Credit Card Statements | id theft fraud prevention

December 25, 2010

How ID Theft Happens

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Bank Statements, Birthday Cards, Change Of Address, Correspondences, Credit Card Applications, Credit Card Statements, Garbage Bins, Initial Steps, Mail, Necessary Steps, Social Networking Sites, Social Security Number, State Governments, Trash Cans, Victims Of Identity Theft — admin @ 7:00 am

Tina L Douglas asked:

Identity theft has ruin a lot of lives and future. With its increasing number of victims, identity theft has taken the attention of the federal and state governments, each taking their own initial steps to protect consumers and assist victims of identity theft.

Understanding how identity theft happens can significantly help you protect your identity. If you know how they access your personal information, then you can take the necessary steps to shield your future.
There are a lot of ways on how criminals can get your personal information. Here are the most common:

Stealing/Snatching wallets and purses that contain your personal information.

This is probably the oldest method that identity thieves use to get your personal information. They steal your wallets because this is where you usually keep your social security number, ATM and credit cards which they often use to assume your identity and do all malicious stuffs.

Get inside your mailbox to steal your mail.

Your mailbox is another gold mine of information. Here you receive your credit card and bank statements, pre-approved credit card applications, birthday cards and other correspondences that contain your personal information. Identity thieves intercept your mail, particularly those that contain valuable information about you. If they’re lucky enough, they even file for a change of address so that all your credit card statements will be sent directly to them, and you will never know that they’re running up your credit.

Scour your trash cans to get your personal data.

People who perform this kind of stuffs are also known as dumpster divers. They “dive” in garbage bins because if they can’t intercept mail, then they just wait for people to dump these mails into their garbage bins. People are not fond of shredding their documents before they are disposed off the trash. This makes everyone vulnerable to identity theft.

Enter your home and look for personal information inside.

Some people who join social networking sites often post where they are and what they are doing. There have been instances when people who go out on vacations often arrive home only to find that their house has been broken into and their valuable electronic appliances and other valuables have been stolen. If you tell everyone in your post that you are out on a vacation and you’ll be gone for a week, it is easy for burglars to find your house and break into them because no one is around. All they need to do is monitor your status so that they’ll know if you’re coming back or not.

Obtain personal information that you share online.

Millions of users exchange personal information on the internet everyday. They do these through online banking, shopping, chat, school enrollment and registration, and any other transactions that needs your personal information to secure the exchange. Computer hackers are also identity thieves and they are also internet users with malicious intent that can harm other people who love the internet experience.

Identity theft has become a very serious issue so it’s important that you arm yourself against this crime.

Lauren

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August 12, 2010

How To Stop Identity Theft

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Credit Card Statements, Dumpster Diving, General Accounting Office, Heath Insurance, Insurance Card, Payee, Post Office, Private Records, Secure Mail, Social Security, Social Security Number, Solicitation, Solicitations, Thieves, Trash Cans — admin @ 12:59 am

Michael Russell asked:

In today’s technologically advanced world more and more people are falling victim to identity theft both online and offline. It was reported by a general accounting office that over 700,000 Americans have their identity stolen every year and that number is expected to rise over time. While many thieves operate online there are still many “dumpster divers” who go through people’s trash cans looking for a credit card statement or a solicitation that someone forgot to tear up. You may be thinking that people don’t do this stuff but there are people who spend a lot of time waiting on someone to forget to shred a piece of their personal information so they can take it and start running up your credit cards and using your social security number. It may be impossible to stop someone from stealing your identity entirely, but there are things that you can do to lower the risk of having it happen.

A simple way to stop thieves from getting your personal information by dumpster diving is to remember to destroy all private records and statements. You can tear the stuff up, but it is best to shred it. Credit card statements, documents with financial information and solicitations all need to be shredded. It is also a good idea to secure your mail, you can do this by emptying your mailbox quickly, lock it or get a P.O box. By securing your mail it will stop thieves from stealing credit card pitches and other financial information. Never mail bills or checks from your home, it is simple for thieves to go through your mail and get a bill or check and change the payee’s name on the check by erasing it with solvent. Mail out all of your bills and checks from the post office since it is the most secure location to do so.

Your social security number should also be protected. You should never carry your social security card with you or any other card that may have your number on it, this includes your heath insurance card. The social security number is the key to all of your information so thieves look for stuff like this. If they get your social security number they can get access to other important information like your credit report and your bank account. Also remember to never leave ATM, credit card or gas receipts behind.

A lot of people have their identities stolen because they fail to educate themselves about who they’re giving their private and financial information to. When someone calls with some kind of special offer or something don’t be quick to give up your information if you’re interested in their offer, first ask them who they are and what company they represent and then do a little research yourself. Don’t ever give up your financial information over the phone. Monitor your credit card, obtain a copy of your credit report annually and review it thoroughly for anything that may look suspicious to you. Also thoroughly review your credit card statement, make sure all of the merchants look familiar and if they don’t, call your credit card company and notify them about the suspicious things on your statement.

