There’s so much bad new about identity theft, it can leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed. But you’re not helpless. In fact, hidden within all that bad news is some good news about identity theft prevention.

But first the bad news. One out of three victims says they know who stole their identity. What’s really shocking is that more than half of the time, they knew the perpetrator. That’s right; identity theft is usually the act of a co worker, neighbor, in-home employee, a friend or a family member.

Preventing identity theft
Now the good news. Because the theft takes place at home or work, you have more control and are better able to prevent identity theft in those locations by taking simple precautions.

• Keep your personal information out of sight. Bank statements, Social Security cards, credit card bills … anything with your personal information or account numbers should be kept at home and locked up. If you don’t need it, shred it. If you have the option of using electronic statements or bill paying online, do it. Only 2 percent of identity theft occurs from someone using the internet.
• Don’t leave mail in the mailbox. Pick up incoming mail promptly. Outgoing mail should be taken to the post office or a mail collection box. Consider a locking mailbox to protect your incoming mail. Better than any of these, rent a post office box.
• Install firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software on your computer. Update it regularly. Protect your computer with passwords and PINs. The most secure passwords use a combination of upper and lower-case letters, numbers and characters.
• Don’t leave your laptop lying around at home, the office or the airport. Encrypt any personal information.
• Unless, you’ve initiated the contact, never give out personal information over the phone or by computer.
• Don’t carry anything in your wallet that you don’t absolutely need. Voter registration cards, Social Security cards, credit cards, checkbooks should all be left at home and locked up.

More good news
In the event of a breach of security related to corporate or governmental records, you can still be protected from identity theft, by subscribing to LoudSiren. LoudSiren will place fraud alerts on your records with all three nationwide credit reporting bureaus, and automatically renew them every three months when they expire. If someone tries to open an account in your name or with your Social Security number, you’ll be notified immediately at any of the three phone numbers you provide to verify or reject the application.

When applying for credit yourself, you’ll use a special code that lets LoudSiren know the application is legitimate. LoudSiren will also block your phone number from telemarketers, and block you address from unwanted junk mail including pre-approved credit card offers.

There’s a lot you can do to prevent identity theft. LoudSiren can help. Click here to learn more.

Tags: LoudSiren // Add Comment »

There are a lot of reasons people of 50 are so often the targets of identity thieves.

• Of all the privately held wealth in the United States, 75 percent – $16 trillion — is controlled by households headed by someone over 50, according to the Federal Reserve Board.
• New cars, home improvements, and vacations are often cash purchases. As a result credit reports are pulled less often, and seniors may not realize they’ve become victims of identity theft until the bill collectors start calling.
• Seniors are less likely to take advantage of online person finance services, so they may not discover the theft as soon as younger victims.
• Fifty-four percent of seniors who reported identity theft to the Fair Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel database hadn’t notified police. Almost half of all identity theft is committed by family members, friends, neighbors or in-home assistants.
• Besides the obvious advantages of stealing the identity of someone with a lot of money, excellent credit, who won’t call the police, there is another risk for seniors: Social Security number printed on their Medicare card. Identity theft usually begins with a lost or stolen purse, wallet or checkbook.

The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends photocopying both sides of the Medicare card, and then cutting out the last four digits of the Social Security number. The original card should be locked away at home until needed. The first seven digits of the Social Security number remaining on the photocopy will be enough for any doctor or hospital to deliver emergency care.

Other tips for reducing the risk of identity theft:

• Don’t place outgoing mail in your mailbox. Take it to the post office or a postal collection box.
• Don’t leave incoming mail in your mailbox. Have a mail slot installed in your front door or get a post office box. If you’re going to be away from home for more than a day, have the post office stop your mail.
• Don’t wait for late bills to arrive. Call to confirm the company is using the correct billing address. Identity thieves can submit a change of address to delay their victim’s realization of the crime.
• Don’t keep unneeded mail. Shred it. Other mail should be kept under lock and key.
• Don’t carry unneeded credit cards. Lock them up at home until they’re needed or close the account and shred them.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet.

Tags: id theft prevention // Add Comment »

Identity theft is rampant in e-mails. Do you know how to protect yourself from illegal messages?

The Problem: Your inbox is filled with messages from banks, online accounts and credit card companies. How do you know which ones are legit?

