Fraud Alert | id theft fraud prevention

January 10, 2011

Personal Information and ID Theft

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Account Fraud, Cr, Creditors, Fraud Alert, Free Copy Of Credit Report, Marketing, Money Opportunities, New Accounts, Number Credit Card, Personal Finances, Personal Information, Seven Years, Social Security, Victim Of Identity Theft, Wallet — admin @ 1:32 pm

Tina L Douglas asked:

Identity theft often involves your personal information and your finances but in a harmful and negative ways. It is a kind of fraud where a thief gathers the personal information of his or her victim to impersonate. The victim may or may not know that he/she’s a victim.

Some of the most abused personal information that can be used by the identity thieves are the Social Security number, credit card number and of course your name. Through these, they will be able to access your accounts and start to use your identity. Stolen identity involves stolen money, opportunities and even stolen future.

One of the best ways to do when you’ve been a victim of identity theft is through filing a fraud alert. This kind of report will keep the identity thieves from creating new accounts under their victim’s name. It can also keep identity thieves from using one’s account. Fraud alert can be classified as initial alert or extended alert.

Once you’ve suspected that your identity is being used by others, you can file initial fraud alert which lasts 90 days in your credit report. If your wallet which contains your credit card is stolen, you can file an initial fraud alert so that your credit card company will be notified. Once they received your report, they should first verify the identity of the one transacting under your name. This kind of alert will also allow you to have a free copy of credit report that will help you to monitor whether there is any unauthorized transaction.

Moreover, you can file extended fraud alert if you’ve really been a victim of identity theft. The alert can stay for seven years under your report. Your name will also be removed from marketing list so that any transaction will be prohibited. But if you request to add again your name on the list, you should provide proofs that you’re really the one who owns that identity. Also, one you’ve filed this alert, potential creditors are required to meet you personally. You will also be able to get two free credit reports for monitoring purposes.

Fraud alerts may not assure you from not being a victim of identity theft or from stopping being a victim of it but it surely reduces the damages and bad effects that identity theft can bring. If we failed to prevent it, we must at least try to lessen the things that will be stolen from us by those advantage takers who deserve to be caught and punished from the crime that they did.

In addition, resolving identity theft doesn’t only need the actions of the victims. The companies involved should also do some actions to protect their clients. They should entertain the reports of the victims so that the damage that can be done to the victim and the company will be repaired as soon as possible. We can also consider these companies as victims because illegal and unauthorized transactions are also done to their company by the identity thieves.

Jeffery

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November 30, 2010

ID Theft Protection – Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Credit Monitoring, Criminals, Fraud Alert, Good Measures, Id Theft Protection, Light Sentences, Major Credit Bureaus, New Identity, Sprees, Theft Prevention, Thieves, Three Major Credit Bureaus, Three Months, Wallet, Ways To Prevent Identity Theft — admin @ 3:13 am

David Kamau asked:

Identity theft, or simply ID theft, is the fastest growing crime in America. The reason is simple; it pays and often the criminals off with light sentences. This article offers ways to prevent identity theft.

You should also know that that there are different forms of identity theft. Some of these are as follows:

1. Full identity theft: someone steals your data and then goes on to live as you. He/she will pose or disguise his/herself as you, obtain an identification documents and then clean you out – that is bank account, credit lines etc.

2. Credit hijacking: The thief will simply use your name and good credit to open new credit lines and then go on spending sprees, of course, without paying the bills. You only realize when you either get denied credit, get a call from your bank or some other bank or creditor, or receive a bill you have no idea about.

3. Synthetic identity theft: This involves using bits and pieces of personal information from several victims to create a whole new identity. This is perhaps the most difficult form of ID theft to detect.

There are the obvious precautions anyone can take and often offered as preventive ways. These will probably stop a petty thief, but the modern ID thief is much more sophisticated.

These mundane identity theft prevention ways include advice such as “shred your documents”, “don’t carry your social security card in your wallet”, and “don’t throw documents in the trash” and the like. Good measures, but the sophisticated thief would laugh at these.

You can stop most ID thieves on their tracks by placing a fraud alert on your credit file with the three major credit bureaus. Unlike credit monitoring, which alerts you after the fact, with a fraud alert you get contacted before any new credit lines are opened.

