Category Archives: identity theft risks

IRS makes nationwide sweep, sends message to ID thieves

February 1, 2012 – 8:33 am

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 [...]

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When it comes to identity theft, businesses get hit, too

January 25, 2012 – 8:51 am

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 [...]

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Protect your RFID-enabled credit card

January 3, 2012 – 7:53 am

Imagine yourself getting your credit card bill and finding that there are hundreds of dollars in charges you know nothing about – just thinking about it can bring on a migraine.
But an estimated 9 million people faced just that during the past year, all victims of identity theft. This figure wasn’t helped out by the [...]

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Keep your credit card safe when you travel

December 19, 2011 – 9:35 am

Imagine this: you take your kid to Disney World for the trip of her dreams. She’s been dreaming about meeting Mickey and Minnie for months. You and your family have the time of your lives, and you watch your child experience the park and all its attractions with wide-eyed enthusiasm.
But when you return to [...]

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Watch out for scams that can ruin your holidays

December 14, 2011 – 9:57 am

Identity thieves, just like the rest of us, know ’tis the season to be jolly – and they’re laughing all the way to the bank.
Each year, thousands of people fall victim to identity theft and identity fraud as cyber crooks take advantage of online shoppers. These thieves also count on you to be in [...]

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Watch out for postal scams

December 12, 2011 – 11:10 am

Many people have family and friends scattered across the globe, and that can mean long distance holiday wishes. It also means mailing Christmas gifts. There are also millions of people who have loved ones serving in the military, and who plan to send their soldier a care package for the holiday.
But thieves are well aware [...]

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Jury scam leads one woman to ID theft victimization

December 7, 2011 – 9:17 am

A Plainfield, Ill. resident became the victim of identity theft after she filled out what turned out to be a bogus jury commission questionnaire.
The woman received the questionnaire Oct. 28, which required that she provide her Social Security number. She complied and later discovered the theft. After reporting the theft to the police, the woman [...]

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Beware of work at home scams

November 4, 2011 – 8:18 am
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Beware the scamming online trader

October 5, 2011 – 10:37 am

If you do your stock trading online, you may find yourself at risk for identity theft.
The most common scams involve tricking account holders into revealing the details of their accounts or logging onto sites that mimic the actual stock trading portal. The thief pretends to be a web broker, and sends you an e-mail asking [...]

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Wipe that hard drive before you get rid of electronics

September 26, 2011 – 9:02 am

Some countries are dumping their electronic hardware in poor countries, and this is causing concern not only for the amount of waste, but also for identity theft.
E-waste is being shipped to places like Ghana, to the tune of about 500 containers of waste a month. Once it’s dumped, locals often scavenge at the dump for [...]

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