Protecting Our Identity

Choosing an online store can be difficult enough for one to wonder about the advantages that may be brought by such a decision; the website has to offer impressive features in order to impress every potential buyer. The website also needs to project a certain professional image that can capture the attention of every visitor who is interested in purchasing a certain item. The shopping cart is important because it will have to deal with personal information that has to be handled very carefully in order to avoid identity theft. The credit card numbers are to be protected too because many people are likely to become nervous when facing the possibility of online purchasing. People need to be reassured that reputable companies are using their personal information and they have to trust these companies as well.

There are many cart services that can be provided to every user; for instance, the wide variety will consist of merchant services, hosted shopping services and fully integrated carts. The shopping cart software may come along with merchant services that will require every user to have his gateway and merchant account. This merchant account is actually a special account that is used by the bank in order to allow every business to contact the credit card transactions. The gateway will allow all the transactions to be controlled and conducted by using a secure connection. But it is ok if you do not have your own gateway or merchant account because the service carts may allow you to use their accounts instead; higher costs are to be expected in this case too.

The merchant services are highly beneficial to every small online business; if an online store does not have enough orders, it can use the merchant services in order to have a god start in the business. All the merchant services will provide the necessary accounts and carts. They will also store the personal information of every client in a safe manner but they are also likely to require an extra fee that will come along with every transaction. The merchant carts may have a special administrative interface; this interface will allow every user to login in order to buy the necessary items. He will be able to add them to his own cart. But some potential buyers are also likely to become discouraged by the fact that a certain site does not have a positive reputation; they will avoid entering their personal information on different sites that are total strangers for them.

The hosted shopping cart is another option that can be provided by the shopping cart software; this alternative is a great solution when it comes to small businesses that are not able to have the necessary resources. These carts may also be used in order to customize an already existing shopping cart. The fully integrated carts can be customized thanks to the hosted services thus transforming the products and services into more appealing items that may convince every potential buyer. The hosted carts are similar to the merchant ones; they are also likely to provide the administrative interface in order for the user to enter all the chosen products along with their shipping and pricing options. The hosted carts will generate the necessary html in order for the purchase buttons to function and the html can also be pasted and copied into personal pages.

But the hosted carts may face some problems too; for instance, all the buyers will be transferred to another site in order to enter their personal information. The credit card number and information will be introduced by accessing other sites that are connected with the hosted carts. Some of the hosted carts may allow you to customize the entire shopping cart thanks to their shopping cart software. The cart may be customized in order to look as a familiar site but the customizing process may need some extra programming skills; this extra feature may also prevent the customers from abandoning their current shopping carts.

The fully integrated carts may become the best alternative in the case of larger businesses; the shopping cart will have dynamic features that are not to be found in the case of the merchant services or hosted carts. For instance, the user can discount all the existing items and it can also display different customer reviews. The products will be assigned to different categories and the stock notifications will also be displayed on the website interface. The prices and products will be sorted and the interface will even display all the shipping estimates without having to require every customer to have or create his own account.



By: Clint Jhonson

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It can happen to anyone. The phone rings and a collection agency demands that you pay past-due accounts for goods you never ordered. The supermarket refuses your checks because you have a history of bouncing them. But you have always paid bills on time. What has happened?

If you’re a victim of identity theft, you could be left with bills, bad credit and the hassle of dealing with financial agencies and police departments to clear your name.

The crime of identity theft is on the rise. Recent surveys show there are currently about 9 million victims each year. Using a variety of methods, criminals steal Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, credit card numbers, ATM cards, telephone calling cards, and other pieces of individuals’ identities such as date of birth. They use this information to impersonate their victims, spending as much money as they can in as short a time as possible before moving on to someone else’s name and identifying information.

There are two types of identity theft.

- “Account takeover” occurs when a thief acquires your existing credit account information and purchases products and services using either the actual credit card or simply the account number and expiration date.

- “Application fraud” is what some experts call “true name fraud.” The thief uses your SSN and other identifying information to open new accounts in your name. Victims are not likely to learn of application fraud for some time, because the monthly account statements are mailed to an address used by the imposter. In contrast, victims learn of account takeover when they receive their monthly account statement. This guide discusses strategies for reducing the risk of both types of fraud.

