Archive for November, 2011

Shop smart on Cyber Monday

Monday, November 28th, 2011

According to the National Retail Federation, more than 100 million Americans will shop today, Cyber Monday. And shoppers are being urged to be extra careful, so they can avoid identity theft and fraud. Here are some tips to help you stay safe.

First, stick with online retailers you recognize. Don’t shop at sites you are unfamiliar with. If you run across a site that bears an unknown domain name or is misspelled, that’s a huge red flag – move on to a different site.

If you find an item you wish to purchase, make sure that the site is secure before you enter your credit card information. You’ll know it’s secure if you see “https” in the URL instead of just “http.”

You should plan to use your credit card to shop, rather than your debit card. Your debit card is a direct link to your bank account. Credit cards provide greater consumer protection and less liability.

If you are physically shopping at a store, make sure you only carry the credit or debit card you need. Do not carry extra cards, your check book, or Social Security card with you. If your wallet is stolen or lost, you’ll be out of luck if it’s full of this extra information.

Last of all, make sure you check out any machine you are using before you swipe your card. Thieves are using devices called skimmers, which can be attached to point of sale machines in stores, ATMs and even gas pumps. Don’t swipe your card if the device looks out of place, and if you choose to use the device, shield your PIN or ask the cashier to run your card through the register rather than the card reader if the card reader looks strange to you.

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Watch out for skimming in drive-thrus

Monday, November 21st, 2011

A Detroit couple were stumped for weeks – a series of liquor store charges appeared on their debit card, and they had no idea how the charges got there.

About $150 in charges for various liquors were charged at four different small liquor stores in Detroit.

The couple finally saw a story in a newspaper about a woman who worked at McDonald’s, who was charged with stealing customers’ debit and credit card information while working in the drive-thru at the fast food restaurant. She used a skimming device to obtain the data.

The Detroit couple saw the story and immediately realized they had been victimized by the woman. After doing some research and looking at receipts, the couple realized they weren’t 100 percent sure the woman had stolen their information as well. But the incident was enough to teach them a lesson.

The couple spent more than a month trying to clear the mess up with their bank.

The thief in this case, used a simple technique: She held the device in her left hand and swiped the card with her right hand, out of the line of vision of the customers. The thief stole more than 100 customer credit and debit cards, and said she would steal the data from about 15-20 cards each shift she worked.

She received the skimmer from an unidentified source, who she said paid her more than $1,000 for providing the stolen data. For each card she skimmed, she was paid an additional $15. The thief now faces up to 15 years in prison.

When going through a drive-thru, it’s best to pay in cash. However, it’s not very practical in this day and age. So just keep your eyes open and never take them off your credit or debit card. Don’t let a restaurant employee take your card out of sight, for even a second. You could regret it, like the couple in Detroit, if you do.

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IRS says it’s ‘difficult’ to screen for fraud

Friday, November 18th, 2011

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IRS defends itself regarding targeted issues

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

IRS watchdog Treasury for Inspector General for Tax Administration released its report, and the findings are a bit bleak.

• One hundred percent of IRS databases tested by TIGTA are vulnerable to hackers.

• Some of the 2,200 databases the IRS uses to manage and process data are not configured securely and are running on software that is out of date and no longer receives security patches.

• The IRS has spent more than $1.1 million in software licenses and support costs for a database vulnerability scanning and compliance assessment tool. But despite spending this money, the IRS has yet to fully implement plans to complete the scans of its databases.

IRS spokesperson Julianne Fisher Breitbeil said the IRS takes these recommendations seriously, and is taking steps to correct the issues. She said many of the issues have been resolved already, and that taxpayers are not at risk. She also noted that many of the databases referenced in the report don’t store taxpayer data, and are used internally, rather than accessed by the public.

“Security enhancement is an ongoing investment as the external world changes,” Breitbeil said “We continue to make substantial investments and test our capabilities on an ongoing basis. It’s also important to note there have been no actual data breaches involving these databases.”

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Be safe when Christmas shopping online

Monday, November 14th, 2011

The Christmas season is just around the corner, and with the holiday comes the frenzied rush of looking for just the right gift for every person on your Christmas list. People will shop in stores, online and via catalog, and scammers are hoping that while you’re running around looking for gifts, you’ll forget to be cautious about protecting your personal and financial information.

Here are some tips to help keep you safe as you do business online this holiday season.

First of all, if you are shopping online, be careful about who you do business with. Make sure you only shop at sites that are reputable and that you are familiar with. You should also take care when it comes to what you are buying. Look for clear, accurate and easily accessible information about the goods or services being offered. Be sure to review return and refund policies, as well as warranties or guarantees.

