Identity Theft and You

2009-09-03T16:53:00.001-10:00

It is great to be back after such a long break from blogging. Unfortunately, ID theft did not take a break. Keep up with this blog for the best information.

Nobody is Safe!!!

2009-02-09T18:40:00.001-10:00

Kaiser Permanente has admitted a breach of its employee records systems has resulted in incidents of identity theft.

The breach came to light after police arrested an unnamed suspect, found in possession of a computer file containing personal details of the US health care provider. The file contained information such as employee name, address, phone number, Social Security number, and date of birth. No Kaiser Permanente member data or health records were involved.

The suspect caught with the human resource information was not employed by Kaiser, the firm said. Indications therefore point to an attack by external hackers, although the involvement of a corrupt insider with external crooks remains a possibility.

In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said the breach affected workers in northern California, who are being notified of the breach. The firm has launched an internal investigation into the cause of the breach, which remains unclear.

Kaiser is offering a year's free credit monitoring to the 29,500 employees hit by the security lapse. The firm has pledged to improve its security systems to guard against further breaches.

Growing identity theft problem costing people more than money

2009-01-30T20:44:00.003-10:00

Identity theft is a serious problem across the Lakelands and the nation.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 685,000 reported fraud and identity theft complaints in 2005, totaling more than $680 million in losses.

Credit card fraud was the most common form of reported identity theft. The primary ages of identity theft victims were 18- to 29-year-olds (29 percent) followed by 30- to 39-year-olds (24 percent).

Identity theft is a serious crime and a growing problem that residents should be aware of. Victims typically spend many months and thousands of dollars cleaning up after identity thieves and restoring their good name.

Greenwood Police Department Capt. T.J. Chaudoin recently shared information with the city’s Business Watch group in an effort to help make local residents aware of the dangers of identity theft.

“We haven’t seen a rash of identity theft lately, but it’s one of those crimes that just never goes away,” Chaudoin said. “People need to keep a close eye on material that contains their personal information and check their credit report frequently.”

Chaudoin said it is also important for local residents who suspect they have been the victim of identity theft to contact the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.

“It can often be multi-jurisdictional in nature,” Chaudoin said. “You might live in Greenwood, but the person who has stolen your identity might be in California or Oregon or New York or Jamaica.

“If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you should report it immediately.”

Victims might lose job opportunities, be turned down for important loans for homes, cars or education, and even be arrested for crimes they did not commit. There are some ways to help protect yourself.

Photocopy all of your charge cards, front and back. If you lose your wallet or purse, you will have quick access to the credit card and telephone numbers to notify the appropriate agencies.

Never give out personal information, including your date of birth, mother’s maiden name, credit card, Social Security and PINs (personal identification numbers) over the phone or Internet unless you are certain of whom you are dealing with.

Shred charge receipts, pre-approved credit card applications, bank statements and anything with your personal information on it.

Guard you mail from theft. This includes bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, checks, and tax information. Identity thieves might rummage through your trash or a dumpster in a practice called “dumpster diving.”

They might steal your wallet or purse during the course of a vehicle prowl or auto theft, or steal personal information they find in your home during a burglary.

Identity thieves steal personal information from you through e-mail or phone by posing as a legitimate company or claiming to have a problem with your account.

This practice is known as “phishing” online or “pre-texting” when it is done over the phone.

Depending on the circumstances of the theft, remember the following guidelines:

Immediately place a fraud alert on your credit. Call one of the three consumer credit reporting companies to place the alert. It is only necessary to call one of the companies to place an alert for all three: Equifax 1-800-525-6285 or http://www.equifax.com; Experian 1-888-397-3742 or http://www.experian.com; TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 or http://www.transunion.com.

An initial credit alert will stay on your report for 90 days. This is appropriate in most newly discovered situations of identity theft where you suspect your credit cards might have been stolen or taken by an online “phishing” or telephone “pre-texting” scam.

Next, close any bank accounts that you think might have been tampered with or opened without your permission.

Be sure to follow up in writing with each credit card company and bank. Send copies of all supporting documents (not originals) certified mail, returned receipt requested.

When you open new accounts, create new and unique PIN numbers and passwords.

Avoid using consecutive numbers or personal information like your date of birth or phone number.

The next step is to call the police and file a report. This should be done as soon as possible after you learning that you have been victimized.

Having a police case number can be helpful when dealing with creditors who need proof that a crime has been committed.

Typically you can file a report in any of the jurisdictions where your identity has been used for criminal purposes. Be sure to have all supportive documentation with you when you call.

At this point, it is a good idea to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Typically they can provide important resource information to help you minimize the damage and restore your name.

Accurate and complete records will help you resolve your identity theft case more quickly. It is wise to take the following steps in dealing with a company when you are trying to untangle your identity:

1. Have a plan when you contact a company. Don’t assume that the person you speak with will give you all the information or help you need. Prepare a list of questions to ask the representative. Don’t end the call until you are sure you understand everything.

2. Be sure the write down the names of everyone you talk to, what they say and the date of the conversation.

3. Follow up in writing with all contacts you’ve made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested.

4. Keep copies of all letters or correspondence you send.

5. Keep all original forms.

6. Hang onto old files even after you believe your case is closed.

2009-01-27T22:33:00.001-10:00

Identity theft is a serious crime that is growing each year. If you're a victim of identity theft you may spend months, even years, trying to repair a ruined credit history. A seriously damaged credit report can compromise your chances of getting a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even rental housing. It's even possible to be arrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has used your identity to break the law.

Unfortunately, many of the methods that thieves use to steal identities are beyond your control to guard against. Although it's rare, even store clerks have been known to use their position to pass along information to identity thieves. There are some measures you can take, however, that will make it harder for a thief to steal your identity.

Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases

After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been swiped through a credit card terminal, check to make sure that the printed receipt hides all but the last 4 digits of your credit card account number (usually there will be Xs in place of the first 12 digits). Some terminals still print receipts that show all 16 digits of an account number, and may even include the expiration date as well. After your card is swiped, you're permitted by law to hide the first 12 digits of your account number on the copy of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Use any marking pen that will do the job.

When you go to a restaurant, it's especially important to make sure that the first 12 digits of your credit card number are hidden on your receipt. You might be in the habit of signing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after your meal. An identity thief can easily steal the signed receipt before the waitperson comes back around to pick it up from the table. Don't take any chances.

Another important way that you can guard against identity theft is to avoid giving out your social security number unless it's absolutely required. Although you need to share your social security number when you apply for credit or for a bank account, sometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to identify you within their system. This is a common practice even though the law says that social security numbers aren't to be used as ID numbers. In these situations, use your judgment. There's usually an alternative if you ask.

Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information

Buy a paper shredder and use it to destroy documents you're throwing away which contain personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and dates of birth. This is important to do both at home and at work. Identity thieves aren't above going through someone's trash to find valuable personal information that can help them obtain credit in your name.

