- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
- Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
- Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
- Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information you don't want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin.
- Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
- Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
- Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps. Keep track of all your paperwork. When you no longer need it, destroy it.
- Memorize your social security number and all of your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse. Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
- Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
- Be conscious of normal receipt of routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.
- Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
- Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.
- Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a postcard or on the outside of an envelope.
- If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
- Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
- Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards. Contact the credit card issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration dates.
- Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.
- Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers, or other personal financial data at any Web site or on-line service location unless you receive a secured authentication key from your provider.
- When you subscribe to an on-line service, you may be asked to give credit card information. When you enter any interactive service site, beware of con artists who may ask you to "confirm" your enrollment service by disclosing passwords or the credit card account number used to subscribe. Don't give them out!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
How can you prevent identity theft from happening to you?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Guard Yourself Against Identity Theft on Social Networks
08:14 AM CST on Monday, December 8, 2008
By PAMELA YIP / The Dallas Morning News pyip@dallasnews.com
The next source of identity theft may be social networking Web sites.
"There's a growing problem, and the risks are increasing," said Scott Mitic, chief executive of TrustedID, which has identity-theft protection products for consumers and businesses.
Officials of the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces identity theft laws, said they know of no ID theft cases that have arisen from social networking sites, but you can't be too careful.
Thieves are constantly searching for new ways to get you to divulge any sliver of personal information so they can tap into your wallet.
And social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are becoming a "growing pool of valuable information that at some point thieves may consider more valuable than a credit report," Mr. Mitic said.
For example, most of us use facts associated with our lives as user words or passwords, and thieves are learning they can mine these facts from social networking sites.
"I know most Americans who, if they have pets, that's usually their password," Mr. Mitic said. "The information that may seem innocuous to share may have real value to individuals with criminal minds."
Social networking sites enable people to freely express themselves in a way that may cause them to unwittingly drop morsels of information that criminals can extract to steal their identity.
Here's how it might work:
Your profile says that you live in Texas, you were born in Dallas, your beloved pet's name is Max and that you like to spend time with your parents, Dick and Jane.
It also says that today you're venting your anger at your bank – Bank XYZ – because it's been slow to resolve a problem with your account.
Now criminals know the name of your bank, the name of your pet and your mother's name. They will seek to learn your mother's maiden name, which is often used as a security question on bank Web sites.
Here are some tips to protect yourself online. You've heard them before, but they're particularly important for social networking sites because the information you post can be accessed by others:
•Never post sensitive personal data, such as your Social Security number, driver's license number and bank account numbers.
That includes your hometown, mother's maiden name, your date of birth, your high school, the hospital or city in which your were born and your favorite color.
"There are all of these secret-password answer questions," Mr. Mitic said.
•Avoid telling everyone your physical location and what you're doing at the very moment, especially if you're away from home. That's an invitation for someone to burglarize your home.
•Manage privacy controls on social networks. Set your profile to "Private" to prevent uninvited people from viewing your personal information.
•Don't make your password easy to guess.
•Only allow people you know to view your personal profile. Be careful about allowing strangers to view your profile because people aren't always who they say they are.
Officials of social networking site Facebook said they give users tools to protect themselves.
"Facebook users' profiles are by default accessible only to confirmed friends and others in a given network, and we've put in place additional protections for more sensitive information like phone number, e-mail, and home address," said spokesman Simon Axten. "Users can control access to information as they see fit using the extensive and particular settings we offer."
Users of MySpace also can control how visitors and other MySpace members communicate with them by controlling their account settings.
It reminds users that their personal profile and MySpace forums are public spaces and advises users to not post sensitive personal information.
Many of you will see this advice and say it's unrealistic because I'm practically muzzling you. But you have to decide how much information you want to share.
"How safe do you want to be?" Mr. Mitic said. "How risky a lifestyle do you want to live? We live in a world where it can be dangerous to publicly expose personal information about yourself. If you want to live a safer life, you need to be more protective of your information."
Bottom line: Have fun but be safe.
***********************************************
Let us help you with your identity theft protection needs. We provide monitoring and restoration benefits to all our members. For more information, visit www.mplss.com or call our office toll free at (800) 306-3063. Happy holidays to all of you!!
Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
By PAMELA YIP / The Dallas Morning News pyip@dallasnews.com
The next source of identity theft may be social networking Web sites.
"There's a growing problem, and the risks are increasing," said Scott Mitic, chief executive of TrustedID, which has identity-theft protection products for consumers and businesses.
Officials of the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces identity theft laws, said they know of no ID theft cases that have arisen from social networking sites, but you can't be too careful.