A fraud alert is only good for three months. After three months, you have to renew it, which the bureaus are not enthusiastic to do as they make money by selling your information to third parties for marketing purposes (which they cannot do if you have a fraud alert on your file).

You should also invest in a good antivirus and spyware remover for your computer. Keystroke loggers can get downloaded into your system, without you realizing it. Keystroke loggers track everything typed into a computer and then report back to the scammer via the Internet.

Hector

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November 18, 2010

If Your Best ID Theft Protection Fails

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Best Efforts, Devious Methods, Federal Trade Commission, Financial Institutions, Fraud Alert, Government Data, Id Theft Protection, National White Collar Crime, National White Collar Crime Center, New Accounts, Persistence, Police Report, Thieves, White Collar Crime, White Collar Crime Center — admin @ 6:14 am

Dale G Davidson asked:

Id thieves are slick and are continually devising devious methods to steal your identity. Despite your best efforts at id theft protection, it may still be possible to fall victim to id thieves. Your information can be stolen by insiders at corporate or government data repositories.

Recovering from identity theft can be an arduous process, that requires patience and persistence.

All interactions with institutions and agencies should be documented. Keep copies of all records and follow up telephone calls with written correspondence.

Report the theft to the institution as soon as possible. Report all unauthorised charges and request that all unauthorised accounts be closed. Contact the major credit bureaus and advise them of a fraud alert. The fraud alert prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. File a report with local authorities. The financial institutions may require a police report before they proceed with remediation of id theft. You may also need to fill-out an affidavit from the FTC(Federal Trade Commission). It may help you to identify and collect the required information that will be required by the organisations investigating the fraud. The crime should be reported to the FTC, where the database of id theft reports are maintained.

By reporting the theft, the organisations and authorities learn more about identity theft and how it can be resolved and prevented.

File a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov The IC3 is a joint venture between the FBI and the National White collar Crime Center. Your report will most likely be used for assistance in research into id theft protection methods.

Janet

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August 8, 2010

Ways to Get Away From Medical Identity Theft

Filed under: Legal — Tags: Credit Report, Crooks, Doctors Surgeries, Fraud Alert, Health Insurer, Hospital Laboratory, Hospitalization, Identity Theft, Insurance Benefits, Insurance Company, Medical Record, Notice Of Privacy Practices, Pharmacy, Precious Life, Trans Union — admin @ 6:43 pm

Toddy Martin asked:

Medical identity theft not only cost you millions of dollars but will also take away your precious life. Many believe that some employees from the hospital are responsible for this to happen. They steal other people’s file and sell it to prospect buyers. To count out your medical record to be corrupted from these crooks, consider these following steps:

o Check your explanation of benefits: You can do this by reviewing the EOB form being sent to you by your health insurer. In case you have treatments, consultations, and operations which you did not undergo, notify immediately your health provider. This will stop further damage cause by this type of identity theft.

o Audit your insurance benefits: You should request for your listing of benefits given to you under your policy. At least do this once annually. This will give you idea of what to expect in your policy.

o Monitor your medical record: If you suspect you are a victim of medical identity theft, secure a copy of your hospital record from your physician, your pharmacy, and your hospital.

o If you are rejected in your access to your medical file, you may request for help by following the steps in your policy under “notice of privacy practices”. You are entitled to this statement without extra charge.

o Review your credit report with the 3 big companies, Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. This is to see if someone is causing your record any unwanted change like consultations to doctors, surgeries, and hospitalization which you think is out of your list. Further, it is a good idea to put a fraud alert in your report. This is for the bank and other financial institution to inform you when an individual applies a credit under your name.

o If you discover any errors in your medical file, fix it without postpone. Try to unearth all possible source of the error. Start it with your physician, hospital, laboratory, and your insurance company. Postponing it may make matters worse as it can be considered null and void.

o You can also file for medical identity theft complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. You can call their hotline 1-877 ID THEFT (438-4338). Try to make your sure your complaint enters your record.
Even if people in the hospital are sometimes not trusted for your medical record, consequently, you can take actions to safeguard your hospital files. Regularly monitoring medical reports, medical records, specifically itemized bills and claims are very important moves to escape from the effects of medical identity theft.

