Council attempts to stop FTC-proposed law

The Council of Medical Societies has filed a motion to intervene in a pending case to prevent the Federal Trade Commission from applying the red flags identity theft rule to doctors.

The regulation requires entities that regularly extend credit to establish formal policies for detecting and preventing identity theft. The council said compliance with the rule imposes a “significant” burden on physicians, particularly those who operate independent practices or work in small groups.

The American Medical Association and two other physician organizations sued the FTC earlier this year to block it from subjecting doctors to the rule. The AMA filed the lawsuit through the Litigation Center of the AMA an the State Medical Societies.
The FTC’s position is that physicians are “creditors” under the law.

Although the ID theft policy requirements are technically in effect, the FTC has said it will not enforce them against doctors until Jan. 1, a deadline that has already been extended several times.

Although doctors have acknowledged that medical identity theft is a growing problem for patients and physicians, they say the added regulation duplicates existing laws.

“Physicians are already ethically and legally responsible for ensuring the confidentiality and security of patients’ medical information,” said AMA President Cecil B. Wilson. “The extensive bureaucratic burden of complying with the red flags rules outweighs any benefit to the public.”

According to the most recent statistics, about 250,000 people fall victim to medical identity theft each year in the United States.

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Elderly man falls victim to ID theft

A 50-year-old Vancouver, Wash. woman has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of forgery and 15 counts of identity theft after allegedly stealing $300,000 from a 90-year-old man.

According to police reports, Becky L. Iverson befriended the man while she work for a real estate firm. He and his wife sold their home through the firm in 2007.

Iverson volunteered to help the couple by running errands for them, and forged checks on the man’s bank account and withdrew money for more than a year.

In an unrelated case, a Buffalo, N.Y. woman convicted of aggravated identity theft was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $16,194.43 in restitution.

Georgia F. Bowen, 35, repeatedly used the name and Social Security number of another person to obtain Medicaid benefits totaling $13,029.84, utilities from National Grid totaling $2,376.83 and National Fuel in the amount of $787.76 for services at her homes in Buffalo and Kenmore.

She also used the victim’s name when traveling in Canada and Jamaica.

How do people get away with this kind of thing?

In either of these cases, it’s anybody’s guess. But in the Buffalo case, it’s likely the victim didn’t realize his identity was stolen for an extended period of time, which enabled the criminal to continue to use the stolen identity.

On the other hand, it’s easy to see how Iverson got away with her alleged crimes for such a long time. Elderly victims of identity theft are often very trusting, and aren’t vigilant when it comes to checking their bank or credit card accounts.

How can you prevent becoming a victim of identity theft? First of all, when you receive your bank or credit card statements each month, check them carefully. Be sure to shred any documents that contain your personal information prior to disposal.

You should also check your credit reports. If you suspect there may be fraudulent activity, you should place fraud alerts on your credit report.

You should also opt out of pre-approved credit offers. Criminals who wish to commit identity theft often steal mail and obtain credit cards in the name of the victim.

If you do fall victim, report the crime to your local police department. You’ll need a police report to submit to creditors as proof that you were a crime victim. You should also close the compromised accounts.

In the end, prevention is all about being vigilant. It’s your personal information, and you have to guard it – every minute of every day. But who has time for that?

The best way to take care of your information is to sign up for LifeLock. Call or go online today.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Beware of thieves promising mortgage help

Mortgage scams aren’t a new thing. They’ve been around for a long time. But there has been a rise in popularity for this particular crime among identity thieves.

Identity thieves don’t commit mortgage scams to get to your identity so much as they are targeting your identity to get to your mortgage. Why is this? It’s because there’s a lot of money in a mortgage scam. A thief can try to bilk you out of your home and then resell it, or he can use your information to run a con game that ends up costing you thousands and ownership of your home. Either way, the thief wins.

Your best protection from mortgage scams is to understand them. The top three scams are:

• Bait and Switch: This is an old scam, in which a thief approaches you about offering you help to get you out of a tough spot. He offers to buy your house at a reduced rate, while leaving the home in your name, or he offers you a loan at a ridiculously low rate. You sign some very complicated paperwork, not realizing you’ve signed a quit claim deed, giving the thief ownership of your home, while leaving you responsible for the mortgage. The scammer sells your house, while you’re still in it, and you find yourself making payments on a house you don’t even own.
• Bailout: A thief offers to rescue you from foreclosure by purchasing your home for slightly above what your remaining mortgage balance is. You’ll stay in the house as a renter, and purchase the home back at the same price it was sold for at some point in the near future. The scammer will charge you rent that is higher than your mortgage payment was, and when you can’t afford it, he’ll kick you out, sell the house at a fair market value, and make a nice profit.
• No-Help Help: A scammer offers to help you prevent foreclosure on your home by assisting you with paperwork and phone calls to work out a deal with your mortgage company. The scam will charge you a huge fee for this service, which you could do on your own for free. No calls are made on your behalf either, and before you know it, your home is in foreclosure and the scammer has made away with money you could have used to get caught up on your mortgage.

