Bernard Pragides asked:




When it comes to safety, not many people feel that they are at risk in their very own homes. Most of us know to tear up or shred credit card offers when they come in the mail because that can lead to identity theft. Perhaps many fewer people are aware of the fact that those that are out to steal your identity have found new, more sophisticated ways of getting what they want.

The telephone that you use in your home every day can be tapped and those listening can easily get the information they’re looking for. Many people still order from catalogs by phone. If there is an identity thief on the line listening, you will have given them everything they need to use that credit account. They will then be able to place numerous orders online and by phone themselves. You will then be left with a hefty bill and the burden of proving the fact that those charges do not belong to you.

Unfortunately, there are items out in public circulation that will allow intruders to listen to your conversations in your own home without your phone ringing. If they can tap into your line, they can listen to the conversations in your home which are supposed to be private. Any information that you share out loud in your home could be compromised. These identity thieves are just waiting for you to say information to help them. Surprisingly, you say this information more than you think. If you place a phone order, you give all the information they’re looking for. Likewise, if you call your credit company to ask a question or dispute something, you also give them all the information they need, usually a bonus password or security word as well.

Even in you home, it’s prudent to be extra protective of your private and worthwhile information. If you feel you may have been compromised, you should contact the credit company via email to check on the status and balance of your account. This way you can be sure that your information is still your own and that your balance is what it should be. If there is a touch tone option when you call into your credit company, use it. Saying it may be easier, but it can cost you more than you think.

Sadly, we live in society in which we can’t trust others. As it’s said, the few have spoiled it for the many. Being careful is your best protection.

Marcus

Chris Goodman asked:




A car dealership is a nesting ground for ID thieves because non-public personal data is everywhere. Before you step foot in the dealership, do some research and find you a go do online lender that can assist you with your car loan needs. There are many websites out there that can assist you in things ranging from negotiation tips, helping you determine what your trade may be worth at time of trade in, and even applying for and getting a car loan.

Make sure when doing research that you identify a lender and not just a site that captures your personal information and sends it straight to a dealer. Just because you can complete a credit application on the site doesn’t mean they are an actual lender. Look for the words “lender” or “lending” in their name. This is not a sure sign but something easy to pick up on. Some online sites can provide all of the assistance you need. Some lenders can even help you with finding a “friendly” dealer that has a proven track record of treating their customers fairly. Be sure to ask whatever lender you settle on if they can assist in this area as well. Here are some of the benefits to getting your next auto loan online:

By applying and getting your car loan online and up front before going to the dealership eliminates the needs to provide any personal information to the dealership (date of birth, social security number, etc). The items do not remain secure in a dealership and are very easy for the experienced ID thief to get what they need and fast. Apply and getting a car loan online gives you tremendous negotiation power with the dealer. When you walk in with your financing in hand, the dealer treats you like a cash buyer. Cash buyers always have the upper hand when negotiating large ticket items. When you choose to go online and get your next car loan, you don’t have to spend unwanted time at the dealership. Buying a car the traditional way is an all day affair in some cases. When you take care of the financing upfront, you cut your dealership time down drastically. To help protect yourself against identity theft, here are some tips you may want to implement if you are not already doing so. Safeguard your financial items: Shred all your bank statements, credit card statements and mortgage statements; anything with your name, address and/or account number. No matter how good your spy ware or anti-virus software is, there are very smart computer hackers that can record your keystrokes and figure out what you inputted for your account number and password, so be sure to change them often.

You also want to make sure when conducting financial transactions online to check to ensure the website is safe and that the site is using the latest encryption technology like OpenRoad Lending. There you can apply for a car loan and feel confident that the information you provide will be safe.

Dolores

Wade Robins asked:


Credit card identity theft where your credit card is stolen, your PIN is stolen or someone opens another credit card in your name, can all be particularly damaging to your credit score. Unfortunately a credit score isn’t so easily restored but there are a couple of things you can do to make the best of the situation and restore it as much as possible. In this article we will look at what you should do before and after credit card identity theft in order to best protect and restore your credit score.

The first thing you should do whenever you receive a new credit card is to make photocopies of both sides of the card and file these away in a safe place. This way if your credit card goes missing or you believe it may have been compromised you can immediately put a stop to it.

Regularly request credit reports on your name. These credit reports will show you whether any other credit cards have been opened in your name that you do not know about. The sooner you find out that a card has been opened in your name that is incorrect the sooner you will be able to put a stop to it and prevent any damage from occurring.

