Identity Theft

The 'DIY' Identity Theft Prevention Guide

2008-03-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

Identity theft is still the number one consumer crime in the United States today, with the fastest growing form of this being unauthorized access to banking, credit and checking accounts. This has led to a huge rise in demand for Identity Theft Prevention services. Generally these types of services tend to be expensive, but it doesn't have to be! Here's our short 'DIY' Identity Theft Prevention Guide to help you avoid becoming a victyim of identity theft.

Most people these days have access to the Internet, either from home or from a public point such as an Internet café or library. This has resulted in an estimated 75% of the adult population using some form of internet banking to pay bills, transfer funds or simply to manage their day to day accounts. Although online banking is typically a very secure medium, which provides an exceptionally convenient service in comparison to physical branch banking, it also opens the door to the possibility of fraudulent attempts to access your account or personal details.

What Are 'Phishing' Attacks?

The most common type of this is known as 'phishing' and the most common form of 'phishing' attacks come in the form of emails. The recipient will receive a compromised email posing to be from a large institution or banking organisation, claiming there's an issue with your account and asking you to log in. These emails frequently look like Ebay, Paypal and major banking companies. These high tech phishing emails are designed to perfectly replicate the authentic site it is trying to impersonate, even using logo's, graphics and font types that you'd find on authentic emails.

Unknowing victims will then enter there personal details believing they are logging into their own account, when in fact they are providing the criminals with their account details, passwords and security questions! This is potentially very dangerous if it goes unnoticed as identity theft can literally ruin people's lives.

A recent awareness of identity theft had led to most organisations tightening up security policies and has also meant that some email service providers can now filter out recognised phishing emails. The widely used MSN Hotmail service offers users the option of reporting suspicious emails as 'phishing' with the click of a single button. However the problem remains that the majority of identity fraud victims are unaware of the problem and it can often be years before they realise, with 53% of victims being between 18-39 years old.

How Can I protect Myself From These Attacks?

Generally you will receive an email appearing to be from a large organisation or company that you are familiar with, such as your bank, credit card provider or mortgage lender (More recently Ebay and Paypal style Phishing attacks have become more and more frequent). The email will explain there's some sort of problem with your account, such as your password is expiring, or your address needs updating and asks you to log in immediately to avoid your account being frozen for security reasons.

By following a few crucial identity theft prevention steps you can avoid becoming a victim of 'phishing' attacks. Firstly do not put your login details or passwords in to any email requests, regardless how professional they look. If you are unsure, open a new Internet window and type in the web address of the company by hand before logging in. This way you will be certain that you are putting your details in to the authentic site. Although no financial institution will ever ask you for personal details via email!

Another really effective tip is to look at the address bar in your internet browser. You will see that the 'http' found at the beginning of the web address will become 'https' on secure websites. If there's no 'S' on the web address, the site is not secure and you should certainly not enter any credit or debit card numbers!

You should remember that offline security is just as important as online, so shred your personal letters and never leave your cards in public view. Also never let a waiter or bar-person take your card out of your site. A sophisticated piece of machinery known as a credit card skimmer will record the details of your card in one single swipe!

In this article we've discussed the implications of 'phishing' attacks and how it might affect you. Awareness is the key to avoiding identity theft, but there are many more advanced techniques thieves are using to steal your identity!

The tips in this article are taken from a new Identity Theft ebook The Max Black Report which explains the new and emerging threats to your identity in 2008, then provides effective defensive strategies you can begin to use instantly!

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

Top 5 Government Websites for Identity Theft Resources

2007-10-12T00:36:00.000-07:00

The US government has a number of websites which cover the subject of identity theft. In this article we will look at a few of them which can help you fight identity theft and give you any information you may be requiring in this area or lead you to other resources that can help.

The first website that everyone should know about who is looking into the subject of identity theft is the Federal Trade Commission government website. The Federal Trade Commission is one of the government departments you will need to contact in the case of identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission offers a number of identity theft resources such as their Deter, Detect, Defend Brochure in PDF format; “Take Charge: Fighting Back against Identity Theft”; “What to do if your personal information has been compromised”; a test on identity theft; as well as links to various other identity theft resources.

The Department of Treasury government website also has information on identity theft and links to identity theft resources. These resources are divided into sections including a DVD companion learning guide, documents on how to obtain credit reports; identity theft tips, forms and facts; Phishing and others.

The IRS website also has some information on identity theft and links to a couple of identity theft resources. It contains some information about what you can do to prevent identity theft, what you should do if you think you have been a victim of identity theft, and how your tax records are affected.

The US Department of Justice government website also has information on and links to identity theft resources. There is some information on identity theft – what it is, how to prevent identity theft, as well as what the Department is doing about it. In the section on what to do if you have become a victim there are links and contact details of different resources as well as other links in a separate section under government and non-government resources.

A number of state specific government websites also offer identity theft resources and you can use the search engines to find websites for your specific state.

In conclusion, a number of government websites offer links to identity theft resources. The most important of these and the one quoted most often by the others is the Federal Trade Commission website. You can also find information under the Department of Treasury, IRS, and Department of Justice websites, as well as on state specific government websites.

You can also find more information on Identity Theft Software and Identity Theft Statistics. Preventidentitythefthelp.com is a comprehensive resource to find how to secure your ID.

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

What if We Stopped Identity Theft?

2007-10-10T03:45:00.000-07:00

What if nobody ever attempted to steal someone else’s identity? What if we could stop computer hacking attacks? What if we did not need shredders because no one ever went dumpster diving?

What if the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation could keep up with those who steal identities? What of there was no such thing as Phishing or Pharming? What if there was no way for a Internet SPAM people to hide?

What if Identity theft was not the fasting growing crime? What if Identity theft security did not cost corporations and business people millions each year; would prices reflect the savings? What if companies were not over burdened by regulations to protect consumers?

What if the Identity Theft criminals had to pay the costs? What if it did not take an average of 30 hours to fix your credit after identity theft? What if each year over 10 million Americans did not have to deal with this?

What if the problem were not growing like the predicted Bird Flu virus pandemic? What if we could do something about identity theft rather than fearing it? What if more people used the Internet to shop because they felt safe with using their credit cards online?

What if it all ended tomorrow and we never had to deal with Identity theft? Oh what if. . . What if We Stopped Identity Theft?

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Overview of Identity Theft - Are You Protecting Yourself?

2007-04-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Identity theft has to do with the illegal obtainment of a person's confidential information and using it for illegal purposes. In the past decade identity theft is a crime that has become out of control, and law enforcement officials have recently begun to crack down on the issue altogether. It is not difficult to become a victim of identity theft; you can do it without even knowing you are, inadvertently revealing your social security number or driver's license number to somebody else who intends to use them for their own purposes, placing the responsibility on your identity. Anything that pertains to your identity that someone could use to their advantage by pretending to be you puts you at risk for identity theft, and it is becoming more and more of a problem with each and every passing year.

Perhaps the reason why identity theft is becoming such a problem is that technology is advancing. Technology is advancing, and it is doing so at an extremely rapid pace. This makes it easier and easier with every new technological fad for people to find ways to steal our identities. Even paying your electric bill on the internet is no longer as safe as it used to be. It's not just about putting in your credit card number anymore; now, with the advancement of spy ware and other phishing software people can steal your personal and financial information and use it for their own purposes.

ID theft is a serious crime, protect yourself.

Identity theft is the stuff suspense thrillers are made of, but you can protect yourself against it by safeguarding your personal information. This means keeping all documents with your personal information safe or disposing of them safely, or buying software necessary to keep people from accessing the information you put into sites on the internet. These days, the threats lie from places we can't even see; computer hackers are able to get into our files and steal valuable personal information or even capture the information that we fill in on bank forms, website inquiry forms, and the like.

To protect yourself against identity theft, make sure that you properly shred all of the documents that you receive in the mail, at the doctor's office, at work, and the like using an electronic paper shredder. Manufacturers specially design shredders to scramble personal information during shredding, so be sure to invest in a good one and it will serve you well. It is a sad world in which people pick through trash to find personal information, but it is the world that we live in so protect yourself from that issue before it even becomes a problem.

There is a new fad where people are using small devices like camera phones or iPod cameras to take pictures of people's credit cards, when they are in line at the store or something similar to that. You can protect yourself from this type of information theft or any type of infringement of your credit card information by holding your thumb over the numbers when you hand the card to the cashier or any other time when you have your card out of your wallet.

If you tend to do a lot of banking or other financial or personal business on the web, look for the symbol that indicates that the site's security has been checked to ensure that your personal information is safe from spies; if you can not find evidence of a secure site, then you should be hesitant to put any information that you do not wish to have potentially compromised. People who steal personal information open fraudulent bank accounts, write checks, take out loans, apply for credit cards, or even open mobile phone accounts. Especially if you have decent to good credit, it is all the more important for you to be careful where you display your personal and sensitive information.