Don’t trust any e-mail that asks you to click on a link or provide personal information—even if it looks authentic. Many e-mails are programmed to unleash a virus simply by being opened. If you are curious about the status of your personal account, visit the Website by typing in the address yourself.

Millions of Americans become victims of identity theft each year by falling for e-mail scams. Don’t be fooled by subject lines that read: “Your account will be closed,” “Click this link” or “Verify your account.”

The Solution: Make sure you don’t become a victim of identity theft by protecting yourself from unauthorized e-mails. Never open an e-mail from an unknown sender or click on a link inside an e-mail either.

Action Step I: Reduce your spam by concealing your e-mail address. Displaying your e-mail address on Internet postings, Websites or directories gives criminals easy access to your information.

Action Step II: Create and use two e-mail addresses. Use one for personal communication and one for Internet use.

Action Step III: Filter your e-mail. Some e-mail accounts have a way for spam to be filtered out of your inbox and into a junk mail folder. This is a valuable option that should be considered when searching for a new e-mail provider.

Action Step IV: Log in to your accounts often. This way, if you receive an e-mail telling you there is a problem with one of them, you’ll know if it is genuine.

Tags: Email Scams, Identity Theft // Add Comment »

Are you at risk for laptop theft? Protect your personal information by securing your laptop.

The Problem: You’re sitting at a table in your local coffee shop with a latte and your laptop. You leave your table momentarily, and when you come back your laptop is gone.

According to the FBI, laptop theft occurs more frequently than you might think. It’s the second most common computer crime—and unfortunately fewer than 2 percent of stolen laptops are recovered.

Laptops are in demand by criminals because of the wealth of personal information they hold. Once a laptop is stolen, an identity thief has access to private data such as your full name, address, age, social security number, credit card number, financial information, bank account details and more.

The Solution: Take steps to properly secure your laptop so you don’t become a victim of identity theft.

Action Step I: Physically lock your laptop. If you regularly use your laptop at a coffee shop, restaurant or other Wi-Fi hotspot, it may be a good idea to invest in a cable lock. This lessons the risk of your laptop walking away when you do to use the bathroom or order food.

Action Step II: Track your laptop. If it’s vital your laptop be returned to you once stolen, install tracking software so you know where it ends up.

Action Step III: Password-protect your user profile. This won’t keep a thief from stealing your laptop, but it can help shield your private information from someone with a lack of tech knowledge.

Also…

• Utilize Internet security features. This may consist of Firewalls, anti-virus and Identity protection elements.
• Back up your information. You should frequently back up the data on your laptop so it’s not indefinitely lost if it’s stolen.
• Use encryption software so your sensitive information can’t be accessed by criminals.

Last Minute Tips – Ask reputable sources what best ways are to protect your laptop. Investing the time and money into security locks and software is a small price to pay for identity protection.

The Takeaway: Protect your laptop just as you would any valuable possession. Don’t leave it behind when you walk away–or lock it up if you do. Use other forms of protection to guard the information inside your laptop.

Tags: Identity Theft // Add Comment »

Medical identity theft is generally harder to discover than other types of fraud. Are you taking the right steps to protect your medical records?

The Problem: You’ve just received a bill for a medical service you did not receive. It is possible that you are the victim of medical identity theft.

Health insurance information can be used by criminals to receive hospital treatment, acquire prescription drugs, get a reduced doctor visit rate or collect money from false insurance claims.

Unfortunately medical identity theft is hard to uncover. Some people find out about it through debt collectors, while others are clued in when insurance investigators warn them of the problem. Victims can also be tipped off by receiving a strange bill for services or catching an error in their medical file.

But no matter how it is caught, medical identity theft can transform your medical record—so much so it’s almost impossible to reverse. Sometimes the changes to your record can even present a medical risk to you.

The Solution: You must repair your medical records if you have been a victim of medical ID theft so that you don’t receive unnecessary treatment that may jeopardize your health. You should also take preventative steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Action Step I: Demand a list of benefits. It is essential that you ask for a listing of benefits from your health insurers once a year. By being proactive, you thwart fraudsters who’ve changed your billing address. Question the insurer or provider if strange payments appear.

Action Step II: Request current medical files. A copy should be obtained from each health care provider. Sometimes a fee may be charged, so you may want to ask for only the records that will offer the information you need.

