protect your name and reputation. This is one of the more well-known identity protection services that not only watches for new opened accounts, but can help monitor your credit, debit and social security numbers for suspicious activity.

Lifelock is so certain that they will protect your good name, they offer identity theft insurance of one million dollars, guaranteed by XL Capital. So if the service fails at protecting you, their insurance will cover you as backup. For about $100 a year, it’s a small price to pay for continual protection.

LoudSiren

If you’re looking at protecting your credit report from new, unauthorized activity, LoudSiren may be the company for you. LoudSiren does not monitor your current credit, but keeps an eye out for suspicious activity that occurs after utilizing their services. Even so, they still offer free annual credit reports for you to peruse your past credit history.

What makes them unique is their special “LoudSiren Safe Phone Number.” This is a special number given to you and placed on your credit report, and this is the number creditors will use to contact you for verification. This number forwards over to your home or cell, and notifies you of the new activity. You can either accept or deny the activity, and even immediately send the fraudulent activity over to the local authorities to open a police report.

In addition, they offer a $25,000 insurance on their services, backed by AIG.

This service runs less than $10 a month.

Trusted ID

Trusted ID is very similar to LifeLock, with a fraud alert doing the upfront protection, although Lifelock does offer additional services such as ID replacement and Address Verification. Both monitor the internet and black market for your personal data, as well as your credit card activity. In addition, you can have your child registered for protection as well—yes, children can be victims too! They, too, have a million dollar insurance backed by AIG.

Identity Guard

If monitoring your current credit is high on your priority list, Identity Guard may be the service for you. Unlike the other services, Identity Guard does not place a fraud alert on your account, but they do watch your current credit scores and reports. They also have some of the most effective internet scanning programs. This service runs a little more than the others at about $15 a month, but offers the best in credit monitoring.

Gary P Grant is an identity theft expert who enjoys contributing articles to various websites and venues that share his passion for public education in regards to identity theft and identity theft protection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Grant

Identity Theft Protection That Works

2008-11-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

By Tyler Previd

In the age of computers, identity theft has become a huge problem. Identity theft is when a person or persons obtain your personal data without your consent most often for nefarious purposes. Identity theft is a federal crime whether the information is stolen out right or the information is obtained by fraudulent means.

Even though it is a crime, it can often be difficult to catch or prosecute the perpetrators. It can wreak havoc on your life both personally and financially. Because of this, it is imperative that practice vigilant identity theft protection.

There are several steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Following are some examples to help in identity theft prevention:

• Only give out personal information on a MUST need to know basis. There are instances where you will need to give out personal information for business and personal transactions, but if the person asking is legitimate they will not at all mind explaining who they are and exactly why they must have this information.

• Don't open new accounts or services over the phone. Any reputable business will appreciate that you wish to protect your identity at all costs and will be happy to mail you a paper application.

• Check with the Better Business Bureau before giving information to an unfamiliar source. The BBB will have information on compliments and complaints about the business. Be wary of companies who have no information on file.

• Have your mail held at the post office or picked up daily by a friend or family member if you plan to be out of town. Many criminals are waiting to pick the mailboxes for personal information if they see you aren't home for an extended period of time.

• Purchase a quality identity theft prevention protection plan. These programs come with all kinds of helpful tools to protect your identity as well as insurance to cover you should all your best efforts fail.

Identity Theft Protection is incredibly important to a safe and secure financial path.

Discover the top 3 identity theft protection plans at http://BestIdentityTheftReviews.com.

Tyler Previd is a identity theft victim and now has a passion for protecting people from this crime. He has researched this topic extensively and now enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others on the internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Previd

Why Social Networking Sites Are Playgrounds For Identity Thieves

2008-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

By Julie Knubley

Millions of young people have made themselves vulnerable to identity theft as well as putting their professional prospects at risk by carelessly posting personal information on the Internet. Social networking is growing in popularity, however a recent study indicates that users of social networking websites engage in risky behavior, potentially putting themselves at risks to hackers and identity thieves. It's all fun and games until someone becomes a victim-then the nightmare begins.

Below are two very popular networking sites that the younger generation particularly enjoys visiting and their risk involved.

Facebook - Users generally have to be friends to access each others' profile pages, which increases privacy but lulls people into a false sense of security and does not protect users who accept friends whether they know them or not. Of particular concern is the wealth of personal information: 82% of Facebook users list their birth date, a security question often used by banks.
MySpace - Users tend to leave fewer personal details on their pages than Facebook but a much greater proportion of profile pages are accessible to everyone and users often let slip private details such as phone numbers or event addresses on profile walls. Because of its younger demographic, all pages registered to users under the age of 16 are private - but many young users choose to circumvent this by entering a false age. The flexibility of MySpace has been repeatedly exploited by rogue Internet users, including one who managed to redirect users to a site espousing conspiracy theories over the terror attacks of 11 September 2001. The site was hit by a string of security alerts and a bug within the past few years.

By impersonating a highly-reputable person, an attacker might gain access to that person's social network, business contacts and private life. Spammers might launch highly personalized campaigns. And sexual predators could use their victims' friend lists to find more people to harass. So please let's not lose sight of the fact that adults too visit these networking sites. Some use them to keep in touch with friends and family, while others see it more as a means to contact new potential clients. Adults who use social networking sites may be putting themselves and their businesses at risk as well. Almost half of the people who have computer access engage in social networking at the office, potentially making the workplace vulnerable to online security threats. I do know of a lot of companies that have restricted sites such as MySpace for this very reason. If I were the boss I wouldn't appreciate the fact that you were on my dollar surfing the net and potentially causing serious damage to the company. Try explaining that data breach to your boss! YIKES!

Social networking sites are popular among cyber crooks because a reliable social context improves the results of phishing attacks. The University of Indiana carried out a controlled phishing attack in 2005, targeting students who left contact data on social networking websites. The results showed that when users were contacted by someone they believed might know them; they were far more likely to provide personal details. Women were more vulnerable than men, and the success of the attacks improved when the phisher was a member of the opposite sex

Users of social-networking sites may already be linked to a cyber thief, according to Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos, an Internet security firm: "The idea of six degrees of separation works on social networking sites as well. You're probably only six clicks from a criminal, and you're probably already linked to a cyber crook."

I have a younger sister who uses MySpace and she had ALL of her personal information on her profile, without realizing the damage that could be done. Unless you're up to date with identity theft, I'm not sure it would really cross your mind not to post your birth date, I mean, after all, that's how you receive all of those wonderful birthday wishes from people you haven't talked to in years! Let's just say the only piece of personal info on her profile now is her first name.

According to social networks analyst Clay Shirky, identity spoofing is possibly the greatest threat to social discovery networks. "When your reputation is valuable, it becomes worth exploiting. It makes a stolen identity a more valuable commodity."

Protecting yourself, as much as you can, from the fastest growing crime in America appears to be more of a need, than a want. Wouldn't you agree?

Hello, my name is Julie and I am an ID Theft Specialist for SOLUS Identity Theft Protection. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please visit our website at http://www.solusid.com to learn more about Identity Theft and Identity Theft Protection. Check out our blog at http://www.oneidproblog.com to join the discussion. Knowledge is power!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Knubley

Lifelock CEO Hacked - Does Lifelock Really Work?

2008-10-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

By Sarah Russell

You may have heard about Lifelock on television or read about it in magazines. It's a company run by Todd Davis, and it guarantees you absolute protection from identity theft. In fact, Davis is so confident in Lifelock that he actually gives out his social security number to anyone who asks. But does Lifelock really work? And what does it say about the company Todd Davis himself was a victim of identity theft?

For ten dollars a month, Lifelock promises to provide you with one million dollars to help you deal with securing your identity if your identity is stolen while you're a member. Lifelock will also contact various creditors and set up confirmation alerts. By flagging your name, creditors will be required to call you and confirm your identity every time you open a new line of credit. These alerts only last 90 days; however, Lifelock will renew them when they expire.

Lifelock also reduces the amount of junk mail and credit card offers that you receive in the mail. In a way, Lifelock is identity theft insurance. For $120 a month, you've got a company waiting to assist you with identity theft plus take care of junk mail. Not bad.

But does Lifelock work, and is it worth paying for? Well, yes and no. One of the ways Lifelock protects you is that they send you three credit reports a year. However, you can request credit reports for free from several companies. Likewise, it's not that difficult to have yourself removed from mailing lists and credit card offers or set up credit alerts. What you're paying for, then, is the convenience of having someone else remove your name from these lists, send you credit reports, set up the credit alerts, and assist you with handling any issues of identity theft. You're really paying for that $1 million in theft insurance and for Lifelock to do all the work.

But what about Todd Davis and the stories about his identity being stolen? Well, it is true that someone used his social security number to get a $500 loan from a check cashing company. However, the company did nothing to verify the person's identity. According to Lifelock, the cashier didn't even ask for a photo ID. While it's true you can do many of the services Lifelock offers yourself for free, there's nothing to suggest Lifelock doesn't work. If you like the idea of identity theft insurance, you may find that $10 a month is more than worth your piece of mind.
Learn more about protecting yourself from online identity theft with the FREE Computer Safety Pro e-Course! Enroll now at http://www.ComputerSafetyPro.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Russell

Simple Steps to Identity Theft Prevention

2008-10-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

By Asher Aw

Identity theft results in having a charge on your account that you did not make. Someone had hijacked your account and made a purchase of sorts, thus resulting in you having to deal with the situation.

A simple step that you can take is to ask your financial institution to add a password to your account. This way, the identity thief is prevented from changing the billing address on your account. Keep the password to yourself and take efforts to not let your password be something easy to guess.

If this step was not taken and you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to deal with the fraudulent charge, give a call to your financial institution immediately. Most of the time, you need to notify either the bank or the credit card issuer within 30 days to be protected legally from the fraudulent charges.

Another simple step is so simple but an astonishing number of people still don't do it. Simply don't carry items like your social security card in the wallet together with your drivers license, your credit card, your ATM card together with a list of all your passwords and PIN numbers. If for some reason that you drop or lose your wallet and someone picks up your wallet, you're giving him or her an excuse to go on a spending spree.

Whenever you receive your bills or anything that contains your personal information, make it a point to tear it up or shred it - don't just roll it into a ball and toss it into the bin. People can actually take the information which you have simply thrown into the bin and piece it together to attempt an identity theft.

Relieve yourself of unnecessary headaches by taking these small steps to prevent any attempts of identity theft.

To find out three special phone numbers you can call to get FREE identity theft protection (save $150 a year - or more - plus get a free copy of your credit reports to boot!), visit http://www.moremoneytospend.com/creditsecretsbible
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Asher_Aw

Is There Life After Identity Theft?

2008-10-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

By Darren Cason

It's a horrible feeling. When you realize that you are a victim of identity theft, your whole world turns upside down. It is as though someone has invaded your privacy - which is in fact what they have done.You are shocked. then the shock transforms itself into rage. How dare they! This is my money and I worked hard for it! The problem is that it is not that easy to get back at the thief. At best you can make the effort to fix up the disaster and put systems in place to prevent it happening again. The reality of life after identity theft.

