Protecting Our Identity

Is identity theft really that serious? Thousands of people every year are victims of this terrible crime. Thieves use your personal information to commit fraud or other crimes in your name and can cause significant credit damage. Identifying information taken without your permission, such as your Social Security number (SSN), credit card number, or your drivers’ license, can be used to “steal your identity.”

The effects of identity theft are much greater than most people suspect. Victims can spend years trying to re-establish their credit and their good names. The cost of this process, both financially and emotionally, is often quite high. But there are options (see below).

Identity theft is a serious crime. The Federal Trade Commission reports identity theft as its number one source of complaints by consumers. The average victim pays more than $1,000 repairing the damage and loses an average of $6,767. A recent study by CBS News claims that a thief steals someone’s identity “every 79 seconds.”2 An estimated 750,000 people are victimized each year.3

How can you tell if you are a victim of identity theft? There are some clues. First, it’s important to always monitor the balances on your checking, savings, or other financial accounts. Keep an eye out for unexplained charges or withdrawals made without your permission. Carefully reading your monthly bank and credit card statements, then checking the amounts against your check register or other record-keeping method could catch a thief in the act of assuming your identity and spending your hard-earned money.

Identity thieves may change the address on one or more of your bills, so make sure you know when you usually receive specific notices. For instance, if you receive your credit card statement at the beginning of the month and it doesn’t arrive in the mail, this could signal an address change by an identity thief. Another clue that comes in the mail is a credit card for which you didn’t apply or a statement for a credit card that you have never used. Someone may have used your information to apply for a line of credit.

Also take note if you are getting phone calls from debt collection agencies, credit departments, or other companies regarding merchandise or services that you did not purchase. Someone may be acquiring goods and services in your name.

And finally, when applying for a line of credit, be aware of your credit standing. If you know you have a good credit rating and get turned down by a credit card company, this is a red flag that someone else may be sullying your rating. Even if you don’t know your credit score, always ask why you were declined and verify the reason against your credit report.

Once your identity has been stolen and your credit has been damaged, the long process of regaining your name and good standing could cost you more than inconvenience. Victims are unable to qualify for loans, to purchase houses and cars, and to pay for higher education. They may be refused job opportunities and even be arrested for crimes committed by the identity thief.

In the meantime, the criminal with your personal information may:

• Go on a shopping spree with your credit or debit card account numbers. Thieves may also create counterfeit debit cards or checks. Merchandise can be sold and the criminals walk away with cash.

• Open credit or checking accounts in your name with your SSN and date of birth. As the bills pile up, your credit report reflects the delinquent account.

• Have your credit card statements sent to a phony address. Without the bills as a reference, it may take you a while to realize your account is being used.

• Take out loans in your name for big purchases, such as a new car.

• Set up telephone or internet service in your name.

• Avoid the responsibilities of debt or an impending eviction by filing bankruptcy using your SSN.

• Give your name to police when being arrested. If the criminal is released on bond but fails to appear for the court date, police may issue an arrest warrant for you.

• If you have need to contact the three main credit bureaus, go to www.apscreen.com to find out more.

Protecting yourself against identity theft takes a little extra time, but in comparison to the time, effort, and money it takes to reclaim your name once it has been stolen, the vigilance is well worth it.



By: Cathy Taylor

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How to guard against identity theft is one of the most searched for terms online today.Crime statistics show the reason for this,is the alarming ongoing increase of personal ID stealing every day, not just in the U.S., but worldwide. You cannot pick up a newspaper, watch or listen to the radio and T. V. news programs without hearing of someone being ripped off by these thieves. As you continue to read, you will discover some very simple steps which you can take to avoid becoming one of those statistics.

