Protecting Our Identity

Credit cards have been very commonplace that identity theft has also become one of the most common crimes being done today. The severity of this problem has blown out of proportion and hundreds of millions to billions of dollars each year are being stolen because of this.

The US Congress has put up laws to curb the rise of identity theft but it hasn’t made a major dent yet. While we have laws that help us in becoming victims and also punish those caught committing them, it is also up to us to protect ourselves from identity theft. And one of the most effective and easiest way to do this is by protecting our credit cards.

One sordid fact that the US Federal Trade Commission have released to the public is that victims of Identity theft can take an average of a year before they even know that they have been taken by identity thieves. So by the time a person realizes this, he or she may already be deep in debt.

It’s not the time though to panic. Identity theft can be curbed and prevented. All you have to do is to ensure that your credit card and your credit card information is not known to just anyone. There are very simple precautions one can do to ensure the safety of your credit card.

First off, always know where your cards are. If possible, don’t go shopping with a number of cards with you, this may create confusion. Only take a card that you will be suing with you. When paying with your card, never let it out of your sight. Make sure that your card will be charged in your plain view. Some people may copy the information as well as the all important security number at the back of the card and use it over the internet.

Memorize your PIN (Personal identification Number) and don’t trust anybody with it. People may use your credit card to withdraw money. So if you have received your credit card make sure to memorize it and quickly destroy the paper where it is written. Also, make sure not to write down your PIN and store it in your wallet. Your credit card and the PIN should never be together, in case you lost your wallet, the person who finds it would find a hard time using it without the PIN. Make sure to report a stolen or lost credit card immediately, this will prevent it from being used by anyone.

Also, be wary of emails that will ask you for your credit card details and information. This is called phishing, there are a number of scammers in the internet who would use email as a means to scam you out of your hard earned money. You may think that the email came from reputable establishment or financial institution offering great deals but they may just be from these scamming people. Make sure to delete this type of email and never provide information to it.

One great way to check if you are already a victim of identity theft is by checking your credit report once in a while. This is no problem since it can be done online and it is also free. You can find a number of websites which can provide you with this information. So be on your guard and protect your identity by protecting your credit card.



By: Mario Churchill

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Your name and personal integrity and reputation are your most valuable possession. Look at the concern put onto protecting a person’s reputation. Slander is a very serious crime

Identity theft is a disaster waiting to happen to you. You have no idea how much time and aggravation can be spent if you are a victim of identify theft. No one will really believe you now or for years to come. . An ounce of prevention is worth 10 tons of cure in terms of identity theft.

What steps can you take to prevent identity theft?

1)First of all when you have checks printed ensure that you employ basic security measures to prevent and deal with identity theft concerns. Use your initials and last name when ordering printed checks. Your bank keeps a picture record of your signature. The criminal will not know you sign your name. Your bank can verify your actual signature versus the signed check. In this day and age of technology your bank can email or fax that signature for comparison and verification purposes elsewhere.

2)Ensure that you do not have personal information printed on your checks no matter how convenient it is for you. Do not list your social security number or home phone number when having your checks prepared and printed.

3)It is wisest not to have mail delivered by hand to your own personal mail at home or at your residence. This mail drop can be easily monitored, is mainly unprotected and not secure and as well easily pilfered.

4)When you do have those new checks sent to you - pick up the checks at the bank personally if possible or at the worst have them mailed to work.

Credit cards are an easy route to major worldwide identity theft routes. Imagine if you can that halfway around the world in Amsterdam or Hong Kong or Peking you can obtain luxurious goods and services all by handing over a small piece of plastic. Secure your credit cards and credit card services.

When paying credit card bills, write only the last four digits in the memo or in the envelope.

Preplan for disaster, so to speak. Prepare over time a good list of your credit cards and the relevant toll free numbers. If you are a victim of identity theft you may be so numb with worry that you may be able to proceed in any logical manner at a fast and reasonable pace. Sure some phone numbers may change over time. You can update the list from time to time. It sure is good to have some of the effort prepared ahead of the fire and emergency.

It is best not to carry your vital social security card in your wallet. Better to memorize the number and store the card in a safe place - perhaps in your bank vault.

Ditto for pins and passwords. Fifteen years ago France initiated a one card for everything program. The idea was to consolidate all finance for every person with one plastic card and issue terminals. This seemed to be a great idea until it was discovered that approximately half of the people were writing down the all inclusive number on the back of that very card.

