Protecting Our Identity

Your identity is probably the most important physical aspect that you have. In business transactions, in making loans, in school and work requirements and even in just proving that you exist, your identity becomes a very significant factor in your life, if not the most. It marks your existence and protects the material or immaterial things that you claim as your own.

Now imagine someone else being able to control the very things you worked hard for. What could be crueler than that?

Identity theft is a reality nowadays. More and more people become victims of this crime, which involves stealing financial and other gains by impersonating someone else. Stolen identities can also be used by criminals to conceal themselves from government authorities or to make transactions that they could not have obtained otherwise.

This theft, although a sad and frustrating one, is a reality nonetheless. Therefore we cannot just act hastily, especially when it comes to disclosing personal information. We need not just be naive and hope we would not be the next victims, for the truth is, we could be. Here are some tips on precautionary measures that we should keep in mind:

Hasty Information Disclosure Is A No-No

It is not advisable to disclose any kind of personal information to another person whether via telephone, email or personal conversation when one does not know the other person well. In this world, it has become a fact that we could not trust anybody very easily. This is not a point on cynicism; merely a precautionary measure on any kind of manipulation. When you are not too sure about a persons background (especially if exchanges are made only via email or phone), you should be careful not to reveal any personal information that may be used to pull off an impersonation of you.

Completely Destroy Any Personal Record You Wish To Throw

Criminals can easily obtain any personal information written on or stored in a piece of paper or computer. When you want to throw away these kinds of things, make sure that it is completely destroyed as to not be of any use when obtained. For documents, one could burn them and for computers, one could make sure that everything is deleted from the hard drive.

Look Out For Bogus Offers

Criminals usually advertise offers, especially job offers, in order to entice people to apply and thus be compelled to hand in personal information like your full name, address, contact number and other details. You should look out for this. You could make sure that the job offer and the company offering the job is legitimate by researching about it or calling for information on it. Granted, you may badly need a job, but it would not take too much time and it certainly would not hurt to make sure you are not being manipulated. After all, the problems you would encounter would be greater if you became a victim of identity theft.

It is good to embrace life with every ounce of optimism, but as crimes grow nowadays, can never be too cautious. When something of great importance is at risk, like the possibility of being cheated off an identity, one should always take every measure possible to make sure this does not happen to you.



By: Matthew Stanton

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Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of this century and it continues to increase for consumers and businesses that are not aware of it, and are not aware of really how easy it is. With credit card companies doing bare minimums on credit checks these days in their efforts to get more credit cards out there (and rake in an amazing amount of money in interest), this only serves to make the problem worse.

Consider the case of Matt Johnson. This is not his real name but the situation described here is very real and Matt remembers it like it was yesterday. Matt owned a small business that was doing quite well, and had always paid his bills on time even while in college. Matt and his wife started talking about a new car so they went car shopping, and eventually fell in love with a particular car where the car dealership was going to make a very good offer to them. Matt filled out the application form, anticipating that there would be no problems whatsoever. But when the salesman came back with a definite cloud over his head, Matt knew something had come up.

The car salesman proceeded to tell Matt that they could not approve him for a loan for his new car. Matt was astounded and asked to see the credit report that the car dealership had quickly pulled. Matt could not believe what he was seeing – page after page of opened accounts with nearly maxed out credit limits, all of them many months past due.

Yes, Matt had become a victim of identity theft, and in the ensuing weeks, Matt started to get calls from various credit card companies asking when he was going to start making payments. It was a real nightmare, and trying to explain that he was a victim of identity theft to the credit card collection agents was met with extreme skepticism. Even today, more than two years later, the problems on Matt’s credit report have not been cleaned up to the 100% level, and Matt has spent an incredible amount of his personal time chasing down the problems and getting them corrected.

This can happen to you too. Do you have an extra 2-4 hours every day for weeks and months on end to rectify this type of problem if it were to happen to you, without having that time you are spending negatively impact your family life or your work? If you are like most of us, the answer is a resounding NO.

There is a solution. Several companies are starting to offer protection against the crime of identity theft. It is like an insurance policy in some respects, because although you hope you never need it, it sure is nice to know that you are protected if the need should arise.

When you are looking at companies that offer such a service, be sure to look beyond just the cost of the service. For a business, the cost is probably a tax write-off, but even if not, compare the cost of the service against the losses you would sustain without it. Then be sure you are clear on exactly what is covered and what is not, and what your limits of liability are. Make sure the identity theft service works with the credit bureaus, who are the first to know when new credit is requested in your name.

Like insurance, you hope you never need it, but consider the degree to which your life and free time would change if you became and victim and did NOT have the protection!



