Archive for October, 2008

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Nevada law makes businesses protect customers’ electronic data

Friday, October 17th, 2008

A new law in Nevada forces businesses to encrypt customer data that could result in identity theft. Big national companies and small business owners, like hairdressers and deli operators, can no longer send and receive personal or financial information via email or Internet without encrypting or password protecting the data.

The law makes the business owners legally liable if unprotected electronic data results in identity theft or data breaches. Unlimited civil penalties will be applicable for non-compliance that results in a security breach. If the information has been protected in compliance with the new law, damages will be capped at $1,000. That amount might not sound like much, but it will be applied to each customer, and for each occurrence. (more…)

Posted in Data breach | 2 Comments »

You need LifeLock identity protection just because you have a Social Security number

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Whether you live in Manhattan, NY, or Manhattan, KS, some of the identity theft risks are the same. A recent New York Times article detailed the uses—and abuses—of your Social Security number once it’s in the hands of condo, co-op and apartment management companies.

Yes, they need your SSN for credit checks and loan applications. But once you submit application, you can only hope they protect your information. Wherever you live, the NYT article, and what their writers learned, will certainly give you pause.

When Ben Kirschenbaum, an attorney representing a realty company in Manhattan (New York), was asked how his client protects applicants’ personal and financial information, he was happy to explain their security policies. (more…)

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Compare LifeLock to other ID theft protection services

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

One way to choose an identity theft protection service is to find the company with the most customers and join the crowd. If choosing a company just because almost 1.5 million customers chose them is good enough for you, LifeLock is for you.

But, if you want to go with the company that offers the most and does it for less than its biggest competitors, you need to know why those 1.5 million customers chose LifeLock. (more…)

Posted in LifeLock Reviews | 1 Comment »

LifeLock and Melaleuca Team Up

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

LifeLock has partnered with the company Melaleuca, a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of wellness products, in offering identity theft protection to their members for a discount.

Identity theft crimes are on the rise, surpassing drug trafficking, and it is now the number one crime in the nations. “The need to educate consumers of the fast growing crime of identity theft is more urgent than ever. LifeLock’s identity theft protection has always been on the forefront of providing the public knowledge and peace of mind. Our partnership with Melaleuca will allow LifeLock to continue to educate more consumers,” said LifeLock CEO Todd Davis. (more…)

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Proof that LifeLock works

Monday, October 13th, 2008

LifeLock critics smirk and laugh about CEO Todd Davis’ identity having been stolen. While it’s true a Texas man was able to take out a $500 payday advance loan using Davis’ name, when you look at the story more closely, it’s really a testament to LifeLock’s effectiveness.

For starters, consider how many time Davis has exposed his Social Security number. Let’s see … there are the TV commercials that have been viewed billions of times over the years. There are all the print ads they’ve run. There are all those interviews he’s given, each time reciting his Social Security number. And there are the millions of hits to the website that bears his Social Security number. (more…)

Posted in Todd Davis | 3 Comments »

Medical Identity Theft

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Identity theft is something we’re all familiar with by now – some of us have become painfully familiar with the ensuing aggravation, paranoia and financial damage. But there’s a new and growing subset of identity theft whose ramifications can deadly.

Medical identity theft is a crime wherein your medical or insurance information is used to obtain medical care or to falsely file for payment of medical care. Perhaps it’s best illustrated by example: (more…)

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Posted in Data breach | 2 Comments »

Basic steps toward identity theft protection

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

You think identity theft couldn’t happen to you? My guess is that if it can happen to vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, it can happen to just about anyone.

David Kernell, 20, was indicted today for hacking into Palin’s Yahoo e-mail account September 16. Kernell isn’t a computer genius. He had just little bits of Palin’s personal information, but that’s all it took to commit what might be the most-widely publicized e-mail hacking to date.

All it took was a click on the “reset my password” button, and he was halfway there. Then, he just answered a simple question like, what’s your zip code? Or, what’s your maiden name? He was in. (more…)

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LifeLock chosen by leading payroll company as benefits option

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

LifeLock is now part of the benefits package offered to more than 200,000 employees nationwide. AmCheck has included LifeLock identity theft protection service as an employee benefits option along with health, life and other coverages like health and life insurance.

AmCheck, provides payroll services to more than 1,500 companies with a total of over 200,000 employees. Employees who elect to take advantage of the ID theft protection company’s services will join nearly 1.5 other Americans protected by multi-layer credit and identity protection backed by a $1 million total service guarantee. (more…)

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Data breaches leave almost 1 million Blue Cross Blue Shield customers vulnerable to ID theft

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the oldest and largest health insurance company in the country, providing health insurance to every one in three Americans. They identify themselves as “a federation of 39 independent, community-based, locally owned companies.” Unfortunately, they aren’t doing a great job of securing their customers’ personal information.

The most recent of nine Blue Cross Blue Shield data breaches occurred September 30 in Louisiana when an email was sent out to brokers. The names, addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers of 1,700 customers were exposed when an attachment was inadvertently sent out with the email.

Compared to other recent data breaches that left millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft, this data breach is small. But since February 2006 Blue Cross Blue Shield has suffered eight other information losses that have affected a total of more than 900,000 of their customers. (more…)

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Mom and daughter bond with ID theft, mail fraud

Monday, October 6th, 2008

Isn’t it wonderful when an adult daughter and her mother can put behind them the storms of adolescence and years later become real friends…confidants and co-conspirators to commit aggravated identity theft and mail fraud?

Such is the heartwarming story of Cassidy Janosky, 36, and her mother, Cynthia Jean Walker, 54. Cynthia worked as real estate agent in Kennewick, Washington, and her daughter, Cassidy, was a vice president and business-development officer for Bank of the West.

Like other moms and daughters, Cassidy and Cynthia enjoyed shopping together. Unlike other mother-daughter duos, these two used other people’s credit to pay for their goodies. Two LCD televisions, two recliners, a treadmill, a Sony Playstation 3, and an iPod were among the fruits of their fraud, which totaled more than $13,000. (more…)

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