You may not be aware of this but some company’s make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year selling your personal information. That’s right your name, address and phone number are sold to telemarketing companies, insurance companies, credit card companies, to name just a few. That’s why so many people get a lot of junk mail and unsolicited preapproved/prescreened credit card and insurance offers. One of the simplest steps you can take to prevent this is to read through these preapproved/prescreened credit card or insurance offers and look for the opt-out instructions. By following these instructions you will stop getting these preapproved/prescreened offers. Talking about a simple step to prevent I. D. theft, the next one may well be the simplest of all.

On a daily basis you receive junk mail from various vendors and especially credit card companies. It is very easy for you to look at the outside envelope and determine its junk mail and drop it in the trash. You have just made a big mistake. From now on take the step of cutting up or shredding junk mail that has your name, address, social security number and all other forms of your personal information listed.

Another simple tip for how to guard against identity theft is avoid using your mail box to mail bills around the first of the month. Experienced identity thieves know they can steal your check which will provide them with not only your address, your credit card number, bank account number and possibly your social security number. To avoid this opportunity for the thieves to steal, drop your bills in the nearest official government mail box or post office. In addition, if you are computer savvy, many banks make it easy and free to pay your bills on line.

Because of the multiple ways to steal someone’s personal information it can be difficult to be 100% safe. Common sense and following the above, how to guard against identity theft, tips can go a long way in preventing you from becoming one of the 8 million victims of I.D.theft.



By: Bob Cummins

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Identity theft has recently become a widely recognized problem, although it only started being mentioned in literature in the 1990’s. It is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world and therefore one which we do all need to be aware of and take precautions against. In this article we will look more specifically at what identity theft is in order to give you more background in order to fight identity theft and credit card identity theft.

Identity theft consists of any crime where a criminal uses a person’s personal information such as name, social security number or other personal identification facts in any illegal manner. This may include credit card identity theft where the criminal uses the person’s name and details to either open up a new credit card in the other person’s name in order not to pay and so works up debt in the other person’s name; or taking details of that persons credit card and creating a fake copy which they then use. It may also consist of medical identity theft where a criminal uses someone’s personal details and medical information illegally. For mopre info see http://www.preventidentitythefthelp.com/Identity_Theft_Statistics/ on Identity Theft Statistics.

Credit card identity theft may occur in a number of different ways. Firstly, someone could scan the information off your credit card while you are not watching and use it to create a duplicate card; they could actually steal your card and use it for their own purposes; or they may open a credit card in your name, using your details but a false address and never pay the bill.

Identity theft occurs when people get hold of your personal details either through credit card skimming, stealing mail out of your mailbox or trash or perhaps breaking into hospital records or other places where your personal details are kept.

In order to best protect yourself against identity theft you should ensure that any paper that you put into the trash is properly shredded beforehand, that you request not to be on any mailing lists for credit offers and opt out of other mailing lists where people send you information in the mail. You should also ensure that your credit card never leaves your sight in stores or restaurants and if you are unsure of the place rather try to pay by cash. Learn as much as you can about identity theft in order to get more information on how to protect yourself.

In this article we have tried to briefly summarize identity theft and credit card identity theft. It is a fast growing crime and one for which we all need to protect ourselves. Personal information may be stolen and used in a number of different ways and you should be aware of these ways and how you can best fight identity theft.



By: Wade Robins

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When it comes down to your financial future, there is nothing more important then protecting yourself from identity fraud. This is because is it your job and your job only to prevent identity theft in order to make sure that everything goes smoothly for you in the future.

Identity fraud is nothing to take lightly as it can turn a persons world completely upside down in a matter of moments. There have been cases where credit cards, car loans, and even mortgage loans have been taken out in a persons name through identity fraud.

Sometimes the people doing the identity fraud can be caught and other times they are not. But the faster you notice something is wrong and take action, the better the chances will be that the thief gets caught.

There is never a reason that you should not take action, even if you know the person who is using your credit. Never let the wrong doings of someone else cause you financial trouble. Your future is completely in your hands and that is why it is so important that you take identity fraud seriously.