Thieves are constantly searching for new ways to get you to divulge any sliver of personal information so they can tap into your wallet.
And social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are becoming a "growing pool of valuable information that at some point thieves may consider more valuable than a credit report," Mr. Mitic said.
For example, most of us use facts associated with our lives as user words or passwords, and thieves are learning they can mine these facts from social networking sites.
"I know most Americans who, if they have pets, that's usually their password," Mr. Mitic said. "The information that may seem innocuous to share may have real value to individuals with criminal minds."
Social networking sites enable people to freely express themselves in a way that may cause them to unwittingly drop morsels of information that criminals can extract to steal their identity.
Here's how it might work:
Your profile says that you live in Texas, you were born in Dallas, your beloved pet's name is Max and that you like to spend time with your parents, Dick and Jane.
It also says that today you're venting your anger at your bank – Bank XYZ – because it's been slow to resolve a problem with your account.
Now criminals know the name of your bank, the name of your pet and your mother's name. They will seek to learn your mother's maiden name, which is often used as a security question on bank Web sites.
Here are some tips to protect yourself online. You've heard them before, but they're particularly important for social networking sites because the information you post can be accessed by others:
•Never post sensitive personal data, such as your Social Security number, driver's license number and bank account numbers.
That includes your hometown, mother's maiden name, your date of birth, your high school, the hospital or city in which your were born and your favorite color.
"There are all of these secret-password answer questions," Mr. Mitic said.
•Avoid telling everyone your physical location and what you're doing at the very moment, especially if you're away from home. That's an invitation for someone to burglarize your home.
•Manage privacy controls on social networks. Set your profile to "Private" to prevent uninvited people from viewing your personal information.
•Don't make your password easy to guess.
•Only allow people you know to view your personal profile. Be careful about allowing strangers to view your profile because people aren't always who they say they are.
Officials of social networking site Facebook said they give users tools to protect themselves.
"Facebook users' profiles are by default accessible only to confirmed friends and others in a given network, and we've put in place additional protections for more sensitive information like phone number, e-mail, and home address," said spokesman Simon Axten. "Users can control access to information as they see fit using the extensive and particular settings we offer."
Users of MySpace also can control how visitors and other MySpace members communicate with them by controlling their account settings.
It reminds users that their personal profile and MySpace forums are public spaces and advises users to not post sensitive personal information.
Many of you will see this advice and say it's unrealistic because I'm practically muzzling you. But you have to decide how much information you want to share.
"How safe do you want to be?" Mr. Mitic said. "How risky a lifestyle do you want to live? We live in a world where it can be dangerous to publicly expose personal information about yourself. If you want to live a safer life, you need to be more protective of your information."
Bottom line: Have fun but be safe.
***********************************************
Let us help you with your identity theft protection needs. We provide monitoring and restoration benefits to all our members. For more information, visit www.mplss.com or call our office toll free at (800) 306-3063. Happy holidays to all of you!!
Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Beware of ID Theft During the Holidays; Tips for Protecting Yourself Online and in Stores
By Eileen AJ ConnellyAssociated Press
Posted: Sunday, Dec. 07, 2008
Six steps you can take to protect your identity while holiday shopping:
Do not use debit cards. Why? Because credit card companies provide better coverage in case of theft, limiting a card holder's liability to $50. Many bank debit cards have no liability limits, and if a thief gets access to an account, it could be cleaned out before the victim even knows there's a problem.
Use just one credit card. This limits the amount of information in circulation. Also, instead of signing the credit card write “SEE ID” on the back, which Domeniko said will force merchants to ask the user for identification.
Don't let your credit card out of your sight. Unscrupulous workers can copy numbers or skim information into a second machine. Make sure clerks return your card before you leave the checkout.
Travel light. Remove anything from your wallet you don't need; never carry your Social Security card. Leave your checkbook at home if you're not going to use it.
Keep receipts. Not only do they help if returns are necessary, but receipts contain information that can be helpful to thieves. Never leave receipts visible in cars or exposed elsewhere.
Be savvy online. Check for the seals from VeriSign, the Better Business Bureau or other groups that authenticate Web sites and click on them. Legitimate sites will have links to certifications. No links could mean the symbols were simply copied to the site.
Shoppers both online and in the malls shouldn't let their guards down while hunting for gifts – a slight slip-up and they may give away more than they bargain for, identity theft experts say.
No one knows exactly how many people have their personal information stolen each year, but government statistics suggest the number may hit 8 million or more. Whether through physical theft of forms of identification, or through electronic means online, or at stores where cards are swiped for purchases, thieves have myriad ways to obtain your personal information.
