Identity Theft: The Other You

Identity Theft; The Other You
Has Stolen Your Identity ~ How to
Stop Him/Her!

"Preventative Measures You Can

Take to Reduce the Chance of
Identity Theft from Happening to
You"...

by Terry Clark

Table of Content

1. What is Identity Theft?
2. Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
3. Safeguarding Your Social Security Nunber
4. Robbing someones Credibility
5. Reporting Identity Theft
6. Questions From an Identity Theft Victim
7. Protecting Identity is More Than Protecting
Individuality

8. Prompt Actions Against Identity Thieves
9. Losing your identity over the internet
10. Insurance for identity theft victims
11. Dealing with Inevitable Website Scams
12. Can You Stop Credit Card Identity Theft?
13. Beyond Identity Theft Law
14. Avoid Identify Theft from Obituaries
15. The Identity Theft Quiz
16. How To Prevent Identity Theft By Computer
Hackers
17. Identity Theft is Still at Large
18. Tax Season is Bringing Out Identity Thieves
19. Identity Theft And The ATM Game
20. Identity Theft: Up In A Down Economy
21. Think You Don't Need a Shredder? Think Again
22. The Young Victims of Identity Theft
23. Identity theft and fraud criminals are turning
their attention to senior citizens
24. What is Business or Commercial Identity Theft?
25. Can Vacationers And Business Travelers Be At
Greater Risk Of Identity Theft When They Travel?
26. Will Obamacare Lead to Identity Theft?

27. iPhone Data Security : What you Need to know
28. Does Lifelock Work?
29. Identity Theft Protection Using Prepaid Debit
Cards
30. Easy Bait for ID Thieves ~ Twenty somethings
31. New Account Fraud: The Cost of Remediation
32. Social Networks

(Recommended) Resources to Protect Your Identity.

#1. What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a crime. Identity theft is a term
used to refer to all types of crime in which someone
illegally obtains and uses another person's
personal data in a way that involves lies or
deception, mostly for economic gain.

Identity thefts is one of the fastest growing crimes
in the country and what can be really frustrating
about this is that you cannot really know how fast
it is growing. Not only are identity theft cases hard
to solve, they are also hard to detect. There are
identity crimes that are not solved until after a
decade because of the lack of information. Remember
that though these crimes may be easily detected
through credit card purchases, there are some con
artists that do not use that avenue. What they do
is just assume your name and personal history and
use it as their own.

Unlike your fingerprints, which is impossible to
copy, your personal data especially your Social
Security number, your bank account or credit card
number, your telephone number, and other
identifyable data can be used, if they fall into
the wrong hands.

In the United States and Canada, for example, many
people have reported that unauthorized persons have
taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts
and in the worst cases, took over their identities,

obtaining huge debts and committing crimes while
using the victims's names. In these cases, the
victim's losses may include not only financial
losses, but additional financial costs associated
with trying to restore his reputation.

In recent years, the Internet has become the perfect
place for criminals to obtain personal data, such
as passwords or even banking information. In their
haste to explore the exciting features of the
Internet, many people respond to "spam"
unsolicited E-mail that promises them some benefit
but requests identifying data, without realizing
that in many cases, the requester has no intention
of keeping his promise. In some cases, criminals
reportedly have used computer technology to obtain
large amounts of personal data.

If you have received mailed in applications for
"preapproved" credit cards, but have thrown them in
the garbage can without tearing up the enclosed
materials, criminals may retrieve them from the
trash and activate them without your knowledge.
(Some credit card companies, when sending credit
cards, have adopted security measures that allow a
card recipient to activate the card only from his
or her home telephone number but this is not yet a
universal practice.) Also, if your mail is delivered
to a place where others have ready access to it,
criminals can just intercept and redirect your mail
to another location so that they will receive them.

With enough identifying information, a criminal can
assume an individual's identity and conduct a wide
range of crimes: for example, applications for loans
and credit cards, withdrawals from bank accounts,
use of telephone calling cards, or obtaining other
goods or privileges which the criminal might be
denied if he were to use his real name.

If the criminal takes steps to ensure that bills for
the falsely obtained credit cards, or bank
statements showing the unauthorized withdrawals,
are sent to an address other than the victim's, the
victim may not even be aware of what is happening
until it is much too late when the criminal has done
much damage to the victim's assets, credit, and
reputation.

#2. Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

The time it takes for a victim to recover from
identity theft can be extensive, and while the
wounds aren't physical, they are psychological and
life-changing in several ways.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals personal
information and pretends to be you to obtain credit
cards, loans, and even jobs by using your work
references.

Identity thieves only need to know your Social
Security number, name, and address to wreck your
good credit. Using easily accessible public
records, they can learn your place of employment,
date of birth, and mother's maiden name. They can
open a credit card account and immediately charge
up to the limit with no intention of paying.

Credit cards can be obtained through banks and
credit unions as well as chain stores. Many offers
for "pre-approved" credit cards come in the mail.

Getting a credit card issued by department stores
is simple. Only two forms of ID are required: a
driver's license with a picture ID and a second
identification, like another credit card or your
Social Security card.

What steps should you take to protect your identity
with credit cards?
Ask stores at which you are applying for credit how
they safeguard credit applications. Ensure that
they are treated as secure documents.

Ask businesses how they store and dispose of credit
card transaction skips. Ensure that proper
safeguards are in place to treat these documents
securely.

Never giver credit card numbers or other personal
information over the phone unless you initiate the
call. Even if you initiate the call, ensure that
called party is not using a cellular or other mobile
phone.

Carry only the credit cards needed for the current
trip. Most people carry all their credit cards with
them at all times.

The garbage bags are not secure place for old or
pre-approved cards. Tear them up before throwing
them away. Thieves can retrieve these documents and
open credit accounts with new addresses.

Keep a list or photocopy of all credit accounts,
along with expiration dates and phone numbers to
call in case of theft. Keep this list in a secure
spot at home.

When you purchase items with credit, always take
your credit card receipts with you. Never toss them
in a waste basket.

Do not have boxes of new checks delivered to your
home. Arrange to pick them up at the bank or credit
union.

(Do not write credit card numbers on checks).

If you have applied for a new credit card and it does
not arrive, contact the issuer.

Avoid giving credit card numbers over the phone if
you are in a public place. Even at work, others may
overhear and use the information.

#3. Safeguarding Your Social Security Nunber

High tech communications have raised notoriety in
the rampant theft of identification numbers. The
mightiest business tycoon down to the lowest ranking
employee in a corporation, company, or any
enterprise owns a kind of identity number attached
to his being member to any social security group,
or kind of financial management for use in billings,
daily expenditures, and savings. It maybe,
identification number on social security,
insurance, banks, or anything that could be a means
to access individual cash settings, or safekeeping.
Identity number is enough to allow a loan process,
cash credits, or deposits.

Other identity numbers, such as specialized ATM’s,
Credit Cards, Master Cards, issued for high end use,
and benefits with high potential credibility, are
approved and released on strict and stiff screening
process that allow the individual, to use on

international travel and expense abroad, instead of
carrying cash bulk, or money transfers that entail
more time and effort.
Using any credit account or
savings deposit card in today’s modern-day
purchasing is most convenient and safe.

How to Evade Being a Victim to Identity Number Social
Theft

• Never disclose your personal address and telephone
directory that easy to anybody, unless you fully
trust a person, or, he’s proven to have displayed
the best of character, habits, and attitude for a
number of years in your lengthy work, and friendly
experiences together.

• If you are using see-thru plastic envelopes for
documents in process, try to shield them from direct
curiosity of anyone. Exposed content identity
number on way to documentation and office tours
could be stolen instantly by a mere peep. People
are trained so effectively for certain specific
purposes, right or wrong. Remember, individuals
have personalized objectives to work out with, on
various angles they’re trapped into. And,
possibly, one of those identity number social thefts
may be tagging along target workplace areas for
their misdemeanors.

• Be vigilant about consistent updates on Credit
Annual Reports
Thru it, you’ll know if there had

been a change in the gap and frequency of
transactions on loans and utility billings, and its
outstanding balances.
Take a note if there are
irregularity listings on address and other basic
data.

• Don’t answer directly from your landline
telephone, nor you’d reply straight to the caller
in his telephone or mobile unit for any demand on
your personal identity number, or number. Queries
needing response that you find doubtful should be
replied direct to the office referred to, in the
call.
Possibly, try to research about the
whereabouts of the place mentioned, if there are
any.

• Provide password to your network accounts to avoid
general access in the https site that could be
notably encrypted by general computer users.
Never give personal information tips to any website
if they are not locked with SSL (Security Socket
Layer).

There are many reasons why Identity Numbers Social
Theft does exist. Others start from habits to
deviate from the usual norm of conduct, and insist
on doing things negative. Some wants it the easy
way to earn, but risks are, to their disadvantage.
It takes years to redeem looses if we fall victim
to it.
Having attained full control in the “hide
and seek” from the law games, it is futile to get
immediate solutions.

We owe it to ourselves to be on guard against anyone
seemingly of doubtful character.

#4. Robbing someones Credibility

Identity theft in a broad sense covers many
categories in courtroom battles. When identity
theft is set for trial, this is no ordinary stealing
of one’s number, or mere misrepresentation of some
data common to salespeople, neither for the reason
of lying, commonly mistaken as fraud for easier
grounds to legal access.

Rather, it is the criminal deeds about the theft done
by deception behind that stealing,
misrepresentations, or lying. Identity theft and
fraud is perfect combination to create a
sophisticated crime in the immigration, espionage,
frame up a crime, access to somebody else’s finances
for economic gains. Identity theft and fraud is
worst than plain robbing of any material goods, or
common personal belongings.

Notorious criminals gaining control over important
data of checking accounts, credit cards, social
security, telephone numbers, passwords to either
website or bank accounts, certainly will create
havoc. Aside from using influence over one’s name

thru purported deceptions, he will continue
committing bad actions under one’s name to destroy
long-established good reputation. Identity theft
and fraud is one bundle of gigantic crime package
that could start with a solicitous demand of one’s
social security, or telephone number.

From there on, a criminal goes on manipulating to
get further data from the victim’s trusted relatives
and immediate family. Hands-on criminals never
cease at one victim, unless they devour them, whole
into his system. Once access is gained, will
continue to finish with him rather than get started
with another.

Common Ways to Evade Being a Victim of Identity
Fraud:

1. It’s a rare case that someone will ask you about
your middle initial (mother’s surname), if it
happens, never divulge it. Obviously, banks or
other financial management companies have already
put them on records, and another attempt to get thru
the like data is certainly created by somebody
else’s, other than where your inputs are.

2. Be careful not to throw away your returned
checks on paid billings from your paying banks.
There might be scavengers loitering around for the
purpose of following up garbage to get checking
account numbers, and other data.

3. Originally approved Credit Cards, or renewals
of the same, may be delivered by servicemen who may
try to get your personal data that are not commonly
asked, such as birthdays, or expiry dates of your
card. Refrain from it, instead, tell them to send
you a written message, bearing the letterhead of the
originating office that they need it, to add to your
resume.

4. Never endorse any possible letter in your
mailbox, if you go on vacation unless to a trusted
friend or relative. Your letter bearing your
address might not get into your hands at all, bits
of essential information, leaked instead.

5. Always be aware if you’re on call at a public
telephone, somebody else may over hear you if you
are transmitting some confidential matters
concerning your personal identity.

Of course, no matter how careful, or effectively
oriented a person may be, at times things just happen
inevitably, or without much awareness. A possible
victim of identity theft and fraud has only these
offices to go in order to minimize further damage
to his finances, reputation and disadvantage to his
economy.