Do not write down pins and passwords on the back of cards on even in the documents in your purse or briefcase. Do not use easily guessable passwords.

The major first steps for even bright kids to guess passwords are first: address

Second: Spouse’s name, Third: Pets name, fourth: kids names, ditto for birthdays and anniversary dates. Assign different passwords for each debit or credit card; use a combination of digits and numbers. Lastly change your passwords on a regular basis.

It is not only nosy neighbors, or even post office investigators who routinely delve in a person’s trash. Get a good paper shredder. The cheaper models of paper shredders generally use flimsy nylon or plastic gears and will jam frequently. Better to spend on a better model of paper shredder which will do a better job, faster and not jam frequently/

Lastly you may have credit card accounts and bank accounts which are dormant and not being used. Close these accounts. In the end it comes down to preparation and personal attention. Be on the lookout for strange financial transactions that you do not recognize or draw attention that something just does not seem right. . An ounce of prevention in identity theft is worth tens of tons of cure.



By: Frances T. Russell

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There is so much that you need to know about computer identity theft, and in fact out of all the types of identity theft in general, computer identity theft is by far the most common. This is not hard to believe, considering the amount of time that the average person spends on a computer each day in the world we now live in.

We buy so much and so often put our personal information out over the computer that it is no wonder why computer identity theft statistics are rising so dramatically. Especially in regards to credit cards in particular, computer identity theft is the easiest type of identity theft for criminals, and this is why if you use a computer - and you most likely do - then you are going to have to take steps in order to make sure that you are not a victim of computer identity theft.

Steps That you Should Take

There are many different steps and precautions that you can take in order to make yourself as protected as possible against this type of theft, however you are also going to want to keep in mind the fact that regardless of what you do, there is no real way that you can make yourself completely safe, however prevention is the best method, and so you should remember this.

The more steps and precautions that you take, the better off that you are going to be, and one of the best things that you can do, is make sure to go into your bank on a frequent basis in order to get someone to do a check to see if any of your personal information is being used by anyone but you.

Although it is obviously more critical to do something like this if you have had your wallet stolen or lost for instance, it is still a good idea to do it regardless, because there are many other ways that you can have your identity stolen besides from your identification in your wallet. For instance, someone could have gone through your trash and found a piece of mail that had your personal information on it and used that.

It is really not hard for a person to steal another person’s identity, however unfortunate that may be, and so you are going to want to make sure that you make smart decisions, such as ripping or cutting up your mail before you throw it out.



By: Ann Marier

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Identity Theft on the Rise

Identity theft is a growing problem, not just in the USA, but worldwide. Every week it seems there is a new story about some corporation that has lost a laptop containing important client information including Social Security Numbers. If it happens to you, it’s a disaster than can take years to put right, and cost thousands of dollars. This article is designed to save you from identity theft in the first place, and then give you some brief advice on what to do if you are a victim. Here are my tips to help prevent such a catastrophe:

1. Know what’s in your wallet.

Do you really know all the cards in your wallet? Do you know the numbers to call to cancel these cards if your wallet is lost? The easiest way to remember all this is to simply put all your cards on a photocopier at once, and copy them. Then copy the back side. Keep these two sheets of paper in a secure location, and if the worst happens and you do lose your wallet and need to cancel your cards, the info is right there.

2. Cancel inactive credit card accounts.

Don’t take the risk of someone using your card on an account that you never check.

3. Monitor your credit.

You are allowed by law to get one free credit report per year, but that is not often enough. The best thing is to sign up for a service that monitors your credit constantly and alerts you if someone applies for credit in your name, or if unusual spending patterns appear. Details on such a service appear at the end of this article.

4. Safeguard your personal information.

If you are comfortable with it, get electronic statements rather than paper ones which can be stolen from your physical mailbox. Keep your Social Security Card, bank information, credit card statements and so on, in a safe place, preferably one that can be locked.

5. Buy a decent shredder

Shred all documents that contain personal information. Buy one that can also shred credit cards, as sometimes these come unsolicited in the mail, as do “fake” cards that are an offer for credit. Shred them all with a quality, cross-cut shredder.

6. Beware of spoof emails.

Never ever click a link in an email that requests you to confirm personal information like your PIN number, your PayPal log in etc. These are spoofs, and the criminals create a website that looks very much like the genuine article, and as you submit your information, boom, they can then log into your genuine account and make withdrawals or payments to themselves. Only ever go to the website from your own browser favorites link, or by typing in the address yourself (not the one in the email). Never click the link in an email, but instead, forward the email to spoof@[name of organization].com e.g.: spoof@paypal.com

7. Mailbox safety.

Retrieve your mail from your mailbox as promptly as possible. If you are going on vacation, get the post office to put a Vacation Mail Hold, so that it doesn’t pile up and overflow your box. Not only is that an invitation to steal your mail, it also advises burglars that no one is at home.