Take that woman behind you at the mall ATM. She may be standing close to let the crowds pass by, but she also may be trying to sneak a peek at your PIN number. And the e-mail you receive asking you to “verify” your credit card information is probably not from the site where you just purchased your nephew's present, but from a scammer who tapped into the retailer's site.
“ID theft is obviously a threat any time of year, but particularly during the holidays, thieves and crooks come out from under their rocks to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers,” said Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, which offers tips for consumers at www.protectyouridnow.org.
Steven Domeniko, chief executive of IdentityTruth, an identity protection service based in Westborough, Mass., said the recession is likely to contribute to a rise in ID theft. “People are getting more creative in defrauding other people,” he said.
One thing that concerns Domeniko is that much of the focus on ID theft centers on credit card use, but illegal ATM transactions are a large and growing problem. “People need to be more aware that they're susceptible and they can lose a lot more,” he said, noting that thieves who access bank accounts can drain them before someone knows they're a victim. He advised against using freestanding kiosk ATMs and instead using bank ATMs equipped with security cameras.
Posted: Sunday, Dec. 07, 2008
Six steps you can take to protect your identity while holiday shopping:
Do not use debit cards. Why? Because credit card companies provide better coverage in case of theft, limiting a card holder's liability to $50. Many bank debit cards have no liability limits, and if a thief gets access to an account, it could be cleaned out before the victim even knows there's a problem.
Use just one credit card. This limits the amount of information in circulation. Also, instead of signing the credit card write “SEE ID” on the back, which Domeniko said will force merchants to ask the user for identification.
Don't let your credit card out of your sight. Unscrupulous workers can copy numbers or skim information into a second machine. Make sure clerks return your card before you leave the checkout.
Travel light. Remove anything from your wallet you don't need; never carry your Social Security card. Leave your checkbook at home if you're not going to use it.
Keep receipts. Not only do they help if returns are necessary, but receipts contain information that can be helpful to thieves. Never leave receipts visible in cars or exposed elsewhere.
Be savvy online. Check for the seals from VeriSign, the Better Business Bureau or other groups that authenticate Web sites and click on them. Legitimate sites will have links to certifications. No links could mean the symbols were simply copied to the site.
Shoppers both online and in the malls shouldn't let their guards down while hunting for gifts – a slight slip-up and they may give away more than they bargain for, identity theft experts say.
No one knows exactly how many people have their personal information stolen each year, but government statistics suggest the number may hit 8 million or more. Whether through physical theft of forms of identification, or through electronic means online, or at stores where cards are swiped for purchases, thieves have myriad ways to obtain your personal information.
Take that woman behind you at the mall ATM. She may be standing close to let the crowds pass by, but she also may be trying to sneak a peek at your PIN number. And the e-mail you receive asking you to “verify” your credit card information is probably not from the site where you just purchased your nephew's present, but from a scammer who tapped into the retailer's site.
“ID theft is obviously a threat any time of year, but particularly during the holidays, thieves and crooks come out from under their rocks to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers,” said Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, which offers tips for consumers at www.protectyouridnow.org.
Steven Domeniko, chief executive of IdentityTruth, an identity protection service based in Westborough, Mass., said the recession is likely to contribute to a rise in ID theft. “People are getting more creative in defrauding other people,” he said.
One thing that concerns Domeniko is that much of the focus on ID theft centers on credit card use, but illegal ATM transactions are a large and growing problem. “People need to be more aware that they're susceptible and they can lose a lot more,” he said, noting that thieves who access bank accounts can drain them before someone knows they're a victim. He advised against using freestanding kiosk ATMs and instead using bank ATMs equipped with security cameras.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Theft of Children's Identities Often Goes Unnoticed for Years
By Diane C. Lade
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 1, 2008
Randy Waldron Jr. deposited his first paycheck when he was an infant. By the time he was in elementary school, he had bought and sold property, cars and restaurants and racked up tax liens because of financial problems. He had a felony record at age 7. At least so said credit reports, property records and court documents.
But the true culprit, Waldron said, was his estranged father, Randolph Waldron Sr., of Loxahatchee, who covertly used the boy's Social Security number for 22 years, beginning shortly after his birth.
Consumer advocates say the Waldron case is a classic example of a serious problem: child identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission estimates about 500,000 identity theft incidents annually involve children under age 19, with the majority of the thefts occurring between birth and age 5. That's about 5 percent of all suspected ID theft cases. Federal officials said they have seen the numbers rise slightly during the past several years.
