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.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
How to Prevent and Cure Medical ID Theft; This Type of Identity Theft Can Cause Even Greater Harm
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."
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."
Sunday, December 28, 2008
FTC Will Grant Six-Month Delay of Enforcement of 'Red Flags' Rule Requiring Creditors and Financial Institutions to Have Identity Theft Prevention Pro
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
******************************
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
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
******************************
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
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Steps to Take if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
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.
*******************************************
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
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.
*******************************************
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
Friday, December 26, 2008
Meth users good at identity theft; CBI agent urges vigilance to protect private info
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.
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.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
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.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Increase in Identity Theft around the Holidays
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.
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.
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