8. Use strong passwords

Avoid passwords that are easily guessed. Use a combination of letters and numbers and make it as random as you can. Never ever use the name of your spouse, pet, mother’s maiden name or anything like that, which a dedicated thief could probably find out in some way. Memorize your passwords or keep them in a (strong) password protected file on your computer. Don’t write them down.

9. Computer

If you ever sell or donate your computer, make sure the hard drive is wiped absolutely clean. Just trashing your files does not do it. Ideally, re-format the hard drive.

10. Check all statements.

It’s a pain, but check all bank and credit card statements to see if all the purchases were authorized. Often times all a website will ask of you is name, credit card #, expiry date, and sometimes the three digit authorization code on the back of the card. This is information that the waiter or waitress at the last restaurant you visited can easily have captured. Check, and dispute any unknown charges immediately.

The best protection is a credit and identity theft monitoring service, such as provided by Pre-Paid Legal and Kroll, companies listed in the NYSE with over 30 years experience in the field. For a low monthly fee of $12.95 (or $9.95 if combined with a prepaid legal plan) you can have 24-hour protection and alerts if anything suspicious happens with your credit. The plans cover the whole family and monitor the use of your social security number, your driver’s license, your credit, your medical records and your IRS data. In the event that you do suffer from identity theft, they will spend however long it takes to put it right. With the average identity theft case taking 600 hours, and thousands of dollars to resolve, protection at $12.95 per month is a bargain.



By: Glyn Norman

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Credit card and Identity theft are a great cause for concern for anyone who has a good credit rating and credit cards that they use regularly. Often thieves will steal someone’s identity and then go on to run up a host of bills in that person’s name. By the time a person realizes what has taken place, it is often too late to do much about it. So the real question is how can you fight back against these criminals and keep your good name intact as well as your credit and money.

Recently the right to freeze credit reports and stopping credit from being issued in a person’s name has become available. By locking down your credit, nobody can get your credit file or details to run up credit in your name leaving you to deal with the bill.

Who can lock down their credit?

Almost anyone can lock down his or her credit. Since 2003, when California allowed its residents to lock down their credit reports, other states have began to follow suit including New Jersey, Louisiana, Nevada, Connecticut, Maine, North Carolina and Colorado. Other states such as Texas, Illinois, Vermont, and Washington will only allow victims of identity theft or those who have fallen victim to a security breach to freeze their credit reports. If your area is not listed here, then by inquiring at any one of the three major credit-reporting agencies you should be able to find out what your state allows.

Anyone can ask the major credit reporting companies to place a fraud alert on a credit report. How this benefits you is that the company alerts you when credit is requested and you are asked permission to proceed with the credit. There is one problem with this method and that is creditors are not required to check the alert or even ask your permission.

A credit freeze takes the next step in security enforcement. With a credit freeze nobody can open any type of credit line under your name or even gain access to your credit file. What this means is that your credit details are off limits to everyone even credit lenders, insurance companies and potential employers.

How does a credit freeze work?

Credit freeze is quite simple really, but very effective. What happens is, when credit is requested, for example a credit card, cell phone or even a personal loan, the company that is considering giving the credit will call one of the three credit reporting companies to ask for access to your credit file. If you have already requested a freeze on your file then the credit reporting company will tell the creditor that they don’t have access to the file as it is frozen. You can just about guarantee that no creditor in their right mind will proceed with a line of credit that has a frozen file.

What if I want credit?

If you want credit or you need a background check for a potential employer, it is not a problem at all. What actually happens is that the three major credit reporting companies give you a personal identification number, or a PIN, that allows you to freeze and unfreeze your credit report when you need to.

If a criminal manages to get your name, address, social security number and even your birthday, with the protection of a credit freeze they don’t stand a chance at getting credit, no matter how good they are.

How do I get a Credit Freeze on my files?

In order to lock down your credit, you will need to contact each of the three credit reporting companies. If you are the victim of identity theft and are reporting from a police or law enforcement agency, the fee is usually waived. Other residents who are not under direct identity theft lock down may be asked to pay a fee to each of the three credit reporting agencies.