Generally, victims of credit card fraud are liable for no more than the first $50 of the loss. (Truth in Lending Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 USC sec. 1601) In most cases, the victim will not be required to pay any part of the loss. But debit card users have less protection against fraud. Not only are individuals’ checking accounts wiped out, debit card users could be liable for the total amount of the loss depending on how quickly they report the loss to the financial institution.

Take these steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft:

1. Reduce the number of credit and debit cards you carry in your wallet. We recommend that you do not use debit cards because of the potential for losses to your checking account (see above). Instead, carry one or two credit cards and your ATM card in your wallet. Nonetheless, debit cards are popular. If you do use them, take advantage of online access to your bank account to monitor account activity frequently. Report evidence of fraud to your financial institution immediately.

2. When using your credit and debit cards at restaurants and stores, pay close attention to how the magnetic stripe information is swiped by the waiter or clerk. Dishonest employees have been known to use small hand-held devices called skimmers to quickly swipe the card and then later download the account number data onto a personal computer. The thief uses the account data for Internet shopping and/or the creation of counterfeit cards.

3. Do not use debit cards when shopping online. Use a credit card because you are better protected in case of fraud.

4. Keep a list or photocopy of all your credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, and investments — the account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers of the customer service and fraud departments — in a secure place (not your wallet or purse) so you can quickly contact these companies in case your credit cards have been stolen or accounts are being used fraudulently.

5. Never give out your SSN, credit or debit card number or other personal information over the phone, by mail, or on the Internet unless you have a trusted business relationship with the company and you have initiated the call. Identity thieves have been known to call their victims with a fake story that goes something like this. “Today is your lucky day! You have been chosen by the Publishers Consolidated Sweepstakes to receive a free trip to the Bahamas. All we need is your Social Security number, credit card number and expiration date to verify you as the lucky winner.”

6. Always take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container. When shopping, put receipts in your wallet rather than in the shopping bag.

7. Never permit your credit card number to be written onto your checks. It’s a violation of laws in most countries, and puts you at risk for fraud.

8. Watch the mail when you expect a new or reissued credit card to arrive. Contact the issuer if the card does not arrive.

9. Order your credit report at least once a year. Federal law gives you the right to one free credit report each year from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you are a victim of identity theft, your credit report will contain the tell-tale signs inquiries that were not generated by you, as well as credit accounts that you did not open. The earlier you detect fraud, the easier and quicker it will be to clean up your credit files and regain your financial health.

10. Shield your hand when using a bank ATM machine or making long distance phone calls with your phone card. “Shoulder surfers” may be nearby with binoculars or video camera.



By: Thomas Wilhelm

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By now everybody has heard of some horror story about identity theft from TV shows or magazine articles. In the popular culture, references of identity theft are found in the novels and movies, notably Frederick Forsyth’s novel, “The day of the Jackal” and the 1995 movie “The Net.” In real life, the Identity Theft Resource Center (http://www.idtheftcenter.org) reports 8.9 millions identity theft victims in 2006.

So, what is an identity theft? An identity theft occurs when somebody steals vital pieces of personal information, e.g. your social security, credit card numbers, etc. and uses that information for financial gains by taking your identity. The most common form of identity theft involves credit card and mortgage frauds. But it can also be used for vicious crimes like drug dealings, terrorism, etc.

You may be surprised to know that many minor identity thefts are committed by someone you know. So, don’t make it an easy job for a person to steal your personal information from your wallet, checkbook, etc. Avoid leaving things containing your personal information lying around for others to have an easy access to that information.

Shred, shred, shred. Buy a cheap paper shredder from an office supply store and shred all your paid bills, used check books, etc. before tossing those into the trash. Put aside 30 minutes every Saturday morning for shredding anything that contained your personal information and you intend to trash. Make it a habit.

Never give out your personal information like your social security number; birth date etc. over the phone when the call you received is unsolicited. Your financial institutions have those information and they will not ask you for that. Sometimes, for verification purposes, they make ask you the last four digits of your social security number.