Only carry around with you those credit cards that you are going to be using and try to keep a minimum of credit cards.

If you discover that your credit card has gone missing or if there is any chance that your credit card information may have been compromised and used in credit card identity theft then the first thing you should do is to stop the relevant card or cards. Phone the card issuer and let them know that you believe you may have been a victim of credit card identity theft and if they could immediately put a stop to all purchases on the card.

You should also contact one of the credit card bureaus if you believe you have been a victim of credit card identity theft and report the matter to them. They can then put a fraud alert on your credit report which will make it more difficult for anyone to open another account in your name.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and with the local police station where the ID theft took place and give them a copy of your form from the FTC. For more info see http://www.preventidentitythefthelp.com/Identity_Theft_Protection on identity theft protection.

By following these preventative measures and taking action if you believe you have been a victim of credit card identity theft you will be in a much better place to restore your credit score if anything does happen and will hopefully be able to prevent too much damage taking place from the start.



Curtis

Suzy Vanstrusen asked:


ght (c) 2009 Suzy Vanstrusen

Consumers are constantly reminded to keep on guard against identity theft and fraud. If you suspect identity theft, you can place your report on fraud alert. This way, when someone tries to open an account under your name, creditors who may inquire about your report will see the alert and contact the owner of the report before approving the application.

Nevertheless, a fraud alert can be ignored. Creditors do sometimes ignore the warnings and approve the application. To provide consumers with a more reliable protection against ID theft, credit freeze was introduced.

Understanding Credit Freeze

What is the difference between a credit freeze and fraud alert? Unlike a fraud alert, a credit freeze blocks new creditors from accessing an individual’s credit report. Not even the owner of the report can take a look into it while it’s on freeze. To make the credit report available for inquiry, the owner must first request for the freeze to be lifted.

Without access to the credit report, no creditor will grant approval for a new credit application. Obviously, if an identity thief attempts to open an account using your name or steal your account information, it will not be possible since no one can access your report.

Be On Guard for More Risks

In what other ways can you protect your identity from fraud? Below are practical tips to help you:

- Be alert when using ATMs. Make sure that no one is looking over your shoulder or standing too close behind you. Do not throw away ATM receipts in the trash.

- Shared important documents before discarding them. Identity thieves also rummage through other people’s trash in search for information. Before throwing your away old billing statements, receipts or old credit cards, shred them first to small pieces.

- Do not write important details on just any sheet of paper. Write your passwords and banking information in a logbook and keep it in a safe storage.

- Request a different credit card number for online use. You can ask your issuer for a different credit card number that you can use for online transactions. This way, you do not have to reveal your banking information online.

- Monitor your accounts regularly. Check all billing statements and notices that your bank sends you. Many credit card companies today provide an online account access option so cardholders can look into their accounts at any time.

- Subscribe to the fraud protection service provided by your issuer. One of the most important provisions that you can get from your credit card company is the fraud protection feature. Be sure that you clearly understand your credit card issuer’s policy on this.

- Check your credit report regularly. If you do found errors, send a dispute letter to the credit bureaus. Point out the errors that you want to be corrected. You can also ask help from a human customer service from any of the three credit bureaus, by visiting gethuman.com for a list of contact numbers.

Wilma

Glyn Norman asked:


In the marketplace for ID Theft Protection, three companies are taking the lead. Invisus Direct, Wells Fargo and PrePaid Legal/Kroll, Inc. On the surface, all three companies seem to offer an almost identical product, but beneath the surface, significant differences emerge.

Invisus Direct primarily offers protection against online ID theft, through securing your computer with software which protects you from such predators, and insures you against ID Theft even if it happens in the offline world. If you already have strong PC protection from another software vendor, like McAfee or Norton, or you own a Mac, you may not need the protection that Invisus offers for around $14.99 per month, per computer.

Wells Fargo offers ID Theft protection, with $10,000 in ID Theft insurance to cover the costs of restoring your identity if it is stolen. Like Invisus, the usual suspects are monitored, such as your credit reports etc.

PrePaid Legal/Kroll, Inc. offers ID Theft protection that monitors your credit report, the use of your Drivers’ License #, your medical records, and your Social Security #. The subscription costs $12.95 per month, but here is where PrePaid Legal/Kroll, Inc., differs from the other two programs.

