Smishing involves sending a text message to someone, asking the person to visit a website or reply with confidential information, either of a personal or financial nature. All too often, the text appears to be from a bank or credit union, asking the recipient to “verify” an account number or password. And once a thief has this information, you can bet it won’t be long before your account is wiped out.

If you receive such a text, don’t click on any links it might contain, or input any information. You should contact your bank or credit union first, using the 1-800 number listed on the institution’s website, and ask if such a text has been sent. It is highly unlikely that any bank would send such a text, however, since banks keep information such as this on file, and wouldn’t need you to supply or verify it. But it doesn’t hurt to contact the bank to make sure.

You should also contact your local police department or sheriff’s office, to make them aware of the scam as well. Others in your area may become targets, and your local authorities will want to warn consumers.

Although it is difficult to catch a criminal in this particular type of identity theft attempt, it is possible – so the quicker you notify the authorities, the better.

To protect yourself from identity theft scams such as this, it is prudent to make yourself aware of what sorts of scams are out there, and how to deal with them. You can do this by reading reliable sites online which contain useful information regarding such information.
It is also crucial that you make sure your personal information is protected in the best way possible.

Signing up with industry leader LifeLock is one sure way to ensure that your information is not only protected should anything happen, but also that you will be notified should anything be attempted. Go online and check out LifeLock today at www.lifelock.com.

A person who walks within a few feet of you can steal your credit or debit card information, or driver’s license or passport information, simply by using a $100 electronic device. And they can do this without even touching you.

Called electronic pickpocketing, this type of theft involves the use of scanning devices that can be purchased over the Internet which can read the information on radio frequency chips found in newer credit or debit cards, driver’s licenses and passports.

You can store these items in protective sleeves, which you can get through the bank or credit card company, or you can purchase them online. Lightweight steel wallets can also help.

But this is just one way identity thieves strike. You should also be careful when posting on social media sites – don’t post personal information there. Be sure to lock your mailbox, and don’t put the flag up with your bills inside the box. The flag not only lets the postman know your bill payments are ready to be picked up, but it also lets criminals know your personal or financial information is ready to pick up.

Make sure you shred all documents that bear your personal or financial information before disposal, and don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet.

Last of all, don’t respond to unsolicited phone calls or e-mails asking for your personal or financial information.

Follow these simple rules, and you’ll find these easy actions go a long way to prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

Identity manipulation is where a person changes part of their own personal information on applications for credit, cell phones, auto loans or apartments, often because they have bad credit. Those who commit this crime are not, more often than not, looking to steal someone’s identity. They’re simply looking to dodge old debts or legal problems, or are just seeking to make a large purchase they can’t with their own credit.

But the problem is that when they do stumble onto a good Social Security number or valid birth date – they often change one or two numbers of their own SSNs or give a phony birth date – they end up hurting someone else’s credit.

While some say this “accidental” tweaking is just that – accidental – others say that it doesn’t matter how or why it’s done. The fact is, falsifying your own information for any reason only leads to trouble. And in this case, it can ruin someone else’s credit.

There are an estimated 45 million people who have manipulated their own information in the U.S., with the most changes occurring with Social Security numbers, names and birth dates. Ten million people have mixed their own information with some of their spouses, 16 million use multiple birth dates, and some 8 million are using more than one Social Security number to apply for credit.

The Federal Trade Commission doesn’t separate these types of events – the agency sees identity theft and identity manipulation as equal crimes. It’s unclear how much of the total amount of identity thefts reported are actually considered identity manipulation, but one thing is clear: both are crimes.

This is not a new problem. The issue has been a topic of conversation for years, and the Pentagon has issued a stream of policies to curtail the risk. But the issue will remain as long as military personnel are using their Social Security numbers for such mundane tasks as logging onto computers and accessing routine military facilities.

Although some military personnel have tried to buck the system, there won’t be a solution until there are widespread changes overall, and those changes must be embraced and enforced by commanders on every level. Identity theft can put troops in debt and ruin credit ratings, and personnel deployed overseas are particularly vulnerable.

Pentagon officials say the issue has been addressed by efforts to protect troops’ information. Measures include new Defense Department identification cards, which no longer feature Social Security numbers. The new cards will begin to be issued in May.

Defense officials say they are reinforcing a “culture of protection” and continue to take significant steps to reduce the use of Social Security numbers as identifiers among the military.

A recent report suggests the military consider replacing Social Security numbers with a military ID number, which would protect the personal information of personnel.

But for now, military personnel are stuck in a system that they are powerless to do anything about – a culture of mandated usage.

For the average citizen, however, there is something that can be done. You can sign up with an identity theft protection service – and the most obvious choice is the proactive protection offered by LifeLock.

Why LifeLock? Because LifeLock doesn’t wait for you to become a victim; instead, LifeLock searches for threats to your personal information 24/7, both credit and non-credit related. And if any such threat is detected, you’ll be notified immediately, so that action can be taken before any damage can be done.

Now that’s peace of mind.

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

According to Express Scripts’ CEO George Paz, early in October they received a letter in which the extortionists demanded money and threatened to make public personal information of millions of Express Scripts’ customers. Enclosed with the ransom demand was a list of 75 customers’ names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and, in some cases, prescription information.

Paz didn’t reveal the amount of money demanded in the letter, but said the company will not pay the extortionists. The letter was immediately turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the company is cooperating fully with the FBI’s investigation, he said.

Shortly after Paz went public with information on the extortion attempt, Express Scripts’ clients began receiving similar letters which have also been given to the FBI. As the extortionists draw more targets into their net, Paz announced Express Scripts is offering a $1 million reward to anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the extortionists.

Express Scripts represents thousands of clients including union-sponsored plans, employers and health insurers, and manages prescriptions benefits for approximately 50 million people.

Because identity theft threats continually become more sophisticated and more widespread, it’s more important than ever that you protect your finances, credit and your privacy with LifeLock’s identity theft protection services.

Visit their website at LifeLock.com to learn more about the comprehensive and innovative tools and strategies that have made them the identity theft protection plan chosen by nearly 1.5 million Americans. Enroll in their services from their secure website or by phone (1-800-LifeLock), but be sure to use the Life Lock promo code Defense to get a discount.