Steps You Should Take:

While it may seem like common sense, you should never release your social security number to anyone over the phone. Not only could the person on the other end be taking that information to use it for identity fraud, but also if you are on a cellular phone or a cordless, there could be hundreds of people listening to your social security number.

Never keep your social security card in your wallet either as that is just the thing someone who is into identity fraud would love to see. Try to remember to watch your surroundings as well and never leave your wallet or purse out of sight so that it is not stolen from you.

Keep an eye out on your credit report so that you can quickly identify any changes on your report that you had nothing to do with. Identity fraud will first show signs on your credit report and it is these agencies that basically control your future and whether or not you will ever get credit or another job again.

And that is another thing to consider, identity fraud cannot only affect your credit rating but it can control whether or not you get a job. This is because a lot of companies are now doing credit report searches on potential employees before hiring them.



By: Bill Protresi

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It’s not a secret that identity theft is one of the leading crimes in Americas today, but very few know how to protect themselves against this horrible crime. Do to this massive criminal act, identity theft services are starting to form new empires to protect your identity. Services like LifeLock, Trusted ID and ID Watchdog just to name a few are businesses that help your identity stay secure.

Most people don’t know that you can simply do what these services do for you on your own, but this is where time management comes in. If you don’t feel like checking your credit reports every 3 months and staying on the phone to see if your credit has been tampered with, then a good identity theft service is for you. But if you want to save a few extra dollars a month then by all means do this yourself.

During these times in the US, the falling dollar and inflations in oil and food prices has more Americans making better financial choices to stay a float. Getting an identity theft service might be out of your reach at the time, but when the time is right you will need to choose the best service to keep your identity safe.

Don’t forget about your children as well. As long as they have a social security number, they can also become a victim of identity theft. Sometimes family members use each others social security number buy things and it ends up hurting the persons credit that they used. This is still a form of identity theft and services on the market today can keep up with your credit and your family members so things like this won’t hit home.

Getting an identity theft service may require a little research on your part. You definitely don’t won’t to join a small identity theft service that promises everything except keeping you safe from identity thieves. Take your time and research the reviews on the companies mentioned and see if any of them might fit your needs.

A good identity theft service is very important these days if you haven’t noticed the news. It may save you and your kids financial future and it give you one less thing to worry about and stay stressed over. There are many to pick from that are highly recommended by most consumers looking for this type of service. Just see what most of them offer and join.

A good identity theft prevention service is nice to have if you don’t feel like monitoring your credit reports, it is definitely a solution when trying automate this process.



By: Ty Wagner

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My dad always says that “it takes all kinds of people to make up the world”, but looking at the ever-increasing reports of identity theft, you have to wonder if that is really necessary. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes today, and if you don’t take precautions, you could be the next victim. The funny thing is, if you think about it, the precautions you should take are all common sense!

How does it work? Very simply, someone gets some information about you, perhaps online or perhaps even via some junk mail that you tossed in the trash without even tearing it up. It has your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. So armed with that information, someone opens a Visa account at a bank with YOUR information, except that they put THEIR address on the application form. What’s wrong with that, people move all the time, so they indicate this is a new address and also enter your old address. Based on the name, old address, social security number, it is determined that you have good credit, so the card is issued and sent to the NEW address, where the thief then starts a spending spree.

The problem comes in because it will be at least 30 days before the Visa company knows there is a problem there. That is 30 days of spending and charging that Visa card up to its limit. The bill is sent 30 days later, it is of course ignored, and then they start trying to call you. When the REAL YOU is finally reached, now there is a problem because someone via identity theft used YOUR information to charge up a truckload of stuff and now they cannot be found.

Interestingly enough, the majority of the credit card companies are skeptical and very suspicious when you tell them you are a victim of identity theft. From personal experience, I can tell you that Citibank is the worst of the bunch. “I’m sorry sir, it was YOUR social security number on the account so you owe the money, when can we expect a payment?” Maybe when hell freezes over?

