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Leaving your purse, wallet in your car can lead to identity theft

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:29:53 +0000


IRS makes nationwide sweep, sends message to ID thieves
admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:33:09 +0000
If you are an identity thief, consider yourself warned.
The federal government cracked down on identity theft and tax refund fraud this past week, targeting 105 people in 23 states. The sweep included 80 complaints and indictments, 58 arrests, and ranged from Alaska to Florida. 
The use of stolen personal information to file fraudulent tax returns for refunds has become an ever-increasing problem. Last year alone, the IRS found 260,000 fraudulent tax returns, blocking $1.4 billion in refunds. 
IRS Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement said the timing of this sweep isn’t just a coincidence – it was designed to send a message of warning to those who would commit crimes such as this. At the start of this year’s tax season, the IRS wants a clear message sent to identity thieves: you will be caught and prosecuted.
But how do these thieves obtain the Social Security numbers they need in order to commit tax fraud? Schools and hospitals are often the target source for SSNs, but thieves will steal a wallet or dig through the trash as well. So it is important to protect yourself, regardless of where you are or who you are dealing with.
If you are asked to provide your Social Security number or the number of your child,  ask how the number will be used, and how it will be protected and stored. You should also ask if there is an alternative form of identification that can be used.
Shred all documentation which bears your SSN, or any other personal or financial information before you dispose of it. Never carry your Social Security card with you unless you have a specific reason to, and then remove it from your wallet or purse and store it in a safe location.



What to do if you find yourself part of a data breach
admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:37:29 +0000
This past year was a significant one for business owners, as it was the year that saw some of the biggest data breaches in the history of the United States. More than 30 million records were affected by more than 500 data breaches – and those are only the ones that were reported. Many are not.
Some of the more significant data breaches included Sony’s Playstation Network,  Epsilon, Health Net and Tricare Management. Those breaches alone affected more than 80 million records.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a data breach, here’s what you should do. In many cases, your Social Security number is what will be stolen if you are affected. This means that you could face new account fraud. Monitor your credit reports and contact the Social Security Administration. If you find new accounts opened without your knowledge, take action quickly to close those accounts.
If your credit or debt card numbers are compromised, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Check your statements as often as possible – online is preferable – to be sure there is no fraudulent activity. If you see any unauthorized activity, contact the bank or card issuer as soon as possible. 
In some cases, if you are part of a group of customers who are affected by a data breach, you may be offered free credit monitoring services. You can take advantage of this, but your better bet would be to sign up with LifeLock. 
LifeLock does much more than simply monitor your credit report, and the coverage you receive will be much more thorough. You’ll be able to take action quickly no matter where your information is compromised. Go online to find out more at www.lifelock.com.



Protect your business against fraud
admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:28:06 +0000




When it comes to identity theft, businesses get hit, too
admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:51:22 +0000
Identity theft isn’t something that just happens to individual people – it can happen to businesses also.
Criminals design websites that look like legitimate business sites, which feature real business names, logos and contact information, all in the name of tricking consumers into giving up their personal or financial information. It also ruins the reputation of the business. 
The victims, in this case, businesses, don’t usually know they’ve been victimized by identity thieves until they are contacted by customers complaining about false solicitations, fake websites, phishing e-mails, fraudulent charges or check cashing schemes. Businesses who fall victim also can get billing and customer service complaints.
If you are a business owner, watch for the signs of identity theft: unusual product or service requests, unfamiliar advertisements posted online, and unwarranted complaints filed by unknown customers. 
If you do fall victim, here’s how you can minimize the damage. First of all, make sure your licensing and registration records are up to date on your business name. You should set up Web alerts so that you know if your business name, address or phone number has been used without authorization. If you find fake ads, contact site publishers to have them removed immediately. 
Track the complaints you receive, and alert your customers of possible scams. You should also report the crime to your local police, as well as the Federal Trade Commission. 