Often, but not always, a parent or guardian is involved. Theresa Ronnebaum, an identity theft victim advocate with the Florida Attorney General's Office, said she thinks that as a result, the crime is seriously underreported. The betrayal and trust issues, along with the number of years that often pass before deception is discovered, make prosecution difficult, Ronnebaum said.
Parents often start off small, using a child's number to open a utility or cell phone account because they can't get credit under their own identities. "Soon it snowballs to credit cards or business loans," said Ronnebaum, whose ID theft hotline has logged at least 200 Florida cases involving children since 2002.
The nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego estimates more than half of the child ID theft reports it has examined involve parents or family members. But strangers also can pick up a Social Security number, which has no age identifier, from pediatric or school records, from stolen ID cards or through data breaches, said center founder Linda Foley. Foley advises parents to watch for red flags such as credit card offers or bills addressed to the child arriving in the mail. But she cautions against asking for a credit report on a child if there are no signs of trouble because it opens a file under that youngster's name. "Then creditors can say, 'Oh, look, there's a consumer,'" she said. "What we want is for a minor to have no credit file."
One reason for the emergence of child identity theft is 90 percent of Americans now get their Social Security number days after they are born. In the past, most Americans applied for a number when seeking a first job. But since 1989, the Internal Revenue Service has required a Social Security identifier for dependent children age 1 and older in order for parents to claim them on their taxes.
Some law enforcement agencies also think child ID theft is becoming more attractive to thieves as personal information becomes harder to steal from adults, who are becoming more vigilant about monitoring their credit.
Paul E. Bresson, a spokesman for the FBI in Washington, D.C., said a "world of financial hurt" can happen between the time a theft occurs and when it's discovered. Often, that gap is a decade or more — when the victim applies for a school loan, a credit card or a job. Waldron was 17, and planning for college, when his mother tried to add him to her credit card. The request was denied on the basis that Waldron had bad credit. "We discovered it was no mistake, that my father had been running his whole life with my Social Security number for years," said Waldron, 27, a commercial pilot now living in Boston. In affidavits that Waldron submitted to federal court after his father filed for bankruptcy under his identity, the senior Waldron admitted he had "fraudulently" used his son's Social Security number for years "without his knowledge or approval." It took Waldron 10 years to untangle his records from his father's — documents that showed a felony conviction in South Florida and a $150,000 civil judgment.
The younger Waldron said he initially could not get a student loan and was turned down for jobs because he couldn't get required security clearances. He eventually had no choice but to get a new Social Security number, a step the federal government considers a last resort. Waldron's father could not be reached for comment for this article. Waldron had a hard time convincing a Florida bankruptcy judge that the actions committed by his father, who had an almost identical name, were not his own.
"I still have negative things on my credit report and am hounded by debt collectors," he said.
Diane Lade can be reached at dlade@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4295.
***********************************************
Let us help you with your identity theft protection needs. We provide monitoring and restoration benefits to all our members. For more information, visit www.mplss.com or call our office toll free at (800) 306-3063. Happy holidays to all of you!!
Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 1, 2008
Randy Waldron Jr. deposited his first paycheck when he was an infant. By the time he was in elementary school, he had bought and sold property, cars and restaurants and racked up tax liens because of financial problems. He had a felony record at age 7. At least so said credit reports, property records and court documents.
But the true culprit, Waldron said, was his estranged father, Randolph Waldron Sr., of Loxahatchee, who covertly used the boy's Social Security number for 22 years, beginning shortly after his birth.
Consumer advocates say the Waldron case is a classic example of a serious problem: child identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission estimates about 500,000 identity theft incidents annually involve children under age 19, with the majority of the thefts occurring between birth and age 5. That's about 5 percent of all suspected ID theft cases. Federal officials said they have seen the numbers rise slightly during the past several years.
Often, but not always, a parent or guardian is involved. Theresa Ronnebaum, an identity theft victim advocate with the Florida Attorney General's Office, said she thinks that as a result, the crime is seriously underreported. The betrayal and trust issues, along with the number of years that often pass before deception is discovered, make prosecution difficult, Ronnebaum said.
Parents often start off small, using a child's number to open a utility or cell phone account because they can't get credit under their own identities. "Soon it snowballs to credit cards or business loans," said Ronnebaum, whose ID theft hotline has logged at least 200 Florida cases involving children since 2002.
The nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego estimates more than half of the child ID theft reports it has examined involve parents or family members. But strangers also can pick up a Social Security number, which has no age identifier, from pediatric or school records, from stolen ID cards or through data breaches, said center founder Linda Foley. Foley advises parents to watch for red flags such as credit card offers or bills addressed to the child arriving in the mail. But she cautions against asking for a credit report on a child if there are no signs of trouble because it opens a file under that youngster's name. "Then creditors can say, 'Oh, look, there's a consumer,'" she said. "What we want is for a minor to have no credit file."