With Invisus and Wells Fargo, if your identity is stolen, they provide you with a do-it-yourself pack, which contains form letters that you have to send to every financial organization with whom you have dealings, explaining the theft and attempting to remedy the situation. On average, the amount of time this takes is 600 hours. PrePaid Legal/Kroll have a different solution. You sign over a Limited Power of Attorney to them, and THEY spend the 600 hours sorting out the mess.

From my perspective, this tips the balance in favor of PrePaid Legal/Kroll, Inc., though if computer security is your primary concern, you might also consider Invisus.



Constance

Keith Londrie asked:


Attorney General John Ashcroft called identity theft as “one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States”. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the leading governmental agency which keeps records on identity theft, estimates that over 9 million Americans (or 4.25% of all adults) are victims of ID theft on an annual basis, resulting in $52.6 billion losses to businesses and financial institutions. Even the 9/11 or September 11th hijackers were believed to have been identity thieves, using stolen passports and Social Security numbers to obscure their trail. Beyond doubt, identity theft crimes have reached epidemic proportions with subsequent catastrophic consequences.

Identity theft crimes are not new, but they have become more persuasive in the past decade. Advances in computer hardware and software along with the growth of the Internet have significantly increased the role that identity theft plays in crime. Individuals can hire credit-monitoring services that alert them when there are changes in their credit report. One such company, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. in conjunction with Kroll, Inc. has developed a unique solution for victims of identity theft. This service referred to as the “Identity Theft Shield” is available to Pre-Paid Legal Services members. With the Identity Theft Shield, you have the added security of knowing that experienced professionals from the world’s leading risk consulting company are there to fight for you.

To prevent identity fraud, experts recommend that you review your credit report regularly. The ID Theft Shield makes this task easier. You receive prompt notices if any new accounts are opened in your name or if derogatory notations are added to your credit report. On an average, ID theft victims spend more than 250 hours and $2000 to clear their names. With Identity Theft Shield available at just $9.95/month, the cost of combating ID fraud crimes is much less. This monthly fee provides benefits to you, the member, and your spouse. At this cost, it is well worth the time and money to keep your affairs private.

Truly, Identity Theft Shield is the most factual and comprehensive solution to ID theft restoration. However, at times, even the best backup plans Fail. Therefore, you must learn to depend on yourself to set up your own identity theft shield and minimize your risk. Some things to do would be to shred all paperwork with important account information on it, don’t just throw it away in the trash because one of the simplest methods of Identity theft is for the theif to go through trash cans and dumpsters. Memorize pin numbers, do not carry them with your credit cards; Just to mention a couple thoughts.



Gloria

Joseph Kenny asked:


Lock your doors, hide your money in the safe, hire security guards to protect your prized possessions, but what can you do if someone stole your identity? If something valuable is stolen, you can call the police and hope to get your stolen property back. Rightly termed as the crime of the 21st century, victimizing millions of Americans, you can do very little if you find your identity stolen. Identity theft is on the rise, and nearly everyone is vulnerable to this new-age form of fraud.

How is it done?

Using all possible methods, criminals steal credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone calling cards, ATM cards and other key pieces of an individual’s identities. The information on these is used to impersonate the victim, by spending maximum money in the shortest time they can.

Preventive steps or Precautions

1. Avoid carrying valuable documents and cards with you whenever you go out, unless it’s absolutely necessary.

2. Opt for the Direct Marketing Associations Mail Preference Service and the Telephone Preference Service. By doing this, your name is added to the computerized name deletion lists used by marketers all over the nation.

3. Pick the newly ordered checks from the bank and do not allow them to be sent to your residential address.

4. To keep the mailing system secure, install a locked mailbox at your residence.

5. Post mail bills and other sensitive items at the post office instead of the neighborhood drop boxes. Sometimes the envelopes containing the address could land in the wrong hands and be altered.

6. Do not give out information over the phone unless it is an individual belonging to a trusted company. Lottery and ‘lucky dip’ calls should not be entertained, as they are usually hoax.

7. Release Social Security Numbers (SSN) only if it is necessary.

8. While creating passwords and PIN numbers, avoid using numbers from social security, birth date, middle name or any kind of important personal numbers; these are said to be easy for criminals to figure out.

9. Cross check that financial institutions are safeguarding your important data. Insist on the removal of account numbers from ATM slips; also ask them to shred the paper reports before throwing them away.