These days, governments are taking action against identity theft at a federal, state, and even local level. They are figuring out new and innovative ways to catch people who attempt to use other people's personal information for fraudulent purposes. Tougher laws are being imposed that put stricter sentences on people who are convicted of such crimes.

About the Author

Author and internet entrepreneur Bernard Pragides offers expert advice and tips regarding identity theft. Learn more about identity theft and fraud by visiting his blog at http://www.identity4life-blog.com and his website http://www.IdentityProtek.com for more helpful information.

The Winner's Edge - Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

2007-04-09T09:29:00.001-07:00

The high tech age has created a new form of crime known as identity theft. Basically, identity theft is the use of your name, social security number and other personal information to steal money from you or to commit some other form of fraud.

Identity thieves will open credit card accounts in your name, steal from your bank accounts and ruin your credit rating and reputation. Victims of identity theft have been refused loans, turned down for jobs and in some cases arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

HOW IT OCCURS

Identity thieves can gain access to your sensitive personal information in several ways.

They can obtain information from businesses and other institutions, such as schools, by stealing records from their employers, bribing employees to steal it and by hacking into computers.

They can "dumpster dive," that is, rummage through your trash can or the trash of businesses.

They can use a technique known as "skimming" to steal your credit card number when your card is processed at a store.

They can use their employer's access to credit reports to get your confidential information. Or, they may contact credit reporting agencies and pose as an employer or landlord.

They steal wallets and purses, which usually contain driver's licenses, credit and debit cards.

They will steal your mail, looking for bank and credit card statements, tax documents, new checks and offers for pre-approved credit cards.

They steal personal information from your home.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The first thing to do is order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Contact:

Equifax www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111

Experian www.experian.com 1-888-EXPERIAN

Transunion www.transunion.com 1-800-916-8800

If there are no unauthorized activities on your credit reports, there is a good chance that you have not been a victim. Yet. So you must be diligent and cautious about when and how you reveal any information about yourself.

Here are some other steps to take:

Put passwords on your bank accounts, credit cards and phone accounts. It's best not to use information that can be easily obtained such as your birth date, your mother's maiden name, the last four digits of your social security number or your phone number

Make sure that all of your personal information in your home is in a secure place, especially if you have roommates or if you have outside people such as contractors or cleaning service staff work in your home.

Do not give out any information over the phone or on the internet unless you are the one who initiated contact and you know who you are dealing with.

When filling out applications, ask how your personal information will be used and secured, and if it will be shared with others. Ask if you can have the info be kept confidential.

Protect your mail. Don't put outgoing mail in your personal mailbox to be picked up. Instead take it to the post office or drop it in an official mailbox

Buy a shredder. Shred all mail and other pieces of paper that contain personal information before putting it in the garbage. This includes mailing labels on magazines, receipts, insurance forms, doctor's statements, bank statements, checks and credit card statements. If you aren't able to obtain a shredder, thoroughly tear up all of these items.

Only give out your Social Security Number(SSN) when absolutely necessary and keep your Social Security card in a safe place. Ask to use other ways to identify yourself. Often, employers and financial institutions will want your SSN for tax reporting purposes so you will probably have to give it to them.

When you leave home, keep on your person only those credit cards and types of identification that you will need with you.

Stay on top of your billing cycles. If your bills don't arrive on time, contact your credit card companies to see if there has been unauthorized use of your card.

Danek S. Kaus is the co-author of “Power Persuasion: Using Hypnotic Influence to Win in Life, Love and Business” (David R. Barron and Danek S. Kaus). To learn more winning ways, visit http://winnersedge.blogspot.com or request a free weekly newsletter filled with tips from experts in every area of life. Write to dkaus@sbcglobal.net

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The Horror Of Identity Theft

2007-04-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

The full horrors of identity theft as frightening as they appear to be have to be experienced to be fully appreciated. It is really a very scary and horrible thing to happen to anybody.

Yet the reality is that the main avenue through which it happens, which is spyware and adware software illegally installed in your computer is a multi-billion dollar industry and statistics clearly show that nine out of ten computers are infected with spyware. What all this means is that the number of people who will end up being victims of identity theft will be as high as ever this year, and will in fact continue to be on the rise.

Using nasty spyware tools like key loggers it is fairly easy for somebody to get hold of your user names and passwords to all your most important online accounts and the to use the information to steal your identity and even clean out your bank accounts.

Yet it is not too difficult to take the necessary precautions to safeguard yourself against the dangers that come with spyware and adware infestation of your PC.

Protecting yourself has to start with knowledge. Take the time to visit sites like this one and learn in great detail what spyware is and how it infects PCs. Not to mention the remedy to spyware and all forms of malware and where best to get it. This little time invested daily in improving your knowledge on this subject is bound to save you lots of grief later.

Discover more ways in which to protect yourself from identity theft and spyware.

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

Protecting Children Before and After ID Theft

2007-04-06T10:17:00.001-07:00

Identity theft gets so much air time in the press that many people get tired of hearing about it. They think that, like other crimes, identity theft is something that happens to someone else. The reality is that the commission of fraud through the assumption of personal information is the fastest growing crime in the country and more and more people are falling prey without even knowing it. The easiest targets for the crime are often the elderly and children.
Most children are issued a social security number at birth. This is convenient for mothers and fathers when it comes to filing federal income taxes but it also means that there is a valid, issued government identification number that no one will be actively monitoring for eighteen years. Thieves know this is typically the scenario and have become very astute at exploitation. Because of the rise of this crime, a generation of children is facing the possibility of starting their financial lives thousands of dollars in the red.
There are simple steps that can be taken to help protect your child’s financial future. First, make sure that when the social security administration provides the child’s official card to store it in a secure lock box or safe deposit box. Secondly, any forms that have the child’s number on them such as medical or school records should be safely stored under lock and key or shredded before disposal. Third, periodically check with all three major credit repositories to ensure that no credit has been established using the minor’s personal information. Fourth, if it is determined at any point that the child’s information has been compromised, immediately file a police report to make sure there is an official public record of the crime. Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, educate yourself and your child about credit, its appropriate uses, and how to read a credit report. If you can not determine what is in a report, you can not determine which accounts belong to you and which do not. Finally, there is one other aspect of child identity theft that is unique. Many cases are perpetrated by close family members such as mothers, fathers, and siblings who have access and opportunity. There can be a great range of emotions associated with this type of crime since few are eager to prosecute someone they love on a felony charge. This puts a huge burden on the family as a whole to help the helpless in monitoring their histories and keeping those less scrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the situation.
Identity theft of a minor is not the perfect crime. As illustrated above, there are a multitude of precautions Americans can take to help safe guard the financial futures of the young. With due diligence and the right amount of knowledge, it is a problem that can be managed and mitigated.
James Bollengier is the Director of Client Services for RMCN Credit Services, Inc. His credit experience includes a term in the elite special services division of one of the major credit bureaus. He has published articles in the Texas Mortgage Press. He can be reached by email at j.bollengier@rmcninc.com or through http://www.repairmycreditnow.com
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Seven Simple Identity Theft Protection Tips

2007-04-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Identity theft is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic. The latest statistics reveal that the largest majority of victims are aware of the crime within 30 days; over 25% don't discover it for six to twenty four months. It is up to all of us to become aware and use identity protection tips to prevent the spread of this crime.

Some of these tips seem to be common sense, and might be things that you are already doing. Others might be tips that you have heard already, and thought about following, but have not started yet. Today is a good day to start protecting yourself from identity theft. Here are seven identity theft protection tips to get you started.

Protect your social security number. Never give it out on the internet, and don't have it printed on your checks. If your health care plan uses your social security number as your membership number, ask them to replace it with a different number.
Delete all phishing emails. These emails appear to be from legitimate businesses, such as banks, credit card companies, or EBay. They ask you to reply with your credit card information, or your social security number to correct the information in your account. If you think it might be legitimate, telephone the institution, and verify it. Don't reply to the email, or click any links in it.
Shred, or tear up any pre-authorized credit card offers that you receive in the mail, and don't want to accept. Also, tear up or shred any papers with your personal information that you are going to throw out.
Protect your personal information on your home computer. Use passwords with at least eight characters, and a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Make sure your firewall is enabled, and your virus and spy ware protection software is up to date.
When you are shopping online, take a minute to read the privacy policy on the web site before entering your credit card information. If there is no privacy policy posted, shop elsewhere. Only enter your payment information on secure sites that have a web address that begins with https, and has a padlock symbol in the bottom corner of the browser screen.
Check your bank statements and credit card bills as soon as they arrive. If you don't receive your statements, contact the financial institution immediately. Identity thieves will change the address where the statement is delivered to avoid being caught.
Check your credit reports and monitor your credit history. You can get one free credit report each year from each of the three national credit bureaus. You can order a report from a different bureau every four months to monitor your credit.