There are simple precautions that you can take to stop criminals from obtaining your private information. Be more aware when you use your credit card and don’t forget to shred up all important information that you throw into the trash.

Terri

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August 1, 2010

Identity Theft Prevention Services – What Exactly Do They Do?

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Airline Tickets, Bits And Pieces, Card Account Numbers, Cell Phone Service, Collection Agencies, Credit Card Statements, Monthly Statements, New Accounts, Phone Service Providers, Social Security Number, Theft Prevention, Thief, Thieves, Treasure Trove, Warrants — admin @ 12:19 pm

Jeff Kiser asked:

Identity theft prevention services do not exactly prevent identity theft. They simply make it much harder for thieves to use the personal information they have stolen, thereby protecting you against many of the techniques identity thieves use.

We give away personal information all the time. Any time you write a check at the store, charge airline tickets, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change cell phone service providers, or apply for a credit card you are giving away bits of personal information, such as your bank and credit card account numbers, your Social Security number and your name, address, and phone number. These bits and pieces are a treasure trove to an identity thief. Once thieves have this information, they can use it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

For example, identity thieves can take your personal information to redirect your financial data, such as bank and credit card statements, to prevent you from noticing that your existing credit card or bank account is being used without your knowledge. Identity theft prevention services prevent this from happening. This doesn’t mean, of course, that a thief couldn’t have charged things on a stolen credit card, only that you would know about it sooner…assuming you check your monthly statements.

Protection services also prevent new accounts from being set up by identity thieves in your name. This protection is important because the only way you would know this had happened was when you began to be harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit, only to find your credit rating has been trashed.

Identity theft prevention services also help you should the thieves be successful, in that they will help you with the police regarding warrants as well as assist you with getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren’t yours.

If you think that you don’t need these services because, after all, if you report your credit cards stolen, you won’t get charged for the bogus charges, think again. Identity thieves don’t just use credit cards. They can set up new cell phone accounts in your name. They can take out a car loan in your name. They can give your name should they be arrested then, when they don’t show up at court, a warrant is issued in your name!

Identity theft prevention services are inexpensive…generally around $100 a year per individual or $150 for households. If you aren’t a careful type, guarding your personal information, reading your statements carefully and noticing if they don’t arrive, shredding mail with identifying information, then an identity theft prevention service might be right for you.

Heather

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August 25, 2009

Id Theft, What Is This And How Do I Protect Myself?

Filed under: Debt Consolidation — Tags: Address Telephone, Business Person, Change Of Address Form, Collection Agencies, Credit Card Statements, Credit Reporting Agencies, Debit Card Numbers, Driver License, Equifax, Fraud Alert, Mail, Social Security Number, Transunion, Unauthorized Person, Victim Of Identity Theft — admin @ 2:55 am

Nocita Carter asked:

Identity Theft is when someone uses another person’s social security number, driver license, name, address, telephone number and any other information about that particular person as their own. The unauthorized person that obtains this information without the other person’s knowledge uses this information to commit theft and fraud.

How does a person committing ID theft get my information? By going through your trash, hacking into a computer that you may use, securing a copy of your credit report, stealing credit card and debit card numbers that you may have, stealing your mail,completing a change of address form to reroute your mail to a different address, stealing your purse or wallet, and scamming information from you by posing as a business person.

How would I know if I am a victim of ID theft? If you receive credit card statements for accounts you did not apply for, you do not receive your mail, your credit is being denied and you do not know why, counterfeit checks are used to withdraw money from your bank account, you receive calls from collection agencies about bills for accounts established with your personal information that you do not know about,and other problems that you may have with your personal information.

Should I order a copy of my credit reports to find out if I am a victim of identity theft? Yes, you may want to consider doing this if you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft. You would want to order a copy of your credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies which are: Equifax www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111; Experian www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742; and; TransUnion www.transunion.com 1-800-916-8800.

What should I do if my identity is stolen by someone? Contact the three credit reporting agencies as soon as possible and let them know that you are a victim of ID theft and ask them to place a fraud alert and your statement as a victim in your credit report file. Order a copy of your credit report from each agency to check the information on your report.

Contact the credit reporting agencies fraud units at these telephone numbers or addresses: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, P.O. Box 74021, Atlanta, GA. 30374-0241:: Experian: 1-888-397-3742, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX. 75013:: TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289, Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA. 92834-6790.

Should I close my credit and checking accounts if ID theft has occurred? Yes, you may want to consider closing your credit and checking accounts if you suspect identity theft. Contact your bank and creditors about your identity being stolen and consider closing your accounts and establish new ones.

