Archive for the ‘identity theft protection’ Category

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Condo residents targeted in ID theft scam

Monday, August 30th, 2010

A nationwide identity theft scam has some Saline, Mich. residents seeing red – and their checking accounts in the red.

The victims, all residents of a Saline condo community, Rolling Meadows Townhomes, were targeted as part of an international identity theft ring. Most of the residents have lost thousands of dollars.

Thieves used the Internet to send and trade personal banking information from the residents, creating fraudulent checks using the victims’ names and account numbers on seemingly legitimate checks drawn on national banks.

No one is sure at this point how the thieves obtained the victims’ information, but police suspect that a person in Detroit may have copied and sold the information to the thieves.

Police also believe this type of scam will be repeated in other parts of the country.

To protect yourself from your information being sold or traded by thieves, sign up for LifeLock today. LifeLock’s eRecon™ service searches the Internet for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information, and if any such activity is detected, you’ll be notified immediately so that action can be taken to resolve the problem.

In addition, LifeLock monitors for your personal information being used to apply for many forms of credit or services. You’ll be notified by e-mail, postal mail or telephone if any fraudulent activity is found.

And if you ever fall victim to identity theft while a LifeLock member, LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to restore your life – and your credit – to order.

LifeLock is affordable. The standard service costs only $10 per month, while LifeLock Command Center™ costs only $15 per month. With an affordable price tag, and more control than ever for members, LifeLock is a valuable service you can’t afford to be without.

Call or go online today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Beware of restaurant ’skimmers’

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Most people are concerned about their personal information – concerned enough to take the necessary steps to be sure it’s safe.

But there are some scams or methods used by thieves that you just can’t be prepared for. One of these happens in restaurants, and it’s a very commonly used ploy. In this scam, a thief, working as a waiter or waitress, takes your credit card from you when it’s time to pay your bill. Then, in addition to scanning your card through the credit card machine, the thief will “skim” your card through a machine that reads and records your number, which can be retrieved later. Sometimes the skimmers are attached to the credit card machines are go undetected for long periods of time.

In some instances, criminals are hiring young people who work as wait staff to scan the numbers and turn them over.

In all likelihood, the reason there are so many thefts of this nature is because it’s one of the few places your credit card actually leaves your sight. Since the scam was first discovered, some restaurants are now requiring wait staff to use credit card scanners right at the table, in view of the patrons.

Most credit card companies have mechanisms in place to protect you against this type of loss, but keep an eye on your credit card statement. Same goes for your debit card – if you use it to pay, be sure you check your bank statement frequently and carefully. No matter what type of card you use, if you see unauthorized items, take immediate action.

You should also be proactive – sign up with LifeLock today. LifeLock’s Identity Alert™ system provides a much broader approach to identity theft protection, along with greater control and early notification of both credit and non-credit related identity threats. If there is any detected unauthorized activity regarding your personal information, you’l be notified by e-mail, postal mail or phone. And LifeLock will step in and take action to help protect you and your information.

And if you ever do fall victim to identity theft while under LifeLock’s protection, LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to help fix it. That means you’ll have lawyers, investigators, accountants and case managers working on your case to make sure things are put back in order.

Now that’s protection you can count on.

Call LifeLock today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Guard your information with your life

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

If you haven’t been touched by identity theft yet, you’re extremely lucky. More than 10 million thefts happen in the U.S. alone each year. That means that it’s not an “if it happens” crime – it’s a “when it happens” crime.

The No. 1 rule when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft is simple: guard your personal information. But what data should you protect?

You already know that you should protect your Social Security number and your credit information, but is that the only information at risk? How sensitive are things like your date of birth and your mother’s maiden name? Some of the most sought-after information includes your full name, address, phone number, date of birth, place of birth, mother’s maiden name, Social Security number, bank account number, credit card number, PIN number and passwords.

The more specific to you the information is, the more thieves want to get hold of it. Other information a thief may want includes your user names, place of employment, employment or residential history, medical records, anniversary dates, or children’s names and dates of birth.

Remember that every piece of information that an identity thief can get his hands on gets him another inch closer to you. Each piece of the puzzle makes the picture much clearer for the thief, and puts you more at risk.

So remember: guard your personal information as if your life depends on it – at some point, it just might.

To make sure your information is guarded 24/7, call LifeLock. LifeLock will monitor for credit and non-credit related threats to your personal information, and if any signs of compromise appear, you’ll be notified immediately. LifeLock will work to be sure your information is safe.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Concerns about ID theft up; attitudes about security down

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are concerned about their personal information being stolen, including information about their bank accounts, credit cards and identity, according to a recent survey.

Of those surveyed, 65 percent said their biggest fear was having their bank account, credit card or personal information stolen from their computers. The second biggest concern for consumers is phishing for personal information and malware.

Of those surveyed, a staggering 81 percent said their computers had been infected by a virus at one point, and 29 percent of them said they had been victimized in the last three months.