You may not even notice the first indicators of identity theft - credit card charges that you did not make appearing on your statement, being denied credit when you don't understand why or perhaps your regular bills fail to arrive. The safest thing you can do in this case is, as soon as you recognize a problem, act to prevent the thief from getting any further.

Request that a "fraud alert" is put on your credit reports to indicate to your creditors that there is a problem. They should then act in turn by following certain procedures if there is an application for a new account or card in your name. Be sure also to obtain (free) copies of your credit reports so you can keep track and check for indicators that your account is being accessed illegally.

Accounts that have been illegally accessed or established should be immediately closed and then you should inform the department responsible for account security or fraud, in writing, of the violation and submit any evidence that you have regarding the theft.

Inform the police and file a report with them - some creditors want proof of the crime and this is helpful. Let the Federal Trade Commission know as well - whilst it may not be of assistance to you directly, it does assist them in tracking down patterns of ID theft throughout the country.
You should begin placing safeguards around all details of your finances as soon as possible to prevent a repeat of the theft. Don't throw out documents that include your personal details without first shredding them and NEVER offer your personal information over the phone or the internet except in the case where you are sure with whom you are dealing.

Online passwords and PINs should have watertight security - avoid the obvious passwords such as your date of birth or your social security number.

Keep all of your personal documentation in a safe place, preferably locked. Your passport and other documentation that is not often used should definitely be locked away. This level of security is even more critical if you share a house, employ home help or have tradespeople working in your home.

The last point is that you should continue to keep a watchful eye on your credit report so that you can detect any illegal activity early. Spacing out the requests for reports from the three major bureaus (1 every 4 months) allows you to be more thorough and can have a positive security effect on your credit score rating.

Will you recover from identity theft? Of course, but it won't be the same any more. Your trust in people has been shattered and you will be more cautious when dealing with people and more thorough checking your accounts. But perhaps that can be seen as a positive.
Knowledge is power it's time to learn more about when identity theft effects credit score rating. Today you too can take advantage of our years of experience, visit debtjerk.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Cason

10 Simple Ways to Prevent the Theft of Identity

2008-10-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Franklin

Identity theft is a grave criminal offense that many people are still unfamiliar with. Recently there has been a massive rise in the reported cases of identity thefts. Almost one in twenty people will sufferers theft of identity at some point in their life. Different types of such thefts include credit card fraud, bank fraud, and the most severe case where the criminal will steal your Social Security number (and other forms of ID) and actually live their life as they were you
10 Simple Ways to Prevent the Theft of Identity

1. If you lose your credit card or believe it has been stolen, don't waste time in speculating about its whereabouts. Even if you are convinced that it might turn up somewhere, be prompt in reporting the incident to the credit card company. Trust us when we say that in such cases no step is too hasty because if you aren't careful, you will suffer the consequences

2. Be organized and check your financial statements and credit matters as often as possible. Go through each bill carefully before you pay them to make sure it is you who has actually made the purchases. This will help you detect an anomaly immediately, especially if someone has taken out credit under your name.

3. Never give out personal information, such as information about your ID, during a telephone conversation that you did not initiate. Information you should be careful about includes your Social Security code, Driving License number, birth date, bank account details, and any other ID-related information.

4. Multiple accounts in banks lead to trouble. Make sure you close all your unused accounts. Criminals often target bank accounts they know have become unused, because the owners will rarely check these accounts.

5. Make sure your credit cards are kept in a safe place and put an upper credit limit on their usage for precaution's sake.

6. Put papers and mail containing important information through the shredder when you have finished using them.

7. Once an account from which checks can be drawn is closed, you should put the unused checks through the shredder as well.

8. Always keep the valuable important papers well within your sight, especially when you are out shopping, or in the office or even in a rest room. Be extra careful about your wallet; make sure you don't misplace it anywhere.

9. Do not disclose too much personal information over the internet. An identity thief can easily gain access to your certificate of birth and other relevant documents with just the name of the place where you were born.

10. PIN codes and passwords should be well protected and guarded. Commit them to your memory. Never select a password that you find easy to remember, such as your partner's name or your date of birth. Chances are, it'll be convenient for the thief as well.

Since high tech identity theft is still a new crime, most police agencies are not properly trained to handle them. This makes preventing identity theft so vital, because if you fall victim to it the problems caused are not easily fixed...and you might even find yourself faced with criminal charges from acts committed by the thief.

Thankfully, there is a way you can sleep safe at night knowing that you and your family are 100% safe from any type of identity theft. To keep your family protected, prevent financial ruin, and avoid public embarrassment; click here to learn about Identity Theft Protection Services
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Franklin

Learn the Facts About the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act

2008-10-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Carey
The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act, written by Senator Patrick Leahy in 2007, has finally passed both the House and Senate. The bill, which previously failed to be passed by the House of Representatives, was passed after Leahy attached the proposal to another bill dictating the protection of former US Vice Presidents. So along with the former U.S. Vice Presidents who will receive protection services after they leave office, victims of identity theft are being offered protections, once they've become or have been threatened to become victims.
This Act does appear to have some bite to it. With stricter definitions for identity and information on identity theft crimes as well as adding stiffer penalties for criminals which will hopefully help to take a bite of this crime. The bill comes as identity theft has risen to the most common crime.

"The anti-cyber crime provisions in this bill are long overdue," said the Senator Leahy.
"The key anti-cyber crime provisions that are included in this legislation will close existing gaps in our criminal law to keep up with the cunning and ingenuity of today's identity thieves."
Keeping up with identity thieves is a daunting task considering the overwhelming number ID theft crimes and the devastating consequences for both individual and corporate victims.
Identity Theft Statistics in the U.S.

* There are over 10 million identity theft victims.

* An identity is stolen every 4 seconds.

* The average cost to restore a stolen identity and credit is $8,000.

* Identity theft victims spend an average of 600 hours recovering from the crime.

* Identity theft victims spend an average of 600 hours recovering from the crime.

What will The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act do for victims and prosecutors of Identity Theft?

* Victims will be able to seek restitution for the loss of time and money spent restoring credit.

* It will now be felony to install spyware or malware on more than ten computers and federal agents to pursue identity theft cases within a single state. Previously, federal jurisdiction was limited to cases in which the victim and criminal were located in separate states.

* Eliminates the requirement that damage to a victim's computer exceed $5,000 before charges can be brought for unauthorized access to a computer.

* Makes it a felony to employ spyware or keyloggers to damage ten or more computers regardless of the aggregate amount of damage caused.

* Makes it a crime, punishable by fine and up to five years on prison, to threaten to steal or release information from a computer. Current law only permits the prosecution of those who seek to extort companies or government agencies by explicitly threatening to shut down or damage a computer.

The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act is good news for victims and bad news for perpetrators. But the ideal scenario is to prevent this crime rather than to recover from it. Protection and prevention from anti-spyware, anti-spam, anti-virus and anti-phishing programs or security suite services, along with prudent e-mail and on-line activity, are still the best defense. Citizens should employ their own not-so-secret but generally reliable services to protect themselves. If you do become a victim of identity theft, The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act, will be your friend but hopefully it's a friend you won't need.

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Carey

Does a Security Freeze Stop Identity Theft?

2008-09-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

With identity theft on a continued advance upward and noted as the number one white collar crime in America today a popular option is for consumers to shut down (lock) access to their credit reports. This makes it nearly impossible for some criminal intent to reek financial havoc on an individuals well being and the process is known as a security freeze or credit lock.

As of the first of November in 2007, all three credit reporting agencies gave consumers in America the ability to limit access to their individual credit reports. Of course unless you are an actual victim of identity theft, the process is not actually free in most states. To put a freeze on your credit report as a simple proactive measure to avoid criminal theft of your information; costs in most states and fees very widely. One would have to go to each of the three credit bureau's web sites for specific instructions and individual state fees. Additionally, to implement a freeze completely, the process to freeze your credit report has to be done at each agency: all of whom have various methodologies.

A credit freeze does provide substantial identity theft protection however, it is not without loopholes. It can not stop non-credit-related forms of ID theft, such as the creation of a duplicate driver's license or criminal identity theft (when a suspect gives your name to police when booked for a crime). It also won't stop an illegal immigrant or undocumented worker from using your Social Security Number to obtain employment.

Additionally, it won't stop every company from accessing your credit report. New creditors are largely blocked out, yet still existing lenders i.e. your current credit card company (for example) can still view your report and offer you new credit cards. Also, collection agencies acting on behalf of these companies with your current account(s), state or local agencies that includes law enforcement, child support agencies, trial courts pursuant to a warrant or subpoena, credit monitoring companies and companies that sell credit reports to consumers are still viable accesses.

It also won't stop those pre-approved credit card offers. The bureaus can still give your name and address to credit card companies. Of course, you can stop those mailings by making a simple call to 1-888-5OPTOUT or by visiting http://optoutprescreen.com

Putting a freeze in place requires some time consuming paperwork like sending certified letters. And it means keeping track of freezing and subsequent lifts of an imposed freeze. As stated earlier, it does no good to freeze one or two reports. If you want real identity theft protection, you'll have to go through the motion and requirements to freeze all three credit agencies. If you want to get a new credit card, you'll have to lift at least one agencies credit report freeze. To undertake a major investment such as buying a new home, you'll most likely have to lift all three credit agency freezes then; turn around and make sure they are frozen again to safeguard your identity after the purchase is closed.

Gail Hillebrand, Consumers Union credit bureau expert, compares freeze fees to paying for insurance and stated "If you are the person in the household who will have to unravel an identity theft after it happens, then you probably think $10 a pop is a good deal." Additionally, "Consumers who are already paying for $10-per-month credit monitoring services should cancel and pay for security freezes instead." she concluded.

Despite the time consumption and varying requirements, a credit freeze is likely the most optimal thing you can do to stop most identity theft before it lurks its aggravating head. Think of it like the sign you place in your window that announces the premise is protected by an alarm system. Yes, the home can still be broken into but, many thieves who see an alarm would move on to another target. Identity thieves who come upon a security freeze when trying to get services in your name such as credit cards or loans are just as likely to move onto the next Social Security number.

Only the individual can decide what is best for their own circumstances. My only input would be with identity theft on the rampage, some kind of proactive measure is warranted to lesson chances of identity theft.

Ronald Hudkins is a published Internet author with a very high regard for consumer awareness. Despite over 2o years in law enforcement and working many jobs requiring a security clearance he once fell victim to credit theft as a result of a disgruntled employee selling information from personnel records. To find out how he supplements and protects his identity visit and review the program he uses at http://www.registryfixing.com./LifeLock.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Hudkins

The Young Victims of Identity Theft

2008-09-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

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.

Thieves 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.

Ronald Hudkins is a published Internet author with a very high regard for consumer awareness. Despite over 20 years in law enforcement and working many jobs requiring a security clearance he once fell victim to credit theft as a result of a disgruntled employee selling information from personnel records. To find out how he supplements and protects his identity visit and review the program he uses at http://www.registryfixing.com./LifeLock.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Hudkins

Fraud Alerts Combat ID Theft! - Is That Your Final Answer?