IF The Worst Happens

If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:

Contact your credit card companies, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.

Place a fraud alert on your file with any one of the three major credit bureaus. The other two will be notified automatically.

File a police report. You may need it to show to creditors as proof of the crime.

File a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.

Guarding against identity theft

2009-01-25T17:48:00.001-10:00

By Elsie Hodnett
01-25-2009

Even though the holidays are over, area residents still need to take precautions to guard themselves against identity theft. “Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation,” according to Pell City Police Chief Greg Turley.

Turley said individuals may use more caution during the holidays to guard against identity theft, but caution is needed year-round. “There are several unsophisticated ways identity thieves can steal personal information,” he said. Turley said dumpster diving occurs when an identity thief goes through an individual’s trash looking for personal information.

“Shred anything that contains your personal information, instead of throwing it in the trash,” he said.

Turley said shoulder surfing is another common form of identity theft.
“The thief looks over the person’s shoulder for pin numbers or when they punch in a credit card number or calling card (phone) number,” he said.
Turley said there have been some cases of identity theft in the Pell City area, but the victims were unsure how the identity thieves obtained their personal information. “All of us can be a victim,” he said.

Turley said some other steps individuals can take to protect their identity is to check bank and credit card records often and set up flags so you will be alerted if there is any suspicious activity on your accounts.

“Another scam is people who call over the phone and offer a credit card and prize, but request personal information such as your Social Security number,” he said.

Turley said individuals should report such schemes to the police department.

“Let us know what is going on,” he said. “It may be the piece of the puzzle we need to solve the case.”

Lt. Mike Gorman, with the Sylacauga Police Department, said they have not had any reports of identity theft lately.

“I think people are being more watchful,” he said.

Gorman said he does presentations at various locations on how individuals can protect themselves and their identities.

“One thing we suggest, especially for seniors, is to have their checks direct-deposited,” he said. “That way they can’t be stolen from their mailbox, and they won’t accidentally throw away personal information.”

Gorman said using debit cards instead of checks is another good step to take.

Detective Doug Whaley, with the Talladega Police Department, said they have seen cases of individuals stealing purses from people coming home late at night.

“They can also steal mail or change-of-address forms from your mail,” he said.

Whaley said “phishing,” or fake emails thieves send in an attempt to get individuals to provide personal information, are also common both over the Internet and by phone.

“We also see fake international lottery winner emails,” he said. “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”

Whaley said three things to remember when protecting your identity are deter, detect, and defend.

“Shred your financial documents,” he said. “Protect your Social Security number (by not carrying it with you in your wallet or purse) and don’t give out personal information unless you are sure who you are dealing with.”
Whaley said another tip is not to use obvious passwords such as birthdates, addresses, and names of friends and family members.

“Be alert,” he said. “Watch for mail or bills that don’t arrive. Also be aware of denials of credit for no reason,” as it may indicate that someone has used your identity.

Whaley said inspect financial statements and look for any charges you didn’t make, and also inspect your credit report.

“If you suspect your identity has been stolen, place a ‘fraud alert’ with the credit agencies,” he said.

Whaley said the “fraud alert” tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts.

Three nationwide consumer-reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert, and a call to one company is sufficient.

The number for Equifax is 1-800-525-6285.

The number for Experian is 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742.)

The number for TransUnion is 1-800-680-7289.

“It is also good to check the credit reports for minor children,” Whaley said.
Whaley said he knew of an individual whose child’s identity had been stolen, and was discovered when the child became old enough to apply for credit.

“It takes a lot of time to fix identity theft,” Turley said. “There is a lot of time spent with police departments, credit card companies, banking institutions and more. We recommend individuals stay vigilant and try to prevent theft before it happens.”

Don't Respond to 'IRS' E-mail Scam; Protect Your Identity

2009-01-22T21:21:00.000-10:00

Posted: Jan 22, 2009 11:26 AM
Updated: Jan 22, 2009 12:17 PM

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers to beware of IRS impersonators sending e-mails that could result in identity theft. Official say the e-mail looks official but could be dangerous to you and your computer.

"We're getting reports of an e-mail that appears to come from the IRS and tells recipients to fill out an attached form and fax it in," said IRS spokesperson Dee Harris. "Other scam e-mails ask you to click on a link and provide personal information online."

No matter what approach the scammers use, there are two things the IRS needs people to remember:

The IRS never sends e-mails about your taxes.

If you get a scam e-mail, don't access any links or attachments.

"If you have accessed a link or attachment in a scam e-mail, you may have allowed the scammer to download malicious software to your computer," warns Harris. "You should immediately scan for viruses and spyware, plus be alert for suspicious activity on your financial accounts."

Individuals who have responded to a scam e-mail and provided their private information should immediately take steps to prevent identity theft. Steps include contacting the Federal Trade Commission and are outlined on the official IRS Web site .

Taxpayers can help the IRS stop scammers by sending the original scam e-mail to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. The e-mail must be forwarded using special instructions at IRS.gov or it loses the encoding needed to track it to its source, Harris said.

For more information about tax scams, visit the IRS Web site and check out the Dirty Dozen, a list of tax scams updated each year by the IRS. The IRS also provides information on its Web site to help taxpayers protect their personal and financial information. Just type "Identity Theft" in the key word search feature for additional information.

New Trend in Cyber Crime: Unprecedented Rise in Identity Theft Related Searches

2009-01-21T21:09:00.001-10:00

Jan 21, 2009, News Report
Found in: Security

Tiversa yesterday announced the findings of new research that reveals an unprecedented rise in identity theft-related searches in the fall of 2008, an overall increase of 32 percent. In the midst of the nation's largest economic downturn since the Great Depression, Tiversa is finding evidence that identity thieves are on the hunt once again, continuing to find new ways to extract sensitive information to commit fraud on unsuspecting victims.

The research is based on search data in an ongoing 18 month study by Tiversa, whose patent-pending technology monitors roughly 450 million users issuing more than 1.5 billion searches a day. Data shows that search intent for sensitive information is on the rise, citing keywords related to personal banking logins, passwords, tax returns, credit card, account numbers, credit reports, and medical information.

"As the leaders in this space, we've been seeing this trend continue on an upward path for the last few years," says Robert Boback, Tiversa's CEO. "At this time, more than ever before, consumers need to remain vigilant of their sensitive information."

According to the Federal Trade Commission, as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Typical identity theft victims spend hundreds of hours trying to repair damage done to their credit record and can be denied loans for housing, education and cars. In the case of medical fraud, victims can be misdiagnosed, prescribed the wrong medicines, and even billed for procedures they never even had.

"The intent is clearly demonstrated in the data we see in our research and day-to-day operations. We've validated time and time again, that actual fraud is committed by malicious individuals when presented the opportunity," comments Boback.