Don’t pay to get anybody to get a copy of your credit report. Because of a congressional mandate, all three-credit report bureaus will give you a copy of your credit report for free every year. Go to AnnualCreditreport.com to obtain your free credit report every year from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. While obtaining your free credit report, these bureaus will push some paid services. Just ignore those.

Don’t get your free credit reports from the three bureaus all at the same time. Then you have to wait one year before you can get your reports again for free. In the mean time, some unwanted stuff may show up in your report. Get your free report every four months from each bureau. If you are using a PDA, password protect it to prevent others from accessing it.

Phishing is a popular method to steal sensitive information for identity theft purposes. Don’t be a phishing victim. Avoid clicking on any link that comes to your way through e-mails or IM. The e-mail will disguise itself coming from your financial institutions (your bank or PayPal accounts) and will urge you to click a link to verify your accounts or resort to such other tricks. Sometimes, it can be outright threatening. If you click the link you will end up in the thief’s website. And if you enter your user name and password, the thief will have enough information to log into your actual account.

Open online accounts for all your credit cards and financial accounts. Online accounts are not only convenient for faster bill paying, paperless transactions, etc.; they also help monitor your accounts frequently, instead of waiting for the monthly bill or statement to arrive. Monitor your accounts online every week and if you see any suspicious charges, checks, etc., call you banks immediately. Also setup e-mail based account alerts, if available, to alert you when charges are made to your accounts.

If possible, avoid putting your outgoing mails containing bills and checks in your mailboxes for easy access by a thief. Drop them in mailboxes located in the post office or street corners. Better yet, setup online bill payment with your bank and avoid the snail mail for bill paying.

You also need to keep your computer safe. Thieves can get into computers through spyware and unsecured wireless or network connections. Use anti-spyware programs and turn on your Windows default personal firewall program. To prevent viruses infecting your computer, use an anti-virus program. Setup accounts for each user of your computer and ask them to use strong passwords that include a combination of letters and numbers.

Another way to prevent anybody, including you, from opening any credit in your name is to freeze your credit. This option is not available in all states. If it is available in your state and you opt for this option, you need to lift the block before you allow anybody, e.g. an employer for a new job, creditor for a car loan, etc., to access your credit information. Though it is almost like a foolproof system to prevent identity theft, it is the also the most inconvenient method.



By: Deepak Dutta

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It is estimated that each day a number of individuals will have their identity stolen. Identity theft is a horrific problem that is sweeping the world. Identity theft is a crime, but in many cases it is hard to find a person to punish. For this reason, there are many lives that are turned upside down due to identity theft. While it may be difficult to associate good news with identity theft, there is some. Identity theft can often be prevented and if it should occur there are always ways to fight back.

The first step in preventing yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft is to know how it occurs. Identity theft most often occurs when a person has illegal obtained credit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, and other personal information that they have no right accessing. This information can be obtained by hacking into your computer, scamming you into providing the information, or even through your garbage.

The worst case of identity theft is when an individual obtains your social security number and drivers license. These items could allow a person to do just about anything. They could open new bank accounts, get new credit cards, buy a car, or even get a job in your name. This type of identity theft is hard to notice because a new address is often set up for all new accounts and purchases. It is not uncommon for an individual to not know that they have had their identity stolen until a copy of their credit report is requested.

Stealing credit card numbers is another form of identity theft that is having a negative impact on millions of individuals. When a person obtains your credit card number they can use it to purchase just about anything they want. Large purchases are often made in a small amount of time. This allows an individual to purchase items with your credit card and receive them at a fake location before you are likely to even notice the purchases on your bill.

Not all cases of credit card fraud and identity fraud can be prevented, but the majority of them can be. If you keep valuable personal information, including credit card and bank account numbers, on your computer then you encouraged to make sure that your computer is protected with up-to-date anti-virus software. This will help to prevent a computer hacker from getting your information. If you throw out your old credit card or bank statements you are encouraged to shred the documents first. This would make it virtually impossible for someone rummaging through your trash can to come up with anything valuable.

If you have your purse or wallet stolen you are encouraged to notify your credit card companies immediately. The same approach should be taken if you misplace your wallet or purse in public. After only few hours later your credit cards could be maxed out. Informing your bank and credit card companies of lost or stolen account information will help to guarantee that you will not be responsible for any purchases that were made on the stolen cards.