Use these identity theft protection tips to prevent being the next victim of this crime. Share them with your family and friends to help them stay safe and avoid the turmoil of becoming the next victim of identity theft.

Protect your identity and your privacy with the world's leading privacy protection software.Get your Free software download of Evidence Eraser at http://www.AboutIdentityTheftProtection.com/

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

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft Online

2007-03-21T01:53:00.000-07:00

When identity theft online happens, it can be several months before you are aware that anything has happened. This makes it much more dangerous than other types of theft. If someone steals your wallet, or your car, you notice it immediately, and can start to take steps to protect yourself. When someone plants a cookie on your computer, you don't even notice it. Each time you visit a site, send an email, or use your credit card online, all the information is delivered to the eager hacker. From there, he can either use the information himself, or sell it online to anyone with the cash and the desire for an alternate identity. A recent report from a major internet security firm estimates that the value of all your personal identity data is about $18 US, and can be purchased on a number of internet sites.

A number of computer programs are available to help you protect yourself from identity theft on the internet. If you are considering purchasing a program to make your computer more secure, take the time to do the research before investing your hard-earned money. You want a program that is frequently updated. The identity theft hackers are constantly working on ways to out smart these types of programs, and you want one that is working just as hard to protect you. Once you decide on the right program, be sure that you don't ignore the messages to download the latest upgrades. If you ignore these messages, you are refusing to keep your computer secure.

It is also a good idea to frequently change your passwords to any sites that hold your personal information. Use a combination of letters and numbers, and don't use phone numbers, addresses, or birthdates for your passwords. Also, if you share your computers with others, or use the internet at work, do not check the remember this password prompt. This is an open invitation for anyone else that uses the computer to have full access to all your information.

If you suspect that you have become a victim of online identity theft, there are a few steps to take immediately. You will need to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This tells creditors to take extra steps before opening any new credit accounts in your name. Next, you should close any accounts that you know were opened fraudulently, or have been tampered with. Also, notify your local police, and file a report with them. They will want information about how and where you think the identity theft took place. You can use the History button on your internet browser to track websites you visited recently. This will help to narrow down the suspect sites.

Identity theft online is quickly becoming a threat to all internet users. Once you become a victim, your life, and your credit rating will never be the same. Take steps today to prevent identity theft on the internet from happening to you and your family.

Get your Free software download of Evidence Eraser at http://www.AboutIdentityTheftProtection.com/ Protect your identity and your privacy with the world's leading privacy protection software.

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Pretexting - Identity Theft with Personality

2006-11-15T23:14:00.000-08:00

No doubt, by now, you've been warned about "phishing". Phishing attempts to steal personal information via faked websites or bogus "official" communications, designed to lure the user into providing information via web forms. There are numerous tools now available to help protect users against phishing, which is a fairly "passive" form of social engineering. The recent scandal at Hewlett Packard brought a more sophisticated form of identity theft via social engineering to the public consciousness: pretexting.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, pretexting is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretenses. Pretexters sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. That information may include your Social Security Number (SSN), telephone records and your bank and credit card account numbers.

Pretexters use a variety of tactics to get your personal information. For example, a pretexter may call, claim he's from a survey firm, and ask you a few questions. When the pretexter has the information he wants, he uses it to call your financial institution.

He pretends to be you or someone with authorized access to your account. He might claim that he's forgotten his checkbook and needs information about his account.

In this fashion, the pretexter may be able to obtain personal information about you such as your SSN, bank and credit card account numbers, information in your credit report. Pretexting is the key to identity theft, which most commonly results in credit card fraud, bank fraud, loan fraud and communications fraud (opening a phone account fraudulently).

However pretexting is also alive and well in the private gumshoe community: investigators ostensibly working quietly but aboveboard for legitimate clients. There is a thriving network of creative con artists who gather phone records and other private data. Some of their clients are major banks and insurance companies. Pretexting has often been the corporate investigative tool of choice.

The most notorious example of this practice coming to light recently has been the drama played out at Hewlett Packard, where the board chairwoman and other HP luminaries hired an investigative agency to track the source of leaks coming from board meetings. The investigators, in turn, engaged in pretexting to attempt to gain phone records on a suspected board member and on the journalist(s) who were writing stories based on the links.

Computer hackers call the use of an assumed identity "social engineering." That's an endearing title for theft, but the fact is that this type of behavior has been in the news for some time preceding the HP fiasco. Presidential candidate Wesley Clark had his cell phone records purchased by a blogger, who turned them into a major political story. The HP story has resulted in an investigation by the California Attorney General's office, which says that it currently has six "major" pretexting cases under investigation, all of them corporate in nature.

HP's filing with the Security and Exchange Commission regarding this matter states in part that, "The (HP board) Committee was then advised by ... outside counsel that the use of pretexting at the time of the investigation was not generally unlawful (except with respect to financial institutions)..."

The Federal Trade Commission's web site section on this issue reads as follows: "Pretexting is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretenses. Pretexters sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. Pretexting is against the law."

HP's investigators are currently under indictment. It will be interesting to see what comes of the board members and lawyers who found their methods "not generally unlawful."

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for ApolloHosting.com. She brings years of experience as a small business consultant to helping prospective clients understand the ways in which a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo prides itself on the highest levels of customer support.

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Protecting Against Identity Theft

2006-10-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

Identity theft is a horrible problem. Those whose identities are stolen must go through so much legwork just to get their lives back on track. The worst part about identity theft is the fact that so many people believe that it could never happen to them. In all honesty, they could be no further from the truth. More than 500,000 American citizens' identities are stolen per year, and we've written this article to provide some tips when it comes to protecting your identity.

- First and foremost, you need to make sure that you keep your social security number safe. Your credit reports and bank accounts are linked to your social security number, and if an identity thief has that information, their work is made a lot easier.

- Next, you need to regularly monitor your credit report. It contains all the information that you need when it comes to determining whether or not someone has stolen your identity. Bank statements, account closings and openings, as well as your account numbers are located on your credit report, and it can be a great tool to defend against identity theft.

- When you get offers for credit cards and bank accounts in the mail, it is important to shred them immediately. They contain information about you and if they are not properly destroyed, would-be thieves can easily send in the information to create an account for themselves, wreaking havoc upon your financial records. Be sure to use a shredder that employs a cross-cutting technique, as they are much more capable when it comes to destroying documents.

- Only carry credit cards and other cards with your personal information with you when it is absolutely necessary. Things happen, and you may lose your wallet or purse. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket; a found wallet can provide an identity thief with all they need to steal your information.

Following these steps can be a great way of protecting yourself against the perils of identity theft. It's a problem that can stick with you and your credit score for life, so it is of great importance to keep your information safe.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Consumer Information, Employment, and Business.

Identity Theft is a SCAM

2006-09-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

10 years ago nobody had heard of Identity Theft. Today it's the world's biggest problem. Recently the Presidential Adviser on cyber security stated:

"I fear Identity Theft more than I fear Al Qaeda."

That's a powerful statement, and Identity Theft is a serious problem, but there are simple measures anybody can do to protect themselves. Just remember the word SCAM.

S- Be STINGY about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are. This doesn't mean that you can't do business online, as a matter of fact, some ID Theft experts now advise us that online ordering at secure websites is safer than filling out a paper application. Why? Because the paper application becomes a permanent tangible record that is going to pass through several hands and then be stored somewhere, usually for a long period of time. It doesn't take much for a clerk or dishonest employee to take home a box of paper records and commit Identity Theft.

If you do order products online, make sure the company is reputable, and that they use a secure server. Look for "https://" in the address bar (the "s" in the end stands for secure). Regular, insecure servers simply start with http://nameofwebsite.com.

C- CHECK your financial information regularly. Most people are much too casual in their personal monitoring efforts, sometimes not even checking credit card statements. Did you know that savvy ID Thieves will often put a small purchase of just a few dollars on a credit card, just to see if it goes through, before running major purchases? Don't ignore unknown small charges on your credit or bank statement. They could mark the beginning of a case of Identity Theft, which could result in months, or even years of trouble and headache for you.

A- ASK periodically for a copy of your credit report, and put a credit monitoring service in place. Credit reports are available free from the three major credit bureaus, and monitoring is now dirt cheap. For a copy of your credit report call: a. Experian: 1-888-397-3742 b. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 c. TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 Credit Monitoring is usually $9.95 a month per person through a financial institution. Identity Theft protection services through a third party usually include monitoring, and also cover you from most or all Identity Theft incidents, and are comparable in price to monitoring only. Just make sure they actually cover your Identity, and not just your credit.