A national survey, conducted by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and Fellowes, states that consumers remain aware that the threat of identity theft is real, with a vast majority (85 percent) of Americans agreeing that identity theft can happen anywhere and at any time.

Identity theft, scams are on the rise here

2009-01-20T18:49:00.000-10:00

Identity theft and scams are on the rise here, local law enforcement says, and new cons are emerging more rapidly.

Over the past few years, the Fayetteville Police Department, along with most other law enforcement agencies, have had to deal with reports of identity theft, scams by mail, telephone and over the internet.

"We all have received some type of letter or email saying we have won an international lottery or an email from someone in a foreign country asking for help to bring a large amount of money into the United States," said Detective Joel Massey of the Fayetteville Police Department.

"Recently, our department received reports of emails being sent to people stating their bank account had been temporarily suspended and would not be reactivated until the recipient clicked on a link to verify their personal information," he said. "This scam is called phishing."

Phishing is a form of online fraud which occurs when someone poses as a legitimate company to obtain sensitive personal data and illegally conduct transactions on your existing accounts.

Usually it occurs in the form of fraudulent emails, text messages or phone calls that appear to come from legitimate sources. These communications appear real and ask a person to call a phone number to reactivate the account.

"Be aware of phone calls to your residence and the caller ID shows the caller is someone you’re familiar with. Technology exists that makes it possible to disguise the phone number of the caller," he said.

"We have had reports of people receiving phone calls telling them they had missed jury duty and that it was possible they were going to be arrested," said Massey.

"The caller asks for their personal information and then assures them they can keep them from going to jail," he added.

"If you get this call, hang up and call the courthouse and check for yourself."

These are just a few examples of the types of scams that are out there, and there are countless others that law enforcement has not seen locally as of yet.

Massey advised, "Never give your full name, date of birth, social security number, account numbers or any other information to anyone on the phone or internet or by mail that you did not contact directly. Even when you contact them directly, let them pull your account using your name and security information when possible. If it is someone you do business with regularly, they will have the information already."

If someone tells you that you’ve won or inherited something that you have no idea about, ask them what law firm they use or who is their representative at the gaming commission. They probably won’t give you any information, because there won’t be any, he explained.

"You never send money to make, inherit or win money," he added.

"Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Anyone who received these types of communications and has questions should contact their financial institution or law enforcement before becoming a victim of a scam.

ID Theft Insurance

2009-01-15T18:57:00.002-10:00

The nation’s unemployment rate is now estimated at more than 7%. With a slow economy and money tight, this is the worst time for consumers to become victims of identity theft.

Identity theft typically costs consumers thousands of dollars in losses. The Federal Trade Commission reports that 8.3 million American consumers became victims of the crime in 2005.

Homeowners have a new safety net in the fight against identity theft. State Farm has begun offering Identity Restoration Coverage. This coverage is new to homeowners in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Beginning February 1, 2009, new and existing policyholders who choose the coverage can receive an expense reimbursement of up to $25,000. Policyholders could receive money for the reimbursement of lost wages due to time away from work along with other reasonable costs faced by the insured. The optional coverage costs just a few dollars a month.

“Identity theft is the last thing that struggling families need to face. Identity Restoration Coverage is a small price to pay for the added comfort of protecting your assets,” says State Farm spokesman Roszell Gadson.

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For as little as $9.95 per month, you can protect your family from identity theft. For more information, click here.

Jury Duty Scam

2009-01-14T21:45:00.000-10:00

This has been verified by the FBI. Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.

The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado . This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into g iving in formation by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Data Breaches Up Almost 50% in 2008, ITRC Says; Insider theft accounts for significant portion of increase, study says

2009-01-13T20:19:00.001-10:00

By Tim Wilson, DarkReading
January 13, 2009, 11:15 AM

Reports of data breaches in the U.S. rose almost 50 percent in 2008, according to a comprehensive report issued by the Identity Theft Resource Center on Monday.

The ITRC 2008 data breach report, which extracts data from several different breach disclosure sources, reckons that there were 656 compromises in the U.S. last year, up from 446 in 2007.

About 12 percent of the reports came from financial-services firms, up from 7 percent in 2007, the ITRC says. Financial institutions reported more than 18 million records breached last year. Overall, more than 35 million records were compromised in 2008, the report says.

Only 2.4 percent of all breaches involved data where encryption or other strong protective measures were in place, and only 8.5 percent involved password protection, the ITRC reported. "It is obvious that the bulk of breached data was unprotected by either encryption or even passwords," the study states.

Malware attacks, hacking, and insider theft accounted for nearly 30 percent of breaches that cited a cause, the ITRC said. Insider theft more than doubled between 2007 and 2008, accounting for 15.7 percent of the breaches.

Of the five industry sectors the ITRC has monitored during the past three years -- business, educational, government/military, health/medical, and financial/credit -- the financial-services industry had the lowest percentage of the total number of breaches, according to the report.

"The financial, banking, and credit industries have remained the most proactive groups in terms of data protection over all three years," the ITRC said. But financial institutions were among those reporting some of the biggest breaches last year. For example, the Bank of New York Mellon Shareholder Services reported 12.5 million records breached in two separate incidents in which third-party couriers lost unencrypted backup storage tapes.

Chronicles of Dissent, a privacy watchdog organization, offered a different take on the ITRC data.

"Whereas ITRC's analysis might lead to the conclusion that the financial section is the most proactive sector because they represent less than 12 percent of all breaches, inspection of the raw frequency data suggests a somewhat different picture: Reported breaches increased over 250 percent from 2007 to 2008," Chronicles of Dissent said. "That trend indicates that security in the financial sector is not keeping pace with previous threats and new threats to data security."

TIPS TO AVOID IDENTITY THEFT

2009-01-08T22:32:00.001-10:00

1. SHRED FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS: Any paperwork with personal information should be put through a shredder before being thrown away.

2. NEVER CLICK ON LINKS IN UNSOLICITED E-MAILS: Since "phishing" is becoming a common problem, use up-to-date firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Good anti-spam software is a must. Plus, never click on links in e-mails. Instead, open a new window and go to the website address you know in order to enter information. (Fake PayPal e-mails are becoming more common, so be extra wary when dealing with these.) You might also want to avoid e-mail archiving in the event that someone hacks into your account.

3. DO NOT USE OBVIOUS PASSWORDS: These include your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

4. DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION: Whether over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet, don’t share your information unless you know who you are dealing with.

5. PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Never carry your social security number in your wallet or write your social security number on a check.

6. KEEP YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN A SECURE PLACE: This is especially important with roommates, outside help, or if you are having work done in your home.

7. BE ALERT TO BILLS THAT DO NOT ARRIVE WHEN THEY SHOULD: If they do not arrive, they may have been routed somewhere else.

8. BE PROACTIVE ABOUT UNEXPECTED CREDIT CARDS OR ACCOUNT STATEMENTS: If an account or credit card arrives that you did not open/activate, someone else did. Call the company immediately and have it closed/canceled.