2008-09-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

Okay so you're feeling smug and savvy because you know all about Fraud Alerts. Despite the fact you accomplished it for free and only had to actually contact one of the major credit reporting agencies you want everyone to know who to call. You tell them the following places need to be called to put a Fraud Alert on your credit report; Equifax at number 1-800-525-6285, Experian at their number 1-888-397-3742 and the final place, TransUnion at number 1-800-680-7289. You further explain that these initial 90 day fraud alerts entitle them to free copies of their credit reports. All your friends should be sure to check those credit reports for debts on their accounts that are unexplainable, company inquiries from businesses they haven't actually contacted and/or accounts they haven't actually opened. That's good proactive initiative.

Did you happen to mention that fraud alerts aren't actually the solution to every possible means of identity theft? Did you know that a Fraud Alert does nothing to detour an identity thief from opening new credit accounts in someone else's name that don't require a credit check? You know, things like a wireless telephone account, wall mounted phone or even a bank account! Are you beginning to realize that too little information can be dangerous? Additionally, an ID Thief can still use someone's existing credit cards or other accounts. Not only that, if there is an identity crime already happening when a fraud alert is placed, this alert alone does nothing to stop the crime. You can however take solace in the fact that you were partially correct as fraud alerts are in fact useful in thwarting the thief in opening a new line of credit.

The initial fraud alert stays on a credit report for only 90 days and if someone remembers, they have to renew this alert every three months. It is good to place this type of alert on one's credit if they suspect they are (or are about to be) a victim of identity theft. These alerts are a good course of action should one say, realize they are a victim of a "Phishing" scam or their wallet or purse has been stolen. This is basically an alert to creditors while considering someone for credit for the business to enforce reasonably policies that implement procedures that require identity verification prior to issuing credit in a person's name. Businesses may make an effort to verify however, their reports aren't always a guarantee that applicant sitting before them is who they say they are.

A person has the option as well to place an extended fraud alert of their credit report that actually remains in place for a period of seven years. This can be done if you are a victim of identity theft. You must however supply the consumer reporting agency an identity theft report. The report procedure is the subject of another article as it is a lengthy process. Anyway, this extended alert requires potential or pending creditors to actually contact you or, meet with you face-to-face before they actually approve the credit request. Yes, this can cause delays when you are trying to get credit but to enhance the processing requirements one can simply provide a current and viable cell phone number to be reached at easily in their efforts to have their identity verified.

When a person undertakes the initiation of an extended fraud alert, they are entitled to two free credit reports annually from each of the three national consumer credit reporting agencies. These companies will at the same time remove a person's name from pre-screened credit offers that marketing lists maintain. The credit reporting agencies will make sure a name stays off marketing lists for a period not less than five years unless, a person specifically requests to be put back onto marketing offer listings.

I'd just like to say initial or extended fraud alerts are great measures in anyone's effort to wage war against the identity thief but, are just the tip of an iceberg when it comes to efforts needed to combat this ever increasing crime. Don't get over confident with too little information. Consider looking into the professional services of a credit watch service. A credit watch service has the whole picture of what it takes to catch a thief and protect your good name and/or credit. Some are better than others so do what the Federal Trade Commission recommends on all contracts for a service or product: read the small print. If you'd like to enlist a highly proficient credit watch service used and trusted by the author check out his resource bio following this article. This service offers more then all others and stands behind their professionalism with a million dollar per individual guarantee.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Hudkins

It Really is Time to Worry About Identity Theft!

2008-09-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

All of us, no matter how careful, can become victims of identity theft. In fact, it was determined every three seconds another identity is stolen. In 2007 there were seventy nine million credit card and Social Security Number thefts according to major news media investigations. That was an increase of four million additional people over the previous years statistics, that had their identity or financial information compromised. This makes identity theft one of the fastest growing crimes in America.

Anyone with a Social Security number and assets to loose should be concerned with identity theft. Unfortunately, a common belief by many people is they assume they have nothing significant for thief's to take advantage of. Bear in mind criminals are much better than you are at making use of your information. For example; there is credit card theft where someone steals your credit card and runs up charges. Identity theft is where someone steals your personal information (social security number, date of birth, name, etc.) and uses your identity to open a new line of credit, gain employment or even establish citizenship.

You must realize that your information is stored locally and nationally. Your dentist, doctor, banking facility(s), college transcript, club memberships are examples of data configurations where your personal information is stored. I don't have to remind you there have been numerous sophisticated agencies and institutions hacked into and identities stolen. How easy it would be to have your identity stolen from neighborhood businesses, your mailbox or even your trash receptacles. Yes shredding papers listing your personal information is a great step to protect your identity but as indicated, your information is everywhere.

It's no secret that many savvy consumers have learned to place fraud alerts on their accounts which prompt creditors to call them if someone is trying to establish credit in their names. But did you know these alerts are generally only valid for a period of ninety days? Are you really confident enough to believe your going to take the time or for that matter, even remember to renew fraud alerts every three months? Remember too, just because you have fraud alerts placed does not guarantee you from becoming a victim.

There is an option to implement a credit freeze which locks down all of your personal information making it impossible for anyone to open a line of credit in your name, including you. There are also fees involved with many credit freezes. When you place a freeze, you pay a fee. From there on, if you want to open any new line of credit (loan, credit card, cell phone) the freeze must be lifted; there will be a fee for that as well. Currently 33 states and the District of Columbia offer the credit freeze option, but if you are not living in one of them, you cannot do this.

Credit watch services have come into prominence thanks to the many breaches that have been publicized. What exactly is a credit watch, and what benefit does such a service offer the consumer? Credit Monitoring (or a watch) is the credit bureau selling the consumer their own information. After there has been a change on your credit report, the bureau notifies you in 24 to 72 hours that there has been a change. It is then the consumer's responsibility to check the information for accuracy and by the way, if they find that it is a case of identity theft, the consumer is responsible for any losses, expenses and has to spend the time to clean up the mess. The Bureaus do nothing to actually prevent the crime of identity theft, nor do they help fix the problem. The FTC says it takes an average of 177 hours and over two years to clean up an identity or credit compromise, if you can clean it up at all.

I'm not trying to come off as a fatalist and give anyone the impression there is nothing that can be done about criminal activity. If you worry about identity theft, then it's time you got to know about identity theft services. These agencies provide proactive identity theft protection.

On your behalf, ID theft companies request that fraud alerts be placed on your accounts. By placing these fraud alerts, you are asking that creditors take extra care to identify who you are and to investigate the validity of any pending transaction. These services also request that your name be removed from pre-approved credit card lists and junk mail lists. Additionally, services annually order your free credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus. In the event that your identity is compromised, qualified professionals are available to assist you in addressing whatever complications may arise.

In summary one might ask; if the consumer can do these things by themselves, what is the need for an identity theft service? The simple answer is nothing more than convenience and protection. The assurance that nothing is overlooked in the shuffle and required responsibilities in everyday living that would keep you from taking the measures necessary to protect your identity. These services have but one concern and mission, to safeguard your identity and assets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Hudkins

Is Your Computer Going Green Or Giving Green Away?

2008-09-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Carey

Changes in needs for our personal computer, as well as updates and new software occur quickly in our every growing world of technology. As this happens, consumers quite often decide to "get rid of" their "old computer" and based on their needs and budget purchase another one. Depending on the original cost and condition of the computers, some people offer a trade in to dealers that can be refurbished and sold, some give them away to friends and family and others donate them to a charity or school. With the "recycling" of your personal computer, you may feel you have done a good deed and helped someone out, as well as avoid waste, making a eco-friendly and socially positive decision of how to dispose of your old personal computer. However, no good deed goes unpunished, and the risk to your information on your old computer may at the very least involve identity theft. Identity theft is now the fastest growing white-collar crime and where that information on your old computer lands may not be a safe place. You can be sure of one thing, if you left information on your computer, there is probably someone out there that can find it, and use it.

"I have erased all my files, it's perfectly safe to donate it, " you say. But Consumer Reports says differently after conducting a study of used computers/hard drives purchased on E-bay. In this study, Consumer Reports ran simple and inexpensive software available to anyone to determine what information may still be stored on a computer's hard drive.

What Do You Think Consumer Reports Found on Used Computers from E-Bay?

*A Microsoft Word tax document including salary information

* Quicken files with expense and finance data

* A MySpace account, complete with name and password

* Outlook express e-mails

* Lists of favorite web sites

* Love letters and photographs

These computers were all described by sellers as "reformatted" or "wiped cleaned."

In a larger study, a research fellow at Harvard University examined over 1,000 hard drives and found only one third of them were properly cleaned. Microsoft Windows doesn't claim to have an easy or secure way to erase your entire hard drive and recommends using third party software. Mac OS X has a feature to permanently erase Trash files but it has been reported to be slow and only 10.3 or later versions can permanently erase entire hard drives.

Inside Edition also checked out the possibilities and probabilities of identity theft for well meaning citizens who donated their computers to Good Will. The 25 computers purchased in the east coast hubs for as little as $30.00, as well as four computers picked up from a dumpsite held not just surprising but alarming information.

Computer expert Steve Elderkin who examined the hard drives shares that "Of all the hard drives, not one was cleaned of any of the information. Depending on the hard drive itself, you could have all the data in a matter of minutes with almost no work."

An Arlington, VA resident who believed he had erased all of the information on his hard drive was shocked to learn that within minutes, experts had found both his and his wife's social security numbers. Social security numbers are of course a jackpot for identity thieves who can easily use a social security numbers to connect the dots for identity theft with other easy to access information. A social security number is a winning lottery number to gain access to your financial or medical credit. In addition to social security numbers, the expert found information from previously filed tax returns and passwords.

Before you donate, give away, or recycle your old computer, consider options like WipeDrive from WhiteCanyon.com who have been providing security solutions since 1998 or Eraser, which is free at www.heidi.ie/eraser. It is important to thoroughly clean your hard drives before allowing them out of your hands, especially if you've used your computer to make purchases, do taxes or finances or monitor bank accounts; even photographs can be too much information. Make sure to completely erase your identity before you take the chance of giving it away, along with your old computer.

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Carey

The Problem With Protecting Your Identity

2008-09-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

When it comes to all the proactive measures you think you know about protecting your personal information from identity thefts you should know, there are already two strikes against you. The simple fact of the matter is whether you like it or not, you only control about 20 percent of the personal information about yourself that is spread all over the country. The remaining 80 percent of your personal information is in the hands of businesses and unfortunately; businesses are not as savvy as you might be in the protection of your personal information.

Kristen Gehrig, director of global marketing for Fellowes Inc. in Itasca, the leading shredder manufacturer, said "few states--and Illinois is not one of them--require destruction of documents. Although several federal laws mandate safeguards for customer privacy, only the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) approved in June 2005 requires businesses to destroy certain types of consumer information. But what we found in our research," she said, "is that 87 percent of small businesses are not aware of FACTA and their responsibility to make proper Disposal of Consumer Report Information and Records under this act."

Businesses hatch identity losses all the time with security breaches that can be broken down into a number of categories. What they have in common is that they contain personal identifying information in a format easily read by thieves, in other words, your personal information is not encrypted.