Dan

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March 9, 2010

How To Protect Your Credit Against Fraud & ID Theft

Filed under: Finance — Tags: Billing Statements, Credit Application, Credit Cards, Credit Fraud, Credit Report, Creditor, Creditors, Fraud Alert, Identity Fraud, Logbook, Report Fraud, Small Pieces, Storage Request, Suzy, Thieves — admin @ 3:10 am

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

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December 3, 2009

How To Monitor Your Credit Inorder To Prevent Theft?

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: Credit Card Accounts, Credit Cards, Credit Identity Theft, Credit Report, Crimes, Fraud Alert, Frauds, Government Agencies, Identity Theft Protection, Internet Fraud, Monitoring Services, Personal Accounts, Prevention Measures, Social Security, Social Security Number — admin @ 10:04 am

John Goldman asked:

Identity theft monitoring is a program which help in effectively preventing an incident of identity theft. This monitoring services plays a major role in preventing internet fraud and safeguarding your credit so that you don’t become the next id theft victim. You might know that identity theft has become a huge criminal issue in the world and especially in United States and the need for identity theft protection has become a huge concerning factor.

Therefore there are id theft monitoring services that would keep a watch over your credit. Identity theft mostly occurs when your personal information has been compromised with someone else. In fact this crime generally involves using personal information of the victim to commit frauds and criminal activities.

Protect yourself from id theft

The growing number of identity theft reported every year might no reduce anytime sooner. However there are some useful guidelines which can help you minimize the possible damage through the monitoring services which might occur due to id theft.

Blocking all your disclosed credit cards is the first part of identity theft monitoring services The services monitor your credit report which is necessary to prevent id theft The monitoring services would contact the government agencies which can place a fraud alert on your credit so that no further damage is done.

The id theft monitoring process

Identity theft monitoring services include a particular mechanism which ensures your identity is well protected and away from id theft frauds. There are several measures which can help prevent id theft such as securing your credit card numbers, social security number, bank account information and other personal information. These prevention measures can easily handle fraud and other id theft crimes.

Additionally identity theft monitoring services also includes a careful verification of all your personal accounts which includes all your credit card accounts. However in case id theft occurs it is important all your credit accounts are closed immediately.

Consulting banks and financial institutions is one of the best ways to prevent being an id theft victim. Additionally changing passwords of ATM cards and credit cards would also be another best way to stay away from identity thieves. You should avoid date of birth, parents name and last digit of social security number in your passwords and this can help the monitoring services to safeguard your identity.

Identity theft might also happen for varied reasons and to detect the types of id theft crimes during the initial states and lessen the damages you must be a part of identity theft monitoring services which offers services from all 3 credit bureaus. It might just take a small monthly fee for their services but the id theft monitoring agency would notify you through mail in case of any unusual activity in your credit report. The good thing is that most of these services also come with insurance as the report while some other agencies might offer three in one identity monitoring services which alerts you to any changes in your identity.

Edwin

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November 3, 2009

Identity Theft – What Should I Do if I’ve Become a Victim?

Filed under: Credit — Tags: Bank Accounts, Certified Mail, Credit Bureau, Credit Information, Creditors, Everyday Opportunities, Federal Trade Commission, Fraud Alert, Fraud Department, Id Theft Affidavit, Internet Service Providers, New Accounts, Social Security Number, Three Major Credit Bureaus, Victim Of Identity Theft — admin @ 4:54 pm

Cathy Taylor asked:

Identity thieves take advantage of everyday opportunities to discover your personal information and use it to commit fraud or other crimes. The good news is a victim of identity theft has more options today than ever before. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are four important actions you can take to minimize the credit damage caused by circumstances beyond your control.

1. Contact any of the three major credit bureaus. Speak to someone in the fraud department and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two will automatically place one on your report as well. With a fraud alert in place, creditors must contact you before opening any new accounts in your name or changing any details of your existing accounts.

Then request a free copy of your credit report from each one. Review all of your credit information looking for unauthorized accounts, charges, or changes. Check the accuracy of your name, address, phone number, Social Security number (SSN), past employers, and any other personal information. Request any inaccuracies be corrected by notifying the bureaus by phone and follow up in writing by using certified mail, return receipt requested, so you will have documentation of all requests and responses by the bureaus. The addresses for each bureau are listed at the end of this article.