9. BE ALERT FOR CREDIT BEING DENIED UNEXPECTEDLY: Credit is often denied for a variety of reasons, one of which is when too much credit is opened in a short period of time. Being denied credit may mean that someone else has opened accounts in your name.

10. RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO CALLS OR LETTERS ABOUT PURCHASES MADE: Credit card companies create a profile of their clients detailing out the most common places a customer shops and the items that they frequently buy. If something is purchased that does not suit your profile, they will contact you for verification. Respond to the notice right away to head off potential theft and damage to your credit.

11. CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT: Any credit opened in your name will show up on your credit report. By staying on top of this, you will be able to stop identity theft before too much damage occurs.

12. REGULARLY REVIEW YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Look for any charges that you did not make. Also not that consumers usually have only 30 days to dispute items they did not authorize.

13. CLOSE ANY ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH OR ESTABLISHED FRAUDULENTLY: Get a new card with a new number and close the old card, since this alone may stop a thief in possession of your information.

14. GO PAPERLESS: You can receive many of your bills through your e-mail/online banking instead of having them mailed. By requesting this benefit, you keep account numbers and personal information private. You are also able to save hard copies directly to your hard drive, which allows you to find the information quickly and easily when needed.

15. STORE YOUR FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL INFORMATION IN A STORAGE BOX BY YEAR: This is especially important when dealing with taxes since the IRS can demand to see evidential proof of deductions for as long as eleven years after you file. By keeping it in a storage box, you can shred the contents when the time period is up. Note: this does not include social security numbers.

16. BE ALERT WHEN RESPONDING TO E-MAILS: E-mails are now commonly used to steal or "phish" information out of consumers by making the e-mail look as if it came directly from a financial institution. If you respond to the e-mail, you encourage them to continue trying to get personal information from you. Simply add the address to your spam list to keep them from contacting you in the future. Visit the addresses you know if you are concerned the notice is valid.

17. WHEN CONTACTED BY AN INSTITUTION BY PHONE, TELL THEM YOU WILL CALL THEM RIGHT BACK: Let them give you their name and number, but do not call that number back. Instead, call the number on the back of your card and ask to speak to a representative about your account. Let them know that you were contacted and ask them to verify any problems. All account managers have access to the same information, so they will be able to see if there is a problem with your account or not.

18. OPT OUT OF PRE-APPROVED CREDIT OFFERS: Although I do not personally believe that people can get your identity through pre-approved credit card applications without your social security information, it never hurts to opt-out of credit card offers. By doing so, you lessen the amount of mail that comes to your mailbox, and you will still be able to apply for credit online. Check out the FTC’s Consumer Alert webpage to see all the ways you can opt out.

19. GET A LOCKING MAILBOX: This is an especially good idea for anyone in a nice area. The nicer the area you live in, the more ideal a target you make to an identity thief because they assume you have more money for them to steal.

20. COPY ALL OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS AND SAVE THEM IN A FILE AT HOME: By having a copy of the card (front and back) in a locked filing cabinet or other safe place, you will be able to quickly and easily contact your creditors should your purse or wallet ever be stolen.

21. CARRY ONLY ONE OR TWO CARDS AT A TIME: Lock away all the other cards in a safe place and carry as few cards as possible. This way, if someone ever gets into your wallet or purse, you will notice immediately if a card is stolen and be able to report it right away.

Simple lifestyle changes can help you avoid identity theft

2009-01-07T22:29:00.000-10:00

By Barry Armstrong / Money Matters
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Unfortunately, there are a lot of times where identity theft cannot be tamed, like in the workplace. If vital information is stored on a laptop computer and that computer is stolen, it can potentially expose thousands of identities.

But there are steps you can take. Learn to love your shredder. Instead of throwing things away that may contain personal information, take the extra step of shredding the document. It could save you an enormous amount of hassle down the line. These may include pre-approved credit card offers and credit card receipts that you no longer need. Just throwing these items away could prove costly.

If you’ve applied for a new credit card or know that your card is up for renewal, be sure to pay close attention to your calendar to make sure that the information comes on time. If it does not, contact the company immediately to see if it was mailed.

When you’re in line at the grocery store or mall, be careful of “shoulder surfers.” These are individuals who tend to stand close to you with the sole purpose of obtaining your PIN and accessing your account.
If you write down passwords instead of memorizing them, be sure not to keep the list in your wallet. Be cautious as to where to put or when you give out your Social Security number.

Making these strategies part of your daily routine could protect you from being one of the 9 million people that fall victim to identity theft each year.

The Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2008 breach report

2009-01-06T23:02:00.001-10:00

Reports of data breaches increased dramatically in 2008. The Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2008 breach report reached 656 reported breaches at the end of 2008, reflecting an increase of 47% over last year’s total of 446. In terms of sub-divisions by type of entity, the rankings have not changed between 2007 and 2008 within the five groups that ITRC monitors.

The financial, banking and credit industries have remained the most proactive groups in terms of data protection over all three years. The Government/Military category has dropped nearly 50% since 2006, moving from the highest number of breaches to the third highest.

According to ITRC reports, only 2.4% of all breaches had encryption or other strong protection methods in use. Only 8.5% of reported breaches had password protection. It is obvious that the bulk of breached data was unprotected by either encryption or even passwords.

The ITRC tracks five categories of data loss methods: data on the move, accidental exposure, insider theft, subcontractors, and hacking. Subcontractor breaches, while counted as one breach each, in some cases affected dozens of companies. It is important to note that the number of breaches reported does not reflect the number of companies affected.

The ITRC breach list is a compilation of breaches confirmed by various media sources, notification lists from state governmental agencies. ITRC uses several websites to help search for verifiable breaches, such as databreaches.net, privacy.net, and www.datalossdb.org. To qualify breaches must include personal identifying information that could lead to identity theft, especially the loss of Social Security numbers.

Here is the 2008 Breach Report. As an addition, you can also check out 2008 Breach Stats Report, which includes the percentages for each entity category (business, financial/credit, educational, governmental/military and health care).

How Your Identity Is Stolen

2009-01-05T21:50:00.002-10:00

Identity theft is a serious problem that plagues everyone from businesses to individual wage earners. It can ruin your credit score, wipe out your bank account, and leave you in a mountain of debt. When someone steals your identity, you may even find your name on a list of wanted felons.

The best way to protect yourself from identity theft is by knowing the ways in which it can occur. Having this knowledge will help you take steps to prevent criminals form getting their hands on your personal information.

Online Phishing Scams

One way criminals can obtain your personal information is by using phishing scams. Phishing scams will send out e-mails from what appears to be a well-known site like Ebay, Amazon, or your personal bank or credit card company. The e-mail will request the person verify or confirm their user information for the Web site. The e-mails may attempt to frighten users into providing personal information by stating “your account will be closed unless you act immediately.” The e-mail will usually contain a link to a bogus Web site. Once you enter your information in this bogus website, you've been had. Criminals now have your username and login information to your account.