M- MAINTAIN careful records of your banking and financial accounts. You never know when you may be called on to produce proof of financial transactions. Of course, keep these records in a secure place!

So there you go: the SCAM method of protecting yourself from Identity Theft. But here's the kicker, act right now! These are four things that are simple to do, but they are also simple not to do, so take the time right away and put these protections in place, because your information is already out there, and can easily be purchased or found on the internet. You only have one name, isn't it worth protecting?

About the Author

Dave Sherwin is a full time Marketer and Identity Theft protection expert. ID Theft protection services are the number 2 opportunity according to Entrepreneur Magazine December 2005 "Hot List". To learn more: http://theultimatecrime.com/daves

Identity Theft Prevention - Out of the Mouths of Inmates

2006-09-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

What is the one thing an identity theft criminal would advise you to do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft?

Well, a friend of mine who works as a psychologist for a local prison has the opportunity to talk to inmates on a daily basis that have been incarcerated for identity theft. I recently requested that she ask these inmates what was their best advice to help people to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft. She informed me that the inmates response, without hesitation, was to recommend that people shred, shred and re-shred every bit of mail and identifiable documents they put in the trash.

Sound simple?
It is simple, but many of us don’t take the time or effort to do it, therefore putting ourselves at higher risk to become a victim of identity theft.

Shred Smart!
Not only did the criminals recommend you shred your mail, they recommended you shred it using a cross shredder. A cross shredder will cut the paper horizontally as well as vertically making it much more difficult to piece the document back together. A dedicated criminal may be able to ‘stitch back the document if it has only been shredded vertically.

Are cross shredders more expensive? In my research I have found that most cross shredders are comparable with traditional shredders. Even if a cross shredder were to cost a few dollars more, isn’t the potential financial and emotional savings worth the minimal additional cost?

The Great Black Garbage Abyss…
Do you really know where your garbage goes? Most of us don’t give our trash a second thought. We plop it down in front of our houses on trash day and expect it to be carted off to that great black abyss in the earth, never to be seen or heard from again. You come home from work or wake up in the morning and your ‘worthless trash has magically disappeared. But does your trash always make its anticipated journey to the great black abyss? Even though your trash has disappeared, it may have fallen into the wrong hands.

Trash or Treasure?
Your forgotten garbage sitting alone on the curb can be a gold mine to the identity theft criminal. Some of the treasures they hope to find are copies of your bank statements, canceled checks, credit cards, insurance documents or other records that list your personal information.

If you throw out your pre-approved credit card applications without shredding them up first, the identity theft criminal may take these applications to open accounts in your name. Then all the identity theft criminal has to do is fill out a change of address to have the account information sent to a new address to prevent you from ever becoming aware of the account.

Always shred documents that contain even basic information about you. If you don't have a shredder at home, then take the documents to work with you to shred if you have a shredder there. Better yet, purchase a shredder so you will always have one available.

Waving the Little Red Flag too High?
Another tip these identity theft criminals offered would be to never use your mailbox to mail letters. That little red flag waving on your mailbox is just that, a little red flag announcing to the potential identity theft criminal that you have left him/her a gold mine full of treasure in your mailbox. So leave out the calling card and mail your letters at the post office or drop them off in a postal collection mailbox.

Daycare for Postal Mail…
These inmates even went so far as to advise you to never use your mailbox to receive your mail. Everyone knows that mailboxes are full of important documents, sitting there all day unsupervised waiting for you to come home and retrieve them. What can you do to protect your unattended mail? Go to the post office and get a post office box to collect your mail. Then your mail will be protected under lock and key until you are ready to pick it up. Yes, I know P.O. boxes cost money, but they are not considerably expensive. And yes, I know it is inconvenient to have to run to the post office to get your mail, but we now live in an age where a small amount of inconvenience and cost is necessary to protect ourselves.

Solution Summary:
1. Spend a few extra bucks and purchase a cross shredder and shred all your documents before throwing them in the trash.
2. Don’t leave your mail unattended in your mailbox all day.
3. Mail all your letters at the post office or drop them off in a postal collection box.
4. Get ‘daycare’ for your mail and keep it safe at the post office in a P.O. box until you are ready to pick it up.

More Tips:
1. Don’t carry your Social Security Card with you. Your Social Security Number (SSN) is the most important piece of information that an identity theft criminal needs.
2. Never give out SSN or credit card information over the phone or Internet unless you are completely sure of the source receiving your information.
3. Never click links in an email to visit web sites. Always type the URL in your address bar manually.
4. Be very diligent about keeping your computer system clean of viruses, trojans and spyware.

Using common sense and taking a few extra precautionary measures can go a long way in helping you to protect your identity. Take action now and don’t make the identity theft criminal's job any easier than it has to be.

Article Source: http://www.1stArticles.com

Brenda Mohney - Founder of Identity Theft Security, a site dedicated to providing tools and tips to help people protect their identities. Brenda currently works as a software engineer for ILS.
Article Submission done by: www.article-hut.com
Courtesy of:Articles-Submit.com

Credit Issues - Identity theft gives rise to credit problems, 10 Steps to Protect yourself.

2006-09-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

In the past two weeks, I have read three different articles on identity theft in various ways. The VA had a data leak after an analyst took home a laptop with electron data containing names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth of 26.5 million veterans. This is certainly enough information for identity thieves to obtain new accounts using stolen data.

A 45 year old woman in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey got a call from her credit card company asking if she purchased thousands of dollars on Ebay using her credit cards. Fortunately, the credit card company caught this activity in time before she could have serious problems straightening out her credit.

Credit card fraud and identity theft are on the rise in the nation. You need to take steps to protect your information. Checking your credit card statements regularly will turn up problems immediately. The pattern of abuse seems to be toward charging smaller amounts on credit cards, not necessarily maxing out the card. This makes detection harder at the point of sale.

Take care when using your cards. Steps to take to protection yourself:

1. Take the copies and the excess paper with you. 2. Ask the clerk to return your card as soon as they are finished swiping it. 3. Destroy all outdated and cancelled credit cards. 4. Don't use pin numbers in public areas. 5. If you are using an ATM be careful no one can see what you put into the machine. 6. Obtain your free annual credit reports at various times during the year and check the information carefully. 7. Don't give out personal information over the phone, thru the mail or over the Internet unless you started the action. 8. No one should call you on the phone and ask any personal information including the phone company, credit card companies, your lenders etc. 9. Don't ever give out your Social Security number. 10. Be alert when using your personal information in any form.

A little care now will go a long way toward protecting valuable information and your credit rating.

About the Author

Nancy Woodward is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional affiliated with "The Dream Team. Visit online RealEstateLady and MortgageLoan

6 Easy Steps To Prevent Identity Theft

2006-09-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Identity theft has become so prevalent in today's society that no one is safe from it. Every day on the news we hear of hackers getting into a government database and stealing valuable information.

Identity theft is now so common that people struggle to find new ways to avoid it. In this article, I discuss 6 different ways to avoid identity theft, including how to use credit cards properly, using checks properly, and other pertinent information.

1. When ordering checks, always have the bank put only your first name, middle name initials on your new checks. A thief will not know if you sign your checks with your full name, or if you use your initials. However, the bank will know this, and see a red flag immediately if there is any change in your check writing behavior.

2. Never sign your name on the back of your credit card. Not only will the person stealing your identity have your name, but your signature, and will be able to forge it easily. Instead, write "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" on the back of the card.

3. When ever you write a check for your credit card bill, do not put the full credit card number in the "memo" or "for" line on the bottom left of the check. Only use the last 4 numbers of your Cc number here. The credit card number will be in full on your statement that you send in with your payment, and the people handling your check will not know the number of your credit card.

4. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. Also, never put your actual home address on the checks, using a PO Box instead. If you don't have a PO Box number, then use your work address. Use your work number instead of your home phone number, also.

5. Always know exactly what you have in your wallet. The best way to do this is to simply photocopy the contents, insuring that you get both back and front of any credit card, operator's license, or identity document. Keep this photocopy in a safe place where it can easily be located by both you and your spouse or significant other if traveling. Never carry it with you!

6. A little know fact is that when checking into a hotel or motel, you are generally issued a key card to open the door to your suite. Did you know that this card contains all your vital information, such as address, phone number, credit card number and expiration date? Do not turn the card in when checking out of the hotel, but instead simply destroy the card. It is included in the price of your room. And if turned in, any dishonest employee with access to a card reader can gather your information.