If you are paying for an object online, make sure you only shop on secured sites. Use only a secure browser that encrypts your personal and financial information. Never e-mail your financial information.

You should also find out the company’s security policies. Find out what the business will do with your personal and financial information once the transaction is completed. Ask if the company shares information with other businesses. Ask about an opt-out policy, and if they have one, use it.

Be wary if the company asks for financial information prior to placement of the order, and remember: If a deal is too good to be true, it very likely is.

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Learn how to be safe online

Friday, November 11th, 2011

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‘Make it rain’ parties afford theft opportunity for identity thieves

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

During a recent traffic stop in Tampa, Fla., police didn’t find drugs in the car of a known drug dealer – they found large numbers of pre-paid debit cards and ledgers with Social Security numbers.

Identity theft involving tax fraud is increasing faster than law enforcement and government officials can handle. Identity theft to scam fraudulent tax refunds has increased 100 percent in just three years. As of August 31 of this year, the IRS tracking reports showed that the number of taxpayers affected by identity theft has more than doubled since 2008.

In Tampa, police say they have busted up several “make it rain” parties, where criminals get together in a hotel room with Internet access and file one fake tax return after another.

The really bad news is that the chances of these criminals being caught and punished are low because each fraud case amounts to an average of $3,400, which is deemed too little to merit prosecution. The IRS is also limited by law in sharing information from taxpayer returns with local law enforcement authorities, further hampering police efforts.

Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry it around with you, keeping it instead locked in a safe place like a safe deposit box. Don’t give your number out online or on the phone, and don’t give it to anyone in person unless you are sure how it will be used and stored. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how your number will be secured, and don’t be afraid to ask if alternative information can be used instead of your Social Security number.

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Don’t let the holiday rush get your guard down

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the country – hands down. One person falls victim to this crime every few seconds. Knowing this, you can see why it pays to be vigilant.

Identity thieves know that one of the easiest ways to get to their victims is online. It can be quick and the online environment creates a place where thieves can get in and get out quickly, and all too often without getting caught. But you can protect yourself.

Make sure you have firewalls and anti-spy software installed on your computer. Make sure your own network is secure, particularly if you use your home computer to check your bank account or if you shop online. Make your passwords tough to decipher – use upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. And don’t use the same password for every site you visit.

If you receive unsolicited e-mails, don’t click on any links they may contain. These links could contain malware, which will invade your computer and give a thief access to your personal and financial information. If you do receive an e-mail that you think could be a phishing attempt, report it to your local authorities, as well as to the Federal Trade Commission.

You may feel that shopping online just isn’t safe, with all of these concerns rattling around in your brain. But you can shop online – you just have to be smart about it. Only shop on sites that are secure, and stay away from lesser-known sites. Shop only on those well-established store sites that you know you can trust.

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Learn to speak ’scam’

Friday, November 4th, 2011

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Signing up for LifeLock is easy

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

There’s no question about whether you need identity theft protection – in this day and age, you can’t afford to be caught without it.

Let’s say you’ve narrowed your choice down to the industry leader, LifeLock, and you want to sign up, but aren’t sure which one of LifeLock’s service plans are for you. Here’s some help.

When you enroll with LifeLock, a quick and easy process, you’ll find that there are two choices: LifeLock’s Command Center, priced at $15 a month or $165 a year; of LifeLock’s regular service at $10 a month or $110 a year.

LifeLock’s Command Center is your best value, as it not only offers LifeLock’s industry-leading identity theft protection and $1 Million Total Service Guarantee, but it also offers LifeLock’s Command Center protection suite and advanced protection against identity theft.

With LifeLock’s regular service, you get identity theft protection service and the $1 million guarantee. You’ll be notified about attempted uses of your credit, get wallet remediation services, have access to fraud resolution teams, and LifeLock will monitor criminal websites for the illegal trading of your information.

For only $5 more a month, you can sign up for the Command Center, which would offer you the following: You’ll be notified of any attempted use of your credit, monitoring for use of your information on known criminal websites or the illegal use or sale of your information, stolen or lost wallet remediation, fraud resolution assistance, monitoring of public records and aliases, and monitoring of file sharing sites and payday loans.

You can also sign up to protect your family. Child identity theft is a growing problem, and LifeLock offers protection for your children, as well as yourself.

Give LifeLock a try today – your peace of mind, as well as your family’s, is so worth it.

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