One reason for the emergence of child identity theft is 90 percent of Americans now get their Social Security number days after they are born. In the past, most Americans applied for a number when seeking a first job. But since 1989, the Internal Revenue Service has required a Social Security identifier for dependent children age 1 and older in order for parents to claim them on their taxes.
Some law enforcement agencies also think child ID theft is becoming more attractive to thieves as personal information becomes harder to steal from adults, who are becoming more vigilant about monitoring their credit.
Paul E. Bresson, a spokesman for the FBI in Washington, D.C., said a "world of financial hurt" can happen between the time a theft occurs and when it's discovered. Often, that gap is a decade or more — when the victim applies for a school loan, a credit card or a job. Waldron was 17, and planning for college, when his mother tried to add him to her credit card. The request was denied on the basis that Waldron had bad credit. "We discovered it was no mistake, that my father had been running his whole life with my Social Security number for years," said Waldron, 27, a commercial pilot now living in Boston. In affidavits that Waldron submitted to federal court after his father filed for bankruptcy under his identity, the senior Waldron admitted he had "fraudulently" used his son's Social Security number for years "without his knowledge or approval." It took Waldron 10 years to untangle his records from his father's — documents that showed a felony conviction in South Florida and a $150,000 civil judgment.
The younger Waldron said he initially could not get a student loan and was turned down for jobs because he couldn't get required security clearances. He eventually had no choice but to get a new Social Security number, a step the federal government considers a last resort. Waldron's father could not be reached for comment for this article. Waldron had a hard time convincing a Florida bankruptcy judge that the actions committed by his father, who had an almost identical name, were not his own.
"I still have negative things on my credit report and am hounded by debt collectors," he said.
Diane Lade can be reached at dlade@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4295.
***********************************************
Let us help you with your identity theft protection needs. We provide monitoring and restoration benefits to all our members. For more information, visit www.mplss.com or call our office toll free at (800) 306-3063. Happy holidays to all of you!!
Mel Rapozo
Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist
M&P Legal Support Services, LLC
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Latest Identity Crisis; Medical ID Theft
By Jennifer Nelson
Publication Date: 12/07/2008
When Brandon Sharp, 37, of Spring, Tex., applied for his first home loan, his lender called with bad news: The $20,000 in unpaid hospital bills on his credit report had damaged his chances for a mortgage. But Sharp hadn’t had any health problems. He was a victim of medical ID theft. Someone had stolen his information in order get health care.
According to the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit consumer-education group, medical ID theft may affect up to half a million people—many of whom don’t even know about it. And unlike “ traditional” ID theft, it can jeopardize not only your credit but also your health. “If the thief has diabetes, it’s now on record that you have diabetes,” says Joy Pritts of Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute. “That might factor into what medications you’re given.” There’s also potential for exhausting your insurance benefits—not to mention the time and effort needed to undo a thief’s work.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that it takes 30 hours for consumers to sort out a financial-identity theft. When medical records are involved, however, it takes even longer. Chuck Ottati, 33, of York, Pa., is still fixing the mess made by an acquaintance who stole his Social Security card and used it to run up thousands of dollars in hospital services. The thief was caught and spent time in jail, but since it can take months or even years for a hospital’s collection agency to report charges to credit bureaus, Ottati continues to receive collection notices today. “ It’s never over,” he says.
Complicating matters is the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In theory, the rule permits you access to your medical records and gives you the right to have mistakes fixed. But in reality, “once something has been put into your medical record, doctors are very reluctant to remove it,” says Pritts. Ottati, for one, had to hire an identity-theft protection service to monitor and correct erroneous charges for him.
Criminals can gain access to your health information through a lost or stolen Social Security card, driver’s license, or health-insurance card. In some cases, health-care workers with legitimate access steal your information and sell it.
To prevent your identity from becoming the next hot commodity, guard your health-insurance card carefully. Don’t carry it with you unless you’re visiting a provider, and never give out or write your policy number on health premium checks. Shred old documents containing health information, visit trustworthy facilities that require a photo ID, and use only reputable websites when applying for insurance online.
In addition, periodically request a review of your medical records to ensure that the information they contain is yours. Ask your health insurer for a statement of claims paid, and obtain credit reports from all three credit-reporting agencies yearly. Immediately dispute anything suspicious.
Brandon Sharp cleared his name in time to buy his home but says, “It’s a real hassle and a constant struggle. I’ve adapted to taking care of it, but do I wish it wasn’t there? Oh, yes.”
