Posts Tagged ‘identity theft prevention’
Look for shredding events near you and take advantage
Friday, January 20th, 2012
Online risk to your identity on the rise
Monday, January 16th, 2012So you got yourself a shredder, and you shred all documents bearing your personal or financial information before you throw them out. Good for you. Think you’re doing all you can to protect your identity? Think again.
Every time you turn on your computer, you put your personal and financial information at risk. Cybercriminals are working harder every day to find new and innovative ways to get at your information online, and they’re getting better at it minute by minute.
Most people have heard of hacking and phishing, and they understand how these techniques work. But many people don’t know about the black market, and how criminals use it to commit crime.
The black market is an online place where criminals can literally purchase parts of your identity or the whole ball of wax. They can then sell the information they’ve purchased to criminals all over the world. The buying and selling of personal and financial information is big business, and millions of identities are stolen each year to fuel the fire.
One of the hottest tickets on the black market is Social Security numbers. It’s crucial that you protect yours. Don’t carry it with you – keep it stored in a safe place, and only carry it when you need it for a specific purpose.
If you are asked to provide your SSN, find out why it’s needed and how it will be handled after you have given it. If you are uncomfortable with what you hear, ask if an alternative form of identification can be used.
When online, never enter your SSN in response to an unsolicited e-mail. If a site requires your SSN, don’t give it unless the site is secured.
Don’t let Google give away your ‘goodies’
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012A Georgia teenager is facing felony charges after he unknowingly stole the Social Security number of a senior White House official and tried to apply for a Discover card.
The teen has been charged with identity theft, even though he had no idea whose identity he had stolen. He apparently googled different areas and eventually came up with a random Social Security number, which he used to apply for the card. The card didn’t match the applicant, so a credit agency alerted the Secret Service, once it realized who the number really belonged to.
The boy’s attorney said the 17-year-old isn’t a “terrorist,” but also expressed that since this number was so easy to obtain, she’s concerned about what other personal or financial information is easily attainable via the Internet.
So if you discover your Social Security number or some other personal information is available via Google, what do you do? Google will remove your Social Security number or government ID number, bank account or credit card number, an image of your signature, or your name or business name if it appears on an adult content site. Any other information and Google will point you toward contacting the offending site and requesting the information be removed on your own.
You can file a Web page removal request with Google at tinyurl.com/7zm3576. You can also read more about Google’s removal policy at tunyurl.com/84r4wpx.
Be careful with your personal or financial information. Only enter it on secured sites, and never on social media sites.
Business owners: Don’t think you can’t be hit by identity theft
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011Many people think identity theft is only something that happens to individuals. But this isn’t true. Businesses are often the targets for identity thieves, because they can get access to more information and more cash, than with a single targeted person.
Incidents of identity theft involving businesses is on the rise, but surprisingly, state laws against stealing the identity of an individual is much more rigorous than those laws against stealing information from a business.
One of the most common ways thieves operate within the realm of identity theft at businesses is to steal credit card numbers. This can be done through a skimmer, which is a device that records the information on the magnetic strip of a credit card. The thief can then download the information later on and use it to create a phony card or make purchases online without a card.
This is why consumers should be vigilant about checking their credit card statements each month, watching out for fraudulent or questionable entries. If you see any such entries, you should contact the card issuer immediately, close the account and get a new card.
Business owners should establish a call-back procedure with their banks, in which the bank will call the account owner to verify a transaction before any transfers are made. This will help prevent thieves from using stolen credit cards.
Businesses should also be careful about shredding customer documents and receipts before disposing them. Identity thieves are above going through trash to find information they can use – and they often do.
Last of all, business owners must be vigilant about computer safety. Make sure you password protect your computers, and only give access to those who must have it. You should also be sure to have the must up to date protection software installed. Make sure your virus checker and firewall are up to date, and that all downloaded documents are checked for viruses or malware.
College students: Don’t be too laid back when it comes to ID theft
Monday, September 19th, 2011Almost one-fourth of all identity theft victims in 2010 were between the ages of 19 and 29, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. The book reports that about a quarter of a million people were victimized by identity thieves last year.
Among the aforementioned age bracket, college students are the most susceptible to “friendly fraud” – when someone they know, like a roommate, friend or relative, takes their Social Security number or other personal information and uses it to commit identity fraud.
Most college students would argue with this, saying they’re careful and that it won’t happen to them. But statistics don’t lie.
To make sure your information is safe, follow these tips:
• Use your parents’ secured mailbox at home to receive mail that is of a sensitive nature, or contains your banking or other financial information.
• Set your privacy settings on social media profiles as high as possible, and don’t give away too much personal information.
