An identity thief with designer tastes…it’s every consumer’s nightmare.

An even bigger nightmare? A thief who gains access to your credit report and your personal information.

But that’s just the case with Iguosade Osahon, 28, a student born in Nigeria. Osahon has been charged with stealing the identities of 750 victims and using the $500,000 he stole to purchase Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags and even jewelry at Tiffany’s.

Osahon stole the information of his victims by trolling online data traffickers for personal information, including names, birth dates and Social Security numbers. Armed with this information, he then went to the Web sites of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Once on the sites, he ordered credit reports using his victims’ information. He perpetrated this scam from November 2007 to February 2010.

Osahon told investigators he focused on wealthy zip codes.

Osahon collected 800 credit reports and used them to gain access to bank and credit card accounts.

He has been charged with 147 counts of computer tampering, grand larceny and identity theft, and could face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

This case drives home the point that it is crucial to have the proper firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus software on your computer, so that your information cannot be stolen. It is also crucial that you only enter your personal information on sites that are secure; these begin with “https,” rather than just “http.”

You should also inquire when you provide your personal information regarding how your information will be stored and protected.

The best thing you can do, however, in order to protect yourself is to be proactive. Sign up with LifeLock today.

LifeLock is the only proactive identity protection service on the market today, and a small monthly fee for membership will allow LifeLock to search for all credit and non-credit related threats to your information. If any are found, immediate action will be taken. It’s that simple.

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

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Allegations have led to an investigation of an official linked to Fifa.

According to a report from the Information Commissioner’s office, the details of 35,689 English fans who attended the World Cup in Germany in 2006 may have been sold unlawfully for profit. Reports indicate that the dtails of 7,200 fans have also been traded illegally.

The investigation began after a Norweigan newspaper reported last month that personal information from 250,000 fans who attended the soccer tournament had been sold just ahead of this past summer’s Cup in South Africa.

According to reports, a “rogue employee” of Match Hospitality, Fifa’s official ticketing agency, may have sold the information on the black market.

Match officials have said they were unaware of the incident, and have taken every possible precaution to protect the personal information of their customers.

To date, there have been no reports of fraudulent activity from anyone whose personal information was taken.

Match Hospitality has exclusive rights to sell hospitality packages at the 2014 World Cup, just as it did in this year’s tournament. During this year’s event, Match was criticized for over-pricing packages, which resulted in empty seatsfor most of the matches.

To be sure your information is safe when you purchase tickets online, over the phone or even in person, ask the ticket agent how your personal information will be protected. If you cannot get an answer from the ticketer, ask to speak to someone in a supervisory position. It is your right to know how your information will be protected after you have provided it.

For proactive protection, call LifeLock today. LifeLock will monitor for any fraudulent activity regarding your personal information, checking both credit and non-credit related sources.

If any such activity is detected, LifeLock will notify you immediately, via e-mail, postal mail or telephone. LifeLock’s representatives will take action immediately to repair and restore.

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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