LifeLock » identity theft protection

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

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


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.



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




Tennessee woman’s home for rent – and she had no idea
admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:30:32 +0000
Identity thieves are always seeking new and inventive ways to fool the masses into giving up their personal or financial information. But they are also constantly coming up with ways to use that information once they’ve stolen it.
A thief in Tennessee stole a woman’s identity, then used it to offer up her home for rent without her knowledge. He set up a website in the woman’s name, then advertised the home for $1,000 a month, with a $1,000 deposit. 
A potential renter contacted her own realtor, who then notified the homeowner about the scam. The homeowner then searched online and found the fake listing. She says that to date, no one has shown up at her home claiming to have rented the home.
Thieves can also use your stolen Social Security number to get a driver’s license or an ID card issued in your name, but with their picture. They could then use it to get government benefits or file a fraudulent tax return in your name.
Thieves use stolen personal information to apply for jobs, obtain utility services like electricity, cable, heating or telephone, and they even rent apartments and other housing. 
The worst possible scenario is a thief using your stolen information when arrested. Thieves give police officers your personal information when they are arrested, and then you have the criminal record, not the thief. When the thief doesn’t show up for court, the police come looking for you with an warrant bearing your name.
Be safe. Protect your information and don’t give it out to just anyone.



Let LifeLock protect your identity this holiday season – and beyond
admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:38:39 +0000




Identity theft incidents declining, report states
admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:22:21 +0000
Identity fraud and identity theft – the two terms are used interchangeably. Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information, such as your Social Security number, address or bank account information. Identity fraud happens when they actually use that information for their own benefit.
The Federal Trade Commission has estimated that an average of 10 million people fall victim to identity fraud each year. The scary part is that they don’t even need a lot of information to do it – just one critical piece of information, like your Social Security number, will do. 
The 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin showed that after climbing every year since 2003, the number of identity fraud incidents has begun to decline. The amount of money involved has also declined. The average cost per victim, however, went up, which Javelin experts said is because of the increase in the thefts of debit card information, which don’t have the same protections against loss as credit cards.
But why are the number of identity theft crimes declining? Javelin credits increased efforts by law enforcement to combat this particular crime, as well as fraud detection systems and the behavioral changes by consumers. More and more people are signing up for credit monitoring services, and are more aware of the tricks of the identity theft trade. And since they are more aware, consumers are more prepared to prevent identity theft from happening.
This makes it clear – while you can’t stop a thief from trying to steal your identity, there are definitely things you can do to squash the attempt. Do all you can – and protect your identity.



Learn to protect yourself – It’s more crucial now than ever
admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:15:14 +0000
Identity theft is the No. 1 complaint to the Federal Trade Commission for the 11th year in a row. More than 8 million Americans were victims of the crime in the past year, and identity thieves are working on new and innovative ways to scam consumers every day. A recent study showed that a child is 51 times more likely to have his Social Security number stolen than an adult.  This problem isn’t going away.
But what can you do to fight identity theft? Awareness is key. Be aware of the ways that personal and financial information is stolen, and learn what you can do to protect your information. Monitor your personal and financial information to discover any problems so that you can take action quickly. Know what to do if you think your identity has been stolen.
If you have fallen victim to identity theft, you may find out only when bill collection agencies contact you about overdue debts you know nothing about, when you apply for a loan and are turned down, or if you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented or a job you never held.
There are practical things you can do that will make an enormous impact on the safety of your information. Shred all documents that bear your personal or financial information before disposal. Make sure you don’t give your passwords to anyone, make them difficult to decipher, and change them often. When online, do not post personal information, and only do business on secured sites. Never open unsolicited e-mails, and don’t click on any links contained in e-mails or sent to you via social media sites. 



VA nurse finally sees justice after 15-year ID theft
admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:36:28 +0000
After causing 15 years of suffering for a 50-year-old Veterans Affairs hospital nurse, an identity thief is finally behind bars.
Arthur Gerald Jones, 73, has pleaded guilty in a Las Vegas courtroom, and has been ordered to pay restitution to both the Social Security Administration and the man whose identity he stole, Clifton Goodenough. Jones pleaded guilty to one count of felony identity fraud.
Jones fled his home and left his family behind in 1979, and bought Goodenough’s information on the black market for $800. The information included Goodenough’s Social Security number. 
Jones then moved to Florida, and then later to Las Vegas, using his new identity. He became a bookie at a casino. Jones was declared legally dead in his native Ohio in 1986. 
Jones used Goodenough’s Social Security number to pay taxes on his winnings in Las Vegas, as well as other income. The IRS apparently didn’t notice there were two Goodenoughs with the same number.
But when Goodenough moved to Arizona in the mid-1990s, the two men’s tax returns were processed through the same office. Goodenough was contacted by the office, which was asking why he hadn’t paid taxes on the extra income he was earning in Las Vegas. Goodenough had never even been to Las Vegas.
When the IRS drained his bank account to pay taxes, Goodenough decided to get to the bottom of the problem. He found Jones’ phone number, and called him. Jones claimed to be concerned that their “shared” identities were causing Goodenough problems, and offered to change his Social Security number. 
Goodenough thought something was fishy there, and he called Sen. John McCain, and told him that every minute he spent trying to sort out the mess was a minute away from caring for America’s veterans. McCain went to work on Goodenough’s behalf, and Jones was soon arrested.
Jones could face three years of probation and repayment of $70,000 to the SSA and Goodenough. How Goodenough’s information got placed on the black market remains a mystery.