Your Routing Number

Everyone should safeguard their personal information, even the parts of it they may seem harmless. One common scam is when criminals even offer to send you money. They convince you to give them your bank routing and checking number so they can transfer money into your account via wire transfer. However, these con-artists never had any intention on sending you money, so how does this scam work? The routing number on your check doesn’t identify you personally; rather it identifies your bank. It may seem that criminals couldn’t use this number to hurt you but they can. They will obtain your routing number, account number, and identity to print fraudulent checks drawn on your own account.

Your Garbage Bin

Criminals can be very clever when it comes to obtaining the information they need to steal your identity. They are willing to do just about anything including rummaging through your household garbage. Think about all of the solicitation letters you receive from creditors. Think about the bank statements you toss into the trash. Criminals can steal your discarded credit offers and bank statements to assume your identity. It is wise to invest in a paper shredder. Shredders can cost as little as fifty dollars. That is a small price to pay to protect your reputation and accumulated wealth.

Increasing Rate of Identity Fraud

Check fraud and identity theft are the two fastest growing financial crimes in the country. The increase in these crimes has lead to an increase in the measures that can prevent them. One of the best methods to prevent fraud is the use of MICR toner. This magnetic ink can prevent the duplication of checks. Check users can also employ watermarks which make duplication impossible.

Using some simple prevention methods and being careful with the distribution of your personal information can prevent you from becoming the victim of identity theft. For information on how you can protect your family from this horrible crime, click here

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Our Affirmative Defense Response System (ADRS) provides your company a plan of action, including a privacy policy and employee training, at no direct cost to you. For more information on our ADRS program, call us at (800) 306-3063 or email us at mrapozo@hawaiilink.net. Happy holidays!!

Mel Rapozo

Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist

M&P Legal Support Services, LLC

www.mplss.com

Careful observation of bills can catch identity theft

2009-01-04T07:43:00.002-10:00

The Union-Recorder (Milledgeville, Ga.) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge
Jan. 3, 2009

With the holiday shopping season over and bills beginning to arriving in the mail, now is the time to keep a watchful eye over your bank statements to ensure that you are not left a victim of identity fraud.

Saving receipts from purchases until after you've received your bank statements is just one way to prevent identity theft and fraud after the holiday season, said Milledgeville Police Department Deputy Chief Richard Malone.

"My number one suggestion for people would be to save any and all receipts of items purchased during the holiday period to be able to accurately look at bank statements, drafts or checks so that you can vouch for the form of payment that you used," said Malone.

"And in some cases it would be extremely helpful to keep receipts and documents for two months around the holiday period," added Malone, "because some of those purchases may not end up in just one bank statement due to the holiday period and the mail and all. They may end up in two statements.

"In addition to checking verifying your bank statement or credit card bill with your receipts, people should be careful about giving out any information over the phone or on the Internet unless the company can be verified somehow, Malone said.

"Do not give any personal information to anyone that may call you or try to solicit that type of information over the telephone," said Malone. "Ask if you can come in or set up an appointment to meet with someone, but do not release that information over the phone to someone that has not been able to give appropriate ID regarding what firm they work for.

"If you notice a discrepancy between the receipts that you have for your holiday gift purchases and your bank or credit card statements, there are several measures you can take to ensure the safety of your identity and remedy the problem, said Malone.

"If you feel that your identity has been compromised or documents belonging to you have been utilized in a criminal manner and you did not make these purchases, then you need to go ahead and report that to the police as soon as possible," said Malone.

"I would contact their accounts payable department and also the banks to allow them to know that someone may have unlawfully used your card or any financial document belonging to you," added Malone, "and again please file a police report because a lot of financial institutions will not do anything unless you have a police report on file.

"In addition, if you change financial institutions during the course of the year, it is important to make a note of the date that you opened or closed an account, said Malone, because if there is a discrepancy at any point the financial institution will be able to look up your account information without giving them important personal identification information over the phone.

To see more of The Union-Recorder or to subscribe, go to http://www.unionrecorder.com/.Copyright (c) 2009, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga.Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

What to do if you're an ID theft victim or think you might be

2008-12-30T18:49:00.002-10:00

SUN-SENTINEL AND FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEB SITES
Tuesday, December 30, 2008

You've realized you're the victim of identity theft or think you might be, so what do you do? The No. 1 rule is to act fast. Don't hesitate to contact your financial institutions and close accounts. Here are more things you can do.

IF YOU'RE A VICTIM

• Act fast. Identity theft can damage your credit rating. Report suspicious activities — such as unsolicited credit cards arriving in the mail — and monitor credit reports at least once a year for erroneous information.

• Close all accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company and report the crime.

• Close all credit card accounts and destroy the cards.

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Potential creditors must contact you before issuing a credit card.

• Request a copy of your credit report. You are entitled to a free credit report every year. If you sign up for an extended fraud alert, you are entitled to up to two free credit reports from each of the three bureaus. Monitor your credit by requesting a credit report every six months after discovering the crime.

Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

YOU MIGHT BE A VICTIM

Take the following steps if you think you could be a possible victim because your personal, sensitive information was compromised in some way.

• Close all affected accounts and have account numbers changed.

• Cancel all affected credit cards and debit cards.

• Protect your account with a password.

• Watch your account statements closely.

• Report any fraudulent activity immediately to the bank.

• If your insurance information is compromised change the policy numbers.

• If it was human resources data that was compromised, change account numbers for your 401-k, life insurance, and account holding your stock options. Use passwords to protect these accounts as well.

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Call FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: 877-438-4338. To file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, go to www.ic3.gov/complaint/ default.aspx.To file a complaint with Florida Attorney General's Office, call the fraud hotline at866-966-7226.

COMPUTER THE SUSPECTED SOURCE

• Stop shopping, banking, and other online activities that involve user names, passwords, or other sensitive information. Malware could be sending your personal information to identity thieves.

• Confirm that your security software is up-to-date, then use it to scan your computer. Delete everything the program identifies as a problem. You may have to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

• If the problem persists after you exhaust your ability to diagnose and treat it, you might want to call for professional help. If your computer is covered by a warranty that offers free tech support, contact the manufacturer.
Before you call, write down the model and serial number of your computer, the name of any software you've installed, and a short description of the problem.

• If you believe you have mistakenly given your personal information to a fraudster, file a complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from a potential theft of your identity.

• Report computer fraud.

Hacking or a computer virus: Contact your Internet Service Provider as well as the hacker's, if you can tell what it is. You can usually find an ISP's e-mail address on its Web site. Include information on the incident from your firewall's log file. By alerting the ISP to the problem on its system, you can help it prevent similar problems in the future.

Contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov. To fight computer criminals, they need to hear from you.