Why let yourself become a victim of credit card and identity fraud when it is so easy to prevent it? Keeping yourself aware of your surroundings and your finances is the best way to stay safe and keep your credit in good standing.



By: James Mahony

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Identity theft is a crime in which unscrupulous individuals obtain another individual’s personal information such as driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers etc. and then use this sensitive information for any number of dubious acts. The crimes that one can commit with someone else’s information vary widely. The identity thieves may open accounts in your name and run up bills that will never be paid. They may apply for credit in your name, open up cell phone accounts, or even open checking accounts with the intention of acquiring blank checks. Your identity may also be used by these thieves to obtain false identification. In the worst-case scenarios the criminals will use your identity in the commission of other crimes resulting a warrant for your arrest.

As you can see identity theft can range from irritating to life shattering. So, what is our government doing to protect us? It wasn’t until 1998 that identity theft first became a federal crime. Various other laws have been passed since then to try to prevent identity theft as well as punish those committing the crime.

In 2001 the federal banking agencies implemented an act that was meant to establish standards for safeguarding customer information.

In 2003 the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was passed. This bill set up appropriate standards for the disposal of sensitive credit report information as well as creating guidelines for recognizing patterns and specific forms of identity theft in an effort to prevent identity theft from happening.

In 2004 the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act was signed into law. This law increase the penalties for the people that committed these crimes.

The identity theft act which makes identity theft a federal crime carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000. This law also enables the Secret Service, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies to fight identity theft.

Even with all the laws that have been passed over the years identity theft is still an ever increasing problem. It seems no amount of laws or penalties will deter people from committing this crime. The best thing you can possibly do to protect yourself is to learn how to prevent identity theft from ever happening to you in the first place.



By: Stan Jenkins

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Identity theft is a real threat. It occurs when someone obtains credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account information or other pieces of private information and uses them to commit some sort of fraud or deception, usually for financial gain. Identity theft can happen anywhere to anyone. In line at the store, online at home or when you’re buying your morning coffee.

Identity theft, also known as ID theft is a crime in which a criminal obtains key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver’s license numbers, in order to pose as someone else. The information can be used to obtain credit, merchandise, and services using the victims name.

Victims might spend months or even years regaining their credit worthiness. In the meantime, the victims find it difficult to obtain loans, get a job, an apartment, or even write checks. Victims of economic crimes are encouraged to contact the following companies when their identity has been compromised by criminal activity.

Consumers were asked to name institutions where fraudulent accounts were created or where their accounts were affected by fraudulent activity. While the size of banks could be estimated by the amount of money they held in deposits, no such measure is available for telecommunications firms.

Consumers can protect themselves from identity theft in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most effective shield is a “credit freeze.”.Under a law proposed by my office and passed by the General Assembly, consumers can have one of the major credit rating agencies “freeze” their credit.

Luckily, I have a good agent that told me about it over a year ago. Look for any unauthorized accounts as well as numerous requests for your information from prospective creditors, which may indicate that someone is attempting to open accounts using your information. If you discover any unauthorized use of your personal information, you should contact your local law enforcement.

Last year, the government lost two computer discs containing government records on 25 million people. And in January the Ministry of Defense admitted it had lost control of a laptop containing unencrypted records on 600,000 prospective military recruits.

Identity theft is a felony crime; however, police cannot help with your credit record or undo the damage that has been done. Delayed discovery of identity theft and the various ways criminals can now gain access to your personal information, can complicate a criminal investigation. Identity theft often goes undectected.

Within a month of being committed, half of the crimes still remain unnoticed. Identity theft has grown at an astounding rate since the widespread adoption of the Internet. Every day new news appears about incidents of identity theft, new methods of theft, and cutting edge technologies designed to protect your identity.

Contact your local police department and ask to file a criminal complaint. Some police departments aren’t too thrilled to do this, since it is a very difficult case to pursue. Contact your banks and have them help you obtain new account numbers for all your accounts. Pick a new PIN number for ATM and debit cards.