Using common sense and being aware of your environment can save you costly theft of your credit card or personal information. To insure this doesn't happen, visit http://identitytheft.charlieallnut.com/ for more information.

Alden Smith is an award winning and published author who has been marketing on the internet for over 7 years. His site, http://identitytheft.charlieallnut.com is filled with articles and information on a variety of subjects about identity theft.

About the Author

Protect Your Identity For Free

2006-09-17T23:20:00.000-07:00

There are so many businesses out there that will protect your identity. For a fee.

However, you can actually do a better job of it yourself. For free.

While some of the steps may seem a little extreme, you need to remember that around 33.4 million Americans have been victims of identity fraud since 1990. You need to take those drastic steps to protect yourself and your family from identity theft.

Most people have to start by changing many simple things. The first, and most basic, thing to change involves your Social Security Number. Now I know that it used to be printed on your checks, written on your work or school id and on your medical chart at the doctor's office. But now it is too risky to use it for those purposes anymore.

Identity theives are specifically looking for your Social Security Number. With it, they can pretty much access all of your accounts. They can get your creidt, insurance coverage and a lot of other financial transactions. It is what says you are who you are.

Memorize your Social Security Number (and those of your spouse and children) and don't ever carry the card with you. Don't write it down. Don't give it out when your write a check (use your driver's license number instead). Don't give it to anyone who calls you first. You should only use it for employment and credit applications.

If you have an account that uses your Social Security Number, such as a student loan, ask that they use a different account number instead.

If someone asks for your Social Security Number, ask why they need it, how it will be used and how it will be protected. Find out what would happen if you didn't supply them with it.

You should also protect your driver's license number, address, telephone number, credit card numbers and other financial accounts from others as well. Try not to make information sensitive phone calls on your cell phone where you can be overheard.

You need to change your passwords and PINs frequently for accounts that you access both on and off the internet. Don't write these numbers or passwords down. Make them easy for you to remember, but hard for anyone else. Many advisors suggest that you take a phrase and use the first letter of each word for your password. This makes it very hard for someone to guess it. For example, you could take the phrase: I hate coming up with passwords, and make it into a password of: IHcuWP. Just don't write it down!!!

Everyone should own a shredder and use it. Shred every piece of paper you throw away. This includes receipts, credit card offers, unused convenience checks, replaced credit cards and all statements from financial institutions.

Store your papers in a safe deposit box. You might want to include your tax documents, copies of all your credit cards and the names, numbers and accounts numbers of all your financial relationships. This way, if something does happen to your home or your wallet, you can easily access all of your information. For information you store at home, such as receipts and statements, invest in a safe for your paperwork.

Most people who have their homes broken into today will tell you that the theives usually target their paperwork and their computers. They are looking to take more than what is in your home. They are looking for your credit and money as well.

About the Author

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

Identity Theft - It's Only Funny In The Commercials

2006-09-13T03:14:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably seen the commercials on TV where the people are talking in a voice not their own about purchases they would never make. Sure It’s funny to see the old ladies laughing about motorcycles they purchased or the big manly man talking about getting his hair and makeup done, but if you ever become a victim of identity theft, you will know it is no laughing matter.

Identity theft is a growing problem - one that affects between 250000 and 750000 people each year. One in 25 Americans will fall victim to it and if it happens to you, you might find yourself in the frustrating position of having to prove that you are … well .. you.

Two of the most prevalent identity theft scams are crimes that happen on the internet. These crimes called phishing and spoofing which make use of email to try to get personal information. Typically the email will “pretend” to be an institution that you may have an account with like a bank or investment company. Even eBay has criminals posing as it in emails to try to get your account information.

Phishing fraud can be very sophisticated and the criminal will typically create a website that looks just like a site you usually use. This way you will think you are logging into your bank when you are really logging into a place where someone can then record and steal your username and password. Usually they get you to go to their site by sending an email claiming that there has been unauthorized activity on your account unauthorized and you must login or you will not be able to use your account. They provide a link in the email to the fake website. Paypal and Ebay are two institutions that Phishers often use to try to scam individuals out of password information.

Spoofing fraud consists of an email that appears to come from someone you know. This is used to try to get you to open and then respond to the emailed solicitation, providing private information.

Identity theft doesn’t just happen over the internet, however. Your personal information can be stolen from a phone call pretending to be an institution you do business with or even from bills or receipts you throw away in the trash.

With so much identity theft going on these days, you must remain vigilant to protect yourself. Never give out personal information, passwords or account numbers unless you are 100% sure of who you are communicating with. You should also monitor your credit card statements every month and check your credit report once a year. If you find anything that looks out of place, call your credit company and take steps to make sure it is a valid charge.

If you do find that you have been a victim of identity theft, you should first off cancel all accounts and change all passwords that you have. Then report the theft to your credit card companies and other financial institutions. Finally, notify your local police and one of the big three reporting bureaus TransUnion, Equifax or Experian, of the crime. Notifying one is sufficient as it will notify the other two for you.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://identitytheft.pagechic.com where you can learn more about how to protect yourself from identity theft.

6 Tips On Preventing Identity Theft That You Need To Know

2006-08-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Everyday more and more consumers are falling victim to identity theft. In fact, the mere act of identity theft is growing at an alarming rate as more and more people find themselves victim of this insidious crime. Millions of dollars continues to be lost by consumers who are unaware that their personal and financial information has fallen into the wrong person's hands. Fortunately there are some simple steps that you can take in order to help prevent identity theft from taking place. This article covers 6 tips on preventing identity theft.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #1 – Never, I repeat never give your social security number to anyone unless it is an absolute emergency or is truly required to perform some function. Instead only be willing to use the last four digits of your social security number as a means of verifying who you are. Many companies have now adapted this method as one means of verifying your identity.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #2 – Always make sure to check your end of month bills, especially your credit card bills in order to spot any charges that may not have been placed by yourself. Additionally make sure your bills actually arrive since many identity theft thieves are known to steal your mail in order to gain access to your personal information.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #3 – Routinely order your credit report from one or all of the big three credit reporting agencies in order to check it for any errors or accounts that may have been opened or originated due to identity theft fraud. If you find a discrepancy on your credit report notify the respective credit bureau immediately in order to fix the problem and ensure that it was not a result of someone attempting to hijack your identity.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #4 – Whenever you are asked to choose a password for any type of account or login make sure and take the extra step to formulate a password that will be difficult for an identity theft specialist to solve. Always avoid using easy to crack passwords that use your birthday or your spouse's birthday as the password. These types of passwords are common and make easy target for thieves after your identity.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #5 – Try to avoid giving out any of your personal information over the phone, in person or online if at all possible. One of the simplest ways to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft is to keep your private information private. Failure to do so can make you an easier target for someone to hijack your identity.

Identity Theft Prevention Tip #6 – Always make sure to shred any type of financial documents or paperwork that contains any of your personal information on it before throwing it away. This simple act, which can be done rather quickly and easily, will help to thwart any type of attempt on your identity by an identity theft thief. Don’t underestimate the power of safeguarding your personal information. It is your number one defense against preventing identity theft from happening to your or your loved ones.

Identity theft is a terrible crime and major source of frustration for anyone to have to go through. Utilize these 6 tips on preventing identity theft to safeguard your own personal information. These simple but effective tips will help keep your information where it belongs, in the privacy of your own safe keeping.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster who has witnessed first hand the effects of identity theft when one of his family members became a victim. He is the publisher of StopIdentityTheftResources.info. A website that provides a quick and easy guide to preventing identity theft that teaches you how to safeguard your own personal and private information in order to keep from becoming a victim of identity theft.

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

Identity Theft Impacting Your Taxes

2006-07-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

If your identity is stolen, your finances can quickly become a nightmare. A less obvious problem is the effect identity theft can have on your taxes.

Identity Theft

Generally, thieves steal your personal data for the purpose of running up credit card charges or opening and abusing new accounts. A developing trend in the identity theft field concerns schemes impacting your taxes.

Selling Social Security Numbers

Identity thieves have created a new line of business – selling your social security number. Who would want to buy it? The list is surprising long, but undocumented workers, individuals with bad credit and people trying to obtain a new identity lead the list. This can create a huge problem for you since any income paid to those individuals is reported to the IRS as being paid to you. This results in the IRS having inflated income numbers and, often, audits when you “under report” your income.

With the creation of the Real ID Act, better known as the National ID Card, things will only get worse. Under the Act, all workers will be required to submit social security numbers to obtain jobs. With our leaky borders, there will be a high demand for your social security number.

False Tax Filings

It doesn’t take much to file a tax return. What’s to stop an identity thief from filing one under your name to generate a refund? Nothing. To generate the maximum refund, you can be all kinds of frivolous deductions will be claimed. After all, it will be you that has to attend the audit.