• Store your Social Security card, passport, bank and credit card statements in a locked location. Be sure to shred documents that contain personal or financial information before disposal.
• Don’t loan your debit or credit cards to anyone. Period.
• Keep your computer software up to date, and be careful when using public Wi-Fi.
• Make sure you have up to date anti-virus and spyware software, and that you use difficult to discern passwords. Change your passwords often, and use upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers, when creating them.
• Be sure to carefully review your bank and credit card statements, checking for incorrect or fraudulent entries.
• If you shop online, make sure you only do so on secured, legitimate sites.
When it comes to medical ID theft, what you don’t know can kill you
Friday, September 16th, 2011Take precautions to reduce your risk of identity theft
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011Want to prevent identity theft? Who doesn’t? Protecting yourself from identity theft is kind of like keeping your children safe from “worldly” influences – it’s virtually impossible. But you can minimize your risk.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America, with criminals using stolen information for everything from simple fraud to criminal enterprise. The latest data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that in 2009, more than 11 million consumers fell victim to this crime.
Methods used to defraud victims include phishing, vial e-mail and telephone, the use of skimming devices on ATMs and other card swiping machines, and digging through mail, discarded documents and unprotected computer files for personal information.
In most cases, the victims are the ones that are responsible for clearing their own names. The average victim spends 600 hours and $16,000 worth of time in dealing with the issue.
But experts say that safeguarding your identity should be a part of your daily routine. You should check your credit report at least once a year, and verify the information on your bills and statements when they come in the mail.
You should also use a locked mailbox or post office box to prevent mail theft, and limit the amount of information you carry in your wallet, in addition to shredding any documents that contain your personal or financial information before you discard them.
Consumers should also be cautious when using and ATM or gas pump, being careful to check the device before inserting your card. Crooks attach devices to them that steal your information. Be sure to double-check the device, making sure it’s not loose or that it doesn’t look out of place. Tug on the device, and if it comes out in your hand, it’s a skimmer.
Taking the extra time each day to protect yourself won’t prevent identity theft – but it will help minimize your chances of falling victim.
Use these tips to avoid ID theft
Monday, August 22nd, 2011The 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.
LifeLock picked as best value
Monday, July 11th, 2011LifeLock has been selected as the best value and most complete identity protection service by identitytheftprotection.org. LifeLock was chosen based on its pricing which, with promo code, offers the first 30 days free, as well as the services offered and overall value.
Services include identity theft protection, credit protection, free credit reports from all three bureaus, and access to the LifeLock Command Center.
According to statistics from the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is still one of the top crimes and is a huge issue for consumers, and it’s still one of the fastest-growing crimes in America.
In addition to signing up for LifeLock’s services, you can also do some things that will help protect you and your personal information. Dispose of your personal documents only after shredding them, to be sure your information isn’t exposed. Shred any document that contains this information, including bank and credit card statements, as well as pre-approved credit card offers and receipts.
You should also be careful online. Never provide your personal information online unless you initiate the contact and you are sure the site is secured. You’ll know it’s secure by the “https” in the URL.
Although it may seem trivial, be sure you pick up your mail each day as well. Thieves will break into your mailbox to steal your mail in order to get your personal information. You should also be aware of your billing cycles, so that if you do not receive a bill on time, you can contact the creditor and take action. If the bill has already been sent, you’ll know there may have been a theft, and you can take the appropriate action.
By doing these simple things, in addition to signing up with LifeLock, you can be sure your identity is safer.
Don’t let your vacation be ruined by ID thieves
Monday, June 20th, 2011It’s summertime – and for many, that means it’s time for the much-anticipated, long-awaited vacation. But picture this: You go away on your dream vacation, and have the time of your life. You return home to find your home has been ransacked, and not only have the thieves taken your personal belongings, but they’ve also taken your computer, which contains personal and financial information. What do you do to stop the “bleeding?”
In order to stop a thief from cleaning your accounts out and ruining your credit, you’ve got to take action fast. At this point, if a thief has stolen your computer, he’s got it all: your name, address, Social Security number, account number and even passwords. This information is all a thief needs to take over your accounts and drain them.
Call the police and file a report. This is a must-do first step. You’ll need to have a copy of the report in order to prove an identity theft took place.
Next, you’ll need to contact creditors and your bank, and make sure all open accounts are protected. Here’s where your password comes into play – if you have a different password on each account, and it’s a difficult one, you’ll help slow down the process for the thief. If you have all of your accounts set to come up automatically without entering the password, all the thief has to do is turn on your computer, and he has access to everything.
Next, you’ll want to set up a credit freeze on your credit reports with all three reporting bureaus. You’ll also want to keep a constant eye on your credit reports so that you’ll know immediately if anything out of the ordinary happens.