Identity thieves will do anything to make money. They only care about your personal information as long as it helps them to reach their current goals. Beware of anyone offering you an easy solution out of your mortgage woes – chances are, the only one being helped is the thief separating you from your money.

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Critics agree – LifeLock is a service no consumer should be without

Americanconsumernews.com took a look at LifeLock today and asked the question: Is LifeLock a scam?

The answer was, without a doubt, no.

The news blog took a look at the services offered by LifeLock, based in Tempe, Ariz., including monitoring the Internet for credit and non-credit related threats to consumer identity information. LifeLock monitors for fraudulent applications for retail credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, wireless services, utilities, check orders and reorders, and payday loans.

LifeLock also opts members out of pre-approved credit card offers in order to reduce unwanted junk mail and thereby reduce the risk of identity theft.

Also mentioned as reviewed as LifeLock’s WalletLock™ service, which protects LifeLock members in case their wallets or purses are stolen. As part of the service, LifeLock specialists will help members by canceling and replacing the lost contents of the wallet. If the thief tries to use the information or cards found in the wallet, LifeLock’s services will catch him before any damage can be done and notify the owner.

The blog also mentioned the LifeLock guarantee, which states that LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to help restore order for its members who fall victim to identity theft while under LifeLock’s care.

Americanconsumers.com found that the “service itself is not a scam.” It also mentioned that some of LifeLock’s services, such as checking credit reports and opting out of junk mail, can be done by consumers themselves for free.

“LifeLock’s value proposition is that it offers a number of additional services on top of credit monitoring, such as WalletLock™, TrueAddress™ and various automated alerts and reports,” the site concluded.

Overall, the blog drew the same conclusions that all others have: LifeLock is a service that no consumer can do without. While you can monitor your own credit report and opt out of junk mail, you can’t monitor the Internet for threats to your identity 24/7, like LifeLock does. And you won’t find a more affordable service that can.

Call LifeLock today or go online at www.lifelock.com. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Criminals get what’s coming in ID theft cases

A 29-year-old South Florida woman has admitted she stole someone’s identity, which she then used to rack up $20,000 in debt because she needed to fix her defective breast implants.

Shatarka Nuby also told the judge she had to furnish her new condo.

Nuby pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to use unauthorized credit cards. She now faces up to seven years in prison.

The investigation began when U.S. postal inspectors discovered a mail theft that allowed Nuby to receive the victim’s information She and an accomplice stole a college application containing numerous details, and used it to obtain five credit cards in the victim’s name.

In an unrelated case, a former executive director of the West Texas Council of Campfire USA has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft in a scheme to steal nearly $400,000 from the youth development organization.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office released a statement that 564-year-old Michael Woodson Burney pleaded guilty this week in Midland, Texas to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Burney now faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence and restitution on the identity theft conviction, and up to 30 years and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud conviction.

According to police reports, Burney wrote himself checks from the Campfire bank accounts and then changed accounting records to make it seem as if those checks were paid to vendors used by Campfire USA.

And 31-year-old Jonah Hanneke Nelson, of Dixon, Calif., was sentenced to four years and 10 months in federal prison based on his guilty plea to charges of bank fraud and identity theft. The sentence is to be followed by five years supervise probation.

Nelson was arrested in April 2009 after passing counterfeit checks drawn on victims’ bank accounts. Nelson reportedly had an extensive list of victims’ names, bank account numbers and falsified identification documents at the time of his arrest.

Five banks and 97 individuals were victimized across northern California for a reported loss of $87,957 during a four-month period last year.

Before a criminal such as these sticks a target on your back, sign up for LifeLock’s proactive protection. LifeLock will monitor for credit and non-credit related threats to your personal information, and will notify you before the damage is done.

Call LifeLock today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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How to protect your sensitive information

Americans are facing many things these days that cause them to fear – terrorism, a sluggish economy, a weak job market, inflation, high unemployment rates – but for many, the greatest fear is caused by the possibility of an attack on their personal and financial privacy.

