id theft fraud prevention

February 28, 2010

How Can You Prevent Online Theft Shield?

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:38 am
John Goldman asked:


The world around you has become information oriented society. New technological advancements lets you business and make financial transactions in just a matter seconds. However this abundance of information has actually given rise to a new crime called identity theft.

According to the Federal Trade Commission this crime has become one of the fastest growing in the United States as there are more than 10 million Americans affected by this theft leading to huge financial and personal losses. Some of the biggest crimes done in the city are done using personal information and social security numbers. Additionally identity theft has actually reached outbreak proportions with consequent catastrophic consequences.

Identity theft shield services

Identity theft cases are not anything new but have become the most persuasive cries in the past. The advancement in computer software and hardware and with the growth in internet has drastically increased the role of identity theft in the growing crimes. However the best option you have is to hire credit monitoring service which can help after you alert that there have been some changes in your credit reports.

There are several companies offering you this credit monitoring services and some of them offer the most advanced services. This means that most of these service providers have developed an innovative solution for the victims of identity theft and this service is called as identity theft shield. This is often available as a pre paid legal service but mainly to their members.

Therefore with this identity theft shield you can benefit from an added security over you identity knowing that the professional and experienced service provider are there to protect your financial and personal information.

Benefits from identity theft shield

When you become one of the members of identity theft shield service providers you can easily gain access all the resources you need to better understand your credit rating or to fight back identity theft that threatens your credit standing. The shield is basically designed to alert you in case there is a suspicious activity in the account so that all the resulting damages are instantly restores back to normal and also to reimburse you for the enclosed out of pocket expense which might arise during the process.

In order to avoid identity fraud it is recommended you frequently review you credit report and identity theft shield makes this process even easier. This means that you can receive prompt notice hen there is a new or fraud account opened in your name or in case the critical notations are added in your credit report.

You should know that identity theft victims usually spend several days and several fees to clear off their names from unwanted lists, but with the id theft shield service you can benefit from their affordable monthly service while leaving aside all the task of cleaning off your credit report on the service providers. They are the most comprehensive and factual solutions to the id theft restoration which can be very helpful in case you have become a victim of the crime.



Harvey

February 27, 2010

ID Theft 2.0: Surge of Unemployed, Uninsured Give Rise to Health Insurance Fraud

Filed under: Health — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:34 pm
Michael Brewer asked:


It all started with credit cards.

Remembering your PIN number in the check-out line was that industry’s Hail Mary Pass to cut losses from fraudulent purchases back in the mid-80s. Fingerprint and retinal scans were developed by the FBI about the same time to keep us out of secure areas and to keep our prying eyes off top-secret documents.

Now, fast forward about 20 or so years. Throw in a dismal economy, mix in thousands of suddenly uninsured Americans and you’ve got the makings of an apparently unforeseen black hole of security that could threaten the future of affordable healthcare and the efforts of Congress to reform it.

A woman in New York City faces up to seven years in prison on charges she recently forged more than 50 insurance claims that submitted them to her health insurance company for reimbursement. Meanwhile in Miami, a medical clinic for senior patients was raided after investigators discovered a front desk clerk sharing 1,100 Medicare IDs and patient information with her family members. One of her cousins allegedly made off with $2.8 million in fraudulent refunds for services never rendered.

“As more people are not getting the health care they need, we’re seeing an increasing incidence of medical identity fraud,” tells Michigan-based attorney Norbert Kugele to the New York Times. “Someone will show up at a hospital with someone else’s insurance information and will seek treatment under their name.”

Pulling a Fast One

It’s almost like the industry never saw it coming. Of course, Medicare fraud has been going on for years and the Feds have been battling it with great intensity, by their own admission, with mixed success. But security experts warn high profile health insurance fraud cases are only going to grow and there may be no end to creative tactics the perpetrators may use to bilk an already handicapped health system.

President Obama claims the healthcare reform bill being considered by Congress will provide a safety net to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining health care under the “Public Option.” Just how this will happen is anybody’s guess. Many citizens who relocated to America without proper documentation have been receiving public benefits and/or employment opportunities for years without much scrutiny by business owners or infiltration by state and local governments — so much so that the Feds figure in fraud when making all kinds of budgetary projections to Congress.

Medical identity theft occurs when criminals obtain information such as a health insurance identification or Social Security number and use it to get health care or to obtain reimbursement from insurers and others for false claims. That means your medical history and health care records can include someone else’s information.