• Contact by all means the FTC (Federal Trade

Commission), and report the case immediately.

#5. Reporting Identity Theft

If you are a victim of identity theft you are not
alone. You are just one of those nameless
individuals struggling to reclaim their identity.
Countless people have been victimized by this crime
and have lost everything. So if you are a victim
tell other people and tell it to the right people.

Report identity theft:

If you have been a victim, do not hesitate to call
the police or any authorities that can help you.
Remember that this is not just a simple theft that
you can just forget about afterwards. Losing your
identity can have a lot of repercussions not only
in terms of personal properties but also with social
reputation. And because identity thieves are real
slick, authorities would not know what is happening
unless you tell them so. They would not even know
that there are “two” you without you saying that
there is. Only by making an effort to seek the proper
authorities and report your case will you be able
to help fight this growing criminal bandwagon.

Report identity theft to the police:

To report identity theft, you will need to visit your
local police station. Many people find this
experience intimidating. They may also worry that
the police will try to hand the guilt over to them
or make them feel stupid for being victimized in the
first place. But this is not the case. The police
in your area will probably have experience dealing
with these types of crimes and will understand your
feelings. Just remember their job is not to make you
feel better, but to help you catch the criminal.

When you report identity theft to the authorities,
take with you some evidence such as your credit
report, statements from any accounts opened in your
name without your authorization, and/or any other
documentation that the crime has taken place. You'll
also need to bring a list of all the accounts that
have been affected by this crime, so the officer can
include that list with your report.

Report identity theft to your creditors:

After you finish filing the report, you'll want to
make many copies of your police report. Every
creditor and financial institution with whom you do
business should receive a copy of that report along
with a letter explaining that you have been the
victim of identity theft. Make sure that you hold
onto the original police report because you may need
to make even more copies. Copies should also be sent

to all three credit reporting agencies.

Report identity theft to the FTC:

Even though the police station would be the first
people you will think of when asking for help or when
reporting an identity theft, do not place much hope
that the police will get very far in investigating
your case. Identity theft cases rarely end in
arrests because the guilty party can too easily
cover his or her tracks. However, after you report
identity theft to the police, you should contact the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is the
government agency through which all the cases of
identity thefts must pass through before being
investigated at the federal level.

The FTC Website:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
to file your complaint and for additional steps to
take if you’ve been victimized by identity theft.
The FTC may not be able to help you regain what was
lost when your identity was stolen but their
far-reaching investigations and statistics
analysis can be helped if you report identity theft.

#6. Questions From an Identity Theft Victim

Identity theft is a crime in which the imposter
obtains key pieces of information such as Social
Security and driver's license numbers to obtain
credit, merchandise and services in the name of the
victim.

The victim is left with a ruined credit history and
the time-consuming and complicated task of
regaining financial health. The imposter may even
use the victim's good name for criminal activities.
It is a dual crime because not only is it committed
against an individual's financial life and credit
history but also against his or her reputation and
social standing in the community and in the
workplace.

In one notorious case of identity theft, a convicted
felon have not only incurred thousands of credit
card debt by using another person's identity, he was
also able to obtain a federal home loan, and even
bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns using the
victim's name. What is even more frustrating is that
the felon even called his victim to taunt him -saying that he could continue to assume the victim's
identity for as long as he wanted because identity
theft was not a federal crime at that time. After
which, the felon even filed for bankruptcy, also in
the victim's name.

While the victim and his wife spent more than four
years and more than $15,000 of their own money to
restore their credit and reputation, the criminal

served a brief sentence for making a false statement
to procure a firearm, but made no restitution to his
victim for any of the harm he had caused.

How do thieves get my information?

• They go through your trashcan, looking for
straight cut or unshredded papers.

• They steal your mail or your wallet.

• They listen in on conversations you have in public.

• They trick you into giving them the information
over the telephone or by email.

• They buy the information either on the Internet
or from someone who might have stolen it.

• They steal it from a loan or credit application
form you filled out or from files at a hospital,
bank, school or business that you deal with. They
may have obtained it from dumpsters outside of such
companies.

• They get it from your computer, especially those
without firewalls.

• They may be a friend or relative or someone who
works for you who has access to your information

Tips to Consumers:

How can I prevent identity theft? While no one can
totally prevent this crime from occurring, here are
some tips that can help you decrease your risk.

• Check your credit reports once a year from all
three of the credit reporting agencies listed below.

• Guard your Social Security number. When possible,
don’t carry your Social Security card with you.

• Don’t put your SSN or drivers license number on
your checks.

• Guard your personal information. You should never
give your Social Security number to anyone unless
they have a good reason for needing it.

• Watch for people who may try to eavesdrop and

overhear the information you give out orally.

• Carefully destroy the documents that you throw
out, especially those with sensitive or identifying
information. A crosscut paper shredder works best.

• Be suspicious of telephone solicitors that call
you at your office. Never provide information unless
you have initiated the call.

• Delete and do not reply to any suspicious email
requests.

• Use a locked mailbox at your home to send and
receive all mails.

• Make an effort to reduce the number of preapproved
credit card offers that you receive.

Protecting Identity is More Than Protecting
Individuality

Do you remember that Hollywood blockbuster several
years ago involving a woman that needed to keep
running because of a compromised identity with
information taken from the Internet? Or more

recently, there was yet another Hollywood offering
that shows a regular family man's ideal home and
family turned into a suspense-filled arena for a
bank heist because of sensitive information
gathered from the family trash?

Although, as the disclaimer at the end of these films
say, these stories are fictitious, there is indeed
cause for alarm for things like these happening to
you. Identity theft is a growing problem and once
you've been victimized, a whole slew of difficulties
will arise from this crisis.

Don't panic just yet though. Note that from these
movies you will see that these types of identity
thefts are done with precision and motive. Meaning,
when identity theft to that magnitude happens, it
is usually committed by someone who knows your
personal habits and may not be a serial identity
theft. That means, you need to safe guard against
friends or family that may have a drug problem or
are in dire financial straits. Suspicious of you to
think this way sure but as the cliché goes, it is
better to be safe than sorry, and believe me, sorry
is the least of your worries if you become the
hapless victim of identity theft.

Just think-if your wallet was stolen or you have for
one reason or another, been physically separated
from items that contain sensitive information like
your social security number, credit card
information, driver's license number, etc-- it is

easy to prevent identity theft because you can
cancel all your cards and report them stolen to
prevent anyone misusing your personal information
for their gain.

Now imagine this-you are hounded by credit
collectors for purchases you have not made, or
worse-you are wrongfully apprehended for a crime you
most certainly did not commit. How did this happen?
Your personal information and sensitive numbers
were never physically separated from you.
Unfortunately, carelessly giving away your social
security number or other sensitive information may
put you at risk for identity theft.

A database with all your information may be sold to
another entity that may use your data to make
purchases in your stead without you knowing. It's
easy enough if the criminals who commit identity
theft will make purchases on your existing credit
cards and such. You can easily check your existing
credit cards and see fraudulent purchases.

What about checking the accounts that you don't know
about?

Identity thefts may open new accounts for mobile
phones, credit cards and even make larger purchases
like buying an apartment and you won't know it unless
the credit collectors finally trace the bills back
to you after the perpetrators run off with the bills.

Therefore, identity theft protection is important,
as you have now surmised. Although as in everything
in life (another cliché coming), prevention is the
best cure. Given this, it is important to find out
the best ways to prevent and protect yourself
against identity theft. Fortunately, you can get
extremely useful information on this online through
websites like www.crimedoctor.com

This website is a rich resource for anything and
everything about identity theft and how to protect
yourself against it. This site has a very useful
article on identity theft written for lay people
like you and me so that you can guard yourself by
learning more.

#8. Prompt Actions Against Identity Thieves

Identity Theft soars high in crime reports at the
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTI) and other
government bureaucracies; credit report agencies,
Forensic Accounting firms, investigators, and other
private consortiums to protect victims. Any holder
of information identifiers of social security
number, credit cards, bank account number, driver’s
license, health care, and other financial sources
is at risk. Everyone is vulnerable, offline or
online.
Households, telephone booths, and
garbage areas are common places where criminals

loiter around to look for their prey. Thieves
simply want it the easiest way to earn without
exerting much effort.

If a culprit gets into hands-on control of one’s
number, it could be a start of a cycle of indefinite
crimes against the legitimate owner, would lead the
poor victim and his family into rubbles of chaos that
can’t easily be repaired. A ruined reputation
because of unprecedented debts thru malicious
intent of someone would ruin anyone’s credibility,
and totally, his life. There’s no way patching it
up immediately, for criminals have all pretext to
blackmail his victims pestering him further to the
police.

If you’re a victim of identity theft, never loose
time to research primarily in troubleshooting your
problem. It is not easy, for the authorities at
times will not listen. Going to agencies to get
solutions entails a lot of expense. A victim will
be entangled into questions of how, what, who, and
where to get thru your complaint, or report. Get
proper forms of applications of your complaint at
the proper government agency.

Once filed, if its with the FTI, being the leading
and core authority to follow-up of credit records
trespassing, it has full control to *detect, by way
of consistent monitoring of your financial accounts
as well as your current billings; *to deter, with
caution to safeguard any personal information data

under their safekeeping; *defend your
identification from any continuous manipulations of
the suspected theft.

Having lost your credit account to the hands of a
thief, you’ll need to hire a Certified Forensic
Accountants (CrFA’s), who investigate to the
in-depth of the irregularities of your figures in
record that affect your monetary condition badly.
It composed of CPA’s, CrFA’s, and investigators who
will help you in all angles of your financial loss
to the offender. Most importantly, it will handle
the defenses against any repetition of identity
deception.

Generally, federal prosecutors cooperate with
various investigating agencies to prosecute any
identity theft fraud. These are the FBI, The U.S.
Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service.

A lot of paperwork is involved when you are filing
your complaint to a definite jurisdiction of theft
offense. You’ll need a series of contact files,
actual conversations and written messages,
discussions at the agency, dates, and witnesses, if
there are any. Original copies of all documentations
should be included in your files.

Send out to any office or person concerned
photocopies only.
A summary of what happened

should be included in the report. The process is
very meticulous and needs ample patience and
determination. Ready your self for years of
waiting before the offender will be found and proven
guilty.

It would be too hard to mend a lost spirit on your
part for having lost some of your economic gains that
can’t be recovered in years, alongside a weakened
morale. Be serious in shielding yourself against
identity thieves before becoming their prey.

#9. Losing your identity over the internet

Having someone steal your identity seem to be the
stuff that science fiction books and movies have on
their convoluted plots. But that was before… before
the rise of technological advancement, before the
creation of the world wide web.

Now, identity theft is no longer a dream for some
hackers and internet con artists. One can even say
that with their techniques and expertise, it will
be like taking candy from a baby… yet this time, it
involves more than sweets. Life is at stake,
personal and social life.

How can someone steal your identity? By asuming your

name, Social Security number, credit card number,
or some other piece of your personal information for
their own use. In short, identity theft occurs when
someone uses your personal information without your
knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

They open a new credit card account, using your name,
date of birth, and Social Security number. When they
use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the
delinquent account is reported on your credit
report. They call your credit card issuer and,
pretending to be you, change the mailing address on
your credit card account.

Then, your imposter incur charges on your account
in your name and have the bills sent to the new
address. This is why most people may not immediately
realize that there's a problem. They establish
cellular phone service in your name.They open a bank
account in your name and write bad checks on that
account.

How Easy is it to Get Personal Information?