Breaches include but are not limited to the following;

* Lost or stolen laptops, computers or other computer storage devices
* Backup tapes lost in transit because they were not sent either electronically or with a human escort
* Hackers breaking into systems
* Employees stealing information or allowing access to information
* Information bought by a fake business
* Poor business practices- for example sending postcards with Social Security numbers on them
* Internal security failures
* Viruses, Trojan Horses and computer security loopholes
* Info tossed into dumpsters- improper disposition of information

The only solutions thus far for consumers have been shock reactive - by then, it's too late. Identity theft can happen anyplace to anyone. In line at the store, online at home, business practices mentioned above or when you're buying your morning coffee. If your identity is stolen, you can spend hundreds of hours cleaning up your credit and struggling to get back your good name. That's because stolen identities are used up to 30 times, with most victims only discovering the theft after they've been turned down for a loan or contacted by a collection agency. You may already be a victim, many times over, and not even know it.

Unexpected effects even after the thief stops using the information, victims struggle with the impact of the identity theft crime. This might include increased insurance or credit card fees, inability to find a job, higher interest rates and battling collection agencies and issuers who refuse to clear records despite substantiating evidence of the identity crime. This "aggravation and turmoil" may continue for more than 10 years after the crime was first discovered and subsequently reported.

If you think you know all the tricks in thwarting the identity thief; think again! The criminals will just bide their time and wait for you to forget some available proactive measure and strike you down in the confusion and distraction of everyday existence. If they can't get you individually, they'll strike a business that fails to shred your personal information or has some security breach that avails the info needed.

There are many services in the industry that offer proactive identity theft protection with a proven solution that prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens. They protect your identity and personal information for only $10 a month - and one guarantee's their service up to $1,000,000. They also offer the only identity theft child protection program available in the market, so guarantee your good name today and review the many identity theft services available in the market. The Federal Trade Commission recommends that the small print in all the available services be understood before commitment because, some programs are better than others.

I can't recommend the course of action you should take to protect you identity. I can however suggest you simply recognize the fact the problem of identity theft is a growing problem. It is bigger than you and I and a proactive service supplementing our own personal initiatives to avoid identity theft; might just be the best decision ever made.

Ronald Hudkins is a consumer advocate and champions awareness to issues needing personal attention. For free Ebook downloads he has written about important issues that save money, protected identities, help in estate planning, wish fulfillment foundations for adults and more visit http://stores.lulu.com/rhudkins

For computer optimization, security, registry repair and just about every other software need visit his site at http://www.registryfixing.com

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Identity Theft Statistics Are Extremely Alarming

2008-09-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

By Joel Gray

Identify theft is quite common in the United States, much more common than many of us think. Actually it is one of the fastest rising crimes in America, to make matters worse not only is it one of the most difficult to detect but one of the hardest to solve. The United States government has adopted some very harsh punishments for violators and if you are ever the victim of Identity Theft it is advised to pursue legal action against the person responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

One major disadvantage is that online hackers can steal your identity and then begin to use it before you even know that there is a problem. In fact if you are not one of those people that always keep a record of your purchases and transactions, how long do you think it will take until you notice that there is something wrong with your account? Maybe 1 day, 72 hours, a week, or a month well none of them are good, but to spend a little time every week to verify your credit card accounts and bank accounts will certainly pay off.

There are some reports that think that the statistics for this type of crime are much higher than reported as not all people discover the problem in a timely manner. This is due to the ease that the hackers and con artists can use your stolen identity just about anywhere in the country. Many time they never even use your social security number or your credit card numbers, but will just assume your identity by using your work history, medical history, or just your families name. Also keep in mind many people have no idea or understand what has happened to them, and do not know what to do about it.

In 2002 the FTC set up an Identity Theft hotline which indicates that about 161,000 cases were reported, while experts in this field estimate that there were 1.2 million victims of Identity Theft in 2002 just in the United States. For more information on the FTC and the excellent Identity Theft resources they provide go to:

http://ftc.gov/

Credit Card Fraud

The most common of all these types of crimes, credit card fraud is the cause of over 50 percent of reported Identity Theft crimes. It is reported that a credit card was opened in their name or that unauthorized charges have been reported on their current or existing accounts.

Unauthorized Electric or Phone Services

Identity thieves have hit about 25 percent of these victims, the thieves opened up new accounts for telephone, cellular, and other utility services in the victims name or had accessed current accounts to use for their own purposes.

Bank Fraud and Fraudulent Loans

About 16 percent of all Identity Theft victims report that a new checking or savings account, unauthorized withdrawals, or fraudulent checks written against their accounts. 9 percent have reported unauthorized loans have been obtained in their name, personal loans, business loans, automobile loans and real estate loans to name a few.

Government Provided Benefits

The number of people reporting that their name had been used to get a government issued document such as a drivers license, birth certificate, or even a social security card is around 8 percent. Some people have had their names and information used to file fraudulent documents like a tax return, a federal loan application, or to qualify for government benefits such as food stamps, Medicare, or other paid benefits.

Crimes of this nature can also result in the misuse of the victims private personal information to get a job, obtain medical services, evade law enforcement, get away from criminal records, get tax refunds and other government supplied benefits, file for bankruptcy, and lease a residence. It can also be used to open and access personal bank accounts, internet accounts, purchase and trade securities and investments and any other online accounting, banking, or online personal transactions.

Usually many of the victims of Identity Theft report that they have experienced more that one of the above types of crimes. Most do not know but the majority of these criminals are people that are close to the victim such as a family member, room mates, friends and neighbors, and coworkers.

While some people notice the problems within 30 to 60 days of the occurrences, some of the crimes went on for as long as 4 to 5 years. An average Identity Theft crime will go on for about 12 to 14 months from the date the crime occurs and the date that the victim notices the problem.

For more information about Identity Theft and other Personal Finance Tips go to: Finance Tips 101

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Gray

Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft Today

2008-09-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

By Rita Santamaria

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. It occurs when someone steals your personal information, which can include your social security, driver's license and credit card numbers and so on. Entities that have had their databases compromised include the Department of Veteran's Affairs and University of Texas School of Business. The common fear among victims is that these thieves will use their personal data to access bank accounts, open new credit cards, obtain long distance calling accounts or take out loans.

In an effort to help fight identity theft, Congress added new sections to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when it passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA). Privacy, limits on information sharing, consumer rights to disclosure and accuracy are all addressed.

An Overview of FACTA:

• To self-monitor their credit history, consumers may obtain free copies of their credit report annually at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228.
• Businesses must leave off all but the final five digits of a credit card number on printed store receipts.
• Employers must destroy all information obtained from a consumer credit report before discarding it.
• Consumers who suspect they are the victims of identity theft need only to notify one of the three credit reporting services (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) to initiate a nationwide fraud alert.
• Mortgage lenders must provide the credit score they use to determine a loan's interest rate, regardless of loan approval.
• Companies must provide training for their employees and document when it was completed. It should outline what the consequences are for any violations.

Reasonable measures of destruction of personal information include:
• Burning, shredding or pulverizing documents so they become impossible to put back together or read.
• Erasing electronic files that contain any consumer reports so they cannot be recovered.

After reviewing company practices to ensure that they are designed to reasonably protect personal information, some companies are hiring outside firms that specialize in destroying personal records.

Penalties include:

• Civil liability - An employee can recover actual damages sustained if their identity is stolen from an employer. Or an employer could be liable for statutory damages up to $1,000 per employee.
• Class action lawsuits - If a large number of employees are impacted, they may be able to bring class action suits and obtain punitive damages from employers.
• Federal fines - An employer can be fined up to $2,500 per violation.

The law applies to any business that collects personal information or consumer reports about customers or employees to make decisions within their business. This most definitely applies to real estate brokerage offices. All records should be stored in a secure method so as to protect all personal data relating to agents and most definitely data pertaining to clients. Look at the next step in protecting your company from potential liability.

According to the FTC, a reasonable plan for a company to safeguard personal information includes:

• Designating an employee to coordinate and be responsible for the security program.
• Identifying material internal and external risks to the security of these personal data.
• Designing and implementing reasonable safeguards to control the risks identified in the risk assessment.
• Continually evaluating and adjusting the security plan in light of the results of ongoing monitoring and testing of the program, material changes to business arrangements.
• Creating a mitigation plan that kicks in when there is a privacy or security breach and there is a need to "repair it" immediately in the eyes of customers, government regulators and management.

Private individuals can take the following safeguard steps to protect their identity from theft:

• Burn or shred any financial papers, mail or credit reports that contain personal information. Never recycle that paper.
• Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT and request that credit card companies stop sending pre-approved credit card applications. Also, ask your credit card companies to stop sending you "convenience checks". These are sent monthly by your credit card companies and your contact to cancel these will most realistically need to be a monthly phone call until the message is implemented. In other words, keep after them until you get resolution.
• Invest in a shredder that can destroy credit cards, CDs and staples.
• Delete any e-mail that asks for personal information and instruct your employees and family members to do the same.
• Hang up on any telemarketers who ask for your personal information. Instruct your family members to do the same.
• Limit the number of credit cards you hold, both business and personal. Review your monthly statements, financial records and bank statements as soon as they arrive. The sooner you report a suspicious incident the better.
• Companies should advertise their privacy policies on their website.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards. $50 is your maximum liability for credit cards.

Food For Thought:

Statistics show that if there is a security breach, 20% of your customers will no longer do business with you, 40% consider not doing business with you and 5% hire an attorney to sue your company.

For additional information, visit http://www.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-HELP.

Rita Santamaria,
Owner and President,
Champions School of Real Estate
http://www.ChampionsSchool.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Santamaria

Identity Theft Protection Software

2008-09-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

By Darren Herrington

Folks can now avert identity theft by utilizing identity theft protection software, which preserves and keeps the computer functioning efficiently with anti-spyware and anti-virus tools.

The need for identity theft protection software has aroused due to the exploding identity theft incidences. Identity theft is considered as the professional crime of the 21st century.

The FBI had claimed in its recent 'Financial Crimes Report to the Public' that around 9.91 million Americans were victims of identity theft with an overall loss of $52.6 billion to the nation.

Software Collection:

Below mentioned are certain identity theft protection software tools that are quite useful in combating identity theft:

Anonymity 4 Proxy (A4Proxy):
Anonymity 4 Proxy is confidential unidentified proxy server and anoymizing software. After installation, it facilitates the user to surf the web with utter privacy. A4Proxy enthralls a database with loads of unidentified public proxy servers consigned across the world.

Webwasher Classic:
This software is designed for small-scale networks. Webwasher screens unnecessary promotions and safeguards the surfer's privacy by screening cookies, web bugs, and referrer strings.

AntiVir Personal Edition:
AntiVir Personal Edition proffers the useful protection against computer viruses for individuals and confidential utilization on a single PC-terminal. This software spots and eradicates more than 50,000 viruses and an Internet-Update Wizard for trouble-free updating. An in-built local Virus Protector scrutinizes all the file progressions mechanically.

Anonymizer:
This software protects personal details, monetary dealings, and credit card numbers from online spying with Unidentified Surfing. Unidentified Surfing functions by developing an encrypted path amid the computer and the Internet to protect the users from the refined techniques of online spying, pharming, and phishing. The installation and utility is quite easy, and it functions mutely in the computer's background, without affecting the surfing speed.

All the above-mentioned identity theft protection software tools are a mixture of donationaware, freeware, and shareware.