What Can I Do?

If you receive a notice from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security Number fraudulently, you should notify the IRS immediately. Indicators can be found in notices from the IRS that state:

1. More than one tax return for you was filed, or
2. IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.

Don’t hesitate or be nervous about contacting the IRS. The agency knows this is a growing problem and not an “opportunity” to pound on taxpayers.

Article Source: http://www.kokkada.com

Richard A. Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - providing information on taxes.

Identity Theft - When It Happens To You

2006-06-29T23:59:00.000-07:00

So, you've just realized that someone has stolen your identity and is racking up debt left and right, and you want to put a stop to it, but you don't know what to do. Well, keep reading, because in this article you will learn exactly what to do when you are a victim of identity theft. Once you have absorbed this information, act quickly, because the sooner you start fighting for your identity, the sooner you will win.

You will probably receive a phone call from a creditor stating "you" just either made a large purchase and they suspect fraud or you open your credit card bill as you do every month and be amazed at some extra charges that are on there. Call your credit card company immediately. Rarely, will you be liable for charges over $50, and many credit card companies wave the first $50 in the case of fraud. Check with your bank, you will usually be given a choice to close your account and reopen a new one or some banks will put a "watch" on your account and you will have to log into your account and manually approve every charge and check before it is cleared. This usually goes on for a period of 30-60 days. The latter isn't the best choice as it is labor intensive to do and your account isn't protected from fraud as it would be if you simply closed it out and reopened a new account.

After you have done all the initial damage control. The next thing to do when you realize that you are a victim of identity theft is to notify the credit bureaus. Report the situation to the three major credit reporting companies- Equifax, Experien, and TransUnion. You can do it online or in writing, and you must tell these companies that your identifying information has been stolen and is being used by another person fraudulently in your name. Ask them to flag your file with a fraud alert, and ask that all creditors call you before extending credit in your name. A consumer statement will be put on your file and it will alleviate your fears of bogus accounts being opened for about 3 months.

Due to provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can only place an initial fraud alert for 90 days. The credit bureaus will then send you a notice displaying your rights as an identity theft victim. As soon you receive this, write to each of the three credit bureaus to request two things; An extension of the fraud alert to seven years, and a free copy of your credit report. Remember to include an identity theft report when you send your letter in order to authorize the seven year alert. Whenever you communicate with the credit companies, you should refer to the number given to your credit report and always use verified return receipt mail. Also, make sure you save all credit reports and related information for your records.

As soon as you get your three credit reports, carefully examine each one. Report all fraudulent and inaccurate information in writing to the credit bureaus, as well as to the credit issuers, following the instructions that are provided with the credit reports. As soon as you notify the credit bureaus about the fraudulent information, the bureau is required to strike that information from future reports. The bureau will also notify the credit grantor of the fraudulent account(s). If it isn't included in the report, ask the credit bureaus for the contact information of the credit grantors.

Also, tell the credit bureaus in writing that you want them to remove all inquiries that have been created due to fraudulent access. You should also ask the bureaus to contact anyone who has received your credit report in the last six months so they can be informed about the fraudulent and inaccurate information. Numerous inquiries can lower your credit score, so work diligently on getting those inquiries removed from your personal credit report.

Though these measures should set you back on track and protect your credit from the fraudulent information, they may not completely stop it from happening again. Because of this, be sure to monitor your credit reports, there are many online services that will help you monitor your credit report. We recommend Experian Triple Advantage. Along with getting your credit report online with credit score, you also get 30 days free credit monitoring service. With this service you can start the dispute process online! Often times, once you have started the process you will be able to obtain a second free report from the credit bureaus, and in many states you will be able to access your credit report more frequently. If you notice that the fraudulent information is still happening, notify the proper bureaus instantly. If the problem persists for very long, you may want to consider freezing your accounts for awhile if possible to prevent any more damage.

Identity theft is an unfortunate event when it occurs, but you can fight back and get your life back quickly!

Liz Roberts is a loan consultant with New Horizon Finance, specializing in bad credit, & has been providing consumers & business owners with financing since 1989. Join Experian Triple Advantage http://www.newhorizon.org/Info/experian.htm & get a free credit report & credit score. Apply for bad credit credit cards here http://www.newhorizon.org/Info/unsecured.htm . Free Credit Repair Guide on this site http://www.newhorizon.org/Info/

IRS Gives Away More Information on US Citizens than the Identity Thieves Even Need

2006-06-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

The Internal Revenue Service gives away more information on U.S. citizens than almost any other agency and the identity thieves Love It. But why is it that the government gives away information on U.S. citizens to anyone who wants it? Why does the Internal Revenue Service collecting information and make it public to anybody?

If the United States government truly cares about identity theft then why is it allowing government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and other large agencies to give away the information. It is simply ludicrous to have the Federal Trade Commission enforce the identity theft rules and regulations in our nation on corporations who may have had a hacker steal information from their computer system and then allow the United States government agency to give away the information to anyone who wants it.

If it is true that the Internal Revenue Service gives away more information on U.S. citizens then the identity thieves even need, then why are we kidding our selves with the identity theft laws of our nation? What a silly bunch of hypocrisy we have going here; who thought of this anyway?

Why does the government every time there is a problem wish to enforce all the laws on the people and the corporations when it is the government's fault? The government can do anything right or very well except spend our money; they sure do that good.

Should the government look in the mirror and shouldn't we look in the mirror also since we are the government and fix this mess? This is utterly ridiculous. Please consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Identity Theft and How You Can Recover

2006-06-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

In today's modern times, the incidents of identity theft is on the rise. With access to the Internet and the sharing of personal information online criminals have a easy time finding the information needed to steal your identity.

Once you are a victim of identity theft is can be extremely difficult to recover. Getting loans, and making investments are almost impossible once this type of crime has occurred. As a victim there is very little compensation or help you can receive which will help in the recovery process. You are responsible for your own credit repair even though you were a victim of a criminal act. There are several simple things which can be helpful in recovering from identity theft.

Identity theft comes in different intensities. Certainly, on the minor side of this type of theft is when someone steals your credit cards and rings up a high bill. This is often easily fixed through direct contact with the credit card company. However, once all of your information (social security number, birthday, and other personal information) is taken, the criminal is able to step up fake credit card accounts and run your bills up quickly.

The act itself is easy. With a mere phone call or internet access a criminal can easily get hundreds of credit cards in your name. The longer the criminal activities goes unchecked the worse the damage is to your credit. Especially if there are large purchases and loans from lending companies. Clearing your credit with lenders is extremely complicated and hard to do. There are many questions, forms, and literally hoops they will need you to jump through to begin the recovery process. It is worth it, the ability to have a bank account, get a loan, and invest is something everyone has the right to do.

If you are a victim of fraud the first thing you need to do is call the lending institution and put an end to the activity. Have all your credit cards canceled by contacting the companies and having a new account established and new cards issued.

You may also consider calling all companies which you have done business with and let them know your current situation. This way any suspicious activity can allow you to be immediately notified. If your social security number has been used there is a governmental help to clear up the problems ( http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft ). They understand the need to have a clean credit score and a usable social security number.

Make sure that if you have an investments at all you contact your financial advisor and secure all your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Criminals can easily cash these out, especially if they have access to your online accounts.

Once you have been notified that someone has stolen your identity keep good track of all the fraudulent activity that you can. Make sure you take names, write done dates, and get letters of confirmations from all companies you speak with. The more documentation you have the easier it will be to recover from this terrible and devastation crime.

Visit the Global Investment Institute and signup for our free Investing For The Beginner E-Course at http://www.global-investment-institute.com/ Investment webmasters or publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.

Solving The Identity Theft

2006-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Identity theft refers to an act of impersonating someone with a view to harm him/her financially or illegally framing him/her for a crime. Personal information can be extracted through the computer databases at work place. Although it is a broader term but its effect narrows down to offences like credit card fraud or mortgage fraud. In this context, there are two terms, which are used interchangeably. One is identity theft and other is identity fraud.

Contributors to The Crime The lenders are the ones who aggravate the situation. They willingly extend credit without peripheral contact with the concerned person. Nowadays there is a trend of transacting business on line or via telephone. Such practice can further be held responsible for lending unauthorized access of personal information to unknown people.

The rules, laws and other regulations imposed by the government of a particular country on its erstwhile citizens play a vital role in eradicating such frauds. In some countries, there is a practice of issuing ID cards to the citizens as a proof of their identity. Here it is definitely not a cakewalk to commit such a fraud. In some of the countries Social Security, numbers are used as identity proofs.

Early Precautions

It is necessary on the part of individuals to take enough precautions in order to save their skin.

