Washington woman charged in ID theft ring

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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‘Grandmother type’ arrested in theft scam

August 19th, 2010

When Bill and his family were planning a four-day getaway for the Labor Day weekend last year, they decided to hire someone to look after their home and pets while they were away. Bill searched craigslist and found several possible candidates.

One person who looked particularly promising was 71-year-old Martha Smith. She was a grandmother type from a nearby town who seemed nice and trustworthy. The family went on vacation and left their home in her care.

When they returned, they found a very unpleasant surprise. Smith wasn’t who she said she was. She had given them a fake name, and police had shown up at Bill’s home the day before he and his family returned, and arrested the woman.

Acting on a tip from neighbors, Smith was arrested for what police believed was a long string of fraud and identity theft charges spanning four states. Neighbors alerted the police that the house sitter was leaving doors and windows open and unattended at the house for long periods of time.

When she was arrested, Smith had in her possession items from at least four of the other families she’d scammed, as well as items from Bill’s home.

Turns out, there were warrants in three other states for Smith’s arrest. The woman has been charged with credit card theft, receiving stolen property and theft by taking.

Craigslist has an anti-scam page on its site, warning customers to deal locally with people they meet in person, and never to send money by way of a wire service.

Bill said Smith was polite, and very well spoken – and downright charming – and she almost charmed his family out of house and home.

Be careful when hiring people for any reason. And be sure to protect your personal information by signing up for LifeLock today. LifeLock will monitor for all credit and non-credit related threats to your personal information, and will notify you immediately of any compromises. Call them today and sleep better tonight.

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

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

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

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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As the school bell rings, protect your kids against ID theft

August 16th, 2010

It’s back to school time and, unfortunately, that means your child’s personal information could be at greater risk. Parents of school-age children must be aware of the growing threat of identity theft, and they must learn how to protect their children.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, 5 percent of all identity theft victims in 2008 were under the age of 1. Younger children are often targeted because the crime goes undetected for longer periods of time.

To help protect your child from identity the, follow these tips:

• Remind your children not to share personal information such as home address, phone number or Social Security numbers with strangers.
• If your child is entering kindergarten, most schools will require a birth certificate. Do not leave a copy behind.
• Most schools will ask for the child’s Social Security number, but it is more of a “like to have than a “must have.” Ask to speak to the principal if you are uncomfortable releasing this information.
• Children get excited about their new backpacks, and many include identification tags that hang on the outside that contain personal information. Instead of doing this, write the child’s first name in permanent ink on the outside of the bag.
• Teach your children how to be safe online while at school.
• Stay involved with your child’s online activities. Review and explain the privacy policies of your school with your child.
• Consider using parental control software to monitor what your children are doing online.
• Keep an eye out for any mail, particularly credit applications addressed to your child. This could indicate that someone has used your child’s information to commit identity theft.

Take a vigilant stance against identity theft for yourself and your family. 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

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

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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Broward data breach puts close to 24,000 at risk

August 11th, 2010

Nearly 24,000 Broward College summer school students are at risk for identity theft after a data breach at the Florida college leaked the students’ personal information during a computer upgrade.

The leak was not announced until recently, and college officials say the information was on the Web, unprotected, for five days in late May and early June.

The College Center for Library Automation, which provides library services and electronic resources to Florida’s community colleges, apologized Aug. 10 for the breach, which also affected five other schools.

The affected parties will receive a letter from the center, which will contain instructions on what to do to protect their credit and minimize the risk for identity theft.

Statewide, about 126,000 community college students, faculty and staff were affected by the breach. There is no evidence to date that the information has ben used by criminals.
According to identity theft statistics, about 11.1 million Americans – one out of every 20 adults – became victims of identity theft last year, with the cost to victims estimated at $54 billion.

To take a proactive stance to protect your personal information and your good credit, contact LifeLock today. With LifeLock Identity Alert™, you can rest assured that LifeLock will monitor for credit and non-credit related identity threats. You’ll be notified immediately via e-mail, postal mail or telephone of any potential compromises.

And should you fall victim to identity theft while under LifeLock’s watchful eye, LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to make it right. In addition, LifeLock’s member representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you and answer all your questions.

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

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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Thieves don’t need much to steal your identity

August 9th, 2010

Just how much information does a thief really need to know in order to steal your identity? Armed with easily-found information such as your birth date, address or mother’s maiden name, an individual could access your existing accounts or establish new loans or credit in your name.

Reports of security breaches in which customer data and personal information were compromised have been making headlines in recent months. Choicepoint, Lexis Nexis, HSBC and Bank of America have all reported massive amounts of compromised customer information. Each of the breaches were the result of a variety of reasons, including poor internal security, lax procedures and hacking.

Information can also be pulled from your trash can. Waiters can swipe or write down your credit card number when you pay for your dinner. But social engineering and good, old-fashioned theft still pose a greater threat than network security, and it is up to you to monitor and protect your personal information and your credit.

Here are some tips to help you secure and protect your personal information and ensure that your identity is not compromised.

• Watch for shoulder surfers. When entering your personal identification number or credit card number at an ATM machine, at a phone booth or even on a computer, be aware of who is nearby, and make sure no one is peeking over your shoulder to make a note of the keys you’re depressing.
• Require photo identification. Rather than signing the back of your credit or debit card, you can write, “See Photo ID.” Many times, store clerks don’t look at the signature on the back of the card, but for those times they do, they will see that they need to verify with a photo ID.
• Make sure you shred everything. One of the ways that would-be identity thieves acquire information is through dumpster diving. If you are throwing out bills and credit card statements, old credit card or ATM receipts, medical statements or even pre-approved credit card offers, you may be leaving too much information lying about. Buy a shredder and shred all papers before disposing of them.
• Destroy all digital data. When you sell, trade or dispose of a computer system or hard drive, or even a backup tape, you need to take extra steps to ensure the data is completely and irrevocably destroyed. Simply deleting it is not enough.

Take a proactive stance with LifeLock by becoming a member today. LifeLock will monitor the Internet and databases for your personal information and notify you of any fraudulent activity before it becomes a problem.

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

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