This fee is usually quite low and, considering the benefits of having a credit freeze on your account, the few dollars that are spent are well worth it for the piece of mind that you will have knowing that your credit, good name and assets are locked down and secured at all times. None of the credit reporting agencies charge to have credit report freezes lifted, however, there will be charges for those who want to temporarily lift their freeze, even if they are victims of identity theft.

What do the credit reporting agencies need?

Each of the three credit reporting companies require a certain procedure to be followed in order to have your credit report frozen. Below are the requirements needed for each company:

Equifax: Equifax requires that all communication with regards to this procedure be sent via certified mail. In the body of the letter you are required to state your name, address, including previous addresses, social security number and your date of birth.

Payment must be made by check, money order or by a credit card. If a credit card is the chosen option, then the name of the card, account number and expiration date must be included. ID theft victims should also put a valid copy of a police report, investigation report or a valid complaint that has been filed with a law enforcement agency.

Experian: Experian requires that you send all communication via certified mail. In the letter you should include your name, including middle name, and any other identifying names, for example, Jr. or Sr. Also you will need to include a current address, and previous addresses going back as far as five years, social security number, date of birth, and proof of address. Proof of addresscan be in the form of drivers licenses, bills for utilities such as power or water, bank statements or insurance statements.

Money should be paid either by check, money order or credit card. If paying by credit card, you should include the name of the card, account number and expiry date. Victims of ID theft need to have current copies of the police report, investigation report or a valid complaint that has been filed with a law enforcement agency.

TransUnion: Communication can be sent either by regular or certified mail, although certified mail is always a safer option, as you know that the communication has been received safely by the company. You will need to include your full name, including middle initials and any other parts to your name for example Jr. or Sr. You will need to provide your current mailing address and any other addresses dating back to the last five years, date of birth and social security numbers are also required.

Payment can be made by check, money order or credit card. If paying by a credit card, you will need to include your name, account number and expiration date on your card. If you have been the victim of ID theft you will need to include your police report, investigation report or the complaint that you have filed with a law enforcement agency.

Why the credit companies don’t want you to freeze your files

There is a lot of controversy over the new interest in consumers protecting their credit by freezing it until they want to use it. Many of the credit companies claim that it will be an inconvenience to consumers, while others are saying it is much like waiting to have a car accident before letting people put seatbelts into their cars.

It appears that the biggest fear of the credit companies is the loss of control over consumers. Those who have exercised their rights and used locked down credit safety measures are unable to buy on impulse, because they have to unlock their credit before purchasing. This could mean an end to impulsive buying over the weekends and fewer purchases for credit companies. Devastating for credit companies, but an added safety feature for those who lock down their credit.

Is there anyone who can help?

There are companies out there that offer you the alternative of not having to do a lock down yourself. They also monitor your credit situation regularly for you and help you get credit when needed, for a fee. One of the great things about these companies is they stand by their promise to protect your credit by insuring each person if they do become a victim of ID theft and loose money because of the companies negligence. If you are busy, or don’t want to lock down your credit on your own these companies are a great way to protect your identity and valuables.

Don’t be caught by criminals who prey on honest citizens by stealing their identity and running up expensive credit debt. Fight back, use a credit freeze and rest assured that your assets and credit is safe from theft.



By: Liz Roberts

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Identity theft is one of the fasting growing high-tech crimes of this century, yet most people are taking a very lax view of it in terms of ensuring that they are protecting themselves against it. At least until they discover to their absolute horror that they have become a victim of identity theft. At that point, it is too late and that victim is going to spend a significant amount of their personal time and likely a fair chunk of money in order to straighten out the mess.

What is identity theft? Simply put, that is when a thief steals your identity. In other words, the thief obtains some of your personal information – enough of it to allow them to open credit card accounts or apply for loans as if they were you. Are you starting to see where the problem comes in? So the thief has opened a couple of Visa accounts, get a new car loan approved, and is last seen driving off into the sunset with a new car and credit cards charged to the hilt, never to be seen again. Meanwhile back at the ranch, the car dealership and the Visa companies are calling you to ask when you are going to start making payments.

How can this happen? In today’s world of credit cards and debit cards, it is unfortunately all too easy, and if you are not careful, you could easily become the next victim. Think about all the places that enough of your personal information appears, and what you do with that information. For example, say you get the same junk mail that most people get where you are offered car insurance or pre-approved for a new credit card. If you are like most people, you throw the mail in the trash. That is mistake number one. NEVER throw that stuff in the trash. That stuff will almost always contain your name and address, sometimes also your phone number, perhaps your driver’s license number, and sometimes even your social security number. In other words, more than enough information for someone digging through the trash to temporarily become “you” and commit an identity theft crime.