Action Step III: Fix any incorrect information. Upon noticing flawed information in your medical or insurance record, insist it be completely removed. Make sure the false information is deleted from your doctor, hospital, insurance company, laboratory and pharmacy records.

Also…

· Review statements from doctors, hospitals and insurance companies.

· Protect your health insurance card as you would your credit cards.

Last Minute Tips – Report incorrect information that appears in your medical report right away. If you think you are a victim of medical fraud call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or file a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission.

The Takeaway: Because medical identity theft is harder to uncover, it is important to be proactive. Make it a point to review bills and statements on a regular basis for false medical services.

Tags: Identity Theft, Medical Identity Theft // Add Comment »

Are you doing enough to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft?  Understand the threat and learn what you can do to prevent identity theft.

The Problem:  By now, we’ve all become aware that identity theft is a crime that can victimize any one, any where, at any time.  Extensive media coverage, staggering statistics, and horrific stories detailing the impact of the crime have shown that the threat is real and taught us to protect ourselves before we become the latest victim of identity thieves.

But, are you doing enough?  Banks, financial institutions, and credit card issuers are doing their part to prevent identity theft by offering protection plans designed to detect and eliminate the financially damaging aspects of identity theft.  Such plans include coverage for most out-of-pocket expenses as well as help through the process of undoing any damage that occurred.  However, early detection is not the only form of protection.  The truth is, when it comes to preventing identity theft, you are the first – and best – line of defense.

The Solution:  Understand how identity thieves will target you and take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

Action Step I:  Recognize the threat:  While the number of people affected by identity theft each year is a subject of debate, researchers do agree that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country.  The goal of the identity thief is to steal the information unique to you – such as your Social Security Number, bank account and credit card numbers, and driver’s license – and use it for a variety of malicious purposes.  Identity thieves steal bank account and credit card numbers to make fraudulent purchases, hack into computer databases to lift personal information, or even assume another’s identity and commit crimes in their name. 

Action Step II:  Protect yourself:  Because many identity thieves are interested in assuming your identity to commit further crimes, one of the most important identity theft prevention methods is to protect your Social Security Number.  Don’t carry your Social Security Card in your wallet or purse.  If you’re filling out a form that requires your Social Security Number, ask if including it is absolutely necessary.  If your health insurance card uses it as an identification number, request an alternative.  The company should be able to provide you with one.

Your credit card number is an appealing target for identity thieves who would use it make fraudulent purchases while you foot the bill.  Open your bills and check for suspicious or unauthorized charges right away.  Don’t simply throw away old bills and statements – shred them instead.  If you find suspicious charges, call one of the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to perform a credit check, and if necessary, enter a fraud alert. 

Protecting your electronic identity is another critical step to preventing the crime.  When online, only do business with reputable companies whose legitimacy you can confirm.  Be sure that any page that asks you to enter personal information has “https” in the address bar (the “s” means secure) and a padlock icon at the bottom of the screen.  Use passwords that are easy to remember, but hard for others to guess, and include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.  Avoid passwords that reference your name, last name, birth date, or other personal information.

Avoid “phishing” scams, which generally come in the form of fraudulent e-mails pretending to be from banks, retailers, or government agencies. Don’t respond with any personal information unless you made the contact first. Keep your computer free of viruses, worms, and spyware, which are often designed to corrupt files and lift information.  Sweep often and keep your anti-virus software up-to-date – new viruses are developed everyday, and being prepared for the next threat is often the best defense.

Tags: Identity Theft // Add Comment »

Is the personal information contained in your eBay account safe? Learn the warning signs of eBay fraud and the steps you can take to keep your personal information safe.

The Problem: Like many online activities that have grown in popularity, eBay has gone from fad to way of life for many, and in doing so, has opened the door for criminals looking to perform fraudulent auctions, or worse, steal users’ identities.

Because the typical eBay account contains personal information, including a user’s mailing address and credit card number, they provide fertile ground for a variety of scam artists and identity thieves. eBay crimes are generally perpetrated by individuals looking to assume another’s identity for the purpose of committing fraudulent auctions where money is transferred, but no good is sold. Even worse, some eBay thieves will use software to break into accounts, steal credit card numbers, and perform criminal transactions elsewhere. While eBay crimes are quite rare, the threat exists, so employing the proper precautions is imperative.