About NCR Credit Plus
Darren Herrington has over 10 years in credit repair industry. Prior to starting NCR Darren worked as a Stockbroker for 7 years, then at American Express financial services for 5 years. Now with NCR plus he helps thousands mend their credit by removing inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable items.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Herrington

How Criminal Identity Theft Can Affect Your Life

2008-09-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilcox

Criminals steal from people in many ways. Breaking into someone's home and taking their belongings, robbing an individual of whatever they have on hand, stealing a car, and so forth. However, a new dimension in thievery has come about in recent times.

When a thief actually steals another person's identity, that is know as criminal identity theft. You can protect yourself against criminal identity theft by understanding what it is, ways that your identity can be stolen, and ways to protect yourself from this damaging crime.

What Is Criminal Identity Theft?

A criminal collects personal information about another person with the purpose of assuming that person's identity. The effects of criminal identity theft can be monumental for the person whose identity has been stolen.

Credit ratings, financial standings, employment interviews, legal matters can all be negative effected by criminal identity theft. The actions of the thief are reflected upon the the identity that has been stolen, either negative or positive.

Most times, criminal identity theft goes unnoticed unless the criminal does something illegal and is apprehended. Criminals can also access credit cards and bank account. This illegal activity will reflect poorly on the card holders true owner, and may have many financial repercussions.

One of the most difficult aspects for someone whose identity has been stolen is clearing their good name. It is often a legal nightmare.

Protective Steps

There are a number of steps you should take to minimize your chances of criminal identity theft. First and foremost, never carry your social security card or social security card with you. Never.

Second, contact your financial institutions if you lose your wallet or purse containing credits cards, drivers license, etc. Also be sure to alert local authorities, as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Finally, check your credit report yearly. And if you are anxious about losing sensitive material, enroll in a fraud alert system, which will notify you if any activity related to your identity or financial accounts is occurring.

If you'd like to get more information about how you can protect yourself from internet security threats, visit the Online Security Toolkit at http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com, where you'll find helpful information about spam, spyware, viruses, identity theft and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wilcox

Don't Think Identity Theft Can Happen to You - "Think Again"

2008-08-31T17:01:00.000-07:00

By Mike Clover

During the course of the day you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a concert, mail your tax returns, rent a car, and apply for a new credit card. Your probably don't think twice when you are doing these type of activities. An identity thief is always watching.

Identity theft is a serious crime, and is currently the biggest crime waive ever. People who have their identity stolen can end up taking months, years and thousands of dollars trying to recover their identity. Identity theft can steal your good name and credit record. If identity theft happens to you, it could cause you to not get a new job because of your current credit report, it could get you denied credit for housing, cars and installment loans.

How identity thieves get your information
- Stealing information and records while on the job
- Conning fellow co-workers for information
- Hacking records
- Bribing employees whom have access to confidential information
- Steal your mail, by taking bills, credit card statements, tax return information, new credit card offers and new checks as well.
- Dig through your trash, business trash cans, and public trash facilities. This is also known as dumpster diving.
- Get a copy of your credit report by abusing their employers authorized access to it, or by posing as someone like a landlord or employer who may have access to your credit reports.
- They may capture your credit card numbers or pin numbers by storing this information in a data storage device when you swipe your card. This is also know as skimming.
- They may steal your purse or wallet.
- They may complete a change of address to divert your mail somewhere else.
- They may steal your information that find in your own home.
- They may steal your information posing as your bank or some institution you do business with.

How identity thieves use your personal information
- They can give your name during a arrest and if you don't show up for the court date it goes on your record.
- They could file fraudulent tax returns in your name
- They could get a job in your name.
- They could get a auto loan in your name
- They could get a home loan in your name
- They may open new credit cards in your name and allow them to go delinquent which will affect your credit report.
- They may establish utility bills in your name
- They may file bankruptcy in your name on charges they have accrued in you name.

There are some great preventative measures for avoiding identity theft. Here are a few good ones.

- Get your credit report at least every 3 months. Its worth paying for to avoid this mess.
- Sign up for credit monitoring to get alerts when someone applies for credit in your name.
- Shred all mail.
- Get PO Box, and don't put anything in an un-secure mailbox.
- Safeguard credit cards, social security cards, and any other personal items you don't use in a safe.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com

http://creditscorequick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, Internet identity theft software, secure credit cards, and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Clover

Identity Theft Prevention Methods

2008-08-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

By Darren Herrington

Identity theft prevention methods are essential for individuals to avoid being identity theft victims. It is estimated that in the last year itself, more than 10 million Americans became identity theft victims, resulting in losses amounting to 5 billion dollars. With the growth in software related scams notwithstanding, identity theft has become the fastest growing crime in America. Without exercising proper care, anyone can become a victim of identity theft.

It takes at least 12 months on an average for the clients to realize that they were cheated. Identity theft prevention is the best method of protecting information related to personal identity. First and foremost, segregate information, depending on their importance. While some information would be made public inevitably, there are some items having high sensitivity that can never be made public.

Below mentioned is the common information entered by the users and their sensitivity:-

Complete Name, Phone Number, Address - Low Sensitivity.
Mothers Name, Birthplace, Date of Birth - Medium Sensitivity.
PIN or Password, Credit Card Number, Bank Account Number, Social Security Number - High Sensitivity.

Prevention of personal information, especially the high sensitivity items are important in the protection against identity theft. A hacker or a criminal having knowledge of even one of the high sensitivity items can incur damages. The manner in which personal information is stolen involves a part of the battle.

Stringent Measures to Prevent Identity Thefts:

Based on the reports by the Federal Trade Commission, 0.4 million Americans suffered from identity theft because of stolen mail.

These incidents can be avoided if some proper care is exercised. Be careful while dealing with the mail, since it can include sensitive personal information.

Below mentioned are some of the identity theft prevention tips for ensuring that the mail doesn't get into wrong hands:-

* Never leave any outgoing mail in an unsecured location. Deposit the mail in the collection boxes of USPS.
* Never leave the mail in the mailbox on weekends or overnight.
* While out of town, arrange for the mail to be held at post office.
* Purchase a mailbox having locking system.

Darren Herrington has over 10 years in credit repair industry. Prior to starting NCR Darren worked as a Stockbroker for 7 years, then at American Express financial services for 5 years. Now with NCR plus he helps thousands mend their credit by removing inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable items. Visit our Website or Blog for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Herrington

The Everyday Threat of Identity Theft Online

2008-08-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

By Mark F Hargreaves

Identity theft online is a very real and serious threat that cannot be ignored. It is rapidly becoming more and more common every day. It has become so easy since your complete profile can be built based on only a piece of information.

Identity theft is rapidly becoming a threat to all internet users. One of the leading causes of identity fraud online is consumers falling prey to phishing attacks, a type of identity theft that employs an official looking email from a well known company that asks you to enter or modify your particulars. The best we can do to avert identity fraud is to take some very important precautions. The first step you can take to fight back is to make use of a good anti-spyware and anti-virus software that regularly updates itself.

The Use Of Credit Cards Online Is A Focus For Identity Thefts

Be sure you know the organization you are dealing with online, and think twice prior to entering your personal information, including credit card numbers. Anyone could get a signature in a restaurant or other place of business which uses credit cards.

Offline, all you would need is one waitress or clerk pocketing a credit card receipt and off goes your identity. Personal identity thieves steal information such as name, birth date, Social Security number or credit card numbers, and can then spend haphazardly under a victim's name. Some credit card companies offer surrogate account numbers for use online that mask a user's real credit card number from hackers. Yet, it is also important to note that online identity theft is about the same risk as it is for those that use a credit card in other places. Each and every time you visit a site, send an email, or use your credit card online, all the information can potentially be delivered to an eager hacker. If you get a victim of identity theft, your life, and your credit rating will never be the same again.

Online identity protection is something that you must have every time that you think about making a purchase on the web. So very much of online identity theft is made easy because individuals are just too free with their personal details.

This does not mean you ought to become a recluse or a hermit, rather a certain amount of care and just plain common sense ought to be exercised as long as you are doing anything online, especially a financial transaction. Ensure your password is something you can easily recall, and make it different for every online account you have, but don't make it too simple.

Identity theft is a HUGE issue and one that EVERYONE had better be concerned about. Identity Theft, Identity Fraud and Identity theft online is increasing at a very alarming rate.

More informative articles on Identity Theft are available here!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_F_Hargreaves

Can Someone Buy My Social Security Number Online?

2008-08-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

By Matthew Beeson

The World Wide Web has become an effective tool in helping people find out information on their family, track down long lost friends or family members, and even allow them to search for a person's public records and other information. Due to the fact that in most cases it is legal to search for public records (I.E. date of birth, residential location, phone number, marriage/divorce records, etc.), you may be concerned that someone may be able to find out one of your most personal forms of identification online - Your Social Security number (SSN).

Firstly, before you work yourself into a state of panic, you should know that it is illegal to provide someone's SSN in the search results of an online people finder investigation. Furthermore, a Social Security number is not considered public record information. It is illegal for anyone to sell SSN information.

In fact, because of many instances of identity theft that have occurred in the past few years, a legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress to forbid the commercial sale of Social Security numbers. That said, simply because selling SSN's is against the law, this does not mean it doesn't happen, and that thieves will stop attempting to seek out these numbers to carry out their own nefarious purposes by assuming the identities of others to commit fraud.

Unfortunately, once someone has your Social Security number, it is not difficult for them to assume your identity and access your credit or bank accounts, and any other personal information. In addition, an identity thief can create new bank and credit accounts in your name, or use your number for other purposes such as medical care or employment.

How can you protect your SSN? Limit access to it whenever you have the option to do so. Do not post it online, or anywhere else that it can be made easily accessible. You should also avoid keeping the card in your wallet, and leave it in a safe place in your home.

That said, if you would like to find social security death records for personal information purposes, such as to update your family tree, etc. you will find that there are sites online that provide you with public record databases that you can pay to search.

Matthew Beeson is a part-time model who does freelance web projects. You can do your own public records search at http://www.publicrecordspro.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Beeson

Worried About Identity Theft? - Online Security Toolkit

2008-08-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

By Alex Leguizamo

How worried are you? Worried about the economy? Worried about identity theft? According to FBI statistics, identity theft/fraud is growing and is a federal crime. The Federal Trade Commission reports the total losses exceed $50 billion a year.

Anyone could become a victim of id theft, It happens when someone pretends to be you by using your Social Security number, your credit cards and your bank account numbers to steal your money and use your good name to run up big bills. Consumers aren't the only ones hurt. Today, more and more businesses are seeing their bottom lines affected by identity theft.

A theft can steal a wallet, looking for cash, if it occurs, immediately call your bank and credit card company to report the problem, close old accounts and open new ones, i know, this can be a nightmare spending hours trying to clear your name and straighten out your credit history, but you have to do it.

The Internet is the cheapest method of delivery for transactions, many people in this contemporary society buy online, magazines, pills, furniture, etc and leave a footprint of their location. You may reduce your risk of identity theft using virtual debit card like paypal and you'll be protected by state of the art encryption methods. Best of all, you don't have to share your personal credit or debit card number online.

Thief gets your personal information in many inventive ways, they can go to city dumps or apartment dumpsters to haggle through trash to get receipts with names and financial information, Mail boxes also may be vandalized. Email fishing are another way, pretending to be eBay users or businesses you have used, sometimes they Act as your employer, loan officer or landlord to get your credit report.