By: Jon Arnold

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Did you know that 52% of all identity theft victims discovered that they were victims by monitoring their accounts with some sort of monitoring service? That percentage represents approximately 5 million people. Identity theft is the modern day plague affecting our wallets instead of our physical well-being. Tales of identity theft are cropping up all across the United States at lightning speed and are on the rise internationally. This trend is expected to continue with identity thieves getting younger and smarter.

You have worked hard all of your life to have a good job, above average home, and good credit. Realizing how easy it could all go away should be incentive enough to investigate something to protect your investments. If you have not already done so, you need to enroll in the most robust identity theft protection you can find and do it now.

There are a lot of different products on the market that will help you protect what is rightfully yours. Do the homework and investigation to find the right identity theft protection product out of the many on the market. Some provide reimbursement coverage while most provide credit alerts when any activity is noted in your credit file.

True, there are measures you can take to assist in your personal protection but they do not always work. I can list each of the preventative ways to safeguard your information but, quite frankly, if a thief wants your identity they will get it if they believe you are of value to them. ID Thieves are more sophisticated these days and are not just counterfeiting new checks based upon stolen account numbers anymore. Some are even stealing their own children’s identities. If they are doing that to their own children then imagine what they will do to steal yours.

The age of checks is going away and is being replaced by debit cards and/or credit cards but that opens up even more problems. If you are using the internet to do transactions you are at immense risk even if you have virus protection and a firewall on your computer. All it takes is a company that has your personal and financial information to be breached and your identity is out in cyber world for all to see.

In summation, the best identity theft protection is due diligence as well as a company working for you behind the scenes watching your back. Get the peace of mind you deserve while you work hard and continue living the American dream.



By: Curtis K. Collins

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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.



By: Jenny DeRaspe-Bolles

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Due to the current increase in identity theft, solutions and prevention tips are becoming a necessity for everyone. Many victims of identity theft are unaware that they have been targeted until months after the original crime. Your credit card bills could be missing for a month, and when you contact the financial institution, they tell you that there has been an address change that you did not authorize. You might be applying for a mortgage renewal, and discover that your great credit has been ruined by a scammer. This time lag gives the scammer a head start at spending all of your hard-earned money.

Most credit card companies have implemented identity theft protection to help you if you become a victim. You shouldn’t assume that you have protection because you deal with a major financial institution. Have them send you information about the type of protection you are eligible for, and how to access it if you ever need it. This type of information you want to have before you discover you need it.

Some specialty businesses provide identity theft solutions. They will help you take steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. They will give you checklists, internet references, and clear steps to take to resolve identity theft problems. Specially trained staff is available to help you fill out police reports, contact creditors and credit bureaus, as well as the FTC. They work with you to resolve the numerous problems that you will encounter as a victim of identity theft.

The best identity theft solution is to protect yourself, and acquire the information you need to keep yourself from becoming a victim. Guard your personal information, and only give it out if you are sure it is needed.

If you receive a call telling you that you have won a valuable prize, and they just need to verify your information, ask them to send you a written application. If they refuse, hang up the phone.

Regularly check your financial statements. Keep track of your charges, so you will know if any fraudulent charges have occurred. If you don’t receive your statements, contact the financial institution immediately. Your statements could be sent to an alternate address so you won’t notice the extra charges on your bill.

Never give out your social security number on the internet. If you frequently access your financial accounts online, run your anti-spy ware program before accessing your accounts. Frequently update your virus protection and anti-spy ware programs.

A common identity theft fraud is to send out emails that appear to be an official correspondence from a company that you do business with. They will tell you that there is a problem with your account, and they need you to send your social security number, or your credit card number to them to solve the issue. If you receive this type of request, do not respond to it, or click on the link in the email. You can either call the company to verify your information, or go to their website by typing their web address directly to the browser address bar.

As the incidence of identity theft increases, the criminals continue to develop new ways of attempting to get your personal information. The majority of them would rather take the easy way out, and victimize people who are unprotected, and unaware of the steps you can use to protect yourself. Be vigilant about protecting your personal information, and keeping your computer secure. That is the best identity theft solution.



By: Gerri Stone

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In my previous article, I gave you the first 5 tips to help prevent from being a victim. Did you apply any of those tips to your life? I hope you have taken action to complete all of them. You will gain peace of mind.

 

Here are the next 5 tips:



Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, there’s no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying. You want to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. If you do become one, there is help for identity theft victims. Services that provide identity theft insurance coverage can help save you time and money restoring your identity. Read about it here.