The amount of information available on the Internet
about you and those you know is almost unbelievable.
Various companies offer services that provide
address, criminal, civil, and professional history
as well as a list of assets and bank account numbers.
Also available are the Social Security number, last
six addresses, current phone number as well as names

and phone numbers of neighbors. Some large,
prestigious companies offering such information
include Lexis-Nexis and West Publishing Company.

Many smaller companies also provide similar
services.
This research used to take days. Today, this
information is available in minutes with only a few
click of your mouse. Here are economical products
that can help uncover personal details you thought
were strictly private.

Identity theft involves someone using key pieces of
your identifying information in order to
impersonate you. The usual purpose is to acquire
goods or services in your name through the use of
credit or debit cards. The U.S. Postal Service calls
it the "one of the fastest growing robbery crimes
in America."

By one industry estimate, more than 1,000 people a
day in the United States fall victim to crimes of
stolen identity. In 1997 the U.S. Secret Service
make 9,455 arrests involving identify fraud.
According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse there
are over 400,000 thefts of identity each year with
that result in more than $2 Billion worth of annual
losses for the country. Identity theft is expanding
at a rate of 50% per year.

Your financial liability is limited to $50. But,
your losses will include time and effort to remedy
the effects of the theft. You may need to provide
extensive documentation to clear up bad credit
reports. Some have waited years to clear up
fraudulent student loans and fraudulent credit
accounts. Others needed to clear up criminal arrest
and conviction records.

#10. Insurance for identity theft victims

Identity theft may seem so far fetched but trust me
it is not. With today’s technology and the growing
sophistication of the world wide web, hackers and
con artists are now living in a world that used to
only exist in the pages of a science fiction book
or a scene in a suspense-thriller movie.

This can be a major problem for anyone because not
only will you have to worry about your personal
properties like credit cards and bank accounts, you
also have to think about the fact that someone else
is using your name and your reputation to do
god-knows what.

According to the FTC, there are more than 160,000
reported cases of identity fraud in the country in
2002.

Identity theft insurance reimburses the victims of
identity thefts for the cost of restoring their
identity and repairing credit reports. Some
companies include these kinds of insurance as part
of their homeowners insurance policies while others
sell them as stand alone policies or as an
endorsementa to a homeowners or renters insurance
policies.

On average, these policies cost between $25 and $50
for $15,000 to $25,000 worth of coverage. Identity
theft insurance provides reimbursement for expenses
such as phone bills, lost wages, notary and
certified mailing costs and sometimes attorney fees
with the prior consent of the insurer.

Complaints about identity theft have surged from
about 40,000 in 1992 to 750,000 in 1998, according
to regulators.

Las Vegan Julia Twentyfive knows all too well how
identity theft can destroy your life. A thief who
stole her purse used her identity to rip off others
in a credit card scam. Her nightmare cost her three
days in jail, $15,000 and two years of her life to
straighten it all out.

Metro police say they receive up to 75 new reports
of identity theft every week here in Clark County.
It's the fastest growing crime in America today.
It's just a matter of time; sooner or later we'll

all become victims.

Ted Burke is a former law enforcement agent who has
spent many years dealing with identity theft
victims. "They really didn't have an antidote or way
to stop the bleeding until we came about. Burke is
now the senior regional vice president of Prepaid
Legal Services, Inc. in Nevada. His company has
offices all over North America and has now partnered
with the nation's biggest investigative agency,
Kroll Inc., to provide an insurance policy for ID
theft victims.

"Generally, we'll find out if they're a victim
before they know and we'll notify them," Burke said.

It's called identity theft shield, an around the
clock system of monitoring your credit, restoring
your identity and reimbursing your costs in case
your good name is stolen and used against you. And
with 1 of out of every 4 Las Vegans at risk of falling
victim to this rising crime, identity theft
insurance may be the closest thing our society has
to a cure.

Ted Burke adds, "It gives them peace of mind. They
can sleep at night knowing we're watching their back
24-7, 7 days a week no matter where they are or what
they're doing, we're taking care of them."

Identity theft shield benefits will cost your family
anywhere from $10 to $12 a month. Pre-paid legal
Services has been in business for more than 30 years
and operating in Nevada since 1989.

#11. Dealing with Inevitable Website Scams

The use of computers created advantage in the
development of websites. Updates in the latest
software as accessories to use in cyber
communications, resulted to revolution in the run
of business thru the use of the web. It is far more
convenient than any existing functions, paves
effective, immediate response to the flow of results
that goes about in the corporate, as well as the
commercial world.

Almost all manufacturing corporations have applied
the e-commerce way in trading their productions.
In as much as the online services is adapted, emerged
the rampant flow of all kinds of thieves to victimize
any unfortunate subject inside the e-biz
conglomerates.

Hackers, phishers or spoofers operate deceptions by
way of scam messages in the websites. The virtual
use of pseudonyms makes possible increase of online
thieves. They’re IT enthusiasts, expert web
developers, and adept to latest in software. Most

of them are not successful in their own fields, felt
disgusted instead, creating menace in the worldwide
website traffic to gain advantage for their own end.

Online theft may act individually, or could be
manipulated by a group in one single website name.
Survey consortium in the U. S. have developed means
to coordinate with the FTC (Federal Trade
Commissions) in order to establish a complete record
of crime complaints in online deceptions, that
starts with scam messages. Surveys show online
fraudulent thieves rate at 34% increase from 2004.
Households’ online spookers’ complaints rate 3%, in
the U.S., meaning, nobody escapes from these online
harassments leading to crime of fraud.

Online phishing happens when a scam message in your
internet suggest something into validating your
information records in your bank, your affiliate
financier, passwords, stating the urgency of the
need to update records. Sounds a very valid source
but a lot more of a scam message, with the intention
of stealing credit lines from your financing
sources.

Results worsen, with the complete extracted
information taken by this operator, if crime has
intensified, against the stolen credentials, he
could turn you over to authorities, put you into a
pitiful scenario on a very long-termed redemption
to financial recovery. With millions of websites
worldwide, it’s hard to trace the actual culprit.

Answering directly from your end to the website
source of the named company, the phisher can make
it appear he is in that site, but actually deviates
you to another web link.

To avoid this, verify about the message by using
landlines that you think is legitimate. Or, answer
by using another Internet browser. Never cut and
paste any link from the message into your browser.
Most of the time, extending links are likely
anomalous, or shifting to websites with highly
extensive porn settings.

There are countless scams in the web, and it’s
needless to name them. Always be aware that
everybody in cyber is virtually having his own
setting for whatever purpose it takes him. The Web
is wide open for any kind of good or bad biz intent
as almost everybody depicts a persona of anybody,
or anything else.

The only sure bet to free oneself of these online
deceptions is to protect your site by using security
measures like installing anti-virus, firewall,
anti-spyware compatible to every platforms that
will block your computer from unexpected intrusion.
Make sure you are accessing a reputable and
certified sites before giving any private
information.

#11. Can You Stop Credit Card Identity Theft?

Credit card identity theft can be a very costly
problem. In today’s world of increasing credit card
usage, it is no longer a rare instance where a
criminal may be able to make use of your credit card
for his own gain. He does not need to have your
“plastic” in order to commit such a crime. All he
needs will be your number and your personal
information. Such a crime has been known as identity
theft.

Credit card identity theft can happen in a variety
of ways. Almost everyone using a credit card can be
an unwilling victim. With all business and financial
transactions done through computers and online
means, it has made information very valuable as well
as very vulnerable to theft. Your personal
information has become a very valuable asset.

Anyone who can get hole of it can use it to their
advantage at your very expense. Identity theft is
basically the act of using your personal information
without your knowledge to commit fraud or other
crimes. On credit card identity theft, it could mean
that such criminals can use your account for their
own purchases.

How can such crime happen to someone like you? If
you use your credit card on your regular purchases,
there are a lot of chances that criminal can get hole

of your credit and personal records. If you handout
your credit card to servers at restaurants, you
might be making yourself vulnerable to identity
theft. If you sign your credit cards, criminals may
be able to make use of your signature to commit a
variety of crimes under your name.

Your personal information should be on your own
safeguard because a lot of crimes can be committed
using your own records. It can be as easy as calling
your own credit card issuer to change your billing
address once they get hole of your credit card
information. The impostor can then run charges on
your account without you even knowing it because
your bills are being sent to a different address.

With your stolen credit information in the wrong
hands, impostors may also be able to open new credit
card accounts in your own name. When using these
credit cards and foot the bill in your name, such
delinquencies will be reported on your credit
report.

This will make it harder for you to upgrade or make
effective use of your own credit account because of
your worsening credit record without you even
knowing it. It can even go as far as using your name
to the police during an arrest. If they do not appear
in court to answer the charges, a warrant of arrest
can be issued on your name and sent to your address.

Identity theft can be a very disturbing and costly
problem. It is all the more important of trying to
safeguard your credit information from getting into
the wrong hands. You must try not to give your
personal information to anybody without checking
out on them. Make sure that you trust your personal
records only to people and institutions that you can
trust. Take the necessary precautions on making sure
that you still have control of your credit accounts.

Always be aware of your credit reports and see to
it that you are aware of anything out of the ordinary
that may come up on your credit records such as
purchases that you haven’t made yourself. Try to
report any discrepancies immediately to the
authorities. You can even have your account
temporarily blocked in order to prevent further
losses.

Do not forget to report it to the fraud agencies in
your area so that everything can be done to apprehend
and arrest the offenders as early as possible.
Remember, the way you give out your personal
information can have its corresponding
consequences. Always be careful and be on the alert
before you ever regret what you might have done.

#13. Beyond Identity Theft Law

In a civilized world, having law to condemn felony
is a mainstream practice to protect personal freedom
of citizens. Every educated, adult knows the
concept of universal right and wrong as far as
execution of freedom is concerned like the way no
one kills to end someone else's life. As a unique
person, freedom means having one identity you claim
as yours with ultimate glory. Then one day, you
discover someone is using your identity; you freak
out: "something is very wrong."

Identity theft law has been passed with customized
decree in every federal state. It will give justice
to victims whose pieces of private information are
abused carelessly by usurpers. Under the "Identity
Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998," it
defined how it is a crime to make unlawful use of
another person's identification, which is
controlled by mandatory requirement to be
identified by just using name or Social Security
Number.

No matter how many kinds of imposed protection is
done to avoid intrusion of privacy through chains
of private information through government and
non-governmental listings, the problem is sieved by
the clever manipulations of the offenders. Free
enterprise in the U.S. made this dilemma very
rampant in every exchange of business transactions
through various means of handling and disseminating
cash flow.

Obviously, the best source of private information
is through banks and credit cards, where bulks of
cash are stored for easy and convenient payment.
For unknowing business person, this transgression
happens after the theft has successfully caused
damage. Identity theft law covers all bounds of
these illegal activities through emails, mails and
other transaction cards, brokerage, insurance, and
other documentations involving membership.

As imposed, identity theft law could penalize
villains from 15 to 30 years of imprisonment
depending on the degree of fraudulent nuisance done,
excluding revoked privileges and forfeiture of
assets. Each state has passed legislations to act
upon any kind of relevant identity theft cases.
Each felony is closely monitored by the federal
agency to enforce the law.

Identity theft is a very rampant and not easily
toppled crime affecting lives and property of
peaceful and law-abiding individuals. Before
spending effort on legal suits, why not do
preventive measures to avoid waste of time dealing
with the consequences of being a helpless victim?

The common saying still prevails: "Prevention is
better than cure." It can happen by doing the
following measures:

1. Transaction monitoring - this is done by taking

care of the reports of your credit
billing by
requesting yearly low-charged credit reports

2. Use password wisely - those not easily identified
by making it remotely related to you.

3. Be wary of strangers in the house by limiting
their access to private information you are keeping.

4. Know the people handling your records in the
office/workplace. Make sure to verify how they
dispose private information and rule out
carelessness in exchanging or disclosing them to
other people.