You must keep a check on the credit feedbacks regularly. ·You must keep an eye on the bank accounts. ·You must avoid use of cellular phones to discuss certain confidential details. ·In case of online shopping, you must be careful about the company and ensure a security number is allotted to everyone logged in. ·You must avoid carrying documents of identity with yourself. You must thoroughly verify the details of the persons before dealing with them.

Identity thefts are one of the fastest accelerating crimes all over the world. The legal system of a country must tackle such frauds at war footing, as the extent of real damage is not easy to ascertain. It is the identity of a person, which is put at stake.

Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. He is a proud contributing author and invites you to his websites. www.irradicate-identity-theft.info and www.nomore-identity-theft.info

Identity Theft: Stolen Laptop Response

2006-06-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

Encrypt, secure, prohibit or pay the price!

That's what Congress and state legislators should tell Ernst & Young, Veterans Affairs and other companies and agencies that play fast and loose with our personal data.

In the last several days, major news networks and countless online news sources reported two more incidents of lost or stolen laptops containing personal data of millions of individuals. The first theft involved a laptop stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee. Follow-up reports on that theft go from bad to worse, indicating 2.2 million active-duty personnel are now at risk for identity theft. The lost data in this case includes Social Security numbers.

The second incident involved a laptop stolen from an Ernst & Young employee. That laptop contained the personal data, including credit card information, of approximately 243,000 customers of Hotels.Com who had booked rooms between 2002 and 2004. In a way, this second incident is more egregious because losing laptops is reportedly commonplace for Ernst & Young.

Nokia staff jacked by Ernst & Young laptop loss (30 March 2006)
40,000 BP workers exposed in Ernst & Young laptop loss (23 March 2006)
Lost Ernst & Young laptop exposes IBM staff (15 March 2006)
Readers amazed by Ernst & Young's laptop giveaway (4 March 2006)
Ernst & Young loses four more laptops (26 February 2006)
Ernst & Young fails to disclose high-profile data loss (25 February 2006)

According to The Register, a British technology news site, password protection was the only security available on some of the laptops lost by Ernst & Young during a prior incident, which any avid computer user knows can be easily compromised. What about the laptops more recently lost by Ernst & Young employees? Was the data contained in those laptops encrypted? Are there any company policies limiting the extent of personal data that may leave the office where presumably network security standards and firewall protection are in place? Are there any company rules prohibiting employees from leaving laptops unattended (though you would think common sense would be enough)? Or better still, are there rules prohibiting the transfer of personal data to employee laptops? I expect there aren't. If any such measures were in place, Ernst & Young’s public relations people would have plastered that all over the media to reassure clients and the public in an attempt to save the firm’s corporate derriere.

Ernst & Young and the VA are not the only entities that have lost laptops with personal data, and most of these entities have developed a typical response straight from the Corporate Playbook. Ernst & Young has agreed to offer Hotel.Com customers a year's free credit monitoring. That’s no compensation for someone who will have to spend potentially years clearing up a resulting bad credit history. Anyone who’s been in the tenuous position of having to prove they do not owe a debt they do not owe will tell you that. If Ernst & Young created a task force to help consumers clear identity theft issues, then maybe that could be considered compensatory. If they offered to pay legal fees for anyone having to clear resulting bad credit histories, or pay state fines for prosecution of identity thieves, that might be considered compensatory. If they committed to and implemented a program to encrypt and secure the data and, in particular, prohibited downloading of personal data to portable computers in the first place, that would be considered the best move of all.

Employees of the auditing companies don’t seem to care what happens to your personal data. The Register reported that, in one case, employees left laptops in an unattended conference room while they went off to lunch. You can just see how that might happen. They’re in Miami at yet another conference. The conference is at a downtown hotel they’ve been to a couple times. They’re familiar with the hotel and the area so already they feel some sense of false security. Someone’s been talking for hours about converting more sales, pushing certain investments, or their company’s new data recovery center that will help clients feel more “secure.” Anyway, the speaker stops to take a breath and everyone realizes it’s a good time to break for lunch. They’re coming back to the room so, hey, why lug around those heavy laptops? Aren’t they coming back to the room for the second half of the conference? Do they even ask if the conference room will be locked during lunch? Of course not. They’re company laptops. What’s a few lost laptops to a big corporation like Ernst & Young.

Maybe these irresponsible employees need a little incentive to show better judgment. Suspending reality for just a moment, wouldn’t it be interesting if, any time one of these employees acted that irresponsibly, his or her Social Security number were posted on StupidIrresponsibleJerks.Com? That way they could sweat it out with the rest of us who have personal data floating out there and possibly in the wrong hands. While we’re at it, lets also expose the personal data of policymakers at these auditing companies who are too shortsighted to better secure your data and the company’s reputation. Let them sweat it out too. At a minimum, how about if these employees immediately lost their jobs, were required to be individually named in negligence lawsuits filed by victims of identity theft, or at a minimum SIMPLY HAD TO PAY FOR THE LOST LAPTOPS? I bet we’d see a decrease in stolen laptops then. Seriously people, some of these employees were so careless you can almost imagine them extending their arms and presenting the laptop to Joe Thief. “Here, take it. I’d give you my Windows password too, but you won’t need it. I didn’t bother to log off before going to lunch – check out my Paris Hilton screen saver.”

Most of these companies who have lost laptops with sensitive data try to pacify the public by saying the thieves are just after the hardware. Sure. That’s like telling a home burglary victim the burglar just wants your jewelry box. He’s not really interested in the $50,000 tear-drop diamond earrings you had inside. Bull. When a thief steals, every part of the stolen item has value. Everything. Even a computer illiterate thief knows there will be programs on a laptop and, if he knows what’s loaded, he can better evaluate the asking price when he fences it.

Ernst & Young’s web site praises the company’s network security measures in their section titled "Security and Technology Solutions." These measures may well be admirable. However, too often individuals, companies, and the public in general are so focused on stuff going over the Internet that they forget about stuff sitting in hard drives. A truly secure network focuses on data stream (information being transferred) and on data storage (information waiting to be used). In my dreams, my personal data is properly stored in a secure location, in a building with armed guards, vicious dogs, and an unfriendly receptionist. Well, I can hope. I can also hope that some of that data might also be encrypted. I realize my personal data with one institution may be stored in more than one location; for example, Building A (their main offices) and Building B (a branch office or, better still, a data recovery center). But, not in my wildest imagining would I expect that any business storing my personal data would allow it to be downloaded and stored on a laptop that an employee can take home where he does his online shopping. I know I also don’t expect that the laptop with my personal data is being left unattended in a hotel conference room, a bar counter or someone’s car. I don’t care how many financial or online banking agreements I sign. I’m never consenting to anyone downloading my personal information to a laptop. No one consents to the mishandling of their personal data.

I have yet to read any banking or credit agreement that expressly states the information will be downloaded to a laptop or in any way made available to anyone outside the secured network of the financial institution. There is a vague all-encompassing comment about information sharing, but the appearance given by these institutions is that the information will be handled and “shared” in a secure method over an encrypted Internet connection. Everything they say about their security has to do with their firewalled and encrypted data streams. To me that means that anyone working from home and needing access to my personal data is doing that using one of the many encrypted remote access programs that are out there: for example, Windows Remote Desktop or GoToMyPC or some other Citrix product. These programs are by no means impenetrable, but they are simply a better option, utterly available and far more secure. That’s just not the case with data downloaded to laptops without encryption or adequate password protected (though passwords are simply not enough). Over the years, I have used a number of remote access programs to log into my office and work on client files. I’ve even used a laptop to work downstairs on files stored on my main computer in an upstairs bedroom. The remote desktop creates a window that shows me the programs and data files on the main workstation or network server that is hosting my connection and contains what I need to see. I am NEVER required to download any data to the laptop to work remotely on it. That’s the whole point of the remote access software.

By compelling employees to log in, do the work and immediately exit the remote access program, Ernst & Young, the VA and any other entity that stores personal data minimizes the window of opportunity for your personal data to fall into the wrong hands while remaining behind an encrypted and presumably firewalled connection during the entire time that your personal data may need to be accessed. During remote access sessions, the company retains control of your information and there is oversight of the employee’s use of your information. Best of all, if your personal data is not needed during that particular remote access session, it never even becomes part of the encrypted data stream traveling over the Internet. This would expose even fewer people from the threat of identity theft. Think about it. Can any Ernst & Young employee work on the data of 243,000 Hotel.Com customers during one remote access session? Can one VA employee work on the accounts of 2.2 million active-duty personnel during one online remote access session? And yet, both these individuals collectively had the personal data of nearly 2.5 million people stored on their laptops and immediately available to anyone using their laptops. Why?