Continue to check your reports every few months, especially in the first year after you have lost your personal information.

2. Contact the creditors for the accounts that have been altered or opened without your permission. This includes bank accounts, credit card companies, lenders, utilities, phone companies, Internet service providers, and any other services that may be opened fraudulently. Contact the company’s fraud department b phone and follow up with a letter.

The FTC offers the “ID Theft Affidavit” to dispute new accounts, available at www.ftc.gov . To dispute charges on existing accounts, request the company’s fraud dispute forms.

If you suspect that a thief has been passing bad checks in your name, close the account immediately and notify your bank. Contact the major check verification services and ask that the retailers who use their databases stop accepting your checks for purchases. To find out if an identity thief has been writing checks in your name, call SCAN at 1-800-262-7771. The three major check verification services are:

• TeleCheck – Call 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188.

• Certegy, Inc. – Call 1-800-437-5120.

• International Check Services – Call 1-800-631-9656.

3. The third step to take if you believe you are a victim of identity theft is to file a police report. Request a copy of the report for your records and to send to creditors for verification of the crime. Unfortunately, 61% of victims in 2004 did not notify the police of identity theft crimes.

4. Finally, file a complaint with the FTC to help law enforcement across the country track identity thieves and catch them. You will also be referred to other useful government agencies and consumer organizations to help you recover from identity theft. Contact the FTC in any of the following ways:

• Call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338);

• Write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580;

• Or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft .

5. If you have been turned down for a loan, lost a job, or possibly had to pay significantly more interest fees because damage to your credit score due to circumstances beyond your control, you may have a credit damage claim. Now with a newly developed process called Credit Damage Measurement, you can measure the financial loss you have sustained and as a result, receive fair compensation.

These five steps should resolve most of your credit problems after becoming a victim of identity theft. However, stay alert for new occurrences. Review your credit report every year and report any problems to creditors immediately both by phone and in writing. With diligence and a little patience, you can recover your good name.

As promised, here is the location and contact information for he three credit bureaus to report fraud:

• Equifax – Call 1-800-525-6285; write P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241; or visit www.equifax.com for more information.

• Experian – Call 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); write P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013; or visit www.experian.com for more information.

• TransUnion – Call 1-800-680-7289; write Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790; or visit www.tuc.com for more information.

Lonnie

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September 26, 2009

Reducing Your Risk of Identity Theft

Filed under: Self Improvement — Tags: Consumers, Contact, Duration, Fraud Alert, Fraud Reporting, Frauds, Identity Fraud, Minimize Risk, Money In The Bank, Ninety Days, Reporting Companies, Seven Years, Stealing, Thief, Victim Of Identity Theft — admin @ 11:44 am

Josiah Walter asked:

Identity thief is a very serious crime since it involves the stealing of someone else’s identity and using the said robbed identity in committing fraud crimes or other related crimes. The problem with identity theft is that you can never really be sure when it will hit you.

You might wake up one day with police running after you for some crimes that you have not committed. Or worst you might lose everything that you have worked hard for because somebody else posing as you has sold or withdrawn all of your money in the bank.

Being a victim of identity theft is one of the worst things that could ever happen to someone. However there are certain steps that you can take in order to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and here are some of them:

1. If you suspect that someone is using your identity to commit fraud crimes you must contact as soon as possible the fraud departments of the consumer reporting companies in order for them to place a fraud alert on your credit report.

The fraud alert will warn creditors to contact you whenever an account is opened using your name or if ever there are some changes that are to be made on your accounts. There are actually two types of fraud alerts—these are your initial alert and your extended alert.

The difference between these two fraud alerts is in terms of their duration. The initial alert usually last for ninety days on your credit report while the extended fraud alert stays much longer and last for as long as seven years. You can choose between these two frauds alerts the best one that you think will provide you with a better protection. Plus you only have to contact only one of the consumers reporting companies since it will simply relay to the other two the fraud alert.

2. It will also help if you close the accounts that have been tampered with or fraudulently opened in your name. You can use the ID Theft Affidavit when you want to question new unauthorized accounts that are opened in your name.