At that point, the identity theft has already happened, and you can plan on spending countless hours and probably some legal fees until many months or even years later, things are back to normal for you. But if that doesn’t sound like a good time to you, there are steps you can and should take TODAY that will make the act of someone stealing your identity much more difficult. Unfortunately, it will probably never be “impossible” but if the best you can do is “much more difficult”, then by all means go for it.

First of all, almost all of us get junk mail great insurance rates, new mortgage program, car loan offers, and much more. If you look at the content of some of that mail, you would be surprised at the level of detail they contain name, address, phone, date of birth, sometimes even social security number. Take any and all junk mail that is addressed to you and SHRED it. You can get a decent shredder at any office supply store pretty cheaply. Shred that junk mail.

When you are working online, we all know that there are some great deals that can be had online. But just because a web site is designed well with attractive colors does not automatically mean that the vendor can be trusted. Heck, most 12 year olds today can create a very professional looking web site, so just think of the site that could be created by someone intent on identity theft. One great way to protect yourself when purchasing online is to use a debit card that has ONLY enough money on it for the current transaction. Anything costing more than that will not get approved. Just before you make a transaction, you can transfer funds from your regular credit card or checking account to this single-use debit card, and only transfer enough to cover the current transaction. NEVER give your social security number to an online site. It is never a requirement, and if they insist it is, you should surf in the other direction as fast as possible.

With the emails you get, NEVER open an attachment if you don’t know who the email is from. And if there really is a “computer problem” with your bank or investments account, they will NEVER ask you for your password or personal information from an online form. This is known as “phishing”, and it totally blows me away to see how many people fall for such a thing regularly. If you go to their online form, which may look exactly like the one your bank actually uses, once they have your password and other personal information, you are toast and can look forward to months of trying to get your very own case of identity theft resolved.

In summary, just apply some LOGIC to it. Shred that junk mail. Use spam filters for your email. Do not divulge personal information via an email request from your bank, since they will never ask you to do that. Never open an email attachment from somebody you don’t know, even if the filename of the attachment has your mouse finger twitching out of curiosity. Be smart about your personal information, and remember that identity theft is no picnic and a LOT of work to get straightened out.



By: Jon Arnold

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Are you thinking of subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company? Given the growing crime rate of identity theft, it is definitely wise to take this particular action in protecting yourself from identity theft. Here’s what you should know before subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company.

An Identity Theft Protection company usually offers the following services:

1. Tracking of credit report, police report and medical records. Whenever your credit card is used or whenever your social security number is included in an application form, your Identity Theft Protection company will notify you. If the transaction was unauthorized, the company would then make a trace to find out who tried to use your identity. The company will also track down any unknown addresses that are affiliated with your name and will also take a look at the DMV records in your state.

2. Alerts in case of any suspicious activity. Once detected, your account will be frozen and you will have to confirm if it is indeed unauthorized. If it is unauthorized, your account will continue be frozen and the company will notify the authorities. If it is authorized however, your account will be reactivated immediately. This is very helpful as normally the only way you would know of this is if you are already harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit only to find your credit rating has been thrashed.

3. Assistance in the process of clearing credit. Should the thieves be successful in using your identity, the company will help you with the police regarding warrants, as well as assist you in getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren’t yours.

An Identity Theft Protection company offers various plans:

The basic plan usually covers tracking of your credit report and alerts in case of suspicious transactions. You will also receive notifications every time a new account is opened or a new inquiry appears on your report. Given the rise of competition in lending, note that many lenders offer this basic plan for free.

Meanwhile, in a more detailed plan, you can receive monthly reports (as compared to yearly reports in a basic plan) and counseling services. Some Identity Theft Protection companies also cover out-of-pocket fees in case you become an identity theft victim. This detailed plan usually charges a reasonable fee of $100 per individual or $150 per household annually.