There ought to be a law, right? Oh, absolutely. Congress should immediately implement its own measures, including possibly levying fines against any entity that acts irresponsibly with your personal data, and should impose broader guidelines regarding access to your personal data. In 1996 Congress enacted the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulating the use of and access to personal health information and related identifying personal data, like medical record numbers and Social Security numbers contained in patient medical records. Though HIPAA caused a lot of headaches in the medical and legal communities, it validated concerns over privacy. HIPAA was still a step in the right direction even if, like most legislation, it needs to evolve to better reflect the legislative intent. Similar, legislation needs to be considered with respect to the personal data maintained by businesses and financial institutions. A person shouldn’t have to get sick to protect his or her personal data, though the apparent lack of security is sure to make you sick.

Although HIPAA addressed privacy concerns, the issue of protecting personal data isn’t a question of privacy; it’s a question of security. Protecting personal data could easily fall within the purview of Homeland Security. Personal data needs to remain secure because the casual criminal is not the only one making use of it. Whether it’s to raise fear or awareness, consistently our government tells us about the manner in which terrorists make use of other people’s personal data to create phoney IDs, buy cell phones, or book plane tickets. It’s not a leap of logic to suggest that protecting personal data thwarts terrorist activity. A bold politician might even say failure to do so is a breach of national security. But that’s going a bit too far, don’t you think? Certainly, though, it’s conceivable that personal data has the potential of falling into the hands of someone desiring more than just an overpriced pair of shoes, hair extensions or HDTV.

Other measures offer consumers far more protection than we’ve been seeing. There are currently legislative initiatives in certain states that would allow their residents to place a security freeze on their credit files prohibiting any new credit or loan application to go through without the consumer’s authorized PIN number. The freeze would allow consumers to lock their credit and temporarily unlock it when they know they will be applying for a loan or need to make some other type of major purchase. For more on security freezes, read the June 8, 2006, Home Watch article on WomensWebWatch.Com. A link to that site is provided in the author's bio below.

Ernst & Young is not a small operation. It is a successful business with, I imagine, an exceptional track record and the ability to provide solid services or it would not be retained by so many reputable businesses. However, the best company can show poor judgment and in this case it has. To be fair, I surmise that, like all companies, Ernst & Young has careless employees and most certainly careful ones. The company as a whole may be undeserving of the resulting bad reputation it’s getting. On the other hand, it has not shown it’s done enough to curb the loss of personal data. Frankly, even the most careful employee can be overwhelmed during a crime, or overly fatigued, and become dispossessed of his or her laptop. There is little compelling reason for those laptops to contain personal data. Every entity that handles personal data needs to implement a zero-download policy and issue essentially dumb terminals to their employees (laptops just for remote access).

Too many times, these institutions forego implementing some security measures because, they argue, no measure is 100% foolproof. They claim it would not be cost-effective for them to implement measures that can be breached. Well, every one of them has already implemented security measures which are not impenetrable. Most of these places already use encrypted Internet security connections for their data streams because to do so in this day and age is unthinkable, right? I’ve even heard that some of these places lock their doors at night so someone can’t walk in and steal the CEO’s favorite coffee cup. Adopting a company policy prohibiting the download of personal data to laptops is as expensive as sending around a memo about the upcoming company picnic. There is no need to download the data. Workers can still remote access the encrypted data using adequate alphanumeric passwords through a secure Internet connection behind firewalls on both sides, on the host computer and remote desktop. No, it’s not 100% foolproof. That’s true. My front door can be broken down, but I still lock it at night. Allowing downloads of sensitive data to laptops is the same as leaving the front door wide open.

N. Saco N. Saco is a contributor and founder of several information web sites, including WomensWebWatch.Com and WetwareSolutions.Com. Her blog is located at InternetExplorerBlog.Com, and a copy of this article can be found there. She has a degree in Communications, focusing in critical analysis, a minor in cultural anthropology, and 20 years experience in research, writing and investigation, primarily in medical litigation support. [This article may be freely distributed at no charge to your readers along with the author's bio and web links. Copyright 2006 Nikki Saco. All other rights reserved.

My Identity Was Stolen Because Of Someone Else's Mistake

2006-06-09T04:10:00.000-07:00

Giving Total Strangers Your Personal Information----------------------------How often would you say you trust total strangers with some of your most confidential information? I think I can answer this question for just about everyone. The answer is, nearly everyday. To illustrate this, I recently made a list of people or organizations that I have provided the following information to;

My social security number; Birth date;Tax Identification number;Bank account numbers; Medical information;Checking account number

My doctors office; Banks that have issued me credit cards; Computer stores (Best Buy, CompUSA, CDW, Circuit City);Online music purchases through Wal-Mart (Formerly Liquid Audio); Restaurant staff; Hospitals; Medical procedure companies (X-ray's, Ultra-sounds,.... And many more...

Be careful When Giving Your Credit Card Number Over The Phone

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It seems like almost everyday someone is asking me for my social security number. I think most of us just get use to provided this information to various people and companies.

I recently ordered Italian food for dinner from one our favorite local restaurants. Every time I place an order the person taking the phone order repeats, out loud, my credit card information as I provide it to them over the phone. This includes the account number, my name, and expiration date. Every item that someone standing in line waiting to pick up their Pizza needs to purchase anything they wish online with my credit. I know why they do this, to make sure they are getting the right information. However, I finally told the person to please stop repeating this information out load. They were a little confused at first of why I made this request but after explaining to them my concern they said “Wow, I never really thought about that before”. "How in the world can you remember all these things about computers?" Sometimes I wonder this myself.

To share another, more serious experience with you here is something that happened to me in just the last week or so. My wife walked into my office after returning from the mailbox and the first words out of her mouth was “Are you ready for this”. When ever she utters that phrase I know it’s not something pleasant. The letter she was holding was from our mortgage company. A company we have been doing business with for many years. It turns out that approximately 4 months ago a computer they were shipping from one office to another was stolen in transit. This computer contained my mortgage account number, balance, credit lines, social security number, business tax identification number, and much more.

When Should A Company Notify You That Your Personal Information Has Been Stolen?
----------------------------

The letter indicated that they were just notifying me now because law enforcement asked that they not contact any customers at the time the event took place, several months prior to receiving the letter, because it may impact the investigation. Well, they never found the computer or the thief so they decided to start notifying the affected customers. The letter also stated that the stolen computer had two levels of security and that they were not overly concerned that the thief would gain direct access to my information. Being in the computer security business, I thought to myself “Let’s see, two levels of security, well that could be a password to logon to the computer, and Anti-Virus software, or maybe they were using whole disk encryption and some sort of 1024bit pass-phrase to access the system”. Quite frankly, chances are the system was not protected by anything as sophisticated as whole disk encryption. Of course they would not give me this information when I called. They did have a plan of action though to help me. You ready for this, a 1 year free subscription to Equifax (A Credit Reporting Agency) to alert me if someone is using my stolen information. That is about it. Oh, and they would assist me in the event that something showed up on my credit report. It’s nice to see a multi-billion dollar company taking responsibility for the theft of my financial information.

I know I'm not the only person that has these little "moments". My New Years resolution this year was to simplify my life. I'm not embarrassed to say that I've not made much progress yet but I am not going to give up. I am going to bring harmony to my life if it kills me in the process.

I share this information with you for several reasons. First, in the computer security business we are constantly talking about trusted and un-trusted computers and networks. Trusted networks are under a local administrators control and un-trusted networks are under the control of someone else. The same situation exists in real life. I keep safe my personal and private information as much as possible, but there are others that have this information as well. How well do they safe guard this information? I have no idea, but I am forced to trust them. Second, to show you that even security professionals, people like me who tend to be slightly more paranoid then the rest about our private information are just as much at risk as everyone else. Finally, to get you thinking about your confidential and private information, how many people have access to it, and why you need to take more than reasonable steps to keep it confidential?

Conclusion
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Don’t for one minute think that identity theft or fraud can’t happen to you. In fact, I would say that it is not if but when it will happen, at least to one degree or another. Keep your private information confidential as much as possible. When people ask you for this information, ask them why they need it and how they plan to keep it secure. Also, keep track of who you give this information and for what reason. Finally, monitor your credit report frequently. Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian, the three largest credit reporting agencies, now offer inexpensive monthly services that can provide you with important information that could alert you to various forms of electronic fraud.

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.

About The Author
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Darren Miller is an Information Security Consultant with over seventeen years experience. He has written many technology & security articles, some of which have been published in nationally circulated magazines & periodicals. If you would like to contact Darren you can e-mail him at Darren.Miller@defendingthenet.com. If you would like to know more about computer security please visit us at http://www.defendingthenet.com