Shielding your information with no risk is next to impossible these days, but it is critical for you to understand how your information can be compromised and the consequences of such a breach. You also need to understand the simple steps you can take to better the odds in your favor.

Some of the most common ways identity thieves obtain your information include mail theft and phishing. Thieves will steal your mail and use the information they find to apply for loans, jobs and credit cards. They’ll even rent apartments, commit crimes and obtain cell phones in the name of their victims.

Phishing involves sending e-mails that look legitimate to unsuspecting consumers online. When the consumer clicks on the e-mail, they’re asked to input their personal information, or malware is downloaded to their computers, which then provides the thief with all the information he needs.

Thieves also hack into databases and steal personal information like birth dates, bank and credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers.

There’s no iron-clad protection that can guarantee you’ll never fall victim to some sort of identity theft. But you can take steps that will help protect you.

• Destroy private records and statements. Shred any documents that contain your personal information.
• Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox each day promptly, lock it or get a post office so criminals don’t have a chance to snatch pre-approved credit offers. Don’t mail outgoing bill payments and checks from home; mail them from the post office or another secure location.
• Safeguard your Social Security number. Never carry your card with you, or any card that many display your number, like a health insurance card. Don’t put your number on your checks, either.
• Don’t leave a paper trail. Never leave ATM, credit card or gas station receipts behind.
• Never let your credit card out of your sight. Always keep an eye on your card to avoid skimming, the practice used by thieves to obtain your credit card number by running it through a scanning device.
• Know who you are dealing with. Whenever anyone contacts you asking for private identity or financial information, don’t respond except to find out who they are, what company they represent and the reason for the call. Confirm with the company before giving out any of your personal data.
• Be defensive with your personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information like a Social Security number or driver’s license is absolutely necessary. Ask what their privacy policy is and whether your information will be shared.
• Monitor your credit report. Obtain it at least once a year and review it thoroughly, checking for any unauthorized items. If you find any, contact the creditor immediately.
• Check your credit card statements carefully, and contact the issuer if there are questionable charges.

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LifeLock ranked as No. 1 in security by Inc. magazine

Inc. magazine has ranked LifeLock as an industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, and eighth on its 29th annual Inc. 500 List, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest growing private company.

The publication also recognized LifeLock as No. 1 in the security category.

The list represents the most comprehensive look at what many feel are the most important segment of the economy: America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Companies like Microsoft, Visa, Zappos, Go Daddy, Oracle and hundreds of others gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

“This is an enormous milestone in the history of our organization,” said Todd Davis, LifeLock chairman and CEO. “I truly see this recognition as a testament to our employees’ never ending commitment to provide consumers with the means necessary to help fight the fast growing crime of identity theft. Despite a down economy, the pressure of creating an industry and unwanted distractions, we have been able to stay focused on our overall mission and deliver the most innovative products and world-class customer service.”

This year’s list measured revenue growth from 2006-9, and LifeLock’s growth was more than 11,474 percent. To qualify, companies must have been founded by and generating revenue by the first week of 2006, and able to show four full calendar years of sales.

Additionally, the companies had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit and independent as of Dec. 31, 2009. The minimum required revenue for 2006 was $100,000, with the minimum in 2009 set at $2 million.

LifeLock’s revenue in 2009 ranked third among the top-10 companies, with $131.4 million.

A recent study showed that more than 20 million Americans have multiple Social Security numbers associated with their names in commercial records. Proactive identity theft protection can help prevent identity theft and protect the personal information of consumers. LifeLock does just this – taking action before the theft occurs, an innovative approach to protection taken by no other company in the industry.

Since 2005, LifeLock has provided consumers with the necessary tools to protect themselves from identity theft. The company has a solid focus on educating consumers and working with law enforcement professionals and elected officials to facilitate a better understanding of the threat of identity theft and how to prevent it.

LifeLock has been recognized by AlwaysOn to the Top Global Company 250 list, by Arizona Corporate Excellence as Arizona’s fastest growing company, and by the American Business Awards as having the Best New Product or Service of the Year for its LifeLock Identity Alert ™ system, which is key in providing broader identity coverage, greater control and early notification of both credit and non-credit related identity threats.

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Even if you aren’t aware you’re at risk, LifeLock’s in the gap

A federal judge has granted final approval to a settlement between Countrywide Financial Corp. and millions of customers left at high risk for identity theft due to a security breach.