The answer is to get a paper shredder. These are incredibly cheap, like under $50 at just about any office supply store like Best Buy, Office Max, etc. SHRED that junk email if it contains any information about you personally.

Another word of advice is to RARELY use a debit card. The rules of a debit card are vastly and totally different than the rules of a real credit card, even though the debit card probably still sports the Mastercard or Visa logo. With a debit card, you usually cannot dispute a transaction like you can with a credit card. With a credit card, your liability is usually capped at $50 (depending on the card), but a thief can drain your entire debit card bank account and you will have no recourse. Never allow the waiter in a restaurant to walk off with your debit card for exactly this reason. If you are in a restaurant and paying with plastic, either use a real credit card or walk up to the register yourself if you must use a debit card. And when given a choice by the establishment asking if you want to use your debit card as a credit card or debit card, ALWAYS choose the credit card option.

There are multiple more things you should do to protect yourself against identity theft, but the key is to start doing them NOW as a normal part of your life so that you can lock in those habits and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.



By: Jon Arnold

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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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When a child is born, a parent may apply for a Social Security number for that child.  A child’s Social Security number is very much sought after by identity thieves.  The child identity thief could be a family member (uncle, aunt cousin), another adult who has access and is allowed in your home, someone who has stolen your mail or hacked into your computer.  We think we know who the child identity thief could be, but we don’t.

Most parents apply for the baby’s SSN so that they can claim the child on their taxes and you must submit the SSN on the official tax forms, so now, anybody who has the means to see that tax form can copy the child’s information.  The child’s identity could be stolen at the hospital or at a health professionals’ office.  What about the dishonest legal professional who sells the child’s identity to an unscrupulous client.  It does not matter what profession a person is in, they have the potential to be dishonest.

The thief could be anybody.  Typically, your not going to check your child’s credit rating (why would you), so your not going to know their identity has been stolen.  Now the identity thief has more than a decade to create a new identity for him and gain credit cards, loans, cell phones, utilities, bank accounts, drivers license etc. etc.  The crime is not discovered until your child has grown and applies for her first education loan, apartment, credit card or job!  By now, the trail has become ice cold and your child’s credit record has been cut to ribbons.  In all likelihood all of the accounts opened in her name have been purchased by a collection agency.

It would be very difficult for your child to repair what has happened because of the difficulty in tracking down the original loan applications and transaction records if the original account has been through several hands because of companies merging and being bought-up.  Our children need to be taught about the dangers of providing their personal information and your personal information when they are logged onto the net.  Today’s kids have a burning desire to log into the many chat rooms and social networking sites and they may be asked for personal information on a registration screen or by an identity thief.

The preventative identity theft company, LifeLock, has already launched the first-of-its-kind Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program.  Now, LifeLock’s subscribers can add the children’s ID theft program to their existing full suite of ID theft preventative services.  The children’s theft prevention program is for minors 16 years and younger.  A recent study in the state of Utah revealed that 1,800 Social Security numbers assigned to children 12 years of age and younger had been forged, according to the state’s Identity Theft Task Force.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has advised that between 5% and 7% of identity theft victims are under the age of 18 and if you include college-aged individuals, it is almost 20%.

“Due to the extreme increase in ID theft among minors, we have taken the initiative to develop a first-of-its-kind program to protect children,” said Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock.  Tracking credit bureau activity and monitoring depository accounts are considered standard when dealing with identity theft.  But Davis insists that working with the Social Security Administration and identifying work activity from unusually young minors is a red flag that warrants further investigation. “LifeLock is in the process of working with local and federal agencies, as well as leaders in Washington D.C. to lead the efforts in protecting our children from identity theft. This is a critical aspect of our overall service,” continued Davis. “As the Utah investigation demonstrated, sadly, there are numerous victims yet to be discovered.”  LifeLock subscribers can pay $10 per year for the Children’s ID Theft Prevention Program through which LifeLock will regularly audit the credit bureau, monitor depository banking accounts, and track any unusual “work activity” with the Social Security Administration on behalf of LifeLock’s youth customers. All minors enrolled in the program will also benefit by LifeLock’s standard $1 million guarantee.

 

Do you want to learn about Identity Theft Prevention &

By: Randy Vezina

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