Cover-up your vehicle identification number (VIN): People have been known to get the VIN from atop of the vehicle’s dash board. They would use the VIN to order new vehicle keys and later steal the vehicle using the new keys. Criminal acts can then be completed using the stolen vehicle, yet the true owner gets the blame for the crime.

Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier: You can put a freeze on your credit reports which is called the credit freeze or also known as the security freeze. When you place a freeze on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can’t check your credit history. Without that information, they won’t issue credit. And that also means criminals can’t set up new accounts in your name. This service is great identity theft protection.

Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox. To foil “dumpster-diving” thieves, buy a shredder and destroy documents before discarding. Take action on this tip and add to it identity theft insurance coverage, IDT Insurance.

Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you’re at it, make copies of your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Quick action on this tip can be a great protection from identity theft.



 

Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, we’re all John and Jane Doe’s if we can’t speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. For some of us, that is a good reason why we carry our social security numbers in our wallets or purses. But, we don’t think about having identity theft coverage.

 

 

Even after you observe all of these tips for identity theft prevention, you may still become a victim. What can you do as a victim of the identity theft crime? To find the answer this question, Click here.

 



By: Charles H Johnson Jr

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Identity theft protection definitely is something that you must be mindful of in this day and age. Identity theft continues to be one of the most common and most serious of crimes that are being committed the world over today.

In order to develop a comprehensive and meaningful identity theft protection plan or program, you do need to understand the different methods that identity thieves employ to perfect their crimes. Through this article you are provided information about phishing and identity theft.

Like many people you may be involved in using the Internet and World Wide Web a great deal. You may even shop and transact other types of business online in this day and age. Therefore, you need to make sure that you employ appropriate identity theft protection tactics while online, including tactics that protect you against phishing schemes.

The reality is that when it comes to identity theft protection and phishing, education is the most important element of guarding against phishing. Through this article, you are provided the tools you will need to protect yourself against phishing.

A common phishing schemes involves your receipt of an email containing an advertisement for a well known retailer. The email advertisement contains a link to the site. If you click on the link you will be transported to a site that may very well look precisely like the merchant being advertised. You will have no reason not to believe that you are not at the site operator by the well known retailer. However, you will not be at the site. You will be at a fake venue established for the sole purpose of snatching your personal and financial information.

You definitely need to be on guard against this type of scam as part of your identity theft protection efforts. There are other variations on the theme – including an email allegedly from your bank or some other financial institution – asking you to update your account information. In fact, this is also a scam. If you click through using the link you will not be taken to the bank’s website but to a sham venue. At this venue, an identity theft will snatch any information you might enter.

In the end, you should never provide any personal or financial information through a link in an email. This needs to be a general rule when it comes to identity theft protection practices. You should go directly to the reputable site itself by typing in the URL in a new window.



By: Bernard Pragides

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You may ask yourself, “Why do I need identity theft protection?” If you’ve ever thrown away a receipt, lost a credit card, or received a questionable email asking for personal information, you are making yourself a victim of fraud, and a great candidate for identity theft protection.

How many promotional statements have you tossed that may have your mailing address and full name indicated right on them? Identity theft often doesn’t require much to leave you in a financial mess.

The question becomes, “What can the average person do to ensure that personal information is kept personal, and to guard against possible theft?” Here is a list of suggestions that will help you get the best possible identity theft protection.

Look at your credit reports. These reports contain the kind of information an identity thief is interested in, and the statistics that you should have a good understanding of, in terms of theft protection. The report shows what accounts you have and how you pay your bills.

The law allows you to obtain a free version of this report at least once a year. If an identity thief is operating with your information, this report will show it in some way.

Review the credit reports. Look for any benchmarks that would tell you of possible theft, like inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debits on accounts that can’t be explained. Check to see that all personal information is correct and that an Identity Thief hasn’t tampered with it.

Review your financial statements. Look at your accounts and billing statements on a regular basis. Watch for any changes that seem odd, like debits that you can’t account for and other things that could be the sign of possible theft.

Many victims of identity theft are the last people to know about the situation. Identity theft protection only works if you put it into action before a situation can occur. Sometimes you may only discover you’ve been victimized when you are declined for a car loan or mortgage because of something negative on your credit report.

You may find out about credit cards you’ve never owned that were applied for by an identity thief through a phone call from a collection agency looking for money on unpaid debts. Investigate these occurrences with your bank as soon as you become aware of them to.

Knowing your own security vulnerabilities and how to protect yourself against identity theft are prime methods of its protection. In a world of online shopping and paper statements, it’s your best defense against having to deal with the fallout of a quick, easy crime many people are committing.



By: MIKE SELVON

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