Now owned by Bank of America, Countrywide will now provide free credit monitoring for up to 17 million people whose financial information was exposed. The group includes those who obtained a mortgage with and those whose mortgages were serviced by the company.

For those whose identity was stolen as a result of the breach, reimbursements could be as high as $50,000.

For those who are LifeLock Command Center™ customers, if a situation such as this one arises, you can breathe easy. In addition to eRecon™, which monitors the Web for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information, LifeLock customers can also get Personal Breach Detection ™ services, which monitors the unregulated Internet and file sharing networks for your identity information. If LifeLock finds you are at risk, you’ll be notified immediately by e-mail and you’ll be protected against accidental personal information disclosures.

According to some sources, the number of personal records that were exposed by hackers last year rocketed up to 220 million, compared to 35 million in 2008. That’s the largest collection of lost data on record.

The most frightening thing is that many of these data breaches never get reported, and the people whose data is lost never know about it. Their personal information could be at risk – and they wouldn’t even be able to take action to protect it.

That’s where LifeLock comes in. If you’re a LifeLock customer, you won’t have to scramble to take care of your personal information. And if you don’t know it’s in jeopardy, you’re covered.

Call LifeLock today.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Reverse lookup can be useful tool

In this day and age, it’s not uncommon for a person to fall victim to identity theft. But there are some tools you can use to prevent becoming a victim.

Reverse e-mail lookup Web sites are quickly becoming a handy tool in the fight against identity theft. By using them, you can prevent the worst from happening by defending yourself against identity thieves.

It’s become easier for these thieves to find ways to connect to your personal information, thanks to social networking Web sites. When you enter your personal information onto these sites, the sites will often warn you to set your privacy levels high – and you should listen.

But identity thieves are crafty, and if they have your e-mail address, they can pretend to be you. If a thief sends you an e-mail seeking supposed friendship, what he’s really looking for is your e-mail address. Once he has it, he can use it to gain access to the rest of your personal information.

Once you’ve received such an e-mail, you should copy the e-mail address and perform a reverse lookup at one of the many Web sites that are online for this purpose. The search should tell you whether the person e-mailing you is really your friend or not – and whether you’re about to be scammed.

A thief can also use your e-mail for phishing and spamming. E-mail theft can convince others that any communication is from a legitimate source. This is especially true of business e-mail addresses. If a person believes a communication is from a legitimate business, he’s more likely to respond – that’s phishing.

Spammers who perpetrate e-mail identity theft can send e-mail to an individual or firm under the guise of someone legitimate and the e-mails sent are less likely to get blocked.

Using tools such as reverse lookup can find identity thieves – before they find you.

Other tips to combat e-mail crime include:

• Avoid being blocked by using a different domain registrar to that of the web hosting company.
• Think about a second hosting company just in case anything goes wrong and you are blocked; the second account can be your backup service.
• Don’t share an IP address; if someone you are sharing with gets blocked for spamming, then you don’t have to be.

Get wiser and smarter – it’s the best protection against identity theft there is.

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Convict tricks hotel employees, steals ID info

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has released information on a state prison inmate who orchestrated an identity theft scam that tricked hotel employees.

Damion Andrico Goldsmith, 40, who has previous convictions for fraudulent use of personal information, credit card fraud, grand theft and fraud, tried several hotel employes into helping him obtain credit card numbers and personal information. He called hotels and asked room service employees for the last numbers of rooms they had serviced. He obtained the information during some of the calls by claiming to be “Joe” from security.

Time and time again, hotel employees provided him with the information.

While this scam is unusual, the motive behind it is not – getting personal information to use for criminal activity. Identity thieves are extremely innovative when it comes to stealing what they need to commit crimes ranging from applying for credit cards or payday loans to applying for jobs to committing crimes – and it’s all illegal because it’s done in the victim’s name.

But you can protect yourself. LifeLock is the identity protection industry leader, and it’s simple to sign up. You can call or go online at www.lifelock.com.

LifeLock’s Identity Alert™ system provides broad identity coverage, much broader than any other service or trying to go it alone. LifeLock will monitor for all credit or non-credit related identity threats, and if any such threat is discovered, you’ll be notified immediately and LifeLock will take action to protect your information.

LifeLock is affordable, too. For just $10 a month, you can get the standard protection, and for $15 per month, you can get LifeLock Command Center™, which provides you with enhanced protection through detection, protection and remediation.

Call LifeLock today, and you’ll sleep much easier tonight.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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