Identity thieves are skilled liars, be alert folks! Don't put credit card numbers on checks or envelopes, don't give account numbers over the phone unless you made the call, don't use an automatic log-in feature that saves your user name and password and the list continue.

Alex Leguizamo is successful entrepreneur,to read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article visit: Online Security Toolkit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Leguizamo

7 Steps For Preventing Identity Theft

2008-08-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilcox

Personal data that thieves can use to steal your identity can be gathered from your garbage, so be sure that any documents with sensitive information are shredded or otherwise destroyed. Examples of such papers are bank statements, credit card statements, etc.

If you allow too much time to pass before emptying your mail box, you will be allowing identity thieves ample opportunity to steal private documents. Obtaining a locking mail box or PO Box will make your mail more secure. Simply bringing the mail in as soon as possible after it arrives will protect you. When mailing a letter or bill with private information or personal checks, be sure to send them from a location other than your home so that the chances that they will be stolen will go be lessened.

It is very important that your social security number stay private and safe. Carrying your social security card or other cards displaying the number would be unwise. You can also protect yourself by not writing your number on bills or checks that could fall into the wrong hands.

Home invaders often steal useful personal information when breaking and entering. Knowing this, the importance of storing your social security card in a safe or lock box becomes apparent.

Leaving receipts in stores, ATM's, or banks can also be dangerous. When paying with a credit card, you need to ensure that the receipt leaves whatever business establishment you find yourself in with you.

Handing your card over to restaurant employees could prove to be unwise, since more and more employees are using such opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. If you can't see what is done with your card, paying with cash or check would be best.

Even though a phone call may seem very professional, you should never ever tell callers any personal information that could be easily used to steal your identity. If the call seems to be from your bank, try to determine why they have called you and then have them offer you a number to call them back at.

You should only respond to junk mail if you are going to be taken off of their mailing list. It would be best to avoid junk mail as much as possible. That way, credit card offers can't be stolen from your mailbox and the amount of undesired junk mail you receive will be minimized.

Are you looking for more ways to stop identity theft? You'll find more up-to-the-minute information about how to protect yourself from this and other security threats at the Online Security Toolkit website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wilcox

Identity Theft Regulations - Are They Enough to Protect Us?

2008-08-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

By Stan Jenkins

Identity theft is a crime in which unscrupulous individuals obtain another individual's personal information such as driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers etc. and then use this sensitive information for any number of dubious acts. The crimes that one can commit with someone else's information vary widely. The identity thieves may open accounts in your name and run up bills that will never be paid. They may apply for credit in your name, open up cell phone accounts, or even open checking accounts with the intention of acquiring blank checks. Your identity may also be used by these thieves to obtain false identification. In the worst-case scenarios the criminals will use your identity in the commission of other crimes resulting a warrant for your arrest.

As you can see identity theft can range from irritating to life shattering. So, what is our government doing to protect us? It wasn't until 1998 that identity theft first became a federal crime. Various other laws have been passed since then to try to prevent identity theft as well as punish those committing the crime.

In 2001 the federal banking agencies implemented an act that was meant to establish standards for safeguarding customer information.

In 2003 the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was passed. This bill set up appropriate standards for the disposal of sensitive credit report information as well as creating guidelines for recognizing patterns and specific forms of identity theft in an effort to prevent identity theft from happening.

In 2004 the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act was signed into law. This law increase the penalties for the people that committed these crimes.

The identity theft act which makes identity theft a federal crime carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000. This law also enables the Secret Service, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies to fight identity theft.

Even with all the laws that have been passed over the years identity theft is still an ever increasing problem. It seems no amount of laws or penalties will deter people from committing this crime. The best thing you can possibly do to protect yourself is to learn how to prevent identity theft from ever happening to you in the first place.

Don't let this happen to you! Learning to prevent identity theft is the best way to protect yourself. For more information about ID theft visit http://www.end-identity-theft.info Don't be a victim.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Jenkins

What is Phishing and What You Need to Know

2008-08-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

By Stan Jenkins

If you're reading this article you've probably heard the term phishing and you may be wondering exactly what that is. That's exactly what this article is going to explain. I'm going to tell you what phishing is, what to look out for, and why it's important to be on the lookout for it and make sure it doesn't happen to you.

I'm going to give you an example of what phishing is by creating a scenario that people run into everyday. You're at home, you turn on the computer and decided to check some e-mails. You're going through your messages one by one and you come across a message from your bank that says "there has been fraudulent activity with your account. Please login to update your account information." You click on a link in the e-mail to go to your bank's website, you fill out all the required information name, address, phone number, bank account number, Social Security number, password etc. then you hit submit and think to yourself I wonder what kind of fraudulent activity they were talking about I hope it's all taken care of now.

If the above scenario happened to you your problems would not be taken care of in fact they would just be starting because the above scenario is an example of one type of phishing scam. The official looking e-mail that you received is from a con artist and the link that you clicked in the e-mail took you to a cloned page of your bank's website. The website may look just like your bank's website but was put there by a con artist to capture all of that sensitive personal information that you just entered.

With all of that information, your bank account number, passwords, Social Security number etc. this criminal can do all sorts of things that will make your life miserable. They can drain your bank account, they can take out loans or open lines of credit in your name and run up huge bills that will never be paid. If they get information like a Social Security number or driver's license number a criminal can assume your identity, go on a crime spree, and any paper trail created in the commission of these crimes will lead to you because they are doing everything in your name.

To prevent this type of thing from ever happening to you, the first big clue you should pick up on is a bank or any other organization asking you to click a link in an e-mail that takes you to a page to update personal information. If a bank or other organization needs you to update information they would have you go to their website by typing the URL directly into your Internet browser bar and then logging onto their site with your username and password. They would never have you click a link that takes you to a page that asks you to fill out this type of sensitive information.

This type of phishing scam is all too common and happens to unsuspecting people every day. These criminals will either use your information as described above or they may even sell it to other criminals to use for any number of various crimes. Phishing is just one way that these crooks can gather your information and steal your identity. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America and the best way to fight this crime is to prevent it from ever happening to you in the first place. Learning to spot a phishing scam will help but it's a good idea to learn more ways to prevent identity theft from happening to you.

Don't let this happen to you! Learning to prevent identity theft is the best way to protect yourself. For more information about ID theft visit http://www.end-identity-theft.info Don't be a victim.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Jenkins

One of the Top Internet Fraud Scams Exposed

2008-08-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

By Stan Jenkins

One of the fastest growing crimes in the country is identity theft. It's a terrible crime that can wreak havoc on not only the financial lives but also the emotional and mental well-being of its victims. One of the reasons this crime is growing so quickly is that the Internet makes it easier for the criminals to obtain other people's personal information.

Before the proliferation of the Internet identity theft still occurred. There are many off-line ways to obtain peoples personal information like stealing people's mail or going through their trash to find discarded financial documents. The Internet offers these thieves easier access to their victims sensitive information. There are websites and forums where people actually buy and sell things like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers etc.

In addition to simply purchasing information from another criminal, one way these thieves obtain the information they're looking for is called phishing. In a phishing scam the mark, or potential victim, will usually receive an e-mail asking them to click on a link taking them to an official looking webpage to fill in their personal information. The e-mail will claim to be from a legitimate business or institution such as a bank. The e-mail you receive will say something like "there's been suspicious activity on your account please click this link to log in and update your account information". If you click the link you'll be taken to a page that looks just like a page from your bank's website but it's really just a cloned page. The cloned page looks identical to your bank's page but everything you type in on that page is recorded by the person running the phishing scam. The information you typed in can now be used to steal money from your bank account, open lines of credit in your name that will be maxed out and never paid, or they may just sell your information to someone else who will do all of those things.

If you suspect that you may have been the victim of identity theft or a phishing scam you should obtain a copy of your credit report to see if there is any suspicious activity. If there is an indication of this type of activity on your credit report you should call the police and file a police report. You should also carefully scrutinize your credit card bills every month. If there are any charges on your card that you did not make you can call your credit card company to notify them of the fraudulent charges. Your credit card company will usually reverse the charges right away, send you an affidavit of fraud to fill out, and close that account and issue you a new credit card number.

Many people either don't really know about identity theft or think that it's something that happens to somebody else. With information so readily available and easily obtained identity theft can and does happen to anyone. The best way to fight identity theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place. There are many things you can do to either stop it from ever happening or to at least detect it as soon as it happens so that you can stop it quickly before any more damage is done. The criminals are always looking for a way to easily make a quick buck. We need to educate ourselves so that we don't become one of their victims.

Don't let this happen to you! Learning to prevent identity theft is the best way to protect yourself. For more information about ID theft visit http://www.lifeinsurancequestions.info - Don't be a victim.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Jenkins

Who Has Access to My Credit Report?

2008-08-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

By Don O'Malley

From the day you are eligible to own your first credit card, credit referencing agencies such as Experian and Trans Union start to collect information on your financial history. This information goes into making your personal credit report and is used to determine your credit score. Banks use this information to help them decide which banking products, such as loans and credit cards, will be suitable for you.

The Difference Between a Credit Score and a Credit Report

Your credit score is a number between 300 (poor) and 900 (excellent) used by banks to determine which of their products you are eligible for. This number is also called a FICO score after Fair Isaac & Co. who developed the first scoring systems in the 1950s. A credit report is far more detailed and contains information about your financial activities from around the age of eighteen. Your financial report is used by banks to determine your credit score.

What Exactly Goes into my Credit Report?

It contains detailed information about your current credit status and previous financial history. Things that will be included are:

Any information you volunteer when filling out credit application forms, such as your current address, marital status and earnings
Previous loans and credit history
Your banking patterns and general financial management, known as 'white data'
Defaults, bankruptcies and late payments, known as 'black data', including court rulings on debt matters
Criminal convictions (in the US but not the UK)
Publicly available data such as your electoral information

Certain things should not be included in, or effect, your credit report:

Your medical records
Your family's financial history
Fines that did not result in court action

Who can Access my Credit Report?

Any business with a legitimate business interest can request to see your credit report. If a business could possibly incur a lose through a default on payments or a bankruptcy declaration, it is in their interest to check your previous credit history by requesting to see your credit report. Some examples of eligible businesses would be:

Landlords and Rental Agencies
Banks
Insurance Companies
Car Credit or Sales Agents
Lenders
Real Estate Companies

In addition, it can be accessed by potential employers with written consent from you. Also government bodies may check if you are applying for various licenses or benefits.

How can you access this information? Under the 2003 Fair Credit Reporting Act every US citizen is entitled to one free copy of their credit report every twelve months. You can obtain this by writing to any of the credit referencing agencies: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union and requesting it. It is not entirely free however, as they are entitled to charge an administration fee of $10.

In the UK you may request a copy of either your credit score or credit report at any time under the 1974 Consumer Credit Act. The British referencing agencies are: Experian, Equifax and Callcredit and the administration fee is £2.

Checking your Report Details and Reporting Mistakes

It is worth checking your credit report details on a regular basis. Millions of people's records are amended and processed every year so mistakes are bound to occur and these mistakes can have serious knock-out effects for your credit rating. If you spot any errors either in your personal or financial history you need to send corrections in writing to the credit agency that issues the report.

