Archive for June, 2011

Beware of job posting scams

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Picture this: You’ve applied for a job, and you receive a promising e-mail response. The e-mail states that the company is interested in you, and the salary is big.

However, the job you would be doing involves sensitive information, so you have to submit to a background check as part of the interview process. So you give them your age, height, weight, Social Security number, bank account numbers and mother’s maiden name, as per the company’s request.

What’s wrong with this picture?

This is a typical scam, victimizing unemployed people so desperate to find work that they’ll do just about anything. This type of scam is perpetrated by criminals every day, using legitimate job sites like Monster, Craigslist and CareerBuilder. The ads look legit enough, but when they start asking for your personal information, beware.

It is not necessary to provide your Social Security number when applying for a job, even if the request is because a background check is needed. You should never give a prospective employer your credit card or bank account information, either. They have no reason to ask for this information.

Some job postings will respond by asking you to log onto a “secure server” so that you can access their site and take a look at the kinds of work you’d be doing. The sender will request that you e-mail a password, banking on the fact that many people use the same password for everything. It’s very likely that the person on the other end of this request is a criminal, and he’s counting on you to e-mail him your password.

Don’t fall for this scam. There are a lot of legitimate job postings out there, but be careful and use common sense. Don’t provide your most personal information.

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Watch out for video scams on Facebook

Friday, June 24th, 2011

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How do I know if my kid’s SSN has been compromised?

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon showed that of 40,000 children’s identity records reviewed, 10 percent of them showed that at least one person had used the child’s Social Security number.

Although the study isn’t scientific, because it didn’t include a random sampling from the general population, it does show that children’s Social Security numbers are being targeted by identity thieves.

Why? Because children’s SSNs are unused and it is highly likely the theft will go undetected for years – and since the numbers haven’t been used, they won’t show up on any credit monitoring or identity theft protection service scans as questionable.

The Social Security Administration has made a change that may have a serious impact on this. As of June 25, the administration has changed the way it assigns SSNs. Previously, the first three digits indicated the state in which it was issued, and the fourth and fifth numbers were linked to the order in which they were issued. This made it easier for thieves to predict what new numbers would be issued. Making those numbers random will eliminate this issue.

If your child has received pre-approved credit card offers in the mail or a debt collection call, it’s likely your child’s SSN has been compromised. But even so, it’s not wise to repeatedly check with the credit reporting agencies to see if your child has a credit file. This may create a file, which would put your child at even more risk.

The better plan is to check to see if your child has a credit file when he or she becomes 16. This way, if there is an issue, you have two years to correct it before the child comes of age at 18.

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Don’t let your vacation be ruined by ID thieves

Monday, June 20th, 2011

It’s summertime – and for many, that means it’s time for the much-anticipated, long-awaited vacation. But picture this: You go away on your dream vacation, and have the time of your life. You return home to find your home has been ransacked, and not only have the thieves taken your personal belongings, but they’ve also taken your computer, which contains personal and financial information. What do you do to stop the “bleeding?”

In order to stop a thief from cleaning your accounts out and ruining your credit, you’ve got to take action fast. At this point, if a thief has stolen your computer, he’s got it all: your name, address, Social Security number, account number and even passwords. This information is all a thief needs to take over your accounts and drain them.

Call the police and file a report. This is a must-do first step. You’ll need to have a copy of the report in order to prove an identity theft took place.

Next, you’ll need to contact creditors and your bank, and make sure all open accounts are protected. Here’s where your password comes into play – if you have a different password on each account, and it’s a difficult one, you’ll help slow down the process for the thief. If you have all of your accounts set to come up automatically without entering the password, all the thief has to do is turn on your computer, and he has access to everything.

Next, you’ll want to set up a credit freeze on your credit reports with all three reporting bureaus. You’ll also want to keep a constant eye on your credit reports so that you’ll know immediately if anything out of the ordinary happens.

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Protect yourself from identity theft with these easy steps

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing types of fraud in the United States. Millions of people fall victim to this crime each year. Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself.

• Identity theft always begins with the misuse of your personal information, such as your name, Social Security card, or credit or debit card information. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet, and never give your credit or debit card information to anyone unless you are sure of that person. Never give your information to anyone during an unsolicited phone call or e-mail.

• Check your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus each year.

• Open your credit card and bank statements and review them each month, making sure to check for incorrect or fraudulent information. Know your billing schedule; if your bill doesn’t arrive on time, find out why.