If your checks are stolen, request that your bank notify the check verification company that they use. You may also want to contact the major check verification companies as well.

The major check verification companies that you would want to contact are the following: Telecheck, 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188:: Certegy Inc., 1-800-437-5120:: and; International Check Services, 1-800-631-9656.

You may also want to contact a company known as Scan at 1-800-262-7771 to find out if an identity thief has been using your checks. In addition, you should also contact your local police department and report that your identity has been stolen.

Make sure that you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about your identity being stolen as well. You can file this report at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Lawrence

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June 25, 2009

Identity Theft – what is it and how can it be avoided?

Filed under: Personal Finance — Tags: Applying For Credit Cards, Bank Account Details, Bank Accounts, Banking Products, Common Sense, Credit Card Provider, Credit Card Statements, Criminals, Insurance Documents, Insurance Policies, Internet Banking, Monthly Statements, Paper Shredder, Passports, Safe Place — admin @ 8:10 pm

Sam Gooch asked:

Identity theft is a definite threat to us all, effecting hundreds of people everyday across the globe. There are insurance policies that can be taken out in order to cover yourself against ID theft, but this may not be necessary, as there are a number of measures you can take to help you to avoid becoming a victim, most of which rely on simple common sense.

ID theft is a technique used by criminals allowing them to benefit financially through claiming they are you, for example taking out loans, applying for credit cards etc. all in your name.

One of the issues in tackling this type of fraud is that the police have limited resources, especially as a large number of these criminals are not even in this country.

Doing all you can to avoid becoming a victim of ID theft is easier than you may think and being aware of the following points could save you a lot of grief.

1.      Ensure that all of your important documents and financial related documents are stored in a safe place out of sight. These include official documents such as passports and driving licence documents, as well as financial documents such as bank and credit card statements, bank account details, insurance documents etc.

2.      Frequently monitor your bank accounts and credit card statements to ensure there are no suspicious transactions. If possible, set up internet banking for all banking products as this will allow you to regularly check statements without having to wait for your monthly statements. Online banking is also very secure, with many banks now providing customers with card readers which generate pass codes that must be used when logging in to your account, or making a payment. If you do notice anything that looks suspicious, contact your bank or credit card provider immediately.

3.      Buy a paper shredder. You can pick one up from £5 to £30 and you can use it to shred any official documents that you don’t need to keep. This includes the obvious such as bank statements, but also any loan or credit card application forms, and even junk mail that has any of your details i.e. name, address, telephone number etc. Simply throwing these documents away could result in them falling into the wrong hands.

4.      Make sure you are aware of when your regular financial documents arrive, ensuring you are aware of anything out of the ordinary, for example you haven’t received your credit card bill for 7 weeks.

5.      At least once a year, apply for a copy of your credit file to check all current finance arrangements in your name, allowing you to spot anything unusual.

6.      Never give out sensitive information over the phone unless it was you that made the call or are 100% sure that the call is legitimate. For example, you receive a call from somebody claiming to be your bank asking for details such as your full name, DOB and Mother’s maiden name. These are types of information that fraudsters will want to get hold of, so be vigilant.

7.      Never trust emails claiming to be your bank or Credit Card company. Some of these emails can look extremely convincing and the irony is that many of them claim to require your details to help tackle fraud. You can usually spot these emails as the URL that you are required to click may appear to be the official site, but on closer inspection you will see it is in fact close, by hovering your cursor over this link. You will then be re-directed to a spoof page that looks genuine but is actually used to steal your login details.

8.      When moving house, subscribe The Royal Mail’s redirection service. This will ensure all mail addressed to you ends up with you.

9.      Check your bills as soon as they arrive in the post. If there’s anything suspicious contact your bank or Credit Card company immediately.

There are a few main techniques employed by criminals to carry out ID theft. These include:

Bin Diving

Going through your bins searching for bills or other documents containing your personal information.

Skimming

Used to steal credit/debit card numbers using a special storage device. This can be avoided by keeping your card on you or in view when making payments.

Phishing

Claiming to be a legitimate financial institution to gain your trust then push you to reveal your personal information.

Changing Your Address

Diverting your bills, statements and other sensitive documents to another address by filling out a change of address form.

Old-Fashioned Stealing

Stealing wallets; mail etc. to get enough information about you.

Pretexting

Used to obtain personal information from a number of sources such as financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources by impersonating you

Once an identity thief has successfully acquired your personal information, they can use it for a number of different things.

Credit card fraud:

* A new credit card can be applied for in your name. The card can then be used to get credit and all unpaid bills will appear on your credit report, damaging your credit history.

* By changing your address, they could run up charges on your account but you will be unaware as you are not getting the bills. It could be some time before you notice anything unusual.