But despite all of this, surveyors found that consumers still have sloppy security practices. Only 59 percent of the survey’s respondents had updated their computers’ anti-virus software, and only 53 percent had enabled a firewall on their home routers or computers.

The survey shows, by its high number of victimizations, that the number of online hackers and thieves is ever rising. Criminals are getting more and more sophisticated, and more skilled at identifying potential security holes in a consumer’s home network.

Armed with consumer’s personal information cyber criminals can deplete bank accounts and harm credit ratings, which costs consumers significant time and effort to reverse the damage.

The survey consisted of 1,200 web users from 18 to 55 years old, with at least one personal computer in their homes and a broadband connection, who spend a few hours a month browsing the Internet from their homes.

These statistics are why it’s crucial to be sure your information is protected. You can’t be relaxed about protecting your personal information – you must be vigilant. But you don’t have to go it alone.
LifeLock can help.

LifeLock will monitor for all credit and non-credit related threats to your personal information, and you’ll be notified immediately, so that any attempts at stealing your identity and ruining your credit are nipped in the bud.

Call LifeLock today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Washington woman charged in ID theft ring

Friday, August 20th, 2010

A Washington, D.C. woman has pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy and fraud in connection with a credit card and identity theft ring operating out of Northwest Washington.

The ring charged $89,000 to nearly 200 companies and individuals by stealing mail from residential mailboxes, and credit card receipts from two florists and a medical office.

Dionne Witherspoon, 38, admitted running the ring with a co-conspirator named in court papers only as “RGRM.”

Witherspoon could face up to 121 months in prison and a fine up to $150,000.

The D.C. woman had her co-conspirators obtain the identification and bank account information of victims, then accept delivery of merchandise bought with the proceeds at their homes. The ring also stole credit card receipts and prescriptions from a CVS Pharmacy near Howard University.

The stolen information was used to make transactions on legitimate credit accounts maintained by victims, to open online credit accounts and to tap into pay by phone checking account payments.

The co-conspirators were given a cut of the merchandise, and discounted payments of utility and cell phone bills, as well as the payment of parking tickets.

Kimberly Hatton, 41, Peeair Bassil, 42, and LaKisha Williams, 34, have also been charged in connection with the case.

It’s all to easy for criminals like Witherspoon to steal your mail. But there are steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim.

• Buy and install a locking mailbox.
• Don’t leave bill payment envelopes in your mailbox; take them to the post office.
• Know when your bank and credit card statements arrive in the mail and check them.
• Know your billing cycles and watch for any missing mail.
• Follow up if your expected mail doesn’t come when expected.

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Betty’s one smart old gal – and you should be, too

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Betty is a retiree who lives on the coast. She enjoys gardening, is active at her local church, and volunteers at the local hospital. She just bought a computer and is learning to use it, so that she can keep in touch better with her grandchildren.

And Betty is one smart cookie. She thwarted a recent attempt at identity theft, and was quick to notify her local police department about it.

Betty received a call at her home from someone asking about her newly-purchased computer. The caller told her that his company worked with the retailer where she had purchased her computer, and he knew that there were major files that are part of the Microsoft program on her computer that were corrupted and in need of repair.

Betty hasn’t had time to have someone set up her Internet connection yet, so she knew that no one outside of her home would have access to anything on her computer. She promptly ended the phone call, and didn’t provide the caller with any information.

Based on that call, Betty believes someone was attempting to gather information about her and her computer so that he could access her files and obtain personal information – information he could then use to steal her identity and rob her blind.

If you receive a call such as this one from someone requesting your personal information, don’t give it to him. This includes your address, birth date, Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, and passwords. Betty did the right thing by reporting the incident to her police department, and so should you.

Be sure to shred any documentation that contains personal information, including medical bills, credit card and bank statements, and pre-approved credit card offers.

To be completely sure you’re safe, call LifeLock today. LifeLock will monitor for any credit or non-credit related threats to your personal information, and will notify you immediately, so that the issue can be resolved quickly.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Data breaches on the rise

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Your personal information may be leaked more than you know.

Records with private information such as driver’s licenses, financial documents and medical forms, either in paper format or electronically, are put at risk more than ever before, and more often than not, these risks are not disclosed to the public.

This year, more than 341 individual breaches have been tracked, compared to 498 for the entire year in 2009. But dozens of breaches have been kept from the public eye, delayed in publication or not disclosed at all.

So what can you, as a consumer, do?

If you receive a letter saying your information is at risk, don’t panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are a victim of identity theft. You should first check to see what information is at risk. You should then take action accordingly. If it’s a credit card, contact your credit card issuer. If it involves your Social Security number, you should place a fraud alert on your credit report.