Aside from the obvious health concerns that go along with adopting someone else’s health profile, — imagine an ID thief at the doctor’s office, presenting a health insurance ID from a patient who, unbeknownst to the thief, is diabetic, allergic to certain medication or receiving chemotherapy — there are other huge expenses that could undercut any savings that the Obama administration projects would be saved by reform in its current form.

“Hospitals and insurance companies face enormous expenses when it comes to medical identity theft, as they are forced to write-off charges incurred by the thieves,” recently wrote Bankrate reporter Amy Crane. “But its victims find that the financial aspects of this type of identity theft are the easiest to deal with.”

What You Can Do

-  Your insurance card, your life. Security experts think we too often assume that our insurance card is no more valuable than our frequent shopper card or our gym membership. Protect your insurance information as you would your credit card, driver license or other personal asset.

 -  Give your medical records a check-up. Audit your health insurance and medical records annually, as you would your personal credit report. It’s not only o.k. to ask your doctor for your medical records, it’s protected under federal law to do so. If you see anything that look suspicious, call your insurance company right away.

 -  Go paperless. Not only is it environmentally friendly, opting into paperless health insurance benefit and billing statements is a good way to prevent your personal health information from slipping into the wrong hands.

 

 

 

 

 



Julio

February 19, 2010

Organisations Protecting Against Identity Theft

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 8:52 pm
John Goldman asked:


Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and hard to manage by ever passing day where id thieves are finding out new ways to steal your identity. This rapid growth in the number of cases in identity theft being reported has also been matched by the corresponding increase in the business that offer services to protect you from the impact of id theft.

However the arguments still remain when it comes to the effectiveness of services offered by these id theft protection companies. Therefore you need to find for yourself how services based on the organization would help protect your identity.

Services included

Max Thompson of Identity Theft Protection 101, identities five services which are generally offered by id theft protection companies. The services include daily monitoring of credit reports, providing you a list of the credit applications issued on your name, maintain fraud alerts on your credit reports, eliminate pre approved credit offers and also monitor other personal identifiers like your social security number.

The LifeLock Company for instance which is owned by Todd Davis offers an excellent example of the problems faced by these companies in offering your guaranteed identity theft protection. The owner of the company who is know for displaying his social security number in ads for his company’s effectiveness actually had his id stolen which caused their customers to file suit against them.

Report from Consumer Federation of America

There was a report by Consumer Federation of America or CFA in March 2009 entitled To Catch a Thief and it discussed whether id theft protection services are actually worth the cost which voiced concerns on the effectiveness of these companies. However after researching around 16 businesses which offered id theft protection service and the CFA had found several problems with their service.

Some of these include lack of proper information on costs and coverage, incomplete data about insurance coverage, misleading statements regarding the effectiveness of fraud alerts, vague guarantees and also the use of internal negotiation methods which could limit rights of a consumer.

The report from CFA also criticized the companies which publicize id theft ‘protection’ service. However according to the author of the report, although the services offered by these companies might offer protection from the effects of id theft, completely preventing it is very difficult.

According to the federal trade commission you are recommended to use free identity theft protection services that you are entitled for before buying services from different companies. The FTC also specifies that based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are permitted to place both a seven year extended alert and 90 day initial fraud alert on your credit report without any charges.

When these alerts are in place, the creditors will have to personally contact you before issuing any credit under your name. You can even use credit freeze option that can stop anyone from gaining access to your reports. Therefore when choosing identity theft protection organizations make sure know what services you are offered and how much it would cost you for their service.



Doris

February 18, 2010

Have You Become The Victim Of Identity Theft And Fraud?

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:14 am
John Goldman asked:


Identity theft can be simply identified as a crime throughout the world. Identity theft and fraud are basically the terms used to refer these crimes wherein a person wrongfully gains access and uses personal data of someone else in some way which involves deception or fraud, usually for financial gain. Therefore with the increasing risks of identity theft it is important you take certain precautions to stay away from identity theft and fraud.

How risky is identity theft and fraud

It is much different form your fingerprints which are unique to every individual and cannot be robbed by anyone for their use, but in case of your personal data specially your credit card and bank account number, social security number, your telephone calling card numbers or any other valuable identification data can be easily robbed and used when they fall in the hands of thieves to personally make profits on your expense.

In the United States and several other places, people have filed reports that an unauthorized person has taken funds form tier bank or financial accounts but in some worst cases it has been taken from their own identity. When done in your own identity it can go much further to creating vast debts and also commit crimes in the name of the victim. In most cases the losses faced by a victim might not just include out of pocket funds but some substantial additional financial costs linked to the effort in restoring their personal reputation in the local community and also correcting all the information that was used for criminal activities.