Children can’t rest in peace if identity thief is after them
admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:53:20 +0000
It never ceases to amaze – the extent to which identity thieves will go to obtain the information they need in order to steal money and commit crimes.
A woman in northeastern England lost her daughter after undergoing heart surgery. A few years later, she discovered a fraudulent Facebook profile featuring pictures of herself and her deceased daughter. The site was accepting donations for a heart transplant for the woman’s daughter, who was born with a heart valve that was too narrow.
The woman, understandably, was terribly upset, but said the incident was even more difficult for her to deal with because her daughter is deceased. 
The profile was traced to Jamaica. Visitors to the site were asked to share the link, which would supposedly result in a free heart transplant if 1,000 people participated. There was also a PayPal account attached to the profile, which allowed for people to make donations. 
According to ID Analytics, more than 140,000 children are victimized by identity thieves each year. Most often, the thief steals a child’s Social Security number, and thieves often target deceased children.
If you suspect that your child’s Social Security number has been compromised, you should check to see if there is a credit report. If you find one, it’s highly likely that your child’s information has been stolen. 
To protect your child’s information, do not provide it to anyone unless you know how they plan to use it and how the information will be handled after you have surrendered it. This includes schools. Don’t be afraid to ask if another form of identification can be used instead.



Protect yourself from smishing
admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:52:03 +0000




Better safe than sorry…
admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:50:45 +0000
Think back to this past year and ask yourself: Did you make it difficult or easy for identity thieves to steal and use your personal information? When you shopped, were you careful? When you were online, did you use secure sites? Did you shred documents before you disposed of them?
When it comes to protecting your personal information, it is important that you are careful when you are shopping or dining out. Don’t let your credit or debit card leave your sight. Have the clerk or server scan the card in front of you or go with them. Or you could just pay in cash.
When shopping online, use only secure sites. You’ll know it’s secure if the URL contains “https” instead of just “http.” You’ll also see a lock symbol in one of the corners of your screen. Never enter personal or financial information if the site is unsecured, or if you have received an unsolicited request for this information – even if the request looks to be from a legitimate source. Verify the request first, and never click on a link within an unsolicited e-mail; it could contain malware.
Shredding is such a simple thing – and it’s something many people choose to ignore, thinking that criminals really don’t dig through trash. But they do. It’s the easiest and fastest way to get personal or financial information. Shred all documents that bear your personal or financial information, including pre-approved credit offers. This can’t be emphasized enough.
When it comes to protecting your identity, it’s always better safe than sorry. Take the extra steps today to be sure your information is safe tomorrow.



What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft?
admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:55:28 +0000
Ever wish you were someone else? You could just forget about your own troubles and start again, with a fresh, clean slate. Think it’s just a silly dream? Not for identity thieves. Using the personal and financial information of other people to create a whole new identity is their bread and butter. And it happens more frequently than you think.
In 2008, 10 million people fell victim to identity theft. This means there were 27,397 victims each and every day during that year. And this doesn’t even account for the unreported incidents. Believe it or not, there are thousands of people out there who don’t report their incidents of identity theft. 
It’s important to report identity theft because the sooner your report it, the greater chance the police have of finding and arresting the thief. If you have discovered that you are a victim, you may not know what to do. Here are some tips.
As soon as you discover that your identity has been compromised in any way, contact the police and file a police report. Be sure to get and retain a copy of the report. Next, you’ll want to contact the three credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – to place a fraud alert on your credit files. Note that you only need to call one of the bureaus; the one you call is bound by law to notify the other two.
Be sure to obtain a copy of your credit report so that you can make sure there are no fraudulent accounts or activity. Contact the credit bureau about any errors you find and work to have them removed immediately. 
You’ll also need to contact the credit card issuer or other company from which the fraudulent accounts were established. Make them aware of any accounts that were opened fraudulently, and close those accounts immediately. 



IRS gives advice on protecting your information
admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:22:58 +0000