Credit agencies have 30 days in which to investigate your claim. If you have not heard from them in this time, give them a call to ask what has happened. When they make the changes they should send you a new copy of your report. Always double-check that the changes are correct.

Don O'Malley has an MBA from UCLA. Find your credit report and for more information visit http://www.applyforacreditcardnow.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_O'Malley

Identity Theft - What is It?

2008-08-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

By Dale Mazurek

If for some reason someone uses your personal information for anything, that is identity theft. It can be your name, address, credit cards, social security numbers or even your phone number. If any of these are used without your permission it is usually to commit fraud or a crime. The five areas that identity theft falls under are character, financial, social security, medical and drivers license.

It really wouldn't surprise me if we all know someone who has been affected by identity theft in some way. With estimates of 9 million people having their identities stolen in 2008 how could we not know someone?

Your identity can be used in so many different ways. People who steal your information commit crimes, make phone accounts, start businesses, rent homes, get credit cards, insurance and now they are even getting mortgages with stolen identities. You want to make sure you watch your credit card statements very closely. Also if you are contacted by a bill collector and you know this is wrong then you should be checking into it immediately. Lastly if you find out there is a warrant out for your arrest then it's a pretty good chance your identity has been stolen.

Identity theft has become very serious and even deadly over the last few years. Many have given it the term financial cancer. It's pretty tough to always avoid it but the longer it goes undetected the more it will rule your life and become tougher to get away from. There are many cases that get resolved quickly with minimal damage and those are the people that get off lucky. For some people it takes years, hundreds of thousands of dollars. People have lost jobs, been denied insurance and many can't get loans because of the issues with the credit reporting. Hell even some get arrested for crimes they never committed.

Dale and Blair are professional Internet Marketers and Bloggers. They research their topics very precisely and write accurate articles on all their subjects. You can visit their website at http://www.work-at-home-business.us/ and check out all their blogs at http://blogs-jackie.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_Mazurek

Identity Theft - What You Need to Know

2008-07-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

By David M Siegel

Today most consumers can get credit within half an hour after going into a store. All that they need to know is personal information about themselves and their credit report. Such credit system allows consumers to spend carelessly without having the hassle of waiting to get credit Such spending is partially responsible for the high rate of personal bankruptcies filed during recent years. However, there are also other side effects that come with such credit systems.

What is going to stop someone from stealing your identity and getting credit on your name? All that the thief needs is to know some personal information about a consumer, which is not that hard to find for an experience identity-thief. One of the ways that the consumer might find out about fraudulent credit being taken under his name is by checking his credit report; to see if any of the credits are not his. A consumer can check his credit report once a year for free on annual credit report.

Seeing any credit that does not belong to the consumer should alert him for further investigation. The creditors that are shown on the report should be contacted immediately, after which credit agencies should be notified of the fraudulent transaction. So how does the overall market system approach this problem? They just deal with the symptoms. They accept the fraudulent credit reports as glitches in the system, but resist taking any permanent solutions. The explanation for such ignorant approach might be explained by the theory that protecting consumers from identity theft will slow down the economy. The identity check at the credit station is going to become more scrutinized, making it harder to get credit and harder to buy. All of this means less spending, less profits and slowdown in the economy; something that the credit companies are not willing to accept.

For more information about protecting your Credit, visit the popular blog at http://newinfopost.com/credit/identity-theft

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_M_Siegel

Internet Identity Theft - How to Prevent It

2008-07-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

By Michael Baker

Most people don't realize how powerful and important the internet is. Our life can be influenced by the internet and we can learn the advantages and disadvantages that come with the internet. Many movies show hackers and how internet is just a way to steal things. Although movies are fiction, the possibility of having things stolen from you exists.

Although many think that the internet is a safe place, you will be surprised to notice that it involves almost all risks from real life. Many people can steal from you through the internet. They can also gather your information, use your personal data and act in your name.

The common ways used by people to gain personal information are spam email or sites that make people subscribe for certain things. People need their personal information to subscribe, they write it there making it available for potential criminals who may use it for their own benefit.

Sometimes, thieves will make a whole database of personal information. They will use some information about one person to obtain more information and so on. Sometimes, a thief knows a lot about a person's lifestyle making things easier to spy. You may wonder how this can happen over the internet.

A Few Things You Should Know About Cookies

Through cookies, certain sites can use and keep private information in the user's hard disk. Cookies can contain a lot of information about users: from their lifestyle to the sites thy visit or the ads they click. They can even contain information about the email people send from their computers.

Thieves can use cookies to gain information about users. They can also gain personal information from cookies and use it against the users.

If you use cookies, you must be very careful, especially if you are doing business on the web. If you have a high speed broadband you are safer, because it makes things harder for hackers and site make less use of cookies.

Internet identity theft is a common occurrence in the online world of today. We do so many things online, we need to make sure we protect ourselves everyday. Get a free report showing how you can protect your identity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker

Credit Card Fraud Can Ruin Your Life!

2008-07-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

By Ken Lordis

It may have already happened to you. You go to make a purchase on your credit card to pay for dinner at a nice restaurant and your charge card is denied - embarrassing, right?

You pull out another card and run it through the machine and the same thing happens - uh oh! You got a problem - a big problem.

You keep hoping that your worst thoughts will not come true as you call the credit card company to find out what's going on. You find out that not only are you over your limit on the credit card, but your 5 other credit cards are over the limit as well.

The fact that you never had 5 cards to begin with is even more troubling. Someone has taken credit out in your name and destroyed your ability to buy anything on credit. Too late for you to be reporting credit card fraud.

It happens daily throughout the world - identity theft, or more likely credit card fraud. And for the unfortunate victim - you - the nightmare is just beginning. The credit card fraud statistics are alarming. Most victims rarely report credit card fraud until it's too late.

Here are some tips on credit card fraud prevention and how to avoid this life-altering catastrophe.

Check your credit every six months through one of the credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
Do not give your credit card to anyone to use.
Do not give your credit card number to anyone over the phone unless you are ordering something in which you originated the call and you are familiar with the vendor.
Shred old credit card statement and any other statements with you account numbers or social security numbers on them.
Sign any new or renewal credit cards as soon as you receive them.
Maintain a separate record of your account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers for customer service.
Watch your transaction carefully and make sure you get the card back.
Never sign a blank receipt and make sure you draw a line through any blanks on the receipt that you sign.
Compare your receipts with your monthly statement. If there are any discrepancies call the credit card company immediately.
Check with your credit card company to find out when they mail out new cards and look for them in the mail.
Notify the credit card companies of any change of address promptly so that you maintain a continuity of your monthly statement.

If you should suspect anything out of the ordinary such as a clerk mishandling your credit card or if you accidentally left it for even a short time, don't hesitate; get a monitoring service or identity theft protection service to keep track of your credit. They will notify you as soon as anything unusual happens to your credit.

Report Fraud Immediately.

If your credit cards were lost, stolen or misplaced, call the issuing credit card company and report credit card fraud or the event. Any further charges to your account after you report the loss will not be your responsibility. Keep the toll free numbers of all your credit cards in a safe accessible place.

Although the credit card fraud penalties are getting more serious, that doesn't help you when you are the victim.

Ken Lordis writes articles on on more than 20 subjects from art to yachts. There is additional consumer information available at http://www.BestCreditCardChoice.com The subject matter in other articles is varied and presented in a useful manner. His current project includes information on business planning, personal credit and starting a new business venture. Other articles and free E-books can be found at http://www.ProBusinessHelp.Com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Lordis

Identity Theft Repair - How to Fix the Damage

2008-07-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

By Stan Jenkins

Identity theft is an ever increasing problem in our modern society. So much information is readily available and only too easy for unscrupulous people to obtain. Identity theft sometimes be a relatively minor hassle, like some opening a cell phone account in your name and running up a bill until the collection agency starts calling you about it. But it can also be a completely devastating, life altering event. Costing thousands of dollars to repair the damage not to mention the stress and emotional suffering caused by someone wiping out your bank account and racking up thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt that happens to be in your name.

The best way to stop identity theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place. But what can you do if you've already been the victim of identity theft? The first thing to do is to file a police report. By filing a police report you're starting a paper trail of your efforts to fix the problem and that is important because when you're trying to apply for new credit or loans etc. you will want proof that all of the overdue bills and accounts in collection do not belong to you and that you are doing everything you can to fix the problem.

If your credit cards or card numbers have been stolen or misused you can call your credit card company to notify them of the fraudulent activity and they will reverse the charges and send you an affidavit of fraud that you must fill out, sign, and return. This also becomes part of the paper trail or proof that you're not responsible for the fraudulent activity and shows your identity theft repair efforts.

For some of the more serious cases of identity theft, like someone draining your bank account or taking out huge loans in your name, you will definitely want to get the police involved immediately and I would recommend that you find an attorney with experience in whatever issue you happen to be dealing with. There are a lot of things that you can handle on your own but for some of the more serious cases you will certainly require the help of qualified professionals.

More and more people are being victimized by these devious criminals. Prevention is the best way to stop these unsavory characters from stealing from you so I urge you to do some more research on prevention. Like most everything in nature, a thief will generally choose the path of least resistance. So if you can make yourself difficult to steal from, thieves will usually move on to easier prey.

To learn more about identity theft prevention please visit http://www.end-identity-theft.info - Don't be a victim!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stan_Jenkins

Financial Record Shredding is Now a Reality For a Growing Number of Businesses Around the Globe

2008-07-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

By James Worstshire

Have you ever driven down an alley behind a business and seen a transient shuffling along from trash can to trash can, holding a pillow case full of aluminum cans? What you may have actually witnessed is a growing problem for more and more businesses around the globe. This is because, it was very likely that that wasn't a transient that you saw. This is because sophisticated identity thieves now dress like bums and and move from trash can to trash can, completely undisturbed, mining for people's personal information.

The Business of Personal Information Theft

What are they looking for? Anything and everything, because even a social security number has a value and can be sold to any one of the millions of undocumented aliens now living and working in the U.S. If you own a business is financial record shredding a fool proof solution? The answer to that is yes and no. This is because, while financial record shredding is effective, the fact is that employees just don't do it all of the time.

What About a Lock On Your Trash Can?

What about a nice big lock on the dumpster? In this day and age, the truth is that locks are somewhat of a joke. Industry insiders will tell you that locks really only stop the "honest man". Now professional grade lock pick sets can be easily purchased online and a lock on your dumpster is a sign to identity thieves that something of value is inside. So, if locks aren't fool proof and shredding financial records isn't what is?

Reliable Financial Record Shredding

There is one proof positive way to insure that all of your businesses financial financial records are shredded completely and consistently and that is to hand the job over to a professional paper shredding service. Its a solution that more and more businesses are opting for around the globe to keep themselves and their clients safe from the criminal element.

Written by James Worstshire. Find the latest information on NJ financial record shredding as well as NY Shredding Services

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Worstshire

America's Fastest Growing Crime! Think You're Not at Risk?

2008-07-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

By Don Hayes

It's time that you stop thinking identity theft can't happen to you. Consider the following statistics:

Every minute there are at least 19 people that have their identity stolen. This translates into more then 10 million people a year!