• Be careful if you are asked to donate money following a natural disaster. It’s best to contact a well-known organization to make your donation.

• Elderly people are often targeted in money scams. Keep an eye on elderly family members and neighbors.

• Disconnect your laptop from a broadband or shared connection when not in use.

• Avoid offers and pop-ups that are too good to be true. All too often, these are just ways used by criminals to obtain your personal information.

• Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit offers.

• If you shop or pay bills online, be sure you only do so on secured websites. Look for “https” in the URL instead of the usual “http.”

• Retrieve your mail promptly, and have your mail held at the post office when you go out of town. Don’t place mail in your mailbox for pickup, with the red flag raised – criminals know that’s a sure sign there’s mail in the box they can steal. Drop your mail at the post office instead.

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How can I protect my driver’s license info?

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Identity theft has become more common, claiming more victims every day. It can truly happen to anyone. Taking steps to ensure that you don’t become a victim can minimize the damage done by an identity thief.

Until 2004, some states still required that a driver’s Social Security number appear on his driver’s license. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act made this illegal. When a criminal has access to both your driver’s license and Social Security information, it becomes easier to ruin your credit and steal your money.

If your driver’s license is stolen, report the theft immediately to the three credit bureaus. Placing a fraud alert on your credit report will help deter a criminal from being able to open lines of credit in your name.

Some states now require that you do not smile when having your driver’s license photo taken. A neutral photo allows software to scam to see if a new photo and information match the information of another person. This system allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to verify if someone is trying to assume your identity.

Some states have a “verify ID” flag placed on your driver’s license. This warns authorities that someone may try to use your name and information in a fraudulent manner. Ask for a copy of your driving record annually to make sure there are no recorded tickets not issued to you.

Remember: Never have your driver’s license number printed on your personal checks – and be sure to destroy your old license when you receive a new one.

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What do I do if I’m a victim of tax-related ID theft?

Monday, June 6th, 2011

Imagine this: you fill out your tax forms and calculate your rather large refund. In your mind, you’ve already got it spent. You file online, then hit send. After waiting to receive your refund, you check on its status, only to find that someone else got it – using your Social Security number and name, no less.

You’ve just become a victim of tax-related identity theft.

The Internal Revenue Service is currently grappling with a five-fold increase in taxpayer identity theft. Between 2008 and 2010, the number of incidents grew at an astounding rate – there were 51, 702 incidents in 2008, compared to a whopping 248,357 in 2010.

The truly heinous part is that most of these thieves aren’t caught or prosecuted.

IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman said the IRS Criminal Division concentrates on schemes of national score, and added that 95 percent of those prosecuted for refund-related identity theft go to prison.

Tax identity thieves typically submit returns for refunds early in the filing season. The legitimate taxpayer usually files later, and then learns from the IRS that two returns were filed using the same Social Security number.

If you believe you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, call the IRS specialized unit at 1-800-908-4490.

If your tax records are currently not affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost or stolen wallet, questionable credit card activity or some other activity, submit a copy of your valid federal- or state-issued ID, such as a Social Security card, driver’s license or passport, along with a copy of a police report and a completed IRS identity theft affidavit (Form 14039) to: Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 9039, Andover, MA 01810-0939.

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Learn to spot a skimming device

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

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Be careful where you send that donation

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Donations have poured in since the tornado in Joplin, Mo. and the surrounding area on May 22. Some of the donations haven’t reached those who need help, however, because there are those who take advantage of others in their time of need.

Scam artists often surface when there’s a natural disaster such as the tornados that ripped through the central portion of the U.S. in late May. Consumers have to become more educated on how to fend off scam artists, and learn to understand charity fraud, contractor scams, identity theft and price gouging.

First of all, if someone asks you for a donation to a charity but denies a request for written information about the charity, it’s a huge red flag. This is often the first sign of a scam artist.

Unless you have contacted a specific organization that you want to give money to, don’t give money over the phone. You can’t be sure of the person at the other end of that line, and you don’t really know for what purpose they are requesting your personal or financial information. It’s best to stick with organizations that are well known, like the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse or United Way.

To give through the Red Cross, go online at https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=4993&4993.donation=form1, or call 1-800-REDCROSS. You can also text RED CROSS to 40999.

To give through the United Way, you can go online to www.liveunited.org/give.

To give through Samaritan’s Purse, go online at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/mb/pray_for_missouri/. You can also call 1-800-528-1980.

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