If You're a Victim
1 File a police report. It may be helpful in clearing charges with providers and resolving insurance issues.
2 File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
3 Check your explanation of insurer’s benefits and question items you don’t recognize.
4 Put a freeze or monitoring alert on your credit. It won’t prevent medical ID theft, but it will inform you of new charges.
5 Consider hiring an identity-theft protection service. For a monthly fee, it will track, dispute, and correct erroneous charges for you.
********
Call us at (808) 645-0243 for information on how we can help protect you from medical identity theft.
Publication Date: 12/07/2008
When Brandon Sharp, 37, of Spring, Tex., applied for his first home loan, his lender called with bad news: The $20,000 in unpaid hospital bills on his credit report had damaged his chances for a mortgage. But Sharp hadn’t had any health problems. He was a victim of medical ID theft. Someone had stolen his information in order get health care.
According to the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit consumer-education group, medical ID theft may affect up to half a million people—many of whom don’t even know about it. And unlike “ traditional” ID theft, it can jeopardize not only your credit but also your health. “If the thief has diabetes, it’s now on record that you have diabetes,” says Joy Pritts of Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute. “That might factor into what medications you’re given.” There’s also potential for exhausting your insurance benefits—not to mention the time and effort needed to undo a thief’s work.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that it takes 30 hours for consumers to sort out a financial-identity theft. When medical records are involved, however, it takes even longer. Chuck Ottati, 33, of York, Pa., is still fixing the mess made by an acquaintance who stole his Social Security card and used it to run up thousands of dollars in hospital services. The thief was caught and spent time in jail, but since it can take months or even years for a hospital’s collection agency to report charges to credit bureaus, Ottati continues to receive collection notices today. “ It’s never over,” he says.
Complicating matters is the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In theory, the rule permits you access to your medical records and gives you the right to have mistakes fixed. But in reality, “once something has been put into your medical record, doctors are very reluctant to remove it,” says Pritts. Ottati, for one, had to hire an identity-theft protection service to monitor and correct erroneous charges for him.
Criminals can gain access to your health information through a lost or stolen Social Security card, driver’s license, or health-insurance card. In some cases, health-care workers with legitimate access steal your information and sell it.
To prevent your identity from becoming the next hot commodity, guard your health-insurance card carefully. Don’t carry it with you unless you’re visiting a provider, and never give out or write your policy number on health premium checks. Shred old documents containing health information, visit trustworthy facilities that require a photo ID, and use only reputable websites when applying for insurance online.
In addition, periodically request a review of your medical records to ensure that the information they contain is yours. Ask your health insurer for a statement of claims paid, and obtain credit reports from all three credit-reporting agencies yearly. Immediately dispute anything suspicious.
Brandon Sharp cleared his name in time to buy his home but says, “It’s a real hassle and a constant struggle. I’ve adapted to taking care of it, but do I wish it wasn’t there? Oh, yes.”
If You're a Victim
1 File a police report. It may be helpful in clearing charges with providers and resolving insurance issues.
2 File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
3 Check your explanation of insurer’s benefits and question items you don’t recognize.
4 Put a freeze or monitoring alert on your credit. It won’t prevent medical ID theft, but it will inform you of new charges.
5 Consider hiring an identity-theft protection service. For a monthly fee, it will track, dispute, and correct erroneous charges for you.
********
Call us at (808) 645-0243 for information on how we can help protect you from medical identity theft.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Truth Behind LifeLock's Guaranteed Protection From ID Theft
Story Published: Dec 3, 2008 at 6:36 PM PST
Story Updated: Dec 3, 2008 at 7:08 PM PST
By Herb Weisbaum
How much would you pay to protect yourself from identity theft?
A company called LifeLock sells this peace of mind for just $110 a year, and it backs up its service with a $1 million guarantee.
But can the company deliver? I decided to find out.
The pitch is mighty convincing. It involves Todd Davis, the CEO of LifeLock, giving out his social security number. Consumer groups say these ads give potential consumers a false sense of security."
And I think it's misleading to imply to people that this service, the LifeLock service, is so good that you can be irresponsible, totally irresponsible and show your social security number all over the place," said Jeff Blyskal with Consumer Reports.
I met with Davis earlier this year. As expected, he had no problem sharing his social security number. I asked him to explain how he can prevent identity theft from happening.
"The primary front line of defense that we put in place is with fraud alerts that we place with the major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - and renew those for you every 90 days," he said.