No matter how you take care of your information,
there are instances where it slipped off your
fingers uncontrolled depending on your daily
activities. Just like other ancient crimes covered
by the penalties imposed by the law, identity theft
is personally damaging to one's integrity. The
villains get their share of success because of vile
planning in between inefficiency of law
enforcement. Don't let this put you into halt with
whatever goals you have. Crime will never pay.

#14. Avoid Identify Theft from Obituaries

Identity theft even applies to the dead. Write your
obituaries with identity theft in mind because the
deceased’s identity is an irresistible target for
thieves. There are tips that you can follow to
avoid identity theft.

Victims of identity theft:

Identity theft of the dead is a deplorable topic to
have to discuss, but it must be talked about to help
those who may be victims of identity theft in the
future. The problem is compounded by the fact that
the family is grieving for the dead and being conned
at the same time. It is made even worse when the
deceased had joint accounts with a partner who is
still living because she or he ends up having to pay
dearly for the thief’s crimes. The saddest part is
that the thief often gets away with the crime before
he or she is caught.

Identity theft from obituaries:

Con artists will scan the obituaries in their city
or town and watch for valuable information that they
can use to access bank accounts and personal credit.
Long obituaries that give many details give these
scam artists more valuable information that they can
use to steal the identity of the deceased. The
deceased doesn’t have to worry about their credit
rating, but the family is caused undue emotional
stress. Sometimes the thieves want to steal the

identity to avoid immigration, legal or financial
problems of their own.

How you can avoid identity theft:

The best way to avoid identity theft from your loved
ones obituary is to take care of financial and credit
issues before the obituary is published. Close
accounts, and notify all creditors, banks and credit
reporting agencies of the deceased’s passing. The
next best thing is to limit the information on the
obituary so that there isn’t a resume of details that
list every occupation, award and detail of the
person’s life. You can find out more about writing
an obituary at www.ObituariesHelp.org

A checklist of what to do to avoid identity theft
from obituaries -- If you do all of these things you
will ensure that your loved one will not be a victim
of identity theft after he or she has passed away.
It is even better if you do all of this before you
publish the obituary:

Close accounts and credit cards.
 Notify Equifax, Trans Union and Experian of the
deceased’s passing.
 Contact Social Security and have them
deactivate the social security number of the
deceased.

What to do if you suspect identity theft?

If you’ve already published the obituary and you
notice unusual activity on the deceased’s accounts,
you can assume there is some sort of identity theft
and so you must do the following:

 Notify the police immediately.
 Contact your bank and freeze accounts.
 Contact credit-reporting agencies.

The police and credit reporting agencies will have
more suggestions for you to keep you safe.

Writing obituaries need not be a daunting task,
especially if you have all your financial affairs
in order. If you’ve taken all the steps to avoid
identity theft from obituaries, you can rest assured
that your obituary can be as long or as short as you
would like it to be.

#15. The Identity Theft Quiz

You may think your identity is perfectly safe and

that identity and credit card theft could only
happen to someone else, but take a few minutes to
answer this Identity Theft Quiz, and see how safe
your money and identity really is. Each answer is
worth between 1 and 5 points, which you can tabulate
at the end of the quiz to see how well your identity
is truly protected:

1) What is your primary method of disposal for
personal finance information?

A)For the most part, I tear the information up, and
then dispose of it. B)I tear some of the information
and shred some of it before I dispose of it. C)I use
a cross-cut shredder to destroy my documents every
time, before disposing of them.

2) What method do you use for disposal of
unsolicited, pre-approved credit card direct
mailing information?

A)I simply dispose of them in the garbage can. B)
I always destroy them in some fashion - either I tear
them up, or I shred them. C) I always use a cross-cut
paper shredder before I dispose of them.

3) What method do you use to discard other personal
information like bank statements, pay stubs, credit
card bills, cancelled checks or utility bills?

A)I generally tear the information up and then
dispose of it B)Sometimes I tear the information up,
and sometimes I shred it. C)I always use a cross-cut
paper shredder before I dispose of any of these
materials.

4) When do you check your credit report by any of
the major credit bureaus?

A)I've never checked my credit report B)I have
checked my credit card before, but its been over a
year C)In the past year, I have checked my credit
report

5) Upon
(credit
bills),
for any

receiving financial statements of any kind
card bills, checking accounts, utility
do you thoroughly review these statements
errors?

A)I really don't review my financial statements
regularly at all. B)I review my financial statements
whenever I can get to it, but not monthly. C)I review
my financial statements as soon as I receive them,
every month.

6) Where do you get you own personal mail?

A)I use an unlocked mailbox that's right in front
of my house. B)My mailbox is lockable, but I don't
always lock it. C) I've made sure I have a locked
or secure mailbox/PO Box for all my mail

7) What method do you use to send outgoing mail?

A)I always leave my mail in my own, unlocked home
mailbox B)I will either leave it in my own, unlocked
mailbox with the flag up, or occasionally drop it
off at a secured mail drop box. C)I only drop my mail
in a locked mailbox, or US Mail collection box.

8) Do you ever carry your Social Security card in
your purse or wallet?

A)I do carry my Social Security card with me on a
regular basis. B)I don't always carry my Social
Security card, but sometimes I travel with it. C)I
never bring my Social Security card with me. I store
it in a safe place.

9) Is your Social Security number included on any
personal information you carry with you? (Checks,
ID cards, health-insurance or prescription drug
cards)

A)I really couldn't say. I haven't noticed. B)My
social security number is on several of my ID or

insurance cards. C)No, I don't have my social
security number on anything that can be found on my
person.

You can calculate your score using the following
key: A=1, B=3, C=5. A score of less than 20 means
that you might be at real risk for identity theft.
A score of 20-37 means that you have begun taking
the right steps but you can still improve. A score
of 38-45 means that you are doing the right things
to protect your identity. However, you still need
to be careful because it only takes one piece of
information to end up the wrong hands to result in
your identity being stolen.

#16. How To Prevent Identity Theft By Computer
Hackers

Preventing Identity Theft is the best identity theft
insurance.
This also applies to computer hacking because there
are clearly ways to prevent identity theft from this
method. Many have assumed that the incidence of
identity theft would have decreased with modern
technologies as an identity theft shield, but in
fact, researchers on identity theft, report that
there is a rise in Computer Hacking, which also often
leads to the theft of someone's identity. One in
twenty Americans are victims each year, which is a
staggering number of people lives that are turned

upside down, because their personal information
ended up in the wrong hands.

What is computer hacking?

Computer Hacking is a process that is used by
individuals that are skilled in technology and know
the necessary techniques to access other people's
personal information that is either stored on their
computer or a company's computer network. Computer
Hacking is something that has serious consequences
for those that are caught because they can spend many
years in prison. Many hackers go straight for
corporations in an effort to gain access to multiple
personal financial records, while others stay on a
smaller scale with individuals so they are less
likely to be detected.

What is a wireless network?

A computer wireless network (Wi-Fi) is one in which
data is transmitted using radio signals instead of
cables. Typically, wireless network has one or more
computers that connect to the Internet via an access
point, which is typically a type of router that is
the gateway for the computers on the network to
connect to the Internet. One of the ways you can
Prevent Identity Theft when using a wireless network
is to ensure it has the proper security features on
it are operational. Home or office Wi-Fi with a WPA2
encryption service that is not internally shared

provides the best security. If you have this
facility you are less likely to become a victim of
Computer Hacking.

What is computer identity theft?

If you have personal information stored on your
computer or use your computer to buy items over the
Internet on an unsecured wireless network, you can
be subject to Computer Identity Theft. This happens
when the thief engages in Computer Hacking and is
able to obtain your credit card information, social
security number, and other personal information,
and then poses as you to take on your identity, or
simply to access and withdraw funds from your bank
account(s).

Why are wireless networks so vulnerable to hackers?

The biggest reason that wireless network is a
stomping ground for Computer Hacking is that many
people use open networks. Open networks are those
at coffee shops or airports that have no special
security on them or home or business networks that
do not use WAP2 encryption service for their
network. This means that everyone can connect to
this network because it has no security key and wreak
havoc on those that are connected to it. The best
way to Prevent Identity Theft, is to have your own
security system on your computer before you ever
connect to an open wireless connection.

What you need to know about wireless internet
security?

Many companies and individuals work wirelessly and
it has become more popular because it does not
require your computer to be wired to an Internet
connection, but operates by wireless signals to the
router. You should be aware that there are ways to
Prevent Identity Theft when you are working
wirelessly. When you are working at your place of
employment wirelessly, you are under a lot of
wireless security and therefore safer from Computer
Hacking. However, when you go to public places where
there is a lot of sport or a wireless connection that
you can join, you risk Identity Theft because the
security is turned off, which means all the
information you are sending via the Internet can be
seen by anyone by someone with hacking software.
Security measures are your best way of staying safe
from those that are looking to steal someone's
identity. There is a software add on to a popular
internet browser that allows hacking into other
user's information in an unprotected Wi-Fi network.

How you can prevent computer identity theft with a
wireless computer network?

Wireless networking is definitely here to stay and
you will use it at home and at your place of business,
but you can Prevent Identity Theft by being smart

about how you use your connection. Frist, make sure
you have a secured wireless network set up at home,
so that no one can connect to the network without
the special key that you set up. Secondly, ensure
that your work participates in high wireless
security so that you can be safer from Computer
Hacking. Lastly, watch out for public and free
wireless access hot spots since these are unsecured
and sending personal information over an unsecured
network is like playing with fire. If your work
involves a lot of travel and use by laptop of public
Wi-Fi networks you should have a virtual private
network.

You can do a web search to find the best companies
-- just type in 'Virtual Private Network' that will
help secure your data.

#17. Identity Theft is Still at Large

Though it may seem like something that does not
affect many people anymore, since we all know so much
about the issue now, many people in America are still
affected by identity theft today. Even though we
know more today about the dangers of identity theft
those who seek to steal identities are constantly
trying to find the next new technology that will help
them get around our current security measures. The
Justice Department released figures about the
number of households affected by identity theft last

year. A staggering 8.6 American households had at
least one member in the home over the age of 12 whose
identity had been compromised last year. That number
is an increase from only 6.4 million in 2005.

Not only are identity thieves still doing a booming
business, they are making more money than ever. The
Justice Department stated that American households
suffered upwards of thirteen billion dollars last
year alone! And those are direct financial losses,
which means that’s money that these families will
never see again.

According to officials, the majority of the increase
in identity theft loss happened from the misuse of
credit cards. The numbers of people using ill-gotten
personal information to open new accounts actually
decreased in the five year period from 2005-2010.
And even though overall American households lost
over thirteen billion in 2010, twenty four percent
of those who experienced identity compromise
suffered no direct financial loss. Unfortunately
even though that sounds positive, it means that the
other seventy six percent of the people affected by
identity theft in 2010 took on all of that thirteen
billion dollars by themselves.

Identity theft can happen to anyone, and when it does
the effects go far beyond what many expect them to.
Even if you are a victim there are certain situations
where you can be held liable for financial losses
due to identity theft. Usually if you have only been

scammed out of your credit card information you will
probably only be held liable for the first fifty
dollars in damages. That can be a lot of money for
some, but it doesn’t compare to what can happen if
thieves have their hands on some more pertinent
information. If you lose your debit card information
for example, especially if you’ve also lost the PIN
number, you can be held responsible for most if not
all the illegal charges to your card. It’s not
unheard of for thieves to get their hands on a debit
card and PIN and then wipe the accounts clean and
then some, leaving the victim to pay any overdraft
fees.