Common ways to commit identity theft and fraud

Most people don’t realize how easy it is for criminals to gain access to their personal data without even breaking into their homes. The criminals for instance might engage in shoulder surfing by just watching you from nearby when you type your credit card number or telephone calling card number. Additionally the areas around your office or home might also not be safe, as most criminals usually engage in dumpster diving which means going through your communal dumpster, garbage cans or trans bin.

This is just to check if there are any checks, bank or credit card statements or any other record bearing your name, number and address. These bits of information make it easier for them to get control over your accounts and in your name through your identity.

What should you do?

Identity theft and fraud has become a growing crime and there are certain steps you should take to prevent being an id theft victim. Firstly you should be careful about your personal sensitive data by making sure you don’t carry your social security number in your wallet.

Make sure you also clear your trash bin frequently by either burning or shredding the thrown away documents including your used credit cards. You should also request your credit report to find out if there are any changes done to your account. In case you find any changes make sure you instantly inform the FTC or the credit reporting agencies about the case.  



Chad

February 17, 2010

Identity Theft, Protecting Yourself Against the #1 Crime in the World

Filed under: Personal Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:50 am
Robert Miller asked:


Identity Theft is now the number one crime in the entire world. It is estimated that $221 billion a year is lost by businesses worldwide due to identity theft. Cyber crime units now analyze 2,000 to 3,000 new viruses per hour. Much of the malware harvests financial and personal data sold to groups who turn it into cash through identity fraud.

One simple toll-free telephone call can block 99.9% of personal exposure to Identity Theft. Aside from expediency of commerce, it’s shocking that legislation has not been enacted to automatically force this common action without the consumer having to make the call.

Every 3 Seconds someone becomes a victim of Identity Theft, 20 lives ruined every minute, 1200 every hour, 28,800 every day, 201,600 every month, and 2,419,200 every year. The impact on the individual is staggering with thousands of dollars in costs and dozens of hours wasted trying to deal with the personal devastation. It could all have been avoided with one simple telephone call.

On an individual level, how does one become a victim of Identity Theft? And most importantly, how can we avoid becoming a victim of this prevalent crime? The odds are clearly stacked against society, our personal information is readily available in this high technology world.

Just as we use firewalls and virus protection programs for our computer health, we need to closely examine the anatomy of this crime of opportunity. What protections are available to insulate us against the potential damage from stolen personal idenitity information?

Many of us may already be victims of Identity Theft and don’t know it yet, or the impact of the fraud has yet to be perpetuated or discovered. Remember those special event tickets you bought, or the hotel reservation, car rental, or airline flight reservation call you made?

Have you ever purchased an automobile and filled out a loan application? How about an application for a cell phone, a store credit card, or an application for an apartment rental? What about a school, personal or equity loan?

Remember all of the information you probably provided? You most likely gave your credit card details, or birth date, social security number, address, bank account references, employment information and/or phone number.

Now ask yourself a few questions … Who has access to all of that information? Do you know them? Do you trust them? What’s to stop them from selling or misusing that data?

It’s a scary proposition, but right now there are probably several file cabinets or computer storage files in different places of business that house enough of your personal information to allow for an easy theft of your identity. It’s a fact of life, we’re ALL vulnerable. But you can easily block the use of that information. You’ll see how in just a moment, but first …

How does information theft become Identity Theft?

Stealing your personal information is only the first step in the criminal process. Once the information is gathered, the thief must then convert that information into a means by which he or she can profit.

One popular method is to simply call one of your credit card companies posing as you and change the billing address for the card and then begin making a series of purchases. Identity Theft perpetrators don’t even need your credit card, they can simply call and have a duplicate card issued. They can establish utility, cable, or cell phone service in your name. Some even obtain leases, car loans and more.

In one recent case, a local bank in Montgomery County, Maryland USA issued a check for $100,000 for an equity loan on a home. The entire transaction was recorded on bank cameras as the check was handed to an impersonator of the home’s actual owner. And that was the second time it happened to the same victim who was exonerated by authorities as an accomplice in the case.

Identity theft ruins lives. It creates a seemingly infinite number of short term problems that turn into a nightmare that can linger for decades. Don’t assume that it can’t happen to you.

ATMs are one the latest points of attack. Thieves have developed credit cards that can temporarily program any ATM machine to copy the magnetic data off of your credit or debit card when you use the machine. This method has effectively collected hundreds of victims in the course of a single weekend from a single machine.