Fraud alerts are designed to reduce the chances someone will steal your ID and open an account in your name. But they're not perfect. That's where LifeLock's $1 million guarantee comes in.
"If the service fails for any reason, we actually go use our expertise, hire whoever we need to hire, cover all loses, all expenses up to $1 million dollars so the victim is not out time or money because of this fast-growing crime of identity theft," Davis said.
Cover all losses? That's not what LifeLock says on its Web site. The terms and conditions clearly state the company is only responsible for failure of its service. It will not pay you "for any loss you incur."
And here's one more thing the ads don't tell you. Davis himself was a victim of identity theft even after using the LifeLock service."
A fraud alert does not make you bullet-proof to identity theft. So there was an individual who was able to go out in Fort Worth, Texas, get a $500 pay day loan because the issuing pay day loan company did not use one of the major credit bureaus," he said.
Keep in mind, LifeLock's guarantee wouldn't cover Davis in this case because he "unnecessarily" shared his social security number -- a violation of LifeLock policies.
One more thing I learned: at least eight lawsuits were filed against the company this year. The major claim is that LifeLock makes "false or misleading statements" about its services. Davis dismisses the legal action. He says he has 1.3 million happy customers and that anyone who has invoked the guarantee has been satisfied.
*****************************************************************
Call me at 808-645-0243 for information on how to protect you and your family from identity theft. Our Identity Theft Shield is the only product that provides monitoring and restoration benefits to its members. Visit www.mplss.com for more information. Happy Holidays!!!
Story Updated: Dec 3, 2008 at 7:08 PM PST
By Herb Weisbaum
How much would you pay to protect yourself from identity theft?
A company called LifeLock sells this peace of mind for just $110 a year, and it backs up its service with a $1 million guarantee.
But can the company deliver? I decided to find out.
The pitch is mighty convincing. It involves Todd Davis, the CEO of LifeLock, giving out his social security number. Consumer groups say these ads give potential consumers a false sense of security."
And I think it's misleading to imply to people that this service, the LifeLock service, is so good that you can be irresponsible, totally irresponsible and show your social security number all over the place," said Jeff Blyskal with Consumer Reports.
I met with Davis earlier this year. As expected, he had no problem sharing his social security number. I asked him to explain how he can prevent identity theft from happening.
"The primary front line of defense that we put in place is with fraud alerts that we place with the major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - and renew those for you every 90 days," he said.
Fraud alerts are designed to reduce the chances someone will steal your ID and open an account in your name. But they're not perfect. That's where LifeLock's $1 million guarantee comes in.
"If the service fails for any reason, we actually go use our expertise, hire whoever we need to hire, cover all loses, all expenses up to $1 million dollars so the victim is not out time or money because of this fast-growing crime of identity theft," Davis said.
Cover all losses? That's not what LifeLock says on its Web site. The terms and conditions clearly state the company is only responsible for failure of its service. It will not pay you "for any loss you incur."
And here's one more thing the ads don't tell you. Davis himself was a victim of identity theft even after using the LifeLock service."
A fraud alert does not make you bullet-proof to identity theft. So there was an individual who was able to go out in Fort Worth, Texas, get a $500 pay day loan because the issuing pay day loan company did not use one of the major credit bureaus," he said.
Keep in mind, LifeLock's guarantee wouldn't cover Davis in this case because he "unnecessarily" shared his social security number -- a violation of LifeLock policies.
One more thing I learned: at least eight lawsuits were filed against the company this year. The major claim is that LifeLock makes "false or misleading statements" about its services. Davis dismisses the legal action. He says he has 1.3 million happy customers and that anyone who has invoked the guarantee has been satisfied.
*****************************************************************
Call me at 808-645-0243 for information on how to protect you and your family from identity theft. Our Identity Theft Shield is the only product that provides monitoring and restoration benefits to its members. Visit www.mplss.com for more information. Happy Holidays!!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
PLEASE READ!!!
Officials: Slight Increase in Identity Theft May Occur During Holiday Season
By TIFFANY WRIGHT Daily American Staff Writer
Saturday, November 29, 2008 11:56 PM EST
Consumers should use caution when swiping their credit cards or making online purchases this holiday season, as personal information can be subject to identity theft.But experts say people should take caution year-round to protect their personal information so they do not fall victim to identity theft.
“The biggest thing for people during the holidays is to watch the information they’re handing out,” said Zack Friesen, an identity theft educator and expert. He formed a program to educate people about identity theft after his identity was stolen at the age of 7, but did not know about it until he was 17 years old.
Friesen said during the holiday season people can be so busy that they fail to look at bank statements or receipts of their purchases, and may not know they had their identity stolen until after the holidays.He said people should pay attention when handing out their credit cards to make sure they are not being swiped on two machines.