3. Don’t forget to file a report or complain with the local police in your community where the identity theft occurs. And always try to obtain a copy of the report which you are to provide your creditors and others that might be in need of any proof of the crime.

4. Similarly don’t forget to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The commission keeps a database of all identity theft cases used and filed by law enforcement agencies for investigations. By filing a complaint to the proper authority will help you to understand better all issues regarding identity theft.

Likewise, you will also know the problems that most victims faced and you will also be guided on the proper steps on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. So always be extra careful especially when divulging personal information especially when using online services since this is where most identity thieves get their information.

No one is safe from identity theft. Anyone can be a victim so be sure to be extra careful especially in divulging information about yourself. The internet is one of the means by which identity thieves get hold of other people’s personal information so be very careful in transacting business online. Make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and in filling up some online forms be sure to divulge only information that is required of you. Refrain from giving extra information about yourself.

Likewise, refrain from answering unsolicited emails that ask for your information since most identity thieves also disguises themselves as representatives of some legitimate business online in order to lure you into giving them your personal information.

Don’t be deceived by those lottery emails saying that you have won something and would require you to fill up some forms asking for personal information. Don’t be carried away by the promised price, it would be better for you to confirm with the company whether they have sent you an email or not. And if ever they deny it then make sure that report the fraudulent email that you receive to the Federal Trade Commission so that they can give out warnings to other consumers of the circulating fraudulent email.

Michele

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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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July 31, 2009

A Review of Identity Theft Insurance

Filed under: Credit — Tags: Accurate Credit, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Corporate Response, Credit Bureaus, Facta, Fastest Growing Companies, Fraud Alert, Identity Theft Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Lifelock, Louder Than Words, Mafia, Marketing Strategy, Opts, True Address — admin @ 2:32 pm

Jenny DeRaspe-Bolles asked:

Because identity theft is both lucrative and easy to get away with, ID theft rings are growing and fast in crime circles from meth addicts to mafia. Consequently, there has been an overwhelming corporate response to meet increased demand for identity theft protection.

You have probably heard of LifeLock, an Identity Theft Protection company that has been in the news quite a bit lately. In a ballsy move, the company’s CEO Todd Davis has published his Social Security number (475-55-5462) prominently and dared anyone to try to steal his identity. Actions speak louder than words, and his certainly show confidence in the protection his company offers. One of the fastest growing companies in the US, Davis must have instilled confidence in his customers with inventive marketing strategy, gaining over 1,000,000 customers last year alone.

So what exactly is it and what do they do? Should you join? We’ve gathered some information about the company and the protection they offer here:

What is it and how does it work?

The system places fraud alerts at all three credit bureaus and essentially makes these alerts permanent. What is a fraud alert? In 2003 Congress passed the Fair & Accurate Credit Transactions Act (or FACTA), which forces credit bureaus to allow you to put a fraud alert on their credit reports, requiring lenders to verify your identity before issuing a card in your name. This alert is temporary, expiring after 90 days, but LifeLock essentially makes these alerts permanent by renewing them before they expire. In effect, if someone gained your personal information and attempted to open a fraudulent credit card in your name, the credit bureaus would have to speak with you to verify your identity before processing the application.

1- opts customers out of preapproved credit offers and junkmail lists, a known source of identity fraud.

2- orders your credit report from all three bureaus, which is automatically delivered to you every year.

3- True Address monitors the National Address Database and alerts you if a criminal has changed your address to receive your mail or obtain your personal information.

4- Lifelock’s Erecon monitors hacker and criminal websites for your credit card numbers and personal information, and lets you know if anyone is attempting to steal them. LifeLock will assist you in replacing your account numbers in the case your privacy has been compromised.

5- offers a $1,000,000 Total Service Guarantee. For legal reasons, LifeLock does not call this insurance. In effect, they pledge to cover your costs (i.e. reimburse financial loss, legal fees to restore credit, etc.) in the event that your identity is stolen up to the amount of one million dollars. Note, this does not cover someone stealing your credit card and using it (which rarely costs you anyway, as this is the bank’s domain). It also only covers new cases of identity theft, existing identity theft victims will not be covered. From their website:

“If your identity is stolen while you are our client, we’re going to do whatever it takes to recover your good name. If you need lawyers, we’re going to hire the best we can find. If you need investigators, accountants, case managers, whatever, they’re yours. If you lose money as a result of the theft, we’re going to give it back to you. We will do whatever it takes to help you recover your good name and we will spend up to $1,000,000 to do it.”