And when you consider the myriad of other ways a
thief can steal your identity, it can be a daunting
task for some families where they are left
struggling to pick up the pieces. There can be cases
where someone steals your social security number,
your tax information, your insurance information
and people can even provide your stolen information
when they commit a crime thereby placing a warrant
out for your arrest! Though these situations are
less common that credit card and debit card theft,
they do happen and the effects can be much more
devastating than missing your life savings. Many
victims of identity fraud have to invest countless
hours and their own personal money into not only
restoring their accounts; But restoring their good
name -- they are tasked with spending the time and
money to restore their credit and potentially their
criminal record too.

#18. Tax Season is Bringing Out Identity Thieves

Overviews identity theft tactics such as Spoofing,
Phishing and Pretexting as a means to steal
identities. Covers means to protect ones identity
and recommends review of free annual credit reports
and the services of a proactive identity theft
protection service.

A number of clients have recently reported to their
tax preparation services that they have been
receiving calls from someone posing as a
representative from the Social Security
Administration. The caller began the conversation
by talking about the pending Congressional leader's
announcement where a deal with the White House on
the economic stimulus package would give most tax
filers refunds of $600 to $1,200, and more if they
have children. The caller went on to solicit from
consumers their Social Security number stating
confirmation of their number would ensure they
received their rebate checks within the next 6 - 7
months.

The Social Security Administration is not making a
conscience effort to confirm consumer
identification numbers. You need to be aware that
identity thief's are however and they use a number
of tactics to steal your identity. Spoofing is
generally used by thieves as a means to convince

individuals to provide personal or financial
information that enables the perpetrators to commit
credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity
theft. An attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive
financial or personal information, such as credit
card information or a Social Security number, by
impersonating a business representative or
trustworthy person is also known as a Phishing
attempt and is usually initiated through e-mail,
phone calls or Instant Messaging.

Thieves do not just collect Social Security Numbers.
They are also after your telephone records, date of
birth and your bank and credit card account numbers.
This information is a personal asset as well and
people who illegally solicit this information are
also known as pretexters.

It is yet another name for identity theft and
Pretexting is (like the other practices mentioned)
a means of getting your personal information under
false pretenses.

Pretexters sell your information to people who may
use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets,
or to investigate or sue you. Pretexting is against
the law. Whether it is by means of Spoofing, Phishing
or Pretexting the tactics are all designed to get
your personal information.

According the Federal Trade Commission For example,

a pretexter may call, claim he's from a survey firm,
and ask you a few questions. When the pretexter
(let's just call it a thief) has the information they
want, it is used to call your financial institution.

The thief pretends to be you or someone with
authorized access to your account. They might claim
that they have forgotten their checkbook and need
information about their account. In this way, the
criminal may be able to obtain personal information
about you such as your SSN, bank and credit card
account numbers, information in your credit report,
and the existence and size of your savings and
investment portfolios.

Keep in mind that some information about you may be
a matter of public record, such as whether you own
a home, pay your real estate taxes, or have ever
filed for bankruptcy.

It is not pretexting for another person to collect
this kind of information. Identity thieves don't
just use the schemes we've just talked about to get
your personal information they also procure your
identity by:

* Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and
credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers,
new checks and tax information);

* Stealing personal information you provide to an
unsecured site on the Internet, from business or
personnel records at work and personal information
in your home;

* Rummaging through your trash, the trash of
businesses and public trash dumps for personal data;

* Buying personal information from "inside"
sources. For example, an identity thief may pay an
employee for information about you that appears on
an application for goods, services or credit.

Even though the laws are on your side, it's wise to
take an active role in protecting your information.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends the
following actions;

1. Don't give out personal information on the phone,
through the mail or over the Internet unless you've
initiated the contact or know who you're dealing
with. Pretexters may pose as representatives of
survey firms, banks, Internet service providers and
even government agencies to get you to reveal your
SSN, mother's maiden name, financial account
numbers and other identifying information.
Legitimate organizations with which you do business
have the information they need and will not ask you
for it.

2. Be informed. Ask your financial institutions for
their policies about sharing your information. Ask
them specifically about their policies to prevent
pretexting.

3. Pay attention to your statement cycles. Follow
up with your financial institutions if your
statements don't arrive on time.

4. Review your statements carefully and promptly.
Report any discrepancies to your institution
immediately.

5. Alert family members to the dangers of
pretexting. Explain that only you, or someone you
authorize, should provide personal information to
others.

6. Keep items with personal information in a safe
place. Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies
of credit applications, insurance forms, bank
checks and other financial statements that you're
discarding, expired charge cards and credit offers
you get in the mail.

7. Add passwords to your credit card, bank and phone
accounts. Avoid using easily available information
like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the
last four digits of your SSN or your phone number,
or a series of consecutive numbers.

8. Be mindful about where you leave personal
information in your home, especially if you have
roommates or are having work done in your home by
others.

9. Find out who has access to your personal
information at work and verify that the records are
kept in a secure location. Checking your credit
report annually can help you catch mistakes and
fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal
finances.

Order a copy of your credit report from the three
nationwide consumer reporting companies every year.
To order your free annual report from one or all the
nationwide consumer reporting companies, call
toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual
Credit Report Request Form avail at their Website
annualcreditreport.com, and mail it to: Annual
Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

If you do not have the time or expertise to put
measures in place to protect you and your family's
identity consider visiting a credit protection
service that can put the appropriate measures in
place to preserve your good name, credit and assets.

#19. Identity Theft And The ATM Game

No matter what kind of advancements in technology
identity thieves will always find a way to exploit
it. The ATM is a prime example.
They were supposed to be of such great convenience
and in truth they really are. The automatic teller
machine has been a godsend to many of us. Stranded
in a remote area? Chances are there is an ATM there
for you. Got to get some quick cash and three o clock
in the morning? No problem. As a matter of fact it
is a whole lot easier these days to find an ATM then
it is a pay phone which seems to be going the way
of the buffalo.

All of this is just fine with identity thieves. Name
the device and the odds are identity thieves have
a scam for it. And when it comes to the automatic
teller machine they have hit the proverbial jackpot.

How much of a jackpot? At the very least over one
billion dollars and as of this writing shows no signs
in letting up. Law enforcement officials in some
parts of the country are reporting an increase in
ATM fraud activity.

So how do scammers go about pulling off these
elaborate yet highly effective rip-offs? There are
a number of ways but a few make it to the top of the

list:

1. The Skimmer

Skimmers are small electronic devices which can be
place directly inside the ATM. If you think it should
be something that anyone can easily detect think
again. People go to an automatic teller machine to
get money not to ponder whether or not someone is
trying to rip them off. Therefore the chances are
if you are not looking for it you will not see it.
And many experienced identity thieves no how to hook
it up in such a way that even if you were searching
for it you would not find it.

The skimmers job is just that. To glean as much
information off your card as possible once you put
it into the terminal. That information includes the
card number, the expiration date, the CVV and pin
number. It's the equivalent of you telling a total
stranger all of your credit card and financial
information. In Staten Island a group of thieves got
away with over a half a million dollars using
skimmers in conjunction with miniature cameras.

2. The Shoulder Surf

From time to time in your search for an ATM you may
come across a line of people who had the same idea
as you. Yet every now and then somebody standing in

that line has a different idea and that is to steal
your information.

Now shoulder surfing on its own is not the issue.
If the thief does not know what your card number is
then it does not matter how many times they watch
you put in your pin number. But if they have
installed a mini camera to capture your information
then that's a different story altogether.

Keep in mind it doesn't have to be anything high
tech. Placing some kind of adhesive in the card slot
like glue or even bubble gum will suffice as long
as the card gets stuck to the point you either have
to keep typing in your PIN or you are totally unable
to retrieve it.

Then it all comes down to timing. Identity Thieves
hope you leave the scene for enough time for them
to get what they need and disappear. Going into the
bank lobby to report what just happened is one way
to ensure they are successful.

ATM's are not just confined to bank machines either.
They are used at gas pumps, restaurants,
supermarkets and anywhere else they are required.
That by no means implies everyone is out to steal
your identity. It does mean however that you should
be extra cautious and observant when you go to use
an automatic teller machine no matter where it is.

#20. Identity Theft: Up In A Down Economy

A lot of people are hurting in what has become a
global recession. Identity thieves could not care
less. As far as they are concerned business is
booming

Turn on your TV and no doubt you will have seen one
or more talk show hosts chatting it up with an
economist or historian. The reason you may be seeing
a lot more of these folks is of course due to the
tough economy. Both groups agree that we are not at
the Great Depression levels of the 1930's but we are
no doubt experiencing problems which in many ways
are comparable to that time period.

Wall Street is tanking, foreclosures have exploded
and many businesses are out of business or at least
not far off from shutting their doors permanently.
A huge chunk of the population is hurting and what
makes the pain even more severe is that identity
theft is on the rise.

This is an unfortunate reversal of fortune. While
identity theft has been ranked as the number one
consumer complaint for nearly a decade, the reports
of identity theft had actually been declining. This
can be attributed to people better educating

themselves and taking the necessary safeguards to
decrease their risk. Some specific numbers while not
a cause to hold Mardi Gras celebrations were very
encouraging.

For instance according to Javelin Strategy &
Research, the amount of money loss to identity theft
victims declined by about twelve percent. This goes
hand in hand with another statistic; namely the
amount of money spent to fix the problems caused by
the initial theft went down by thirty one percent.
In about half the cases, identity theft victims did
not have to shell out any money at all.

This is all good news but it looks like the dark
clouds are moving back in our direction and we
probably have the financial crisis to thank for it.
James Van Dyke is president of Javelin Strategy &
Research. When asked by CNN about the sudden turn
around he stated, "The only thing we can logically
attribute that to is the economy. If people need to
make money, and decide to do so illicitly, identity
fraud is the logical opportunity."

Why is identity theft the logical opportunity? For
the simple reason it utilizes an ever growing
variety of methods which are so easy to get away
with. And it also does not hurt that there are no
one hundred percent safeguards available.

We have been warned by many experts and public

officials that times could get decidedly tougher and
stay that way for the near future. That means belt
tightening and making some hard choices in our
personal lives. It also means that the last thing
any of us can afford right now is to leave the door
open for friends, acquaintances, relatives or total
strangers to take advantage of a logical
opportunity.

#21. Think You Don't Need a Shredder? Think Again

With identity theft ever on the rise, no home can
afford to be without a paper shredder. Identity
thieves are both persistent and creative, and they
have no qualms about going through your trash to get
what they need. You may be surprised to find that
it is perfectly legal, in fact, to go through
someone's trash!

What can you do to protect yourself and your
confidential documents? Well, if you have been
avoiding buying a personal paper shredder because
you don't know what to look for, you should probably
get over that right now. Here are a few things to
keep an eye out for when you are shopping shredders.

Shred Pattern:

When it comes to shredders there are really two
different kinds: the kind that cuts documents into
several long strips (known as strip-cut shredders),
and the kind that cuts them into confetti-like
shreds (known as cross cut shredding). For shredding
confidential documents which could prove damaging
were they to fall into the wrong hands - such items
as bank statements, junk credit card offers, credit
card statements, and tax records, we really can't
recommend that you use anything but a cross cut
shredder that is rated at a Security Level of 3. If
you can't find the security level on the box, or your
salesman doesn't know, you can pretty much rest
assured that most any cross cut shredder is a Level
3. Just to be safe though, the particle measurements
listed on the machine you are shopping should be no
larger than one-quarter inch by an eighth of an inch.