Other actions you can take to protect your financial identity include:

• Use unique passwords for each Web site you visit, including shopping and online banking sites.
• Check your bank or retailer’s security measures for online transactions. They should have policies in place to prevent hacking.
• Always review credit card and banking statements when you receive them.
• You can request the three credit bureaus to free access to your credit files to prevent any new accounts being opened with your stolen information.

But the best thing you can do is to sign up for LifeLock. LifeLock will monitor for any threat to your personal information, and will notify you immediately. This includes monitoring for the sale or trade of your personal information, which often happens when a thief hacks into a database or gets information due to a breach.

Call LifeLock today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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Let the law be your guide when protecting your child’s SSN

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Maine’s Civil Liberties Union wants parents to know they can opt out of a plan to have students identified by their Social Security numbers. Education officials say the numbers are needed to track student progress in college and on into the workforce, while MCLU representatives are concerned the policy may put students at risk for identity theft.

The MCLU has issued a statement letting parents know they still have the final say when it comes to disclosing their child’s Social Security number. The state’s Department of Education sent out letters to school districts statewide which state that school officials must inform parents that they are not required to submit their children’s numbers.

School districts in Maine are expected to begin collecting the information this fall at the beginning of the new school year.

According to privacy rights law, publicly-funded schools and those that receive federal funding must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act in order to retain their funding. One of FERPA’s provisions is that the school must obtain written consent for the release of educational records or personally identifiable information, with some exceptions. Many schools use SSNs on identification cards or distribute class rosters or grades containing SSNs. If they do so, it is a violation of FERPA.
But many schools and universities do not interpret the law in this way.

If your child’s school requires your child’s Social Security number, it is your right as a parent to inquire as to how the information will be used and secured. It is also your right to request that another number be used, to protect your child. You may need to be persistent, however, and cite the law.

If your child attends a private school, your only recourse may be to work with the school’s administration to change the policy or allow your child to use a different number as a student identifier.

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Settlement reached after customers forced to sign up for ID theft services

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

A settlement has been reached between Bellevue, Wash. background check company Intelius and Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, who acted on behalf of an undisclosed number of customers of the background checks company.

The customers utilized the company’s Web site to do background checks, and the company unknowingly signed the customers up for identity theft services who never utilized the services. The customers paid for background checks through the site, and were asked to click through several screens of information that, unknown to them, obligated them to pay for identity theft services on a monthly basis.

Intelius has agreed to contact the customers in the coming months and offer refunds, but has admitted to no wrongdoing in the incident.

Fortunately, when you go to www.LifeLock.com, the process to sign up for membership is both simple and straightforward. There are no extra windows to click through, and you can rest assured that you won’t be signed up for anything you don’t want.

And with LifeLock member service representatives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can always call and get the answers to your questions.

LifeLock has recently updated its Web site as well, adding more information about the services offered in clear, well-defined terms. You’ll even find help in determining which service is best for you – LifeLock’s regular membership, available for a monthly cost of $10 or an annual cost of $110, or LifeLock’s Command Center, which is available for a monthly cost of $15 or $165 annually.

What’s the difference? LifeLock’s regular membership offers monitoring services, reduced pre-approved credit card offers, 24-hour member service, $1 million guarantee and WalletLock™, which will help cancel and replace the lost contents of your wallet if it’s ever lost or stolen. LifeLock will also monitor the Web for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information, as well as any new address activity. You’ll be notified if anything suspicious is found.

With LifeLock Command Center™, you’ll get all that and even more. With this service, you also get data breach detection services, payday, public, alias and court records alerts, and LifeLock will also monitor sex offender registries for any fraudulent activity.

Go online and check out LifeLock today.

Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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What’s in your wallet? It pays to find out

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

A popular advertising campaign for a credit card company asks the question, “What’s in your wallet?” Not a bad question to ask yourself when thinking about identity theft prevention.

A simple way to help protect yourself from identity theft is to limit the amount of confidential information you carry in your wallet. Experts recommend that you do NOT carry bank account numbers, personal identification numbers, passports, birth certificates or Social Security cards.

While it seems obvious, there are some extra points to be made about protecting your wallet. Don’t take out your wallet until you actually need it. Don’t forget your wallet when leaving a restaurant, store or any public place. Never put your wallet down alongside a cash register, in a phone booth or even on top of your car.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that you should never put your wallet down, unless you hand is attached to it.

LifeLock, a leader in identity theft protection, can help. If your wallet is ever lost or stolen while you are a member of LifeLock, WalletLock™ will help cancel and replace the lost contents of your wallet, including your credit and debit cards, driver’s license, Social Security card, insurance cards, checkbook and even traveler’s checks.

This is in addition to LifeLock’s other services, including the proactive LifeLock Identity Alert™, which provides much broader identity coverage, greater control and early notification of both credit and non-credit related identity threats. If your identity is compromised in any way, you’ll be notified immediately to prevent and protect.

Call LifeLock today. Receive 30 days free and get a 10 percent discount on enrollment with the LifeLock Promo Code “Defense.”

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