Other LifeLock Features:

* Identity theft protection for children (until age 15) for $25 a year

* LifeLock Customer Service is available 24 hrs 7 days a week

In summary: this is proactive rather than reactive, stopping identity theft before it happens. Security expert Bruce Schneier maintains, In reality, forcing lenders to verify identity before issuing credit is exactly the sort of thing we need to fight identity theft. Making information harder to steal can be quite difficult, you can be very smart and safe and still have your purse stolen, for example. A better solution may lie in making stolen information more difficult to use, and this is the approach LifeLock uses.

How much does it cost?

Protection costs $10 per month or you pay for a year in advance for $110 a year. In addition, various websites offer promotional codes and coupons, advertising yearly protection for $99.

Is it worth it?

It is important to know that almost all of the protection LifeLock offers (fraud alerts, credit reports, etc.) you can do yourself for free. In this regard, they are a service company, saving you the time and hassle of taking these precautions yourself. Here is the information you need to protect yourself (for free):

1. Put a fraud alert on your account. All you have to do is contact (by phone or online) one of the three major credit bureaus and request a fraud alert. No need to contact all three, as they are required to communicate fraud alerts with each other. Remember to renew the fraud alert every 90 days. Fraud Alert Contact Information:

* Equifax

* Experian

* TransUnion

2. Opt out of credit card offers and junk mail.

3. Get your free annual credit report.

In addition to these measures (whether you pay for them or do them yourself), there are other precautions you should take to protect yourself against identity theft.

* Lock your mailbox with a secure locking mailbox.

* Switch from paper bills to electronic bills.

* Shred confidential mail with a cross-cut paper shredder.

* Do not carry paper checks or your social security card on you when possible.

Elizabeth

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June 25, 2009

How To Report Identity Theft?

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: Bank Accounts, College Students, Credit Card Info, Credit Report, Credit Reporting Agencies, Damages, Federal Trade Commission, Fraud Alert, Ftc, How To Report Identity Theft, Number Address, Small Business Owners, Stock, Telephone Number, Thieves — admin @ 8:05 am

John Goldman asked:

Identity theft is simple is robbing of ones identity including their name, telephone number, address, credit card info and almost all the personal information. In most of the cases these thieves would not just steal your identity but can also steal properties which are secured on the account of the victim. It can be a serious case and is known as fraud by the FTC.

Anyone can be a victim of this dangerous crime as there are no specific requirements for the theft to take place. Even the small business owners along with college students can be victims of id theft. However in case you have become a victim of id theft it is important that you instantly report identity theft.

Access the damage done

Firstly it is important you don’t panic as it can lead to disconnected actions and thoughts. Before you can do anything, firstly access all the damage being done. Find out why your identity might be stolen, the extend of damage and even the damage is not instantly apparent take a stock of the consequence.

Get ready a list of all the accounts you think are affected and their damages. Check your bank accounts and credits which is generally the first thing id thieves might do. You should also find out if there are any unauthorized transactions done to any of your accounts.

Place a fraud alert

The fraud alert would be a warning placed on all your credit reports so that it warns merchants that criminals might be using these funds fraudulently. The fraud alert must be activated with all the credit reporting agencies. You should also review your credit report by requesting a copy of your credit report when placing the fraud alert. In case you find any discrepancies then make sure you instantly report it to the agencies. Additionally make sure you also close all the accounts which you suspect are already compromised.

File complaint with the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission actually monitors and tracks all the ongoing id theft cases. It is through these cases which patterns are being recognized and the id theft is found. Therefore when you suspect of being an identity theft victim immediately report to the FTC by either calling them or by visiting their online help line website.

Report id theft to your local police department

Make sure you are prepared as it could be a frustrating experience. This is because all the police departments are not good at handling identity theft cases but they can help you with any further problem. You can just file your report at the police station who might further take action by working with the FTC and the credit reporting agencies. You can even provide them the same copy of id theft which you submitted at the FTC. However make sure you retain a copy of the police report with you as it can be one of the most helpful tools when you need to clean up your credit, financial and personal identification.