There are shredders that have Security Levels up to
6 (for top-secret government documents), and you may
have your reasons for considering a Level 4 or 5
machine, but for the purposes of a home shredder,
in the majority of cases, Level 3 should be plenty.

Sheet Capacity:

For the purposes of a small office or home use
machine, you should expect to be able to find a cross
cut shredder that can handle from 6-8 sheets at a
time with no problem. There are a few other features
you might want to keep an eye out for, such as the
ability for your machine to handle paper clips and

staples, a reverse function to help in preventing
paper jams, and an automatic on and off function that
turns the shredder on when paper is placed in the
feed, and turns it off again when the job is done.

The key to personal shredding and to working with
the lower capacities you will find in the smaller
machines is to shred daily, or on an as needed basis,
rather than letting your papers pile up and trying
to shred them all at one time. Smaller shredders have
smaller motors and thus they are more prone to
overheating if overused. Your shredder should come
with usage recommendations so you can keep within
the correct range for your machine.

Maintenance:

The cutting heads of shredders need to be oiled on
a periodic basis. There are several ways to do this,
but the best is probably to squirt a zigzag pattern
of shredder oil onto a normal piece of paper and run
it though the shredder, then hit reverse for half
a minute or so.

#22. The Young Victims of Identity Theft

Looks at the growing epidemic of identity theft
associated with minor children and young adults.

Article points out proactive measures to take to
avoid identity theft. Provides contact information
to credit bureaus to obtain credit histories and
directs people to credit services that safeguard
identities.

According to the Federal trade Commission there was
an estimated half million children who joined the
ranks last year with the unfortunate distinction of
becoming victims of identity theft. An advocacy
group called the Identity Theft Resource Center
identifies relatives as being involved in more than
half of the child identity theft cases reported in
the United States in year 2006.

It should be noted however, the thief is not always
someone who knows the child. It is suspected by this
resource center that identity theft of children is
increasing so rapidly precisely because kids are
such good targets. They further believe children are
victimized because they usually have a spotless
record and because they aren't using their credit
and as such; the crime can go undetected for years.

Now that most infants by law have social security
numbers, thieves have discovered they may be the
easiest targets of all. Thieves have years to
manipulate these identities and create a
considerable amount of damage. Infants and children
remain lucrative targets because they typically
don't use their social security numbers until their
late teens and discover the theft problem upon

applying for a first job, a student loan or a credit
card. When families and their children finally find
out, the burden of proof falls on them.

Some of the most common tactics of identity theft
(but not limited to) include parents using their
children's' Social Security numbers to open up new
credit accounts, and "dumpster diving" thieves
stealing credit offers mistakenly sent to children
too young to make use of the application themselves.

Helen Simmonds, a detective in a local police
department, has been handling identity theft
investigations. It was noted that almost all
involved Social Security numbers issued in the early
1990s to children who are now turning 16, 17 and 18,
and trying to obtain credit for the first time. It
is believed by the investigator that there is going
to be an epidemic [of such cases] not just locally
but; across the nation.

It then should come of no surprise that
credit-monitoring services are beginning to target
concerned parents, offering to monitor children's
identities. At LifeLock, credit monitoring for your
child costs only $25 annually in addition to a $10
monthly charge for adults. LifeLock also takes
actions to basically audit the Social Security
Administration annually on the child's behalf to
find out if there's been any work history related
to the child's identity number.

A spokesperson for the SSA advises that parents can
simply call their local Social Security office and
get that information free of charge. However as a
concerned consumer and parent you need to know; if
thief is using your child's Social Security number,
but with a different name then your child's, the SSA
will not find a matching record for your offspring.

One of the major credit reporting agencies: Experian
- recently launched FamilySecure monitoring service
which alerts parents as soon as anyone applies for
credit using their child's name. However, at $19.95
a month, the cost might be a bit cumbersome to many
family budgets.

Parents that remember or have the time whom want to
contact the three Credit Bureaus to determine if
there is any activity on their children's credit can
use the following contact Information and
procedures;

Experian Call 1-888-379-3792, select the Fraud
option. Parents have to mail in documentation,
including proof that they are the parent or legal
guardian for the child, such as a birth certificate
for the child and driver's license for the parent.
If the child does not have a credit file, Experian
will notify the parents in writing. If a credit file
exists, Experian will provide a copy to the parent
so they can dispute any fraudulent information. The

bureau will attach a notice on the file that it
belongs to a minor, to prevent lenders from issuing
credit in the future.

For Equifax Mail a request to: Equifax Information
Services, P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348. Attach
documentation identifying you as the child's parent
(see above). If a credit record exists, Equifax will
delete any fraudulent accounts, take the report
offline and flag the Social Security number as one
belonging to a minor. Parents cannot receive a copy
of the fraudulent report.

Actions for TransUnion require a parent to Email
childidtheft@transunion.com TransUnion will email
back instructions on requesting a file. If one
exists, the bureau will lock the file until the child
turns 18, so his or her information cannot be used
to obtain credit.

TIPS for ID Theft Prevention:

Don't give out personal information: never reveal
anything about yourself unless you initiate the
contact or if you request a phone number that you
may call back to authenticate the representation
being made (do not give out your Social Security
number, phone number, date of birth, or credit card
numbers or carry your Social Security Card).

Watch your mail: make sure you collect it right after
it is delivered if it is out in the open and
accessible to others.

Shred important documents: SSN, credit card
numbers, driver's license numbers, date of birth and
pre-approved credit offers (you can stop these by
going to.

Pay attention to your billing cycle: missing bills
could indicate theft.

Use reputable and secured websites: always use a
secure browser, when paying online check to make
sure it's secure (https: instead of http: identifies
a secured server that encrypts the information you
submit).

Protect your PC: protect against viruses and
spyware, use a firewall, and don't download
attachments from people you do not know.

Do not carry your Social Security card or that of
you children's in your walletFree Web Content, purse
or automobile. Secure the cards in a safe place when
not specifically needed.

There are services that charge for protective and
proactive identity measures to safeguard the good

name and credit of adults and minor children. If you
do not have the time or expertise to put needed
safeguards in place make room in the budget for the
available experts.

Thief's have the time and ability to steal and ruin
your identity. Don't think for a minute it can't
happen to you or your family members because
millions of others were just as confident and lost.

#23. Identity theft and fraud criminals are turning
their attention to senior citizens

If you have a senior member of your family, you can
help them to become aware of identity theft and show
them what they can do to protect their identity and
fight this growing crime.

A lifetime of savings may be safely sitting in a
bank account to take care of retirement years.
Identity thieves know they can steal that money in
a matter of minutes if they can convince a trusting
older person to disclose sensitive data. Most
seniors grew up in a time where trust was very
important, and it was rude to question a person's
motives. Times have changed, but most seniors are
still very trusting. Unfortunately, criminals are
anxious to turn that trust into a nightmare. If you
have a senior member of your family, you can help

them to become aware of identity theft and show them
what they can do to protect their identity and fight
this growing crime.

Seniors And Technology:

Seniors have fallen in love with technology just
like everyone else. They enjoy the email that allows
them to contact friends right away. It's especially
nice to have the convenience of email when the
weather is cold or snowy. Seniors also love social
media. It puts them back in touch with friends that
moved away years ago. Photos of children and
grandchildren are treasures to post on social media
pages and share with friends. Many seniors, however,
are not really technology savvy and are not aware
of all the dangers that can befall them online.

Encourage your senior to buy a paper shredder, or
buy a shredder for them if they are concerned about
the expense. Explain that just tearing pieces of
paper in halves or quarters is no longer a safe
option. Teach them to become ardent shredders and
then the shredded paper can be distributed to
recycling centres.

Explain that it is not safe to store any important
data in their wallets or handbags. ID cards, benefit
cards, passwords, PINs, and other sensitive
information should be kept in a drawer or cabinet
that can be locked. If they are unable to memorize
their passwords, they can be written in a small
notebook that is also kept in the locked location.
Have your loved one keep all their credit papers and
contracts in the same locked place, and ask for a
key for yourself in the event he or she loses theirs
or if they are away on a trip and need you to access
some information.

If your senior is using online banking, teach them
how to identify a secure site. On a secure site, the
"http" will have the letter "s" in front of it, as
in "shttp//www". Secure sites also display a small
yellow lock in the lower toolbar section of the page.

Email is another area where identity thieves can
target seniors. The practice of "phishing" deceives
many people, not just seniors, into giving away
personal information without even knowing it. The
"phishing" emails will usually appear to come from
a bank or credit issuer. Instruct your senior to
delete all mail from any bank or creditor they do
not do business with, and to never log into any kind
account through a link in their email even if appears
to be a legitimate email. Banks seldom include a link
in their emails. Your senior should login to his or
her bank or other credit account through their
browser. If there is important information the bank
wants customers to know, it will be on the web site.

Assist your senior with monthly balancing of bank
and credit statements. Look for any discrepancies.
Also check credit reports on a regular basis and look
for suspicious activity. It's important to catch a
thief's attempts at establishing credit in the name
of your loved one. Contact any organisation where
an attempt has been made and be sure they know it
was not the account owner making the credit
applications.

It is very difficult to think of your loved ones
being separated by the death of one. Unfortunately,
that is a time when criminals like to prey on the
survivor. Identity thieves scour the obituary
columns looking for information they can use to
establish a new identity. Resist the temptation to
include more than a small amount of non-personal
information in the obituary.

There is no reason seniors should not be able to
safely go online and enjoy the social aspects of the
Internet. Their trusting nature must be just a
little less trusting in order to protect their
identity and keep their personal information safe.
By following the suggestions they can have their
money in the bank and not in the pocket of a thief.

#24. What is Business or Commercial Identity Theft?

Business or commercial identity theft happens when
thieves use an existing business’ name to get
credit, or they may bill a business’ clients for
products and services. Sometimes the Social
Security number of a company’s officer or another
representative is required to commit business
identity theft.

A big problem is that identifiers, such as federal
IDs or employer identification numbers, are readily
available in public records, dumpsters, or
internally at banks and other creditors—which makes
the ease of access to these numerical identifiers
a catalyst for business identity theft. Business
identity theft perpetrators are often former
employees or current employees with direct access
to the books and other forms of financial
documentation. These schemers have ample
opportunity to pad the books in favor of fraud.

Business identity theft victims don’t usually find
out about the crime until big-time losses
accumulate, or an audit occurs and someone discovers
discrepancies on the books. Because of the hidden
nature of the transactions, businesses can lose vast
amounts of money. Business identity theft can remain
undetected for years.

How can you protect yourself from business or
commercial identity theft?

Inside job:
Business identity theft, or commercial identity
theft, is an inside job. Employees often have access
to documents that include owners’ and board members’
Social Security numbers, as well as the business’
tax ID number.

Need-to-know basis:
This information must only be accessed on a
need-to-know basis by employees with proper
credentialing. Even then, be suspect. It is
imperative that this information stays secure.

Checks and balances:
Organizations should put a check-and-balance system
into place, ensuring that for every employee who has
access to company accounts, there are two
employees—preferably upper management—who are
assigned to make sure the books are balanced, that
no money is missing, and that financial statements
are double-checked for inaccuracies.

Forensic accountants on retainer:
In some instances, it is necessary to contract with
forensic accountants or examiners to pay close
attention to a business’ books and work to put
monitoring systems in place.

Identity theft protection:
Identity theft protection can be a helpful tool to
keep officers or owners informed of potential
illicit activities, because a Social Security
number is often required to open accounts under a
business’ name.

#25. Can Vacationers And Business Travelers Be At
Greater Risk Of Identity Theft When They Travel?