There are also comprehensive plans available which covers each and every cost the consumer incurs through identity theft. Obviously, this service would warrant higher fees.

A few examples of top-notch Identity Theft Protection Companies include LifeLock Identity Theft Protection and Equifax Credit Monitoring Service. Note that Lifelock offers $1,000,000 Identity Theft Protection Service Guarantee.

Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company is just one of the ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. There are other simple steps you can take like being more cautious in all your transactions and being more careful with regards to your personal information. You certainly can’t go wrong with taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft.



By: Bernard Pragides

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heard about identity theft and its apparent ugliness. But do we actually have to believe on it? Isn’t this just a bunch of media hype? Certainly not.

Last year alone, 10 million Americans were victims of an identity theft crime costing around $57 billion in total damage. The Web site called identitytheftlabs.com estimates that the average victim of theft crime can expect to see over $6,300 illegally charged in their name. The average expenditure to the individual ranges from $400 to $2,000. However, these values do not capture the stress, time, and bureaucracy involved with recovering your identity.

Accordingly, what’s really scary about this crime of the decade is that you are at a much great risk when a thief gets a hold of your social security number, or bank account numbers, or starts combining information on you from multiple sources. The SSN alone is considered by thieves to be the master key to the kingdom owned by you.

While it’s a fact that there is no fool-proof mechanism to avoid identity theft, everyone still has options. The same Web site identitytheftlabs.com outlines two workable options:

1. Secure yourself from the danger and search for identity insurance elsewhere. This works if you’re the person who plans a schedule and will follow it without missing important deadlines. The dilemma is that all the relevant tasks prevents you from saving money because the insurance will cost as much as the full identity protection plan.

2. Secure a proactive identity protection plan that renews your fraud alerts and incorporates identity insurance and/or guarantees one million dollars.

Indeed, identity protection plan is the best course available for most people because it works for the best protection at the best price.

Who Provides the Best Identity Protection Plan?

There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on your wants and needs and how much value you place on the differences each company has. However, I am lad to note that IdentityTheftLabs.com has investigated and proven three companies (LifeLock, Trusted Id, and the LoudSiren Debix team). Expectedly, the site recommends and vouches on the expertise and capability of these three identity protection companies.

IdentityTheftLabs.com admits that they were recommending Debix before they partnered with LoudSiren and before they signed big contracts to protect the residents of Ohio, Connecticut and the city of Nashville. The staff at IdentityTheftLabs.com have done this as they have made their ultimate purpose on the three companies.

IdentityTheftLabs.com relates that all three companies LoudSiren, LifeLock and Trusted Id are well backed financially, and are the established leaders in identity theft protection. They all belong to the league among the fastest growing companies in America, and rightfully so. All three companies set and resume fraud alerts and support their identity protection plan with one million dollars. They also remove clients from pre-authorized credit offers which have been known to be a source of identity theft. They all provide experts to defend victims if it comes to that point.



By: Charles White

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We have written this article for all the Teenagers, and your moms and dads. 

 

 

Millions upon millions of teenagers are using the Social Networking Sites to chat with friends and meet new friends.  The majority of people online are probably ok, but the law of averages demands that some are not.  Some people are, quite frankly, stalkers and identity thieves.  Those of you looking for a relationship may be the most vulnerable for a stalker.  The identity thief and the person who wants to do you physical harm intentionally hunts for people who are open, trusting and looking for a relationship.  They will put the time and effort into gaining your trust and finding out everything about your identity.  Protect your identity.  You must think before posting something on your blog. 

 

 

If you post photo’s that show adult content and text about engaging in mature conduct you may very well be inviting people who want to harm you and identity thieves.  Please be discreet and use good judgment.  If you wouldn’t want your mom or dad to see it, then don’t post it.  Never make your full name public and even your first name is may be a mistake.  Instead, you could use a nickname.  By doing this, no one will know who you really are, unless you want them to.  Identity thieves are also online when you are, looking for those who post their address, phone number, driver license number, Social Security number, student ID number, and date of birth and the town you live in. 