Florence

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June 20, 2009

Reporting Identity Theft – 7 Tips To Stop Others From Misusing Your Identity

Filed under: Personal Injury — Tags: Credit Cards, Double Identity, Fraud Alert, Future Service, Government Of United States, Governments, Hackers, Identity Theft, Measures, Objective, Personal Information, Police Station, Preventive Methods, Seven Steps, Talking To The Police — admin @ 10:57 pm

Abhishek Agarwal asked:

Identity theft as we know is on the rise. It is through measures like reporting it that we can battle this growing menace. here’s how you can help. It has prevailed (id theft) through efforts by governments and individuals alike. The internet has only made it easier for the hackers to get access to all your personal information under one roof – your email id. The government of United States has called for seven preventive methods to curb this growing menace. If not prevent it altogether, it will at least prevent further misuse of your identity, if you follow these seven steps.

1. Get in touch with the department of fraud in the government, when you have a fraud alert. The fraud alert is of course a personalized data that you use when you work with an office that deals with it. If and when the department comes across a double identity – it reports you of it immediately. This is a great way to curb the menace of identity theft, and if you are lucky you may even nab the culprit.

2. if you have reason to believe that your identity has been stolen, get into immediate contact with the nearest police station or sheriff’s office. If you wait to long to do this you are ruining chances of catching the culprit, and it could lead to further loss if it involves something like your credit card.

3. When you are talking to the police personnel, or narrating the incident for reasons of their report making, be as objective as possible. Do not leave out any details but do not go off the track as well. This will be the report that the office will use to begin an investigation, so it better be good!

4. Get in touch with your bank to cancel all credit cards and to issue new ones, and they may need the police report for this. So make sure you carry a copy of the report when you meet with the bank officials. The bank will decide on what measures need to be taken to provide you with future service. In most cases they will immediately suspend the account. Following this, they may issue you a whole new account number and new cards as well. You will probably be charged a fee for this, but that is the least of your problems!

5. If money has been withdrawn from your account before you realized there was a theft, let your bank know about it immediately. This information could give them the chance to trace the location where it was withdrawn, and take everyone closer to getting the bad guy.

6. Let the check verification agency know about this theft. They could stop payments on checks.

7. In any case, it is better to notify the social security office and get a whole new security number.

Following these seven steps will get you out of the mess.

Rosemary

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April 12, 2009

Call The Identity Theft Hotline Incase Of Assistance

Filed under: Criminal — Tags: Credit Bureau, Credit Fraud, Credit Report, Damages, Federal Trade Commission, Fraud Alert, Ftc, Hotline Number, Identity Fraud, Major Credit Bureaus, Social Security, Social Security Number, Suspicious Activity, Unauthorized Activity, Wallet — admin @ 4:05 am

John Goldman asked:

Identity theft has become very common throughout the world and specially in United States where the ID thieves take advantage of the daily opportunities to find your personal information to be used in their benefit either to commit crime or for funds. It is quite easy for the thieves to steal your identity and you might not even know that you are a victim until you find your accounts being hacked.

The thieves would just slip off your wallet or search in your trash bin to find any credit card or banks statements or your social security number. Additionally it can actually get really difficult for you to fix up your credit and restore everything back to normal.

Using id theft hotline number

Despite this the good news is that the victims of id theft have more and easily accessible options than before in protecting and reporting identity theft. According to the FTC or Federal Trade Commission there are 4 crucial actions that you must take in order to minimize credit damages being caused due to id theft.

Firstly you should contact any of the 3 major credit bureaus through their hotline number or through email. This can get you to speak to their identity fraud department and can also request them to place a fraud alert on your credit report. After the credit bureau confirms the fraud alert the remaining two agencies would automatically place alerts instantly. When there is a fraud alert placed on your credit report the creditors will have to contact you before they can open any new account under your name or change any detains of the previous accounts. This is all possible through the identity theft hotline number.

It is important that you check your credit report every year to find out if there are any errors in the report. In case you find any errors or a suspicious activity then immediately contact the creditors through their hotline number so that they become aware about the unauthorized activity in your account. This can include informing authorities of your bank accounts, loan lenders, credit card companies, phone companies, utilities and even internet service provider. You must also contact the fraud department of the company by phone so that proper action is taken.