Over seven million people in the United States last
year alone were victims of identity theft resulting
in almost fifty billion of fraudulent credit card,
bank, and other financial charges. A significant
number of these victims were tourists, business
travelers, and people on their holidays. Here is
some valuable information that may save you a ton
of grief when you travel.

It’s very easy when people travel on their vacation
to let their guard down. They have a lot on their
minds remembering everything they need to take care
of before they go and what they need to take with
them on vacation. Not only that, they want to
relax, unwind, and have fun. Isn’t that what
vacations are suppose to be all about?
When they
travel they don’t want to have to be on guard all
time and constantly concerned about getting ripped

off every second of their holidays.

There are three major sources of identity theft that
you should be aware of when you travel. Your
wallet, your laptop or PDA, and internet cafes.

Research shows that most identity thefts occur when
people’s wallets are stolen, usually by
professional pick pockets. Whether you travel on
vacation or business you must guard your wallet at
all times because you are at more risk than in
familiar surroundings. Never carry your wallet in
your back pocket - it’s not called the “sucker
pocket” for nothing. It’s best to carry your wallet
in a fanny pack. Some travelers prefer a fanny pack
with a Velcro closure instead of a zippered one
because you can hear it being opened. The usual
places you find pickpockets are in crowded areas
such as airports, train and bus stations, hotel
lobbies, restaurants, and sporting events.

Most people carry more personal information in their
wallets then they need. The first thing that you
should do before you travel is to go through your
wallet and take out any personal information items
that you don’t need when traveling such as bank
checks, check books, credit card receipts, bills,
and memberships cards such as library cards. You
also don’t need to take your social security card
as you probably have that number memorized by heart.

Debit cards are a convenient way to take small
amounts of cash out of ATM’s when traveling, but are
also a great way for thieves to clean out your bank
account if they get a hold of them. One way to
reduce this risk is to open up a separate account
at your bank before you go and only put as much
day-to-day cash in it as you think you may need for
your holidays. Take only that debit card with you.

Credit cards are protected by Federal law so are a
much better choice to take with you as you are
generally covered for any fraudulent charges
incurred. Also, if you are over-charged or find an
error on any of your credit card transactions when
traveling, it’s easier to get the charges corrected
or reversed from the card companies. You probably
should take two credit cards in case one is lost,
or compromised. You can obtain smaller, limited
amount prepaid cash cards from Visa, MasterCard, and
American Express that are perfect for daily use.
You can get these cash cards in any denomination.
It is probably best to get a couple of cards with
low limits of five hundred dollars or less each. If
they are lost or stolen, the credit card companies
will replace any pilfered funds. Leave your major
cards and passport in your hotel room safe or the
hotel’s safe along with any other personal
information that you do not need from day to day.

Before you travel be sure and check that your credit
cards do not expire while you are on vacation. And
be sure to call your credit card issuers and let them
know when and where you plan to holiday so they don’t

have a seizure or conniption fit and cancel your card
when they see a credit charge appearing from some
place like Timbuktu. Make a note of these phone
numbers and take them with you on vacation.

Another major source of identity theft starts with
a stolen laptop. Over six hundred thousand laptops
are pilfered in the U.S. alone, frequently from
inattentive travelers in airports, restaurants, and
hotel lobbies.

Before you travel, backup your laptop and put the
backup disc in a safe place at home or in a safety
deposit box at your bank just in case your laptop
is lost or stolen. Put a small strip of colored tape
on the top and bottom of your laptop and laptop case
as most laptops and their cases look similar in
appearance. Write your name, destination address,
and contact information at you destination on a
piece of paper and tape it to your laptop just in
case it’s lost at the airport. You shouldn’t use
your home address on this piece of paper. It’s
better to use your work or business address and phone
number. There are so many laptops left behind
unintentionally. The lost and found office at
airports do not have time to try and gain access to
all the laptops which are more than likely password
protected anyway.

The third major source of identity theft can happen
at any public computer or internet cafe. Your
personal information could be at risk even if you

are just accessing or sending e-mails. A key stroke
logger could be installed which secretly keeps a
record of all user names, passwords and personal
information entered on the computer. Even if
public computers are not compromised they still
store the information you input in the temporary
internet files and history. Never access any bank
or credit card account, or pay bills from these
computers. In general, computers located in the
business centers of hotels and on cruise ships are
safer to use than other public computers.

#26. Will Obamacare Lead to Identity Theft?

The fear mongers and Obamacare haters make a scary
point and want you to know that as soon as the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act goes live, your
identity will be at risk and, more than likely,
stolen. Forbesreports in regard to what’s called the
Obamacare-mandated “data hub” in which personal
records are exchanged among seven different
agencies—the Internal Revenue Service, the Social
Security Administration, the Department of Homeland
Security, the Veterans Health Administration, the
Department of Defense, the Office of Personnel
Management and the Peace Corps.”

Obamacare is required to protect our data under the
National Institute of Standards and Technology
guidelines. However, naysayers believe the

administration will open the system without proper
security certification because Obama will offer a
waiver.

It is scary enough that seven different agencies
will have the data on file—and scarier still that
the possibility of a waiver being granted is very
possible due to the enormity of the project.

Right now, pre-Obamacare, your personal identifying
information is being shared or stored amongst dozens
or potentially hundreds of organizations that you
have interacted with since birth. So what’s the big
deal with another seven? Unfortunately, it’s
another touch-point where your information can be
viewed, hacked and stolen.

My suggestion: Don’t worry about it. Seriously,
don’t worry about it. However, you must DO something
about it and I have two suggestions:
 Get a credit freeze. Search “credit freeze” and
the name of all three credit bureaus separately.
Freeze your credit. But that’s not enough.
 Get identity theft protection. I have a credit
freeze and identity theft protection. With
these multiple layers of protection, my data is
next to useless to a thief.

#27. iPhone Data Security : What you Need to know

iPhones enable us stay connected. However, with
personal data being exchanged over the internet,
your identity is most certainly at risk. To
prevent falling victim to identity theft, you have
to take certain precautions, such as protecting
your private folders with folder locking
software.

iPhones can basically do everything your
computers can, the difference is that you can
carry your iPhone wherever you go. You can check
your email, take pictures, and watch movies, surf
the internet, and video chat with loved ones using
your iphone.

However, the more we become dependent on smart
phone technology, the more we are at risk of having
our identities stolen. When we surf the internet
using our iPhone, we often don’t realize that the
wifi connection may not be encrypted; as a result
we carelessly conduct transactions over the
internet and unknowingly expose information
related to our identity.

According to statistics, 12 million Americans had
fallen victim to identity theft in 2011, 13% more
than 2010. The reason behind the rise in this

statistic was that Americans are becoming more
careless about using their smart phones.
According to legal experts, if your phone is lost
with personal information stored on it and you
became a victim of identity theft as a result, then
your options are limited. In fact, in some extreme
cases, the victims had to file for bankruptcy due
large transactions made by identity thieves.

Nevertheless, if you believe you may have fallen
victim to identity theft, you can take the
following measures to prevent ID thieves from
ruining your credit.

First: Place a fraud alert on your credit report,
Second: notify your bank and credit card
companies, Third: File a report with the local
police, lastly, file a report with the FTC
(Federal Trade Commission). Taking these measures
will put authorities on alert and on the look-out
for suspicious and fraudulent activities
originating from your personal details. Moreover,
to minimize your risks you should limit or stop
using your iPhone on public wifi networks, run a
virus scanner periodically on your iPhone and
finally, keep a pass code on your iPhone.

However, the latter security measures is not
fool-proof and expert hackers can easily bypass
your pass code on your iPhone and retrieve
personal files and folders that contain documents
related to your identity. To combat this issue,

your only option is to install an iPhone file
security software such as Folder Lock for iPhone.
With this software, you can select your most
personal files and folders and add password
protection on them. As a result, anyone trying to
access your personal files will be prompted to
enter a password.

The beauty of iPhone file security software is
that its hack proof. It uses the latest in file
security standards which blocks any hacking
attempts. So if you have taken all the above
mentioned files security measures and protected
your personal files and folder with Folder Lock
with iPhone, you’re not likely to fall victim to
identity theft.

#28. Does Lifelock Work?

Its the question I seem to get asked more than any
other on my identity theft blog, "Does Lifelock
work?"

This eook explains why I believe it does.

Does Lifelock work seems a popular question on the
security forums nowadays and to answer it we need

to look at a few official numbers. For every one
million Americans the Government expect 30 000 to
be a victim of identity theft. Lifelock has around
one million customers and so far less than 80 of
them have had to make a claim on their guarantee.
I'd say those figures pretty much prove conclusive
that Lifelock does work but if not, there is
more....

How does Lifelock work?

Lifelock works by placing fraud alerts on your
credit files on your behalf. This means that any
company who does a credit check on you causes a
red flag to be raised and you are informed. Credit
checks are carried out when someone applies for
credit, a loanScience Articles, a credit card etc.
Lifelock also ensure your name is removed from
mail lists as the less your details are spread
around the less chance of them falling into the
wrong hands.

How well does Lifelock work compared to other
identity theft protection companies?

Lifelock stops your identity from being stolen
where as other identity theft protection
companies such as IdentityTrust monitor your
credit and report unusual activity to you AFTER
the event. Because Lifelock place a fraud alert
on your credit file the only way possible for

someone to misuse your name to gain credit is if
the provider of the line of credit did not do a
credit check and because identity theft is now a
major problem (its the fastest growing crime in
America) this is very unlikely to happen.

Does Lifelock work with credit experts because i
have heard I can do everything that Lifelock does
all for myself and save some money?

Lifelock use experts who know exactly how the
system works and make sure your fraud alerts are
in place at all times. The 3 credit bureau's don't
like you to place a fraud alert against your name
and they certainly do not like your name being
removed from mail lists as it is the sale of these
lists that make them so much money. For this reason
they don't make it easy for you to do it yourself.
Each alert only lasts a certain amount of time and
for it to be effective you cannot let it lapse.

You certainly could do the work yourself just as
you could walk to work this morning. Question is
why would you walk when you have a car and why would
you take it on yourself to protect your own
identity when Lifelock can do it for a few cents
a day. Perhaps the answer to the original question
Does Lifelock work? should have been yes because
Lifelock gives you peace mind. They take care of
dealing with all the credit bureau's for me and
they give me a $1 million guarantee that they have
done it correctly and no one can steal my identity.

#29. Identity Theft Protection Using Prepaid
Debit Cards

These days the credit card is as normal as the
computer. In fact these days the credit card makes
the computer shopping experience more useful. You
can now purchase just about anything online that
you can find offline and have it shipped directly
to your home, usually within days, not weeks of
your purchase.

Prepaid debit cards are still pretty new but the
concept is catching on very quickly. In a world
where identity theft is becoming very serious
people are searching for a better way to secure
their purchases without having to give up their
identity, or rather risk identity theft.

The prepaid card is a great innovation that helps
to solve this problem by allowing people to make
purchases online anonymously. The card works
exactly like a debit card but you are not required
to attach any real information such as your name
or address to the card.

Many people are purchasing these cards
exclusively to shop online anonymously and to
protect themselves from fraud. When your identity

is stolen you often have to go through a lot of
uncomfortable hoops to restore your credit and in
many cases you cannot get your money back.

With the prepaid card you can use it once and throw
it away and not worry about repeat billing. Since
no real information is connected to the card you
don’t even have to worry about shredding the card
or it getting into the wrong hands because with
no money on it the card is useless. You can even
call and have the card number deactivated as well.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone use their bank card
for online purchases, there is simply too many
cleaver theft potentials there. Using your bank
card in stores is usually safe, but online is a
whole new ball game. Prepaid cards are the
greatest thing to come to the internet scene since
online shopping became convenient.