Identity thieves also use handheld magnetic card readers that can be easily purchased right on the internet. Culprits include waiters and waitresses, store clerks, toll booth collectors, and gas station attendants to name a few.

64% of all fraud complaints involve identity theft and it’s not just credit cards. With your personal information, thieves can open bank accounts, order checks and run up huge debt by writing bad checks in your name. Identity thieves have become so creative and talented that most protections schemes can be thwarted.

So what’s the answer? Credit monitoring services like those offered by the credit bureau agencies? Simply put, that’s like having an alarm to alert you after you’ve been ripped off.

The solution is clear, placing a Fraud Alert on your credit profile with the primary credit bureau agencies will block 99.9% of attempts to use your personal information for credit without your permission. Fraud Alerts require direct contact with you before an account can be opened or credit extended in your name. They can be put in place for a period of 90 days and can be renewed every three months.

Unlike fraud alerts, the alternative Credit Freeze option remains in place indefinitely and no credit of any kind can be issued in your name until you take the required steps to remove the freeze.

Just one telephone call is all it takes to any of the primary credit bureaus in the United States:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Identity Theft is not the only problem in using credit. Inside the complex credit system there are credit robbers. Some of your most trusted creditors are damaging your credit scores and credit rating without your knowledge.

But that’s a story for another article, for now you would be well advised to immediately place a Fraud Alert on your credit profile with any of the credit bureau agencies. Then be sure to update that order every 90 days. It’s the best way to avoid becoming an Identity Theft victim.



Vanessa

February 7, 2010

Protecting Against Identity Theft

Filed under: Personal Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 8:49 am
Martha Timmons asked:


Preventing ID Theft

ID fraud is one of the biggest crime in the U.S today. Every 4 seconds someone’s identity is stolen.There are now several id fraud prevention services on the market to address this problem. The question now becomes which identity theft protection provider is right for you. How do you easily compare the features of each one? That’s where a site like IDProtectionStore.com with their comparison chart becomes handy. In addition to services that are dedicated to id fraud prevention, you might also want to consider a credit monitoring service to provide you another layer of protection that many id theft prevention services don’t always provide. Many of these credit monitoring services offer a free trial where you’re able to get your free credit score.

There’s credit scoreoffers where you can see your information from one credit bureau. Other services allow you to view your credit score from all 3 credit bureaus. Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian. This is crucial because the data contained in one credit bureau report may not match with what’s on the others. Also, many creditors may choose to see one or more of your credit files. And most offers do not provide a free FICO report for free. You only get to see what’s on your normal credit reports. But a FICO report is not the same as your normal credit report or score. It uses different set of rules for coming up with your FICO score. Most lenders utilize the FICO report to determine your creditworthiness. Therefore it may be most wiseto see your FICO report before applying for a personal loan. Another feature that these offers provide is credit monitoring. With some services you only get the bare minimum while others provide comprehensive credit monitoring prevention. These are some of the reasons why it makes sense to compare the features of these freecreditreport offers.



Scott

February 6, 2010

Id Protect

Filed under: Internet — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:02 am
Rajeev asked:


In the age of internet where technology is touching new heights and everyone is depending on internet for all information, be in business marketing, online shopping, socializing, networking etc. Apart from all the positives there is something that we need to be careful about i.e. ID theft.

Whatever data we send and receive in transmitted over the internet in an unencrypted format which can be stolen by the hackers and data and id thieves. So everyone needs to be very careful while sharing any information which can be used against you or for any other purpose. This can include your credit card details, banking details and your social security number.

And if you are not protecting yourself then your internet service provider, your boss, your spouse can get hold of your data and can be used against your will. Now the question arises that how we can save ourselves form these kinds of data and id thefts. Through an encryption technique you can save your data before it gets stolen.

You can guard yourself against internet fraud and can protect your computer and your personal information. Universal media can provide efficient ways of ID protect. ID protect is very essential, if you are not so tech savvy and don’t know that how to stop these kind of thefts and secure yourself then Universal Media is the answer for all your worries.

There are many ways like fishing filter, spam guard which can protect you system and your information from the theft. Hackers can try to hack all your personal and confidential data and can harm you or your credits etc. So, in order to protect yourself make sure to take some precautionary measures to stop the hackers and to prevent your data.

There are lot of internet privacy protection services available which can protect your data by encrypting the sent or received data as this can hide your location and IP address from the other users. So next time you log on to your computer make sure that your data in encrypted and secure and you are protected form the hackers and spammers.



Regina

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