By: Gregory Wadel

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There is much that you should know about identity theft arrests, and in particular, you are going to want to know that identity theft arrests happen when an identity thief is caught, and proven to be guilty. Identity theft is one of the most serious issues out there these days, and that is primarily due to the fact of how technologically advanced the world is today.

More About Identity Theft Arrests

Identity theft arrests take place all the time, and mainly this is because so many people here today have dozens of credit cards and use computers at least once a day, and this is because then these people end up putting their personal information out more than they should, thus allowing identity thieves to more easily be able to steal the information and thus steal identities.

Identity theft arrests are in fact one of the most common types of arrests of all, and this just goes to show how important it is to be as protected against it as you can be. There are so many different steps that you can take in order to make yourself protected, and so the first thing that you are going to want to do is make sure that you only carry around with you what you really need to.

As well, if you ever do lose any of your identification, then you want to make sure that you report it right away, so that you can notify the correct people and so that if someone does end up finding it and using it that you will be able to know as soon as possible. So many cases of identity theft happen each and every day, and so you want to make sure that you are not just another victim.

When you are using the Internet, you want to make sure that you only give out your credit card numbers onto sites that are privacy protected, and this means that you will see a picture of a secured lock somewhere - usually at the bottom - of the homepage. If you want to make extra sure, then you can go through the Better Business Bureau, which is a business that allows you to see whether or not a company is legit, as well as how long they have been in business, and so on.

You can find out everything that you need to about a company this way, and so you definitely are going to want to make sure that you do this before giving out your personal information on a site like this.



By: Ann Marier

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Identity theft monitoring is a mechanism that helps us effectively prevent incidences of identity theft . And identity theft monitoring prevents internet fraud and also helps you protect your personal information.

Most often, identity theft occurs whenever the user’s personal information is compromised. In fact identity theft usually involves using the victim’s personal information to commit frauds.

There are some guidelines that can help us prevent identity thefts; these guidelines are useful to minimize the potential damage that can occur from identity theft:

1) Blocking disclosed credit card numbers is a part of identity theft monitoring process.

2) Monitoring credit reports is necessary to monitor identity theft.

3) Contacting government agencies is another way to prevent identity theft; this will also prevent the assailant to use licenses or credit cards.

There are many symptoms of identity theft such as:

a) Getting late or missing bills

b) Sometimes receiving an unknown credit card bill is another symptom of identity theft.

c) Other symptoms of identity theft include being contacted by unknown debt collectors or receiving bills for purchases that you have not made.

There are some steps that are necessary to minimize and prevent identity theft, these preventive measurement are known as identity theft monitoring mechanisms.

Identity Theft Monitoring Mechanisms

Identity theft monitoring includes a mechanism that will ensure that identity theft will never occur in future. There are many measures that help to prevent identity theft such as securing Social Security number (SSN), credit card numbers or other personal information. These preventive measures will help to tackle fraud or other identity theft crimes.

Identity theft monitoring includes the thorough verification of your personal accounts, which also cover all your credit card accounts. If identity theft occurs then it is necessary to close the credit account immediately. Consulting with financial institutions and banks is one of the best way to prevent identity theft. Changing passwords of credit cards and ATM cards frequently is another way to prevent identity theft. Avoiding parents names, date of birth and last digit of social security number in passwords to aid the process of identity theft monitoring.

Identity thefy can be even be done by using anybody’s social security number which is generally a four-digit number. If this happens, then it is necessary to inform one of the three nation wide consumer reporting companies. Placing initial fraud alert is part of Identity theft monitoring process, this will restrict the fraudster from opening a credit account by using a duplicate name. This alert will stays on credit card report for 90 days.

Monitoring suspicious activities are also part of Identity theft monitoring process. This process includes checking accounts that have never been accessed previously, debits on such accounts that cannot be explained and inquiries from unknown companies. Sometimes checking name, surname, and social security number and employers name is also important to monitor identity theft.

Putting a flag on file can be a part of Identity theft monitoring mechanism, which will prevent anyone else from getting duplicate license or other authorized documents. Carefully reading and monitoring credit card reports and financial statements is also part of Identity theft monitoring system. This is useful to prevent and tackle identity theft. Many financial companies and insurance companies are offering identity theft insurance, which cover every aspect of identity theft.



By: Bernard Pragides

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