After the Theft

1. The moment you feel that there has been an identity theft, it is important to report the crime to the police. Provide all the requisite documented evidence. Even if the police refuse to give the report, be persistent and demand it. Keep the police report for the bank and credit card company’s reference.

2. Inform the banks, cancel all the savings and checking accounts and get new account numbers.

3. Call the 3 credit reporting companies and ask them to flag the accounts. Ask for a fraud alert to be attached to the report and extend it later if you want to. This fraud alert lets creditors contact you whenever there is an attempt to open an account in your name.

4. File an ID theft affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission after reporting the theft. This affidavit can be sent to credit bureaus and institutions to close fraudulent debts and accounts opened in your name.

5. Lastly, do not blame yourself for the theft, you being the victim should not feel guilty for the theft, and instead handle the situation calmly.

Do not let all the reputation and respect you have earned be trifled with by a petty thief. It is sometimes observed that people you know are the ones who sabotage your identity by using it against you. Be on the safe side and avoid disclosing any personal information to anyone. The identity you have been given is yours to have; no other person has the right to take it from you.



Tommy

Jim G. George asked:


The bear in your campground analogy:

Perfect protection is unreachable but you can be better protected than most people with reasonable efforts. The “Bear in Your Campground” story applies here. When a bear comes into your campground, you can’t outrun the bear but you can outrun the other campers. The fact is that there is no way you can be sure to outrun the thieves either, but you can outrun the other potential victims – and that may be enough. I will try to help you make the trade-offs that work for you.

There are lots of people out there making it easy to steal their identities. You don’t want to be one of them. There is a lot you can do without major expenditures and major changes in your lifestyle. The point of this book is to teach you what you can do and let you make intelligent trade-offs yourself of security versus cost and inconvenience.

Things to do right away:

The point of this is to get you off to a fast start, positioned to better protect yourself. Some of the things you should do right away include:

Review your last bank and card statements.

Be sure all listed transactions were authorized by a family member, don’t assume. Also check to see that you are not missing the most recent statement, as that might be a sign of account takeover. List each account and card on the Account and Card Inventory Form provided in the back of this book. Include on your list your divers license and ID cards from your employer, insurers, that would have to be replaced if your wallet was lost or stolen. This form will be an important tool for detection as well as recovery.

Order a credit report.

One report from each agency per year is now free. Some people get one each four months, on a revolving basis, so that they never have to pay for a report. Some request all three or each more often. This is one of those trade-offs of protection versus expense and effort. To order, go to the Annual Credit Report Service at www.annualcreditreport.com, call them at 877-322-8228, or contact a specific credit agency:

* Equifax: 800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com

* Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com

* Transunion: 800-888-4213 or www.transunion.com

Calendar the date when you want to order the next credit report. And note which agencies are next in rotation, if you are ordering one at a time.

When I first did this I found a debt listed that had been run up by my former wife. I called the bank and got them to take it off of my credit report. As reviewing your credit report is an ongoing habit, we will discuss what to do when the report arrives in the next section.

Install a locking mailbox or get a Post Office Box.

Incoming mail can provide a thief with credit cards, applications, checks, and various identifying information. I put up the first locking mailbox in my neighborhood. It cost $60 and a little time. But when one neighbor had a box of checks stolen and another lost incoming pay and dividend checks, I wasn’t the only one for long.

When my wife went out to run in the mornings, at least once a week she noticed all the unlocked mailboxes were hanging open. One day in the park I found all of a certain neighbor’s junk mail. But not those credit card offers and nothing that resembled account statements, or other financial or government mail – those were too valuable for the thieves to toss. What was going on was that groups of teens were cruising the streets making quick grabs into unlocked boxes. They sell “interesting” items to a broker. The broker sorts out the items by type and sells groups of like items to transaction specialists. Certain thieves pass bad checks, others use deposit slips, still others specialize in cards-related frauds.

P.O. boxes may be safer, if less convenient and more expensive, another trade-off. The bear might tear into your locked mailbox, but if the other campers have open jars of honey out front, then why would he bother you?

Get gel ballpoint pens for writing checks.

A thief can take a check from your outgoing mail, remove regular ballpoint pen ink with nail polish remover (protecting the signature, of course), and have a signed blank check – on your account.

The cheapest investment you can make is to buy a gel ballpoint pen and keep it clipped to your checkbook. Gel is a newer kind of ink which cannot be removed by washing. The point is to look for the word “GEL” on the pen, buy it, and use it for all your checks.