Phone or utilities fraud:

* A new phone or wireless account could be opened in your name, or even utility services like electricity, water, or satellite television.

Bank fraud:

* Counterfeit checks made with your details.

* Bank accounts opened in your name.

* Credit or debit card cloned allowing them to use your cards.

* A loan taken out in your name.

Government documents fraud:

* Used to get official ID cards such as a driving licence under your name but with their picture.

* Use of your details to get government benefits.

* Fraudulent tax return made using your information.

Other fraud:

* Qualify for a job using your personal information

* Rent a property in your name.

These days, most banks have intelligent anti-fraud systems that recognise any unusual activity on your card, for example you withdraw money from a cash point in the UK and later that day money is withdrawn from an ATM in Canada.

When taking out a credit card, you will probably find that you are offered some kind of anti-theft insurance to protect you against fraud. But the fact is that ID theft is heavily promoted and sometimes over exaggerated to help sell the product.

According to a spokesman from the UK’s fraud Prevention Service – the CIFAS, ID theft is still a relatively rare crime, but it is on the increase.

So as long as you’re cautious with who you give your personal information to, keeping it in a safe place, shred all unwanted documents containing your information, you should remain safe from fraud.

Lynn

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June 5, 2009

Identity Theft Prevention Tactics: Proactive Tips For A Safer Identity

Filed under: Finance — Tags: Bank Teller, Cream Cone, Credit Card Statements, Dead Man, Financial Documents, Locking Mailbox, Mail Security, Mail Slot, Point Don, Prevention Tactics, Screen Tv, Sifting Through, Social Security Number, Theft Prevention, Theft Victim — admin @ 5:32 am

Dan Riffle asked:

This whole identity theft thing gives you the creeps, right? You’re not only infuriated by, but terrified of the thought of somebody sifting through your trash, brazenly stealing your mail, or hijacking your wallet not for your money so much as your social security number. You may even feel helpless.

While identity theft is a serious issue, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of being an identity theft victim. The following is a list of just a few things you can do to protect your identity:

Either purchase a locking mailbox or have a mail slot installed. For even more security, considered getting a post office box. An unlocked mailbox provides access to extremely valuable information. Consider it this way, which is worth more: your $2,000 big screen TV or the account number and corresponding information of your Visa card with a $10,000 credit limit? You don’t leave your front door unlocked because you don’t want somebody to steal your TV, right? So, why is your mailbox unlocked?

Shred all financial documents (bank statements, credit card statements, loan statements, receipts, etc.) and anything with your name or other identifying information not once, but twice! Run the document through your shredder and hand tear the shredded material in different directions. Now divide up the shredded remains into multiple trash bags. Ultra paranoid? Burn everything. Seriously.

Treat your social security number as though it were your child. Protect it at most costs (all costs may be just a little excessive…better to be alive and an ID theft victim than a dead man with a safe identity). Don’t freely give it out. Ask for alternatives, if possible. I’d give out my social security number to obtain a loan. I wouldn’t give it out to buy an ice cream cone. A ridiculous example, but it illustrates the point. Don’t write your social security number on checks. Don’t let the bank teller do it either. While she’s just trying to cover her butt, she’s exposing yours.

Don’t give any information to telemarketers. Period. There are other ways to get a good price on magazine subscriptions or to make donations to charity. The same thing goes for spam emails, but you don’t open those, right?

Speaking of emails, don’t click on emails from people you don’t know. Don’t click on emails from people you know when the subject of the email doesn’t make sense or says something the sender would never say. It probably contains a virus, possibly one designed to poke through your computer files and steal passwords and account numbers. You have a spam filter. Use it.

Yes, you do need that $60 annual anti-virus/internet security subscription, especially if you are very internet-active or have children. Hackers and virus designers work day and night, minute by minute, to swindle you out of your money, resources and identity information. This is one area where you don’t want to go cheap. $60 per year is much less than the cost of a new computer or repairing your credit. By the way, keep these programs up to date. Most can be set to automatically update when you are least likely to be using your computer, such as late at night.

Be smart about your passwords. It can be a hassle, but passwords that involve your name, your spouse’s name, your birthday, or your favorite sports teams are virtually worthless. A random combination of letters and numbers is best. Do you really want to throw off the identity thieves? Smash your hand into your keyboard. The result is your new password. Keep a file on your computer in a secure location with the password in it and copy and paste the password when you need it. Just be sure to copy something else when you’re done to clear the password from your clipboard. Or you can handwrite your hand-smashed result in a notebook and copy it when you need it. Inconvenience is the ultimate price of security.

Don’t let the identity thieves get you down. The most important thing you can do is be aware of what information you are giving out and who you are giving it to. All it takes is a little conscious effort to limit your risk of identity theft.

Edward

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