Internet fraud: If a scammer takes advantage of you through an Internet auction, when you're shopping online, or in any other way, report it to the Federal Trade Commission, at ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Deceptive spam: If you get deceptive spam, including email phishing for your information, forward it to spam@uce.gov. Be sure to include the full header of the e-mail, including all routing information. You also may report phishing e-mail to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISPs, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, uses these reports to fight phishing.

How to Prevent and Cure Medical ID Theft; This Type of Identity Theft Can Cause Even Greater Harm

2008-12-29T23:40:00.003-10:00

Most people know that if their wallets are stolen, they need to call their credit card issuers and cancel their cards. Ditto with their driver's licenses and debit cards. But it might never occur to them to call their health insurance providers to report the theft of their health insurance identification cards.

It should. In the same way that a thief can steal your identity to open credit card accounts and rack up huge bills in your name, a thief can also steal your medical identity to run up tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Once your insurance company pays its portion, the balance will be charged to you.

Medical identity theft is defined as the theft or unauthorized use of a person's personal information to obtain unauthorized medical goods and services, says Byron Hollis, managing director of the national anti-fraud department for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Sometimes, it's a family member who doesn't have health insurance who uses your card to get medical treatment. But it's just as likely to be an "opportunistic burglar" who then uses a health insurance card to try to get drugs from a doctor or a crooked doctor who bills for services he didn't provide. It could even be organized theft ring that sets up fake clinics to bilk insurance companies for payment on nonexistent treatment, or obtains medical equipment that it then sells on the black market.

"Organized groups are certainly more dangerous," Hollis says, "but from a personal level, even an opportunistic theft or unauthorized use by a family member can be devastating financially to you or to your medical records."

The impact of medical identity theft
While medical identity theft is similar to financial identity theft, it's far more difficult to resolve. Identity theft is often discovered early on the financial side because credit card issuers have sophisticated systems for detecting fraudulent use of credit cards. Plus, nearly all financial institutions use one or more of the three credit reporting agencies.

"There's not a centralized repository for medical records," says Jeremy Miller, director of the investigation and restoration center for Nashville, Tenn.-based Kroll Fraud Solutions, which works with businesses and consumers to address problems related to identity theft. "To be able to have something like that could potentially reduce the risk of becoming a victim or reduce the recovery time. It's important to know this may not be a problem that goes away."

Every time a thief uses your medical identity to obtain medical care, it creates records with their medical information that could be mistaken for yours -- a different blood type, a history of drug or alcohol abuse, test results that aren't yours, or a diagnosis of an illness you don't have.

"It can create a very dangerous situation," Hollis says.

It can also create a health insurance crisis for you by exhausting your insurance benefits. "Most policies have a lifetime cap," Hollis says. "If you're already accessing medical coverage, you can burn through that in a short period of time."

Plus, it could create problems for you if you ever apply individually for health insurance, disability insurance or long-term care coverage. Unlike credit reporting agencies, health care providers are not required to delete or correct incorrect information on your medical records. They'll typically amend your records with a notation that some information may be suspect, but that's about it. An insurer might want to exclude covering you for treatment of a condition because your medical record indicates it's a pre-existing condition. Even worse, you could be turned down for coverage.

Uncovering medical identity theft is tough
Most people never find out that they've been a victim of medical identity theft until they get a notice of an unpaid bill for medical care they never received. By then, their credit is already damaged. That's nothing, however, compared to the case of a Salt Lake City woman who learned that her medical identity had been stolen when a state social worker and a police officer showed up at her house to take custody of her children.

"They said she'd abandoned her baby at the hospital," says Alex Johnson, a former special investigator with the FBI who now heads up a special investigative unit for Regence Group, the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain region. "Seven or eight months earlier, her purse was stolen. The lady who stole her purse was a drug seeker who was pregnant. She used the woman's ID to have the baby. A couple days later, she deserted the baby and took off. The information they had was on this woman."

The best chance for early detection of medical identity theft is to do what hardly anyone does -- actually read the Explanation of Benefits, or EOB, statement that your insurance provider sends you after you've received covered treatment.

Look for the name of the provider, the date of service, and the service provided. Sometimes, the fraud is obvious. If it says Dr. John Smith performed surgery on you on Nov. 14 and you were on a Caribbean cruise that week, you know you're a victim. But if you went to Dr. Smith that day and he gave you a shot of steroids for frozen shoulder, the insurance codes classify that as a surgery. Call your insurer's customer service number if something doesn't seem right.

Also, exercise your right to a free annual copy of your credit report. Most medical identity theft first shows up when the claim makes the transition to the billing department. If you have an unpaid medical bill on your credit report, that's a major clue that you're a victim. Another freebie is an annual benefits request to your health insurer; that will give you a list of all the benefits paid in your name for the year.

Another method for checking comes courtesy of Trisha Torrey, an About.com guide and newspaper columnist who focuses on patient empowerment. "Each time you make a doctor's appointment," she says, "ask them to verify the last time you were there." If the dates don't match your own records, call your insurance company and report your suspicions.

You can also check for discrepancies with the Medical Information Bureau. Hundreds of health-related insurance companies belong to this bureau, which collects personal information about individuals who apply for health and life insurance in much the same way that the credit bureaus collect financial information for credit issuers. It's far from comprehensive; it only collects information on people who apply for coverage individually. However, Torrey says, "they can be an entry to any other health-related organizations that might have your bogus information or stolen information."

Preventing it may be tougher
The tips for preventing medical identity theft are similar to those suggested for financial identity theft, such as shredding documents with your health insurance ID number on it instead of throwing them in the trash. Protect your insurance card and insurance information "just like you do your financial information," Hollis says. "Know where it's at and check it every once in awhile to make sure it's still in your wallet."

Practice "situational awareness" at the doctor's office or pharmacy, he says, paying attention to who's nearby when you're giving the staff your insurance card. Don't leave it sitting on the counter in plain view. Also, make sure you have an up-to-date firewall on your computer.

Preventing medical identity theft gets tough, though, because so many people have access to the information after it leaves your hands.

"It's so simple to do," Torrey says. "You've got all kinds of low-paid personnel working in a doctor's office and the cards are getting photocopied all the time."

Bottom line: If you're a victim, don't beat yourself up about it. The chances are pretty good that the deed happened after the information left your hands.

What to do if you're a victim
First things first: Call the police and report it. You're a victim of fraud. Also, call your insurance company and ask for the fraud department. They'll shut down your health insurance account, issue you a new card, and help you work through the process of dealing with any bill collectors and correcting the erroneous information that's now on file about you. Hollis says he'd prefer that customers call his department before calling the medical provider that generated the bogus claim. While that might seem like the natural thing to do, he points out that someone in that office -- even the person who answers the phone -- might be in on the scam.

"It would certainly help us in the investigation if the provider is not alerted," he says.

