Archive for August, 2011

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Protect your identity by protecting your wallet

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

There’s one thing that most people never leave home without – their wallets.

But most consumers don’t give a second thought to the contents of their wallets and what they contain – even though the contents could set them up for identity theft.

Many people carry identification in their wallet, such as a driver’s license or other photo ID. The information contained on that card could give a thief enough information to set him firmly on course to steal your identity. While you can’t avoid carrying ID, you can guard it closely. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended, and make sure that you don’t carry more than what you need.

A lot of people carry their Social Security cards with them. This is a huge no-no. If a thief gets his hands on your Social Security card, you can say goodbye to your identity, and likely a lot of money as well. Don’t carry your card in your wallet. Instead, store it in a locked and safe location, such as a safe deposit box at the bank or a locked file cabinet at your home.

Another item people have begun carrying in their wallets is a piece of paper bearing their passwords. While we all have a lot on our minds, and it’s easy to forget passwords, carrying them around is a huge issue when it comes to identity theft. When a person writes down a password, he often writes down what the password is for as well. If a thief gets his hands on this information, you may as well stick a fork in it – it’s done.

You should also never carry a piece of paper with you that bears your PIN number. It’s obvious why this is a bad idea.

Remember: Only carry the items you must have each day – this includes leaving your credit cards at home and only taking the one or ones you need that day. If you’re not shopping, leave all but one at home.

By taking a few extra precautions, you can thwart identity theft – and make a potential identity thief one unhappy camper.

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Stop online identity theft

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

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Use these tips to avoid ID theft

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

The identities of millions of people are stolen each year. Identity thieves can use your personal information to access your financial accounts, obtain new credit cards, rent an apartment, get a job, get a cell phone, get medical care or even commit a crime.

But there are some things you can do – or not do – to avoid identity theft. First of all, never click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail. These could lead to what looks to be a legitimate website, designed to trick you into submitting your Social Security number, user name or passwords, or even your bank account or credit card number. Never provide this information. If you’re unsure, contact your bank or credit card issuer to confirm the request.

These links could also contain malware which, when clicked, can infiltrate your computer and provide personal information to a hacker.

Second, you should have your name removed from pre-approved credit offer lists. Thieves use these lists, and if you discard the information you receive in the mail without shredding it, a thief could use it to obtain a credit card in your name and rack up a mountain of debt. To opt out of these lists, call 888-5-OPTOUT.

Third, don’t put your full birthdate anywhere online – this includes social media sites. If you want people to know when your birthday is, list only the month and date, not the year.

Fourth, use long passwords. Experts say that passwords that are 10 characters is much harder to figure out than one that is less. Use a mix of letters, numbers and characters.

Last of all, shred charge receipts, financial account statements, insurance forms, medical bills and other items with personal information before disposal. Remember: An identity thief doesn’t feel he’s above going through your trash to find what he needs to steal your information.

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Identity theft: More sophisticated than you think

Friday, August 19th, 2011

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Elderly targeted for identity theft – But why?

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Identity theft crimes against the elderly accounts for as much as 10 percent of all identity theft cases, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Identity theft among the elderly is sometimes called the “silent crime,” because seniors are often embarrassed about what happened or too confused to report it.

A recent report stated that people over the age of 50 control more than 70 percent of the nation’s household wealth. This alone gives identity thieves reason to target them.

Some of the common scams include calling a senior and pretending to be from his bank, pretending to be a grandchild in trouble and in need of money, and asking for charitable donations. There’s also a growing number food stamp identity theft, in which a person calls a senior, claiming to need personal details in order to “re-certify” the senior in the food stamp program.

One of the most common scams happens to those seniors in care facilities or those taken care of at home by caregivers. In this circumstance, the caregiver steals the personal information of the senior, and proceeds to open new accounts in his name.

The elderly are targeted because they are more trusting, and many live alone and have no one to protect them. They also often have great credit, and may keep large amounts of cash in their home. Many seniors are not tech savvy, and know little or nothing about computers and how they work.

If you know a senior, help educate him about identity theft and how he can protect himself. Help the senior by keeping an eye on him, checking in periodically. Encourage the senior to verify facts before handing over any personal or financial information.

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College students eager to get back to school – and identity thieves can’t wait, either

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Students all over the country are packing up and returning to college. And chances are that in the next few weeks, they’ll get a lot of pre-approved credit offers in their dorm mail boxes.

College students are at a higher risk for identity theft, mostly because students just don’t think about checking their credit report or even know what their credit score is. They’re also at risk because when they get those pre-approved offers, they just throw them away, rather than shred them. This leaves students wide open for identity theft.