You can shop with confidence and you can even track
your cards spending online without having to give
any information as well other than the card
number. If you want to protect your spending
history calling to get the number/card
deactivated will delete the spending history from
the site as well. The sites are secured so they
are not indexed in search engines.

The beauty of the prepaid debit card is that you
can purchase them just about anywhere and

activation is cheap. Many will not charge an
activation fee if you put a certain amount of money
on the card. At Wal-Mart you can get a free card
if you cash your check there, they give you a green
dot card, and you don’t have to put your check on
the card, you can put 20.00 on the card and cash
the rest of your payroll check into cash. This
is a great way to get your card without paying a
fee and you can get a new one every payday.

#30. Easy Bait for ID Thieves ~ Twenty somethings

Millennials. Eighties Babies. Echo Boomers. The
Connected Generation. You may think of them as
tech savvy and device dependent. Identity thieves
think of them as an easy victim. It’s like taking
candy from a baby.

Under 30? Let’s see your ID.

According to a study conducted by the Federal
Trade Commission, Americans age 20-29 make up 15%
of identity theft complaints.

But the real threat to this age group is the
severity of damage. Javelin Strategy & Research
reported that 18-24 year olds spend double the
amount of time on fraud resolution than other

victims. And the same age group is more at risk
for debit card fraud, and more likely to have their
debit card PIN stolen.

Made up of the notoriously digital generations,
this age group may appear too streetwise to fall
victim to identity theft. But the truth is they’re
constantly putting their personal information at
risk.

Young and dumb? Or just naïve.

Although electronically smart, young adults are
still relatively young and naïve to the risk of
publicly leaking personal information. It may
have something to do with the digitally connected
lifestyles of Generation.

According to the same study by Javelin Strategy
& Research, “In general, younger consumers tend
to engage in riskier electronic behavior … With
the growing use and adoption of smartphones and
tablets, the risk of viruses, man in the middle
attacks, and other security threats are only going
to increase.

It starts with social media. Social media users
with a public profile are more at risk for identity
theft. And mobile devices are an additional
problem—6.6% of mobile device users reported

fraud incidents.

But it also may have something to do with the
turbulent lifestyle this age group often faces.
Between college, different apartments, student
loans, odd jobs and finding a career, the life of
a twenty something is always changing—making it
easier for identity thieves to make changes to
records without being noticed. And without
established credit and a strict budget, young
adults depend on debit cards more frequently than
other age groups.

Tech savvy and identity smart.

Even in an electronic world, there are a few simple
precautionary measures to take to protect
yourself from identity theft. Start by tightening
your privacy settings on social media sites and
online accounts.

1. Make sure your mobile phone has a password, and
ensure that all of your passwords are complicated
and secure.
2. Be sure to protect documents that contain any
information regarding finances and government
records.
3. Review your annual credit reports and monthly
bank statements, and be careful with any documents
that may contain personal information.

#31.

New Account Fraud: The Cost of Remediation

Congratulations, You’ve Been Approved

There’s a major difference in receiving a
pre-approved credit card in the mail and receiving
an actual credit card in the mail. The former
implies a creditor wants your business. You can
shred the card, remove yourself from the
pre-approved credit card mailing list and get on
with your life.

But receiving an actual, approved credit card in
the mail is not the same thing. In fact, this could
mean that an identity thief has opened credit in
your name. By the time that card lands in your
mailbox, it may already be maxed out and
accumulating interest. Merely cutting up the card
and throwing it away isn’t going to fix the
problem.

In the event that you do receive a credit card in
the mail—say from a credit union or popular
retailer—it’s important to quickly jump into
action. Similar to any identity theft resolution
process, the steps to clean your name can cost you
a lot of time and a lot of cash.

The Most Expensive Type of Fraud

When it comes to identity theft, the resolution
path can be tedious and expensive no matter what
type of fraud has occurred. But new account
fraud—including new credit cards—is the most
expensive type of identity fraud for victims to
resolve.1

In a 2011 study done by Javelin Strategy &
Research, victims were asked to provide a few
details regarding the cost of resolution in their
identity theft experiences. Here’s what the
numbers show:1

Average resolution time for victims of all types
of identity theft: 12 hours

Average consumer cost of identity theft
resolution: $354

Average resolution time in new account fraud: 26
hours

Average consumer cost of identity theft
resolution in new account fraud: $1,205
The Recovery Expense Report

The victims surveyed were not given specific
examples of common resolution costs or tasks, but
there are several steps to resolution that are
crucial—no matter what the expense. Here are a few
of these steps:

(These numbers are an approximate representation.
Actual costs will vary.)
Step 1: Contact the retailer where the fraudulent
account was opened

If you receive a fraudulent credit card in the
mail, immediately call the fraud department
number on the back of the card. Have your
information ready. In most cases, you will be
asked to verify that the account is linked to your
name and Social Security number.

After you have verified that the card is indeed
fraudulent, you must specifically ask the company
to start a fraud investigation. This often
requires some paperwork. To speed up the process
as much as possible, comply with the creditors
requirements and requests.

It’s also important
the company removes
your credit report.
affects your credit
critical.

to specifically insist that
the credit application from
This type of transaction
score, so this step is

Once the company has all the information they
need, they will give you a fraud investigation
case number. Be sure to keep this number, and any
other related information, in a safe place.

Possible Costs:

- Printing costs: 4 pages for $.252

- Certified mail: $8.103

- Lost 5 hours of work: $36.254

Possible Time:

- 1-3 hours on the phone

- 60 minutes of paperwork

Step 2: File a police report with your local police
department

Next, head to your local police department. You
must file a report with the department located in
the city where you lived when the fraud occurred.

Unfortunately, identity theft is still a widely
unknown crime. Be prepared to be persistence and
do some studying before you go. The Identity Theft
and Assumption Deterrence Act states that as an
identity theft victim, you have a right to file
a police report. In many cases, there is a police
report fee.

Possible Costs:

- Gas Money: $2.045

- Lost hour of work: $10.864

- Police report fee: $7.586

Possible Time:

- Driving: 30 minutes

- Filing report: 60 minutes

Step 3: Make an FTC complaint

Head to FTC.gov and fill out the complaint form.
The complaint form will also serve as an Affidavit
form. Keep a copy of the Affidavit in a secure
place.

Possible Costs:

- Print Affidavit: 7 cents2

Possible Time:

- 15 minutes

Step 4: Put a seven-year alert on your credit
reports

In order to set a seven-year credit freeze, you
will need to contact each of the three credit
bureaus separately and mail them the requested
information. These requests usually include a
copy of your Social Security number, Driver’s
license and proof of residence.

You will also need to send a copy of your police
report and/or your Affidavit, plus any other
information that the credit bureaus request. We
recommend sending these confidential documents
over certified mail rather than standard so that
you have proof of delivery. With so much private
information in one envelope, the more safety
precautions you take, the better.

Possible Costs:

- 3 packets certified mail: $24.303

- Copies- 31 pages: $2.002

Possible Time:

- 60 minutes on phone

- 60 minutes for 3 packets

Step 5: Order credit reports

You will want to verify that there is no other
fraudulent information on your credit reports, so
you will need to request a credit report
separately from each of the three bureaus. If this
is the first time you are requesting reports
within a year, then the service will be free. You
can request your free credit reports by heading
to www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Otherwise, you
will have to pay full price.

Possible Costs:

- $40* to order 3 from Experian7

Possible Time:

- 15 minutes to order

- 30 minutes to review each

Step 6: Request credit reports again, 90 days
after resolution

Once the investigation is over, you should receive
a letter from the card issuer stating that the
crime has been resolved and your identity has been

removed from the debt. Ninety days after you
receive this letter, you should request your
credit reports again to ensure that this
information has actually been removed from your
credit reports.

Possible Costs:

- $40* to order 3 from Experian7

Possible Time:

- 15 minutes to order

- 30 minutes to review each

By the end of this hypothetical situation, your
total cost is $171.63 and the total time spent to
resolve the issue is 9.25 hours. But if an identity
thief was able to open one account, it’s likely
the crook may have opened another—meaning you’re
repeating many of these steps all over again. And
these numbers only reflect some common expenses
at national averages.

The Fine Print:
Identity theft is a complex crime, and a victim’s

busy lifestyle only adds more obstacles. That
means there’s a long list of potential expenses
and time-consuming tasks involved in resolving
the crime. When considering an identity theft
protection service, try to remember all the small
costs and tasks that might add up if you don't have
protection, such as:

 Time off work
 Babysitters
 Time spent on the phone
 Mail expenses
 Driving time (post office, police department,
etc.)
 Gas money
 Faxing, scanning and/or copying
 Additional fraudulent accounts
 Complications due to credit deadlines and
legality
 Delays due to holiday hours and scheduling

The Right Protection Offers Remediation:

An identity theft alert system is a great feature

for peace of mind. It can help consumers stay ahead
of an identity thief. But what happens after the
alert? What happens if an identity thief does
cause damage to a member’s identity?

Most identity theft services offer both an alert
system and remediation services. And those
remediation services may cover some or all of the
above expenses, as well as facilitate the process.

Before you buy, be sure to ask what happens if you
do become a victim. Comprehensive protection
should come with comprehensive remediation.

#32. Social Networks

So you have a zillion “friends” on your social
network. Sure about that?

More than half of U.S. adults actively use social
sites such as Facebook and Twitter.1 Identity
thieves are discovering the potential for
financial gain by incorporating pieces of the
everyday information users readily make available
on these sites.

The information isn’t difficult to get, either.
According to a 2012 study by Javelin Strategy &
Research, over 30% of social network users post
their birth date. 47% share their email address
and another 12% their phone number.1

By combining this information with seemingly
everyday facts like birthplace, school names,
locations and pet names, a smart identity thief
can piece together a pretty hefty victim profile.
Some of these crooks are real pros.

-More social network members creates more
opportunity.-

With the tremendous growth of social networking,
thieves are developing new approaches. They’ll
try to “friend” the target and gain more access
to their lives and personal information. Another
method is called “clickjacking.” Thieves create
malicious news and information pages where the
function of a button is not what it seems. As
viewers “like” and share the page with other
friends, more and more victims are collected.

Spam, phishing and malware on social sites are
also growing. These attacks go beyond targeting
an individual’s online profile and information.
They aim to obtain access to the personal and
financial information that is stored on the
person’s computer, including passwords, login

identities, banking data and other highly
sensitive information.

-Safeguard yourself from friends who really
aren’t.-

There are ways you can protect yourself from those
who pretend to be friends. First of all, consider
all information, no matter how harmless it may
seem, as a potential advantage for identity
thieves. Use the privacy settings each social site
provides to limit the amount and exposure of your
personal information. Don’t post birth dates,
children’s or pet’s names, phone numbers or other
specific data. Know and manage your online friends
and be wary of strangers. Once they become
“friends” you could inadvertently become their
friendly banker.

Resources

Note: Click or Copy & Paste the Link into your
browser.

Identity Theft Deterrent ~ dentity Theft
Protection Without Those Monthly Fees:
Go to: http://tinyurl.com/l4z5vdo

The Busy Parents Guide To A Digital World:
(Everything You Need To Know To Keep Your Child
Safe)
Go to: http://tinyurl.com/kqd8638

Wifi Sugar - Wireless Security:
(Great Software Security Product For Students,
Professionals,and Travelers)
Go to:

http://tinyurl.com/ny5bsoo

Don't let the crooks win and steal your identity
-- protect yourself and family members.

Good Luck!

Thank You,
Terry Clark

Identity Theft: The Other You

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