There are over 7 million households that had to deal with the devastation of identity theft in the year 2004... with identity theft on the rise by more then 80% today can you honestly believe you are safe?

The FBI currently has more then 2000 open cases of identity theft right now!

The worst part, your kids aren't even safe. There are over 400,000 cases of child identity theft each year and that number is on the rise.

The bottom line here is that it is more likely that your identity will be stolen then it won't unless you take the precautions to prevent this crime from happening to you. Every time you give out personal information over the internet, every time you hand the waiter or waitress your credit card and they walk off with it and every piece of mail you throw away without shredding that contains any personal information about you or your family members you are increasing the likelihood of your identity being stolen.

This includes any medical records and insurance information. Did you know that if someone else claims to be you, has tests run and is diagnosed with a disease of any sort it will be on your medical record for ever. It is important that you protect yourself and your family.

The first thing you should do after reading this article is get a copy of your credit report. Your credit report is going to be the first indication that someone else is using your identity. Unfortunately many people do not take the time to go through their report. It is more common then you realize for their to be mistakes and inaccurate information on your credit report.

The next step is to not sign the back of your credit cards. While some places will tell you that they can not accept your credit or debit card then without a signature that is simply not true. What they need to do is see your identification along with your credit card. They should be verifying that it is really you anyway.

In this day and age shopping on the internet is a wonderful thing. We can buy just about anything we want, get all the information that we want all for a small price. That price could also come with the risk of your identity being stolen. Consider setting up a separate account that is only used for internet shopping and then link that to a PayPal account. So that you aren't giving out your information to people when you are buying items. All someone needs to do to steal your identity is your birthday, name and address and social security number.

Protect those precious items. If you don't feel secure enough to take care of it all yourself or fear having to wage the battle alone once your identity is stolen there are services available to you for a very small fee. Look into those services and protect you and your family.

Don Hayes is an Independent Associate Small Business & Group Benefits Specialist. One of the benefits when he joined Pre-paid Legal, he immediately took advantage of their three annual attorney letter writing benefits, free experian credit report, and score, unlimited phone consultation, and phone mediation. If you are a victim of identity theft or know someone who has been, here's what you can do now to prevent, and safe guard yourself from being another statistic, and crime victim. Check out this short movie and when finish forward it over to a friend. http://www.SuccessProven.com They will thank you many time over for it.

Thank you

Don Hayes

Independent Associate
Small Business & Group Benefits Specialist
Toll Free 800.935.6019
Listen 800.605.0293 -15 Min
Info 800.394.6919 -8 Min
DonHayes@SuccessProven.com
http://www.SuccessProven.com

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How Identity Thefts Are Committed & How to Stop Them

2008-07-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilcox

The idea of learning how to commit identity theft might seem strange to the common person. But in order to protect yourself from the criminals that commit these acts, it's important to educate yourself on just how they do it. The number of identity thefts perpetrated is on the rise. And if you think it can't happen to you, then think again.

How Identity Thieves Gain Access to Your Information

Identity thieves commit their crimes by obtaining your personal information. If you make your personal information unattainable, then the thieves have nothing to use against you. So your first line of defense is to protect your personal information. There are steps you can take to do this.

Buy a Shredder- Shred all of your personal information such as phone bills, credit card bills, pre-approved credit card offers, medical bills or any documents that contain personal information. Some credit card thieves search through your trash in hopes of finding documents such as these. Old bills can contain your mailing address, account numbers and full name. Some documents even contain your social security number and birth date. Identity thieves can do some major damage with this sort of information so protect yourself.

Do Not Give Out Information- Never give out personal information out to someone on the phone. Many thieves call saying they are from your bank to obtain personal information. Always tell them you will call them back and then phone your bank. Others may say they are from a charitable organization and ask for a donation. Never give out your credit card number, bank account number, or debit card number to anyone claiming they are from a charitable organization. Instead request that they send you the information in the mail and then decide for yourself if it is a legitimate charitable organization you want to donate to.

Watch Your Information on the Internet- Not only do thieves obtain information from your trash but nowadays they can obtain information via the Internet. Therefore, never give out information on the Internet unless you are certain that the source is secured.

One ploy that is used is thieves send out bogus emails that say they are from your bank. These emails often ask you to log in into your account using a provided link. Do not respond to these emails, instead go to your banks website and log into your account. Most banks and financial institutions do not send emails for this very reason.

Don't be the next victim of identity theft. Remember these tips to protect yourself from identity theft because the thieves are watching.

Are you worried about identity theft and other types of internet threats? Learn how to set up solid internet security so you don't get attacked on the net. Get more helpful tips and information at http://www.securitymanor.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wilcox

What to Do If You're a Victim of Identity Theft

2008-07-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilcox

The crime of identity theft is rising in popularity. Unfortunately, victims of identity theft are unaware that their identity has been stolen before their good name and good credit has been damaged.

Is it possible to know if your identity has been stolen before drastic damage has occurred? Here are some hints for stopping identity theft:

Criminals will often apply for new loans or credit cards under a false name, using a stolen identity. You should contact a lender or creditor if you begin to receive letters of approval or phone calls of acceptance for loans to which you have not applied.

This is a warning sign that something is wrong, and you can save yourself a lot of hassle by investigate further.

Another indicator that you may be a victim of identity theft is if you stop receiving bills or credit card statements. Criminals who use a false identity will chance the address on monthly bills so the victim is unaware that their credit cards are being used by someone else.

Know when your monthly bills are supposed to arrive, and if they are late, call your credit card company. Be vigilant about your bills and thwart identity theft before too much damage is done.

If you see charges on your credit card statements that are not from purchases you've made, you need to contact your credit card company immediately and report these unauthorized charges.

If you do not play close attention to your credit card bill, this indicator of identity theft can go unnoticed. By closely handling your finances and watching your accounts you can stop identity theft before it gets out of hand.

Is your computer as secure as it need to be? Find out what you need to be doing to keep it safe from viruses, spyware and other internet security threats at the Online Security Toolkit website. Visit http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wilcox

The Truth About Identity Theft Services

2008-07-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

By Ronnie Taggy

Failing to receive bills or mail on your usual address, receiving credit cards that you haven't applied for, denial of credit, getting calls from companies asking you to pay for merchandise you didn't even buy - these are some of the indications of becoming a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is almost like a wretched disease that can happen to anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

When it comes to protecting your identity, you need to employ simple Do-It-Yourself techniques that can minimize the risk of becoming a potential victim of identity theft. Some of the best DIY techniques for identity protection would include:

· Placing fraud alerts every ninety days

· Reviewing credit reports regularly

· Using a shredder to destroy important documents and mail

· Protecting bank and credit accounts with a password

· Avoid divulging personal information through email or phone irrespective of the company the caller claims to be calling from

· Keeping Social Security Number or SSN card in a secure place

· Installing ant-ivirus software on the computer

Many are tempted to go for credit monitoring services to protect themselves from identity theft. But the truth is that credit monitoring does not really protect you from identity theft. It merely tells you that someone has taken out credit using your name, which means you have become a victim of identity theft. In terms of coverage and efficiency, credit monitoring is nowhere close to proactive identity protection plans that take care of you 24X7. You can count on a good identity protection plan to fight this serious crime every single day and in the worst scenario if it occurs despite all the safety measures, it provides you an expert to help you cope with identity theft.

Several companies have come up with unique identity protection plans to protect your name and credit. Certain financial institutions are presently offering protection plans for their customers for free. More comprehensive plans however come with a monthly fee. No matter what protection plan you choose, the one that offers identity insurance would be your best bet. After all, you have slogged all your life to reach your financial position and you wouldn't want to lose it all just because someone stole your name.

LifeLock, TrustedID, and LoudSiren Debix are some of the top providers you may consider for buying identity theft protection plan. Each differs in the extent of services offered and you can go for a comparative analysis before you choose one that best meets your security demands.

Don't become a victim of identity theft. Read our expert reviews on the various identity theft services as well as detailed guides on protecting your identity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronnie_Taggy

Identity Theft Protection

2008-07-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

By Lit Smith

Identify theft is becoming a very big issue within the media and main stream America in general. The media is being flooded with reports of large companies losing confidential customer information. Is it even possible to feel safe in such an environment? Of course it is, and that is why companies are popping up to try to relieve the stress of identity theft. But the thing about most identify theft companies is that all they do is monitor your credit report and send you an email if something is changed.

This of course is very useful, but what do you do, when you receive such an email and you find out that your identify is being stolen or as already been stolen? The fact of the matter is that most of these services are simply fire alarms that come with hoses so you can attempt to save your burning home. Wouldn't it be better if you were given a fire alarm that's directly connected to the fire department that will put the fire out for you?

Fortunately there is such a service, offered by Prepaid Legal. This service is not a hose, it's an entire fire department, that is the best protection against identify theft. If you do any of these activities you can be sure that you are at risk for identity theft:

- Hand credit cards to waiters at restaurants
- Provide personal information online
- Carry social security card in wallet
- Sign your credit cards

The list goes on an on, and the best defense is to erect a fence around yourself with an identify theft protection plan.

http://www.lessterms.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lit_Smith

The Insider Secrets to Preventing Identity Theft

2008-07-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

By Ronnie Taggy

Preventing identity theft can often be cumbersome if you do it the wrong way. Having been a victim of identity theft, read my insider secrets to preventing identity theft and what you need to do right now.

Identity theft is a serous kind of fraud that is on the rise online as well as offline. Once an identity thief gets access to personal information, he may use it to open new credit card accounts or bank accounts in your name. Identity thief may also use your information to:

· Change the billing address on your account so that the bills won't reach you and by the time you realize there is a problem it would be too late

· Get a phone or wireless service

· Get a car loan

· File bankruptcy in your name to avoid eviction or paying debts incurred in your name over time

· File fraudulent tax returns

· Get a fake driver's license with your name on it

According to the Federal Trade Commission or FTC, it is not entirely impossible to control this dangerous crime. As with any other crime, there would be some risk involved but you can certainly minimize this risk by managing your information carefully. You need to get into the habit of obtaining and checking your credit report regularly to spot any discrepancies instantly. Affix a password to all your bank, phone, and credit card accounts. Never have a password that is the same as your kids' name or birth date or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Such passwords are easy to guess and should therefore be avoided at all costs. You may get calls from government agencies and organizations you are associated with asking you to confirm your address, mother's maiden name, or account number. This could be a call from an identity thief trying to con you. Instead call up the customer service of the organization to ensure that the caller is genuine. Empty your mailbox regularly. If you are going to be away for a while, call up the U.S. Postal Service to put your mail on vacation hold until you are back. You may also call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) to avoid getting credit offers through mail.

Never carry your Social Security Number or SSN card with you wherever you go. In case your wallet gets stolen, report about the theft immediately to the local police to protect yourself from potential identity theft. Beware of various promotional offers that you may get time to time. These could be phony offers sent out by identity thieves to fool you into giving your personal information.

Lastly, install good virus protection software to protect your computer from intrusions. And never open mails sent by strangers or click on hyperlinks that you are not familiar with to avoid giving away your personal information to hackers.

Don't become a victim of identity theft. Read our expert reviews on the various identity theft prevention services as well as detailed guides on preventing identity theft.

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