Much of the information that makes up the outline of our personal histories exists digitally. We have records, medical charts, college transcripts, military records, county clerk’s files, credit scores, and personnel records. And we’re learning the hard way that we can’t necessarily trust the accidental archivists with our information. (more…)
Some people respond to all the identity theft hysteria by taking all suggested precautions, and subscribing to a credit monitoring or identity theft protection service. Others listen to reports of identity theft and data breaches with skepticism, or even cynicism, believing the reports are hyped by the companies that benefit from it most – the companies that sell credit monitoring and identity theft services. (more…)
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…)
The first thing identity theft victims want to know is who’s the culprit. Most people assume an internet purchase led to the crime, or a waiter in a restaurant copied the info from a credit card. Maybe it was a dumpster diver.
Most people will never know who the perpetrator was, but 25% of all victims do find out who stole their identity. Half of those people will discover they’ve been taken advantage of by a relative, a neighbor, an employee, a repairman, a former boyfriend—someone they knew and trusted. (more…)
Yesterday’s bad news was that a “gaping hole” in the internet’s essential design allows identity thieves to invisibly redirect internet users to their own sites. This redirection to an “evil twin” website means the thieves can then intercept the unsuspecting user’s personal and financial information.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Dan Kaminsky, the security guru who discovered the flaw, announced today that email is also vulnerable to interception by criminals bent on stealing identities.
How does that increase your risk of ID theft? You know that email you got from your credit card company, bank or stockbroker when you initiated your online account? The one that confirmed your user name, password and account number, or the one they sent you when you forgot your password? You might not be the only one who received it.
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