Identity thieves often go through trash, looking for personal information. When they find a pre-approved credit offer, they simply fill it out with their own address information or some other address, and then sit back and wait for their new credit card to arrive. They then rack up hundreds or even thousands of dollars of debt – all in the name of their victims.

College students can protect themselves with just a few tips. First of all, be careful what kind of personal information you share on social media sites. Don’t cosign for a friend on any purchase. Protect your computer by making sure you have the latest in anti-spyware and anti-virus protection.

You should also make sure you select passwords that are difficult to decipher, and change them often. When going online to make purchases, only do so on secured sites.

Shred documents that contain personal information, and don’t keep things in your dorm room that contain your personal information. Lock those documents up. You shouldn’t receive mail at your dorm – it’s too easy to break into those boxes. Get a post office box instead.

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Could my child be a victim of identity theft?

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

If you’re an identity thief who wants to commit crimes off of his victim’s information for years without detection, you’re going to want that victim to be a child. If you’re a parent, you’re going to want to take protecting your child’s information seriously.

First and foremost, as a parent, you must protect your child’s Social Security number and birth certificate. Don’t carry these items in a purse or briefcase – instead, keep them locked up at home in a fireproof safe or in your safe deposit box.

How do you know if your child has been victimized by an identity thief? If you’ve been receiving pre-approved credit offers in your child’s name or you’ve gotten phone calls from bill collectors, chances are a crime has taken place. You’ll want to contact the three credit bureaus and obtain a credit report on your child. You’ll have to prove you’re the parent or guardian, so be prepared with copies of your driver’s license, Social Security card and a copy of your child’s birth certificate. You may also want to contact the Social Security Administration to obtain a copy of your child’s earnings statement.

You should also consider using a credit monitoring service. For a fee, a service will monitor the Internet and databases for your child’s Social Security information, and will notify you of any unauthorized activity.

It’s important that you teach your child about keeping their personal and financial information private. Many teens and even pre-teens today are active on various social media, so be sure to teach your child about what’s okay, and not okay, to post on these sites.

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Be smart when it comes to ID theft and your smartphone

Monday, August 8th, 2011

The number of people using social media and paying bills on their smartphones is up – along with the number of criminals using those same types of devices to steal personal information in order to commit identity theft.

While it’s nice to be so connected, we must remember that being so can cost us. Hackers know that more and more people use their smartphones to stay connected with family and friends via social media, and they’re counting on us to use the convenience to pay bills and conduct other business on our phones as well.

One particularly popular item being used on Facebook is FourSquare, a location based social app. With this app, you can let friends and family know where you are by “checking in” at whatever location you are. If a hacker has connected with your smartphone, he knows you’re not at home, and that he has time to “drop by” and steal whatever he likes. Don’t forget – if he can hack into your phone, and you’ve conducted business on your phone, it’s very likely the hacker has your home address as well.

How can you protect yourself? Make sure you set your phone up with a password that would be hard to figure out, in case it’s lost or stolen. Change your password often, and don’t give it to anyone. If you must write it down, be sure to store it somewhere separate from your phone. You should also load the most up-to-date security software. And if you must conduct business on your phone, do so only on secured sites. Don’t use public Wi-Fi.

Be savvy when it comes to identity theft and your smartphone. Don’t let the phone – or the hackers – become smarter than you.

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When should I cancel my credit card?

Friday, August 5th, 2011

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Trolling using someone else’s Facebook profile is identity theft? One judge says yes

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

A California judge has ruled that using another person’s Facebook account password to gain access to their profile, and then trolling using that account, is identity theft.

A juvenile received an unsolicited text message with the victim’s e-mail password. He used the password to gain access to her profile, and posted several inappropriate messages from the victim’s account. He sent posts to her friends, and changed her profile as well. Many of the posts were of a sexual nature.

The victim, also a juvenile, said she suffered stigma as a result of the posts, and is struggling with the attention it brings her at school.

The juvenile was prosecuted under a California statute which applies to anyone who willfully obtains personal information from someone else and uses it for any unlawful purpose, including “to obtain, or attempt to obtain, credit, goods, services, real property or medication information.”

The judge ruled that despite the fact that the information was unsolicited, the defendant did willfully use the information for an unlawful purpose. The juvenile said he meant his comments to be taken as a joke.

The court found that, since the defendant conceded that his conduct satisfied the requirements of a civil defamation claim, the defendant’s act constituted libel and is a criminal offense. The defendant’s actions violated section 653m, which makes illegal any contact with another person using “obscene language by means of an electronic device, with the intent to annoy.”

Could this set a precedent for other states? Stay tuned to find out. In the meantime, don’t use other people’s passwords or profiles, and guard your own.

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