Get a shredder.

A crosscut or confetti style is best, as strips can be reconstructed. Anything with your social security number on it or containing personal data is fair game to the thieves when it hits your garbage bag or can. “Dumpster diving” is a profitable profession.

Things you don’t want fished from your trash include bank and card statements, old taxes, voided or old checks, deposit slips, credit applications you don’t want to complete, credit offers, and those checks the credit card companies send you to initiate low interest rate loans and balance transfers.

Change poor PINs and passwords.

They should be at least six numbers and/or characters. They should not be easy to guess or based on information which might be in your wallet. The first numbers a purse or wallet thief would try are parts of your birth date, phone number, SSN, and any other key number they find in you wallet. Realize that your SSN can be accessed by a large number of people. A thief might obtain it and try different parts of it in guessing your PIN even if they don’t find it in your wallet.

There are trade-offs here too.

* Multiples – If you always use the same password it is easy to remember but people at each site have access to it. So you also might want to use a unique password on banking sites. If you use the same ID and password on many sites you are exposing them to key employees of multiple companies.

* Complexity – Complex passwords may be hard to recall and tempt you to write them down in a handy spot.

* Real or made-up – To be extra careful, you might create and use an imaginary “mother’s maiden name”, as the real one could be researched. It is on your birth certificate, for example.

Set up a password on each bank and card account.

Use your Account and Card Inventory Form as a guide to contact each bank. Once set up, the password can be used by the bank to determine it is really calling them with a transaction such as an address change or funds transfer. If the only way they can identify you is by asking for personal data, your account is exposed to any thief who has obtained your data.

Remove any PINs or passwords written in your wallet / purse.

They could be a goldmine for a thief.

Secure any PIN and password list within your home.

Don’t leave them out, in a well labelled file in an unlocked file cabinet, on your computer in an easy to find file, or on a notebook PC that could be stolen.

Protect Social Security Numbers (SSN).

Remove them from your checks, driver’s license, resume, or other documents where it is not required. My employer forced their insurance companies to take our SSNs off of our group insurance cards.

Remove unneeded IDs from your wallet, purse, and car.

This will reduce the potential damage from theft and reduce the work you will have to do if theft does occur.

Protect your PC’s

Get and run anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and firewalls. Be sure to use the encryption option on wireless networks.

Protect Yourself – Avoidance Habits to Develop and Keep

Even as you complete the initial protection steps described in the prior chapter, you also need to start practicing on-going protective habits.

Review this list from time to time.

The first habit is to learn and repeat each of the others. Put “review the good habits list” on your calendar, as a reminder, until you regularly practice each of these good habits.

Protect your outgoing mail.

Taking outgoing mail can be lucrative for the thief in many ways.

* Applications – Applications for cards or loans can be “edited” by thieves so that they get the payoff and you get the collection calls.

* Checks – A check in the outgoing mail can be as good as gold to them. Even if you used a gel pen to prevent alteration of that check, the data on your check can be used to produce (or even order) perfectly valid looking checks that can be written by the thief that will clear and post against your checking account.

* Deposits – An outgoing deposit-by-mail is a double gift to the thief. Not only can they “edit” the checks to their specifications but they can use the deposit slip too. That scam goes like this: They go into your bank (probably a remotely located branch so they aren’t recognized) and hand the teller the deposit slip along with some bogus checks they printed up on their PC or have from a nearly zero balance account out of state. Then they ask for some cash back from the deposited funds. They are usually handed the cash, since it is less that the funds already available on your account. When the deposited checks bounce back against your account, the thief has been gone for two or three days.

* Data sources – Various other sorts of mail (like car registrations, tax forms) can help the thief build a file on you which will later be used to open accounts in your name. You can count on him running up overdrafts and bad debts in your good name.

For all of these reasons, place outgoing mail only in secure mail boxes, not the office OUT box and not your personal mailbox. The big blue USPS boxes are pretty well bear-proof.

Be wary at ATMs and points of purchase

The ideal situation for a thief is to have both your card and your PIN. They will go to quite a bit of trouble to get them. If they can copy the data from the magnetic stripe on the back of the card they can create an exact copy of your card. Even with only plain white card stock they can use the magnetic stripe data to create a “white card” that will work perfectly well on an ATM, gas pump or other unmanned locations.