 

 

The identity thieves have the knowledge and skill to figure out a Social Security number when they have your year of birth and town you were born in.  It would be fine to post the year you were born or your age, but when the thief or stalker combines this info with where you were born, they have the ability to figure out your SSN.

 

When meeting new people online you must never give your personal information to anybody.  Just know that 15% of all identity theft is committed by a family member or real good friend who the victim thought they could trust.  As far as I can tell, most teenagers join the social sites so they can meet someone new.  Most of the time the new people you meet, are fun and decent.  But the problem is that the identity thieves and stalkers have joined the same site as you and they are hunting. 

 

 If you do decide to meet someone in person, meet them somewhere public, like a mall or a restaurant with good parking and lots of lighting.  A coffee shop is a good place to meet.  Why not ask one your friends to go with you so you’re not alone?  Protect your identity and don’t tell the new person where you live and meet somewhere that is at least ten miles from your home.  When it is time to leave, walk to your car by yourself because they may write down your license number or follow you home when they see the kind of car you drive.  Don’t go to their house until you really know them and when meeting someone new let your parents know where you are going and when you’re coming home. 

 

Don’t worry about hurting anybody’s feelings if you don’t want to meet, just politely tell them your not interested and remember that these identity thieves and stalkers are quite good at their trade and they know how to sound sincere.  If you are having a party please be careful about inviting new people.  Your new friend may be ok but he may bring friends who are creeps and they are coming over only to steal items or look around the house for items and entry points so they can break in later.  Always meet new people somewhere other than your place and trust your inner feelings (gut).



By: Randy Vezina

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Have you ever yelled at your credit card executives and asked for clarification of some entries on your bill? Don’t worry this is a common case scenario. Maybe you did not use those service or goods and are being forced to pay for someone else who has used your name and identification and committed a fraud. Some fraudsters hack your security code or personal information for their personal use and then they use it.

Identity theft is the fastest growing commercial theft in the 21st century and on September 11th the FBI discovered that 11 of the hijackers were using credit cards and driver’s licenses and passports with identities lifted from stolen credit cards or passports, isn’t this alarming?

Are you busy thinking about your privacy and your financial information? Are you worried about it being leaked? Don’t panic as you can safeguard your information from criminals. The hackers hack your information very easily from computers and then charge the merchandise to your account.

This can be understood with the example of a thief stealing your name, date of birth and social security number to take ownership of your accounts and credit cards!

So if you wish to safeguard your identity, stop mentioning your security number or your drivers license number on your checks as this makes identity theft easier. With one misplaced check; a con artist can memorize your driver’s license number as well as security number and from this track down the remaining details or perhaps forge your signature.

6 Ways To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Financial institutions as well as banks are working towards protecting their customers’ identities. Prior to doing this they inform the customers about the slight inconvenience which may be caused to them.

Efforts to protect identity theft can include:

1. Burn or shred your financial information which contains the social security number.

2. Start using your password instead of your maiden name.

3. Never use your social security number until and unless it is unavoidable.

4. Check your credit report twice a year to detect any faults or any thefts.

5. Remove your maiden name from all your mailing lists which are operated by credit agencies.

6. If you have ever felt like a victim, then please report your case immediately to the credit card company or any other business establishment from where you feel this theft has occurred.

It’s easier to be a victim of identity theft if you don’t check your credit card statements often. So make sure you keep an eye open. Sometimes small figures on your statements will appear and you don’t know where its from. Check it out because if it happens every month, you’ll be loosing a lot of money in the long term. It has happen to be not once but 3 times!

By and large, this type of identity theft crime is always a low-tech operation, despite the consequences of well-publicized instances of hackers breaching into websites and pilfering millions of dollars though credit cards. So shield all information as far as possible to guard against identity theft.



By: Neil Farman

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