“There are so many extra purchases that people are making during the holidays that they have to be careful when they hand over their credit card,” he said.
Younger people, who Friesen said are the most common victims of identity theft, need to watch the information they submit for seasonal jobs.
“With temporary jobs you fill out applications that have personal information on it and students needs to be more responsible when they fill out applications,” he said.
Identity can be stolen from applications that have been thrown in the trash or because multiple people view the information.
Nils Frederiksen, a spokesperson with the state attorney general’s office, said more people are victims of identity theft by someone stealing their identity directly rather than online.
“Be careful what you carry in your wallet or purse during this time of year because mugging and pick pockets can increase when crowds are bigger and people are more distracted,” he said. “If someone steals your wallet they have your credit card, social security card, health insurance information and drivers license, so they have your entire identity. When you shop online they can only get your credit card number.”
Frederiksen said the attorney general’s office handles several hundred cases of identity theft a year, but it is not just prominent during the holidays.
James Shaw, Somerset state police station commander, agrees that identity theft cases are consistent throughout the year.
He said consumers should protect private data by shredding old information and checking their mail daily so it does not pile up. People should check their credit record every month so unusual purchases do not go missed and contact police to start an investigation if they think their information has been stolen.
Shaw said the department handles between 15 and 20 cases a year.
Friesen said clearing credit and a name after identity has been stolen can be a long and vigorous process.“
A lot of people find out their identity has been stolen when they’re looking to get a loan and those people end up spending four times as much money and three more months clearing up their information and name,” he said.
Never give out personal information, including your social security number, to people trying to contact you through a phone call or e-mail, Friesen said. He said keep track of purchases and unsolicited attempts to get information in order to assist police during an investigation.
Frederiksen said TransUnion, Equifax and Experian are the three legitimate sources for free annual credit reports. The official site to help consumers obtain their free report is www.annualcreditreport.com.
By TIFFANY WRIGHT Daily American Staff Writer
Saturday, November 29, 2008 11:56 PM EST
Consumers should use caution when swiping their credit cards or making online purchases this holiday season, as personal information can be subject to identity theft.But experts say people should take caution year-round to protect their personal information so they do not fall victim to identity theft.
“The biggest thing for people during the holidays is to watch the information they’re handing out,” said Zack Friesen, an identity theft educator and expert. He formed a program to educate people about identity theft after his identity was stolen at the age of 7, but did not know about it until he was 17 years old.
Friesen said during the holiday season people can be so busy that they fail to look at bank statements or receipts of their purchases, and may not know they had their identity stolen until after the holidays.He said people should pay attention when handing out their credit cards to make sure they are not being swiped on two machines.
“There are so many extra purchases that people are making during the holidays that they have to be careful when they hand over their credit card,” he said.
Younger people, who Friesen said are the most common victims of identity theft, need to watch the information they submit for seasonal jobs.
“With temporary jobs you fill out applications that have personal information on it and students needs to be more responsible when they fill out applications,” he said.
Identity can be stolen from applications that have been thrown in the trash or because multiple people view the information.
Nils Frederiksen, a spokesperson with the state attorney general’s office, said more people are victims of identity theft by someone stealing their identity directly rather than online.
“Be careful what you carry in your wallet or purse during this time of year because mugging and pick pockets can increase when crowds are bigger and people are more distracted,” he said. “If someone steals your wallet they have your credit card, social security card, health insurance information and drivers license, so they have your entire identity. When you shop online they can only get your credit card number.”
Frederiksen said the attorney general’s office handles several hundred cases of identity theft a year, but it is not just prominent during the holidays.
James Shaw, Somerset state police station commander, agrees that identity theft cases are consistent throughout the year.
He said consumers should protect private data by shredding old information and checking their mail daily so it does not pile up. People should check their credit record every month so unusual purchases do not go missed and contact police to start an investigation if they think their information has been stolen.
Shaw said the department handles between 15 and 20 cases a year.
Friesen said clearing credit and a name after identity has been stolen can be a long and vigorous process.“
A lot of people find out their identity has been stolen when they’re looking to get a loan and those people end up spending four times as much money and three more months clearing up their information and name,” he said.
Never give out personal information, including your social security number, to people trying to contact you through a phone call or e-mail, Friesen said. He said keep track of purchases and unsolicited attempts to get information in order to assist police during an investigation.
Frederiksen said TransUnion, Equifax and Experian are the three legitimate sources for free annual credit reports. The official site to help consumers obtain their free report is www.annualcreditreport.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
