Posts Tagged ‘Identity Theft’

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Exercise your right to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

It really ruins your day to find out your identity has been stolen – understatement of the century. You’ll be angry, and maybe even embarrassed that the situation has happened to you. Even worse will be the frustration you’ll face as you try to clean up the mess.

Since the crime begins as a financial one, it’s important to fix credit report errors or unauthorized charges and accounts opened in your name. The key to cleaning up your credit report is to move quickly and be patient. The faster you catch and dispute errors, the easier it will be to clean them up. Just understand that even though you caught them early, it still takes time to dispute a credit report entry.

But you do have rights. The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 made it a law for credit reporting agencies to investigate disputes about the information contained on your credit report. You have the right to dispute inaccurate and unauthorized entries on your credit report. You’re also entitled to a written explanation of the results of any investigation resulting from such a dispute. You are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report once the changes have been made as well.

Once corrections have been made, you have a right to request that a copy of your updated report be delivered to every creditor that has pulled your credit report in the past six months, and every employer that has requested it in the past two years. You have to request this, however, in writing.

Even though you must understand that these things take time, you should know that an investigation should be complete within 20 business days of the date that the credit reporting agency receives your dispute letter. That means you should see results of the investigation within 30-45 days after submitting the dispute. If this doesn’t happen, you may have the right to have the disputed entry removed from your credit report, regardless of the investigation’s results. But you should consult legal counsel in this circumstance.

Whatever your situation, be aware that you do have rights and that you can, and should, stand up for yourself. It’s your credit report, after all.

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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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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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Keep the ‘keys’ to your kingdom safe

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Identity theft can be a complex crime. It starts with a grain of information about a victim, then blossoms into full-blown access to enough information for the thief to impersonate the victim, gain access to his accounts, and steal him blind.

The key to identity theft prevention is attention to details such as what you carry in your wallet and how you create passwords. Passwords, in particular, can make the difference between a stolen identity and a thief who gets frustrated and moves on to an easier victim.

Your passwords online are really the key to your identity. Behind your password is your personal information such as your date of birth, Social Security number and information on your bank accounts. Protecting those passwords – and your credit – is crucial.

Here are three ways to make sure you’ve got the strongest passwords possible:

• Use letters and numbers. You’ve probably heard that one before, but it really is one of the best ways to create a strong password. Use both letters and numbers; at least eight of them. Don’t use birth dates, anniversaries or Social Security numbers. And don’t use whole words.
• Avoid sequences and repeated characters. Longer isn’t necessarily better.
• Don’t’ use the same password everywhere. Even a strong password is useless if it’s cracked. If you use the same password on every Web site that you access, you are exponentially increasing your risk of identity theft. Instead, create a different password for every site that you access. It’s a lot of work and, some would say, a pain in the neck. But it also makes it much harder for identity thieves to gain access to large chunks of your personal data.

Passwords are truly the key to your kingdom and to your peace of mind. Keep them safe.

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What’s the government doing to protect us from ID theft?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Identity theft is a crime that is growing – thieves steal the personal information of an unsuspecting victim and use it to obtain a credit card or line of credit, apply for a job or even commit a crime in that person’s name. And the offense often goes undetected for a long period of time; long enough for the criminal to do major damage to the victim’s bank account and credit.

Identity theft can range from irritating to life-shattering, but it only became recognized as a federal crime in 1998. What is the government doing to protect us?

In 2001, the federal banking agencies implemented an at that was meant to establish standards for safeguarding customer information.

And in 2003, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was passed. This bill set up appropriate standards for the disposal of sensitive credit report information, as well as created guidelines for recognizing patterns and specific forms of identity theft in an effort to prevent this type of theft from happening.

In 2004, the identity theft act, which makes identity theft a federal crime that carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison, enabled the Secret Service, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to fight identity theft.

Even with all of this, identity theft continues to be a growing problem. It seems no amount of laws or penalties will deter criminals from this crime.

The best thing you can do is learn how to protect yourself and your family. And that starts with LifeLock. Call LifeLock or go online today at www.lifelock.com. For only $10 a month, you can sign up for

LifeLock’s standard service, or pay just $5 more per month and you can be protected by LifeLock’s Command Center™, which monitors for both credit and non-credit related threats to your identity. It’s the most comprehensive and the only proactive protection on the market.

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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‘Grandmother type’ arrested in theft scam

Thursday, 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

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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