In case you find that thieves are running bad checks by your name then immediately close the account and inform your bank. In case you are not sure about their hotline number then visit their online website for details.

Most of the people are actually not aware about identity theft hotline numbers which is important in case of emergency. This means that if you have lost your wallet then you will instantly want to place fraud alerts on your credit cards and bank accounts. Therefore the best and the fastest method would be thorough phone. In case you are not aware about the id theft hotline numbers then you can visit the official FTC website to find contact number of all the major credit reporting agencies including banks.

Ruth

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March 31, 2009

Id Theft — What to Do

Filed under: Finance — Tags: 1111, 3 Credit Reporting Agencies, Correct Phone Numbers, Cra, Credit Grantor, Credit Profile, Equifax, Fraud Alert, Fraud Victims, Fraudulent Activity, Important Things, List Of Names, Sage Advice, Software Programs, Trans Union — admin @ 1:18 am

Joe Farinaccio asked:

there to do when it comes to fixing Identity theft?” ask most fraud victims.

Naturally, this question comes after fraud has happened. Many software programs on the market today are promising to prevent id theft from taking place by making you aware of any flags you establish for existing accounts or new credit lines.

The Federal Trade Commission does offer a slew of great information on it’s website. There is a challenge in trying to tie together all the details about what needs to be done in order to shut down ID fraud, while cleaning up all affected records.

For example, the first piece of sage advice you’ll most often read about will say something like, “Call the credit reporting agencies immediately.” This is absolutely correct. Phone numbers for the big 3 credit reporting agencies are: Trans Union – 800-888-4213, Experian – 888-397-3742 and Equifax – 800-685-1111.

But then what?

There are a few important things you can ask for during the call. For example …

1) You need to request a free copy of your credit report. (Anyone may request a free copy of his or her credit report from CRAs each year. And if you’re denied credit, employment or insurance as a result of identity theft then you’re entitled to an additional free copy of your credit report).

2) Request that a “fraud alert” be attached to your credit profile.

Now comes the more detailed actions. After your credit reports come you must do several important things. Among them are:

3) Specifically identify fraudulent accounts and inquiries and ask that each one be removed from your credit profile. (The CRAs may tell you that you need to do this in writing, which we’ll cover in the next section). Then ask the CRA to send you a copy of the notification(s) of fraud sent to each credit grantor who they contact regarding suspected fraudulent activity.

4) Ask each CRA for a list of names, phone #’s and addresses for all businesses and organizations that looked at your credit history in the past year (and perhaps even longer, depending on how long the fraud has been going on).

Request the agency to call you whenever applications are made for new credit lines in your name. The alert can say something like, “Please contact me immediately at this phone number before issuing any credit. All new credit applications must be validated and personally authorized by me.”

6) Ask the Credit Reporting Agency to contact every company that has received your credit report in the last year and tell them you’re a victim of identity theft. Request that copies of these notices be sent to you in order to make sure the CRAs follow through with your request.

7) Now you need to call the credit grantors your information search has revealed the identity thief has set up fraudulent accounts with. Tell each one you’re the victim of identity theft and indicate the account(s) in question.

Ask each one to stop issuing credit to the fraudster who has stolen your personal information.

9) Request that fraudulent accounts be closed immediately, then ask for their removal from your credit profile. If an identity thief was able to use a valid credit account (one opened by you), such as a credit card account, then you’ll either have to get a new card issued (with a new number) or cancel the card altogether. It’s better to have this kind of request worded something along the lines of, “This account has been closed at the customer’s request.” That reads much better than, “Card was stolen or lost.”.” Wording such as that might negatively impact your credit score in the future.

10) Request all documentation associated with the fraudulent accounts (including original application). Companies are required to send you this information under federal law. Fraudulent applications often contain forged signatures and other information that might be useful to you or law enforcement. Such documentation includes: false application with forged signature, all billing statements, address and phone number where credit cards were mailed, all correspondence between a creditor and the identity thief, plus electronic, audio or video evidence related to the crime.

11) Don’t forget to ask the credit grantor, company or agency to verify your requests … in writing.

Christian

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