* Getting your PIN – Watch out for “shoulder surfing”. Be aware of anyone watching you enter your PIN at an ATM or point of purchase terminal. Some thieves even use a video camera to record your entry from a short distance or hide a camera to record and transmit your finger movements on the keypad.

* Getting your data – Your card’s magnetic stripe data can be read by one of three types of small skimmer devices.

* One is a portable device that can be taped to a waiter’s arm. They go to a private space, roll up their sleeve, swipe the card, then go about their normal business.

* Another kind is mounted under the counter. You won’t see the card swiped but it will disappear from view momentarily.

* Some thieves go so far as to install a skimmer on a bank’s ATM. These look like part of the machine but they are unauthorized “add-ons” that read the magnetic stripe on the card before passing it on to the real ATM card reader.

* Getting your card – Some thieves us a device known as a “Lebanese loop” to steal your card at the ATM. The loop is a strip of plastic they stick into the cred reader slot. Your card is caught by it and jams. After you leave in frustration the thief uses a tool to pull out the loop and your card with it.

Use safer ways to make payments.

It is safer to use credit over debit cards, as they provide better protection against fraudulent charges and their spending limit is most likely below the amount than can be taken from your deposit (checking or savings) account. Once money has been taken from your deposit account, it may take some time to resolve the issue with the bank. In the mean time you may not have access to all of your funds. A credit card balance, on the other hand, you can simply not pay if you have lodged a legitimate complaint in the right manner.

Checks are relatively easy to manipulate. Even if gel ink is used the check can be scanned, the image manipulated, then printed (including the signature). It is remarkably easy for people to order checks on your account and have them sent to an address supplied by the thief. They just say they are you and have recently moved. Many check printers do nothing to verify the identity of the person placing the order, On-line bill paying is available from most banks and is far safer. Once you get used to it you will probably find it more convenient as well. Just be careful with your on-line ID and password.

Now obviously there are other kinds of risks in the world that need to be considered. Over use of credit cards, without regular full payments of the balance, can be a problem. To address this, some families use one card for debt and another for routine purchases. They look for a low-interest card for the first purpose and pay off the other each month, without exception.

Close old accounts.

An amazing number of accounts are sitting around the country in an inactive status. These are prime targets for the thief. If they send in or call in a change of address for the account they are set to strike. They can then run up a card balance, get checks printed and overdraft a deposit account, and set up new accounts related to the original.

After you try to close an account, note it on your Account and Card Inventory Form but don’t remove it until you see a credit report listing it as closed. It once took me five trys to get a card issues to actually cancel my card account.

Establish good habits for new accounts.

Ask what the statement date will be. Establish passwords when you set up the account, as described in Chapter 2. Add new accounts to the Account and Card Inventory Form as soon as you get them. Watch for the first statement and review it carefully.

Avoid common mistakes

Doing the things described above is important. But it is equally important that you avoid common mistakes.

* Don’t give out data – Incoming-phone calls or e-mail can be a source of data to the thief. They can later use that data to pretend to be you while on the phone to a bank, check printer, or loan company. Once they are accepted as you, they can run any number of scams:

* Take over your account by changing the address of record. They can then transact without your finding out about the activity.

* Set up a new account, card, or loan and link it to the existing accounts. They then are positioned to make transfers as well as play on your good credit.

Another form of thief’s data request is “phishing” e-mails. These can seem to be from your bank, card company, brokerage, or other trusted financial institution. They send you to an apparently valid web site that asks for your ID and PIN data. They can be very realistic, with your bank’s logo, the look and feel of their web site and even seem to have taken you to the familiar site.

Don’t ever provide ID or PIN’s as a response to e-mails or calls. Call the bank and report the e-mail. Go to your bank’s Web site only in your usual manner, by typing in their URL or clicking from your browser’s Favorites or Bookmarks list.

* Don’t leave data around – Don’t leave the customer copy of a charge slip on the table after paying for a meal or making a store purchase. Although the law now requires that only the last digits of your card number appear on the slip, some older systems are still out there which have the whole card number. This applies also to carbon copies and the carbon sheets themselves.

*Don’t write your PIN or password on anything that isn’t very secure. This includes your house or unsecured PC file.