Also, contact the three credit bureaus, your bank, and your credit card issuers. Let them know your medical identity has been stolen so you can start cleaning up your credit.

Request access to your medical records from your health insurer and your health care providers. The World Privacy Forum has a detailed FAQ on the process. Among the steps to take is a request for an accounting of disclosures. This will help you find out who has information about you and, hopefully, correct it.

Finally, Torrey says, "make notes everywhere that it's been stolen with a phone number people can call to get the right information. If you're in an accident and can't answer questions, they could pull up the wrong information."

FTC Will Grant Six-Month Delay of Enforcement of 'Red Flags' Rule Requiring Creditors and Financial Institutions to Have Identity Theft Prevention Pro

2008-12-28T06:48:00.004-10:00

The Federal Trade Commission will suspend enforcement of the new “Red Flags Rule” until May 1, 2009, to give creditors and financial institutions additional time in which to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. Today’s announcement and the release of an Enforcement Policy Statement do not affect other federal agencies’ enforcement of the original November 1, 2008 deadline for institutions subject to their oversight to be in compliance.

The Red Flags Rule was developed pursuant to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003. Under the Rule, financial institutions and creditors with covered accounts must have identity theft prevention programs to identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities that could indicate identity theft.

The Rule applies to creditors and financial institutions. Federal law defines a creditor to be: any entity that regularly extends, renews, or continues credit; any entity that regularly arranges for the extension, renewal, or continuation of credit; or any assignee of an original creditor who is involved in the decision to extend, renew, or continue credit. Accepting credit cards as a form of payment does not, in and of itself, make an entity a creditor. Some examples of creditors are finance companies, automobile dealers, mortgage brokers, utility companies, telecommunications companies, and non-profit and government entities that defer payment for goods or services. Financial institutions include entities that offer accounts that enable consumers to write checks or to make payments to third parties through other means, such as other negotiable instruments or telephone transfers.

The Commission staff launched outreach efforts last year to explain the Rule to the many different types of entities that are covered by the Rule. The agency published a general alert on what the Rule requires, and, in particular, an explanation of what types of entities are covered by the Rule – http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/alerts/alt050.shtm. During the course of these efforts, Commission staff learned that some industries and entities within the FTC’s jurisdiction were uncertain about their coverage under the Rule. These entities indicated that they were not aware that they were engaged in activities that would cause them to fall under the FACT Act’s definition of creditor or financial institution. Many entities also noted that, becausethey generally are not required to comply with FTC rules in other contexts, they had not followed or even been aware of the rulemaking, and therefore learned of the Rule’s requirements too late to be able to come into compliance by November 1, 2008. The Commission’s delay of enforcement will enable these entities sufficient time to establish and implement appropriate identity theft prevention programs, in compliance with the Rule.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC's Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs 202-326-2180
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Our Affirmative Defense Response System (ADRS) provides your company a plan of action, including a privacy policy and employee training, at no direct cost to you. For more information on our ADRS program, call us at (800) 306-3063 or email us at mrapozo@hawaiilink.net. Happy holidays!!

Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
www.mplss.com

Steps to Take if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

2008-12-27T07:07:00.004-10:00

Meadow Free Press
Meadow,ID,USA

* Advising any other individuals or organizations that can be potentially victimized by the identity thief posing as you. These may include your credit card companies, banks, credit or loan services, leasing organizations and companies you interact with (utilities, etc.). Be specific about all information you have incurred in regards to the identity theft. Utilize any aid they may be able to offer, and comply with any procedures they may ask you to do.

* It is most often best to contest bills and statements for goods or services you know you did not purchase or transacted yourself. This may result in threats due to the non-payment, but it will also open communication concerning the fraud.

* If you suspect that a thief is using your identity for criminal activities, notify the police. Be prepared to share with them any information you may have that may be useful to their criminal case.

* Credit cards must be canceled immediately if you feel the least bit concerned about their security. Credit card companies will accommodate you by issuing new cards.

* You may place a "stop" order on your bank account if you suspect your account may have been accessed without your authorization. This will prevent any further transactions from taking place and stop the identity thief from wiping out your bank account.

* Advise your bank if your check books have been stolen or you feel any of the checks are missing. Your bank will place a stop on unused checks.

* If you bank online, immediately change your PIN and passwords in case they may have been compromised.

* If you have lost any of your identification such as passport, driver's license or employee identification or pass, advise issuers right away and request replacements.

* If there is a possibility that your computer has been tampered with or accessed without your knowledge, scan it for spy ware as soon as time allows it. You should also change any passwords that may have been stolen.
* Give regard to your mail delivery that it is normal and there are no unauthorized orders of redirection.

* Create a file of everything you determine concerning the identity theft. Document all correspondence and request full details concerning money owed.

If you still do not feel secure about the handling of this matter, it is best to hire an identity theft attorney. If the legal impact of the theft is piling on you then such a lawyer is highly recommended. In most circumstances, people and companies will be sympathetic to your being a victim of identity theft. Approach the situation with tact and calmness and you will find many who will make an effort to help you.

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To provide your family a complete wall of protection, including identity theft protection and restoration, as well as unlimited access to the legal system, visit http://www.mplss.com/. Can you imagine getting all of this for less than a dollar a day?

Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
(808) 645-0243 Direct
(800) 306-3063 Toll-Free
www.mplss.com

Meth users good at identity theft; CBI agent urges vigilance to protect private info

2008-12-26T06:20:00.002-10:00

By MIKE McKIBBIN
Citizen TelegramRifle
mmckibbin@citizentelegram.com

BATTLEMENT MESA, COLO. - Identity theft and methamphetamine use go hand in hand, according to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent who specializes in tracking down those who steal people’s names and personal data.

John Zamora recently told the Parachute/Grand Valley Kiwanis Club that meth users are good at committing identity theft “because they’ve got all this energy, at least at first. Fortunately, the more they use meth, they start making mistakes.”

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America because “there’s big money to be made and you can make it fast,” Zamora said.

“If someone steals your identity, you can expect to spend an average of 600 hours filling out paperwork and doing other things to let your bank and credit bureaus know you’ve been a victim,” he said. “And you can expect to spend about $1,400 to fix your credit. You basically have to prove your innocence.”

Last year, Colorado had 4,328 identity theft victims, 8th in the nation, while the city of Greeley was third in the U.S. for identity theft.

“A lot of gangs are getting into stealing identities because there’s a lot of money to be made,” Zamora said. “Nowadays, they don’t have to rob someone with a gun and get away with maybe $20 or $30. They can dress in suits, come to places like the Battlement Mesa Activity Center and rummage through the offices to find someone’s social security number.”

Identity thieves steal their information from credit bureaus, auto dealers, hospitals, employers, anyone with someone’s social security number, date of birth, bank account numbers or other facts, he said. Some use small hand-held “skimmers,” devices that can quickly record information from a credit card’s magnetic strip, Zamora added.

Some state and federal laws, such as the Fair Credit Billing Act and Electronic Funds Transfer Act, limit liability and can help victims correct errors on their credit report caused by identity thieves, he said.

Zamora advised people to not carry important identification with them, such as social security numbers. Promptly retrieving mail from mail boxes, shredding all documents before throwing them away, canceling all unused and unwanted credit cards are other steps Zamora said can help prevent identity theft.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-12-25T06:02:00.001-10:00

From the Rapozo household, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Take care and God bless.

Increase in Identity Theft around the Holidays

2008-12-23T19:10:00.000-10:00

The Identity Theft Resource Center says it gets more calls about lost and stolen wallets around the holiday season than any other time of year. The resource center offers some tips about protecting one's identity. Here are two tips I hadn't thought of:

Debit cards: Debit cards are not credit cards, rather they are a direct link to your bank account and electronically transfer money immediately to the merchant. If you want to use debit cards, link them to a bank account with a small amount of money in it, and not to your only bank account. If the card has a VISA or Mastercard logo on it the thief can use it without a PIN. If stolen, it could be difficult to prove you didn't make the purchase when you were in the same mall that day.

Check writing: ITRC recommends that you leave checks at home and only use them to pay bills. Write checks with a gel pen with specially formulated ink that absorbs into the paper fibers or one with non-erasable ink. This makes it harder for a thief to alter the check.

5 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft From Using Social Security Numbers

2008-12-22T07:40:00.002-10:00

By Alicia G. Limtiaco
For Pacific Daily News

The Federal Trade Commission on Dec. 18 issued a report that outlined five ways to help prevent Social Security numbers from being used for identity theft.

Among the report's recommendations is that the U.S. Congress consider taking action "to strengthen the procedures that private-sector organizations use to authenticate their customers' "identities," according to the FTC.

"Identity theft continues to be a major problem in this country, with victims numbering in the millions each year and out-of-pocket losses ... in the billions of dollars," the report states.

Adopting Standards

The FTC report states that adopting standards for how businesses and other organizations verify the identity of new and existing customers would make more difficult for identity thieves to use Social Security numbers and other stolen information to carry out their fraud. The report also recommends that steps be taken to reduce the unnecessary display and transmission of Social Security numbers, but noted that restrictions should be approached carefully.

"The first step in minimizing the role of Social Security numbers in identity theft is to limit the demand for Social Security numbers by making it more difficult for thieves to use them to pen new accounts, access existing accounts, or obtain other benefits or services," the FTC stated in its report.
The commission vote to issue the report was 4-0, and was developed pursuant to a recommendation of the President's Identity Theft Task Force, according to the FTC.

The report is backed by extensive fact-finding by the FTC and other federal agencies. The report also seeks to enhance the coordination and information-sharing among organizations that routinely use Social Security numbers, and recommends steps to improve data security, and increase outreach to consumers and businesses on the protection of Social Security numbers.

Alicia G. Limtiaco is the attorney general of Guam.

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Click here for the FTC press release

MEDICAL IDENTITY THEFT, THE IGNORED CRIME

2008-12-21T05:15:00.003-10:00

I found this article on the Internet,and although quite accurate, it is missing one of the fastest growing types of identity theft, MEDICAL IDENTITY THEFT!:

"Financial Identity Theft

The most common form of identity theft is financial. A person stealing your credit card details can get you into a huge amount of financial debt. High charges may incur on your telephone bill if the identity thief gains access to your telephone calling card or your account. The bolder the identity thief is, the more damages he can cause. An identity thief could take out loans in your name, receive a new credit card under your name, create a utility account, lease a car or even lease an apartment under your name. In severe cases of financial identity theft, you may find that the identity thief has even taken out a mortgage on your home and disappeared online video courses the money. On rare occasions, an identity thief has been known to put his victim's home on the market. Although the task is more difficult, sales have been made in real life.

Criminal Identity Theft

Some identity thieves who steal identities for the sole purpose of using it for plotting and carrying out criminal activities. Traffic violations are the most common type of criminal online video courses committed by identity thieves. It is possible that an identity thief may carry a false driver's license with your name on it and bearing his photograph.There is no way of knowing until you receive your first citation for not appearing to respond to a traffic violation charge. Another criminal activity that an identity thief might engage in is using your license plate when they fuel up and drive off gas service stations without paying. Because it's your plate distance learning that shows on security cameras, you end up as the likely suspect. There can be even more serious criminal activities displayed where your identity is used to cover up crimes.

Cloning Identity Theft

In some cases, criminals will steal an individual's identity in order to get a passport, driver's license or access data when they are blocked from doing so with their own identity. It is possible that an identity thief may even steal another person's identity so that he can start a new life, perhaps due to a criminal past that online education yet to answer for. In these circumstances, you may not even incur any financial losses, but the experience can leave your reputation tattered. You may not even know that you have been "cloned" until you find out that your credit report has been damaged

Commercial Identity Theft

Businesses are not without risks; they can find themselves deep in problems having to do with identity theft. Landlords face potential difficulties if, for instance, a tenant poses as the owner and sells the landlord's furniture. Data or protected premises may be accessed by falsely using an authorized individual's identity. An identity thief may also pose as an distance learning to a business and make purchases, transactions or waive contracts, which could highly damage a company. In most cases, by the time the identity theft is discovered, the perpetrator has disappeared."

It is not uncommon to see articles omit this very important type of ID theft. Medical ID theft can hurt or kill you. Check out this recent article. The article states, "But as the push toward electronic medical records gains momentum, privacy experts worry those numbers may grow substantially. They're concerned that as doctors and hospitals switch from paper records to EMRs, as they're called, it may become easier for people to gain unauthorized access to sensitive patient information on a large scale."

This is scary. Here is another article that talks about the dangers of medical ID theft. Did you know that for $60, someone can buy your medical records and use it to obtain medical care? It's true as indicated here.

This is why credit monitoring alone is not enough. The credit monitoring companies do not monitor medical records. Nor do they monitor drivers license records and criminal records. This is why it is vital to subscribe to a service that provides total protection. A service that will do proactive searches in all databases to make sure that you are not a victim of non-financial identity theft.

The service that I'm talking about is our Identity Theft Shield. This service will protect you and your family against ID theft, and if you become a victim of this horrific crime, the experts at Kroll Background America will make sure that you are not a victim of any other type of ID theft.

Now, as any victim of ID theft will tell you, you need legal help when you are victimized by ID theft. With our Life Events Plan, you and your family will have access to a local law firm to help get you through the awful calls from creditors, banks, law enforcement, and others who believe that you are somebody that you're not. Believe me, it is no fun and can be extremely frustrating.

This is no joke. Medical identity theft is real and growing. Protect yourself and your family. Call us immediately for more information.

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Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P legal Support Services, LLC
(808) 645-0243 Direct
(800) 306-3063 Toll-Free
www.mplss.com