* Don’t use your SSN unnecessarily – Don’t put your SSN on your checks, driver’s license, resumes or anything else, if you can avoid it. Don’t give it out unless absolutely necessary. It is legally required in relation to any taxable income source. Merchants may not choose to grant you credit if you do not reveal it, it’s your choice (and theirs) in that case. Some people make up a number. This ploy has risks that the number will be found to be invalid or, worse, that the number belongs to someone else. The other person may not have good credit or may even be wanted by law enforcement. You don’t want to appear to be an ID thief yourself.

*Don’t ignore early signs – A common mistake is to take lightly the early signs of identity theft. The quicker it is caught, the sooner it will be resolved and at the least cost in effort and dollars. That is the subject of the next chapter.

This article is from a larger workbook available at www.yourIDsite.com

Copyright Jim G. George



Judy

Joe Farinaccio asked:


ce departments don’t want to deal with identity theft. So one of the first things you’re faced with as a victim of fraud is, “How should I report identity theft to police.?”

Police don’t want to ignore crime. But identity theft isn’t like the physical crimes most law enforcement officers are used to dealing with. Most evidence of ID Theft activity happens in the realm of electronic databases and paper transactions.

ID Theft investigations typically take a good bit of time and man-hours. Local police can’t possibly investigate most crimes that stem from identity theft — there just isn’t enough money or resources.

If your local police resist the idea of filling out an official police report then politely insist. One reason the police may resist filling out a report is because they think you expect them to exert a lot of time and effort investigating the crime. That, of course, is unlikely to happen.

Explain to the police that having a report for “informational purposes” is vital to clearing your credit profile … and legally protecting yourself from any crimes committed in your name by the identity thief. You can also explain the credit reporting agencies and credit grantors expect a police report to clear a credit profile tainted by identity theft. Prospective employers and future credit issuers also need to understand that you’re the victim of a genuine, serious crime.

If the police official tells you a credit grantor must report the crime before police can file a report then politely inform them this isn’t the case. Show them a copy of Federal Law Code 18 USC 1028a — the “Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act.A law that makes identity theft a “federal” offense against consumers.” Identity theft is a felony under applicable state laws too.

Tell them you need a police report for credit grantors to truly know you’re a victim of a serious crime, which is recognized by both Federal and State agencies. You can also explain that many creditor grantors don’t bother reporting identity theft because it happens so often they write it off as a cost of doing business.

If you’re a victim of identity fraud then credit issuers are going to expect you to prove that accounts you dispute weren’t really yours to begin with. A police report is needed for these basic reasons. If you’re persistent then you should be able to find a police official who sympathizes with your dilemma.



Alvin

Keith Londrie asked:


Identity theft (ID theft or identity fraud) is the deliberate appropriation of an individual’s personal information to impersonate that person in a legal sense. Stealing someone’s identity enables the thief to make a frightening number of financial and personal transactions in someone else’s name, leaving the victim responsible for what might turn out to be a mind-boggling turmoil in his or her life. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) keeps records on identity theft, and, not surprisingly, the number of incidents reported increase each year. The recent identity theft statistics reveal that ID theft affects as many as ten million Americans each year! According to FTC’s identity theft statistics, the losses to businesses and financial institutions total nearly 53 billion dollars annually.

These identity theft statistics further reveal that the most common types of ID thefts are credit card frauds, communications services fraud (such as opening a cell phone or a utility services account using someone else’s information), bank fraud and loan fraud. For years, the primary cause of identity theft has been good old-fashioned or low-tech analog crime. Impersonators rummaging though mailboxes, snatching purses or searching the garbage for discarded bank statements or credit card receipts. Rapid advances in technology have seen a plague of sophisticated phishing attacks. Identity theft statistics expose phishing as the most dangerous of all ID thefts that uses both social engineering and technical subterfuge.

Phishing can have serious financial consequences. In a phishing attack, the victim is sent an email that “appears” to be from a bank or other financial institution. The victim is then told to click a link and verify his/her account information or supply personal identity data. The link appears to be a legitimate site, but is in fact a scam. The moment he/she enters sensitive data, the identity thief gains access to account information and can empty the bank account. Phishers can also take out credit cards in the victim’s name, steal ISP account information and do other financial damage. In its latest report on identity theft statistics, the research group Gartner says that close to 60 million Americans reported receiving a phishing email, and 1.7 million people have been victims of identity theft, which cost banks and credit card companies $1.2 billion in losses.

You must take steps to protect your account information, social security numbers, passwords, etc. Now. Always memorize and shred important documents that you are discarding. Don’t simply throw these types of documents away!



Agnes