The Solution: Understand how eBay scams affect you, counteract any identity theft that results from an eBay scam, and protect your eBay identity.

Action Step I: How will eBay scammers target me? While fraudulent auctions are certainly a threat, the most direct and harmful form of eBay fraud is identity theft. Criminals trolling eBay will often attempt to capture account information by using e-mail scams that ask for passwords to complete a recent transaction, which they then use commandeer accounts and the information contained within. If you ever receive this type of message, check the “My Messages” section of your eBay account page. If the message is not copied there, do not reply, it is a fraud and should be forwarded to eBay’s fraud-monitoring services.

Action Step II: How do I know if I’m the victim of eBay fraud? Like other forms of identity theft, the best way to know if you are the victim of eBay fraud is to check the statements for the credit card you use on eBay. If there are any suspicious eBay related charges, the first step is to call one of the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to perform a credit check, and if necessary, enter a fraud alert. A fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days, which should give you enough time to close any compromised accounts, open new ones, and go through the proper channels to rectify the damage. Moreover, closing the credit card in question will, by law, remove any responsibility you have for further charges on that card.

Action Step III: What can I do to protect myself: The simplest, most proactive way to protect yourself from fraud is to closely monitor your eBay account. Even if you’re a casual eBay user, monitor your account history on a regular basis. If there are transactions you did not authorize, contact eBay immediately and report the fraudulent charges to the credit card company. Be sure the passwords connected to your account are not easily broken. Use passwords that are easy to remember, but hard for others to guess, and include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid passwords that reference your name, last name, birth date, or other personal information. When it comes to keeping your identity safe on eBay, common sense often wins the day. If anything feels suspicious, it’s best to investigate further. Asking questions won’t hurt you, but fraud will.

Tags: Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft // Add Comment »

Does a criminal have your credit card number? Find out if you’re a victim of credit card fraud and learn the best ways to keep your credit card information safe.

The Problem: More and more, cash is becoming an antiquated method of payment. Sure, we may pay use cash for a magazine or cup of coffee, but more and more, people are favoring plastic over paper. Credit cards offer convenience and ease of use that cash can’t match, but unfortunately, they also make each and every one of us potential victims of fraud.

A thief digs through your trash, finds discarded receipts, steals your account number, and racks up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges. An unscrupulous waiter copies down your credit card number, uses it to finance a Caribbean vacation, and you foot the bill. Fraud artists are everywhere, and with millions of credit card transactions taking place each day, the number of potential victims is staggering. Thankfully, there are steps we can all employ to make ourselves difficult targets for credit card fraud.

The Solution: Learn if you are a victim of fraud, minimize the impact of fraud, and guard yourself against future attacks.

Action Step I: Am I a victim of credit card fraud? You won’t know for sure unless you look. Carefully check every statement you receive – don’t just make the payment and send it away. If anything seems out of the ordinary, immediately call the card issuer to discuss the validity of the charges. Should the charges be unauthorized, report the fraudulent activity and immediately cancel the card.

Action Step II: What do I do if I find suspicious charges? You don’t have to be actively targeted by a criminal to be the victim of fraud. A lost wallet can easily fall into the hands of someone who may not think twice about using the cards inside to make some simple purchases. Either way, reporting any suspicious charges, or lost or stolen cards, will, by law, remove any responsibility you have for further charges.

Action Step III: Prevent future fraud: Being careful with your card is often the best defense: Make sure you know its whereabouts at all times, sign it immediately, don’t leave it lying out in the open, keep it in a secure compartment in your purse or wallet, and only carry it when absolutely necessary. Open and reconcile statements as soon as they arrive – be sure all charges match your receipts – and shred any documents containing your credit card or account number if you don’t need them.

While shopping online is much safer than sending your credit card number through the mail, there are still precautions you must take when it comes to electronic transactions. Be sure that any page that asks you to enter credit card information has “https” in the address bar (the “s” means secure) and a padlock icon at the bottom of the screen. Avoid “phishing” scams, which generally come in the form of fraudulent e-mails pretending to be from banks or retailers. Don’t respond with any personal information unless you made the contact first – legitimate businesses will not ask you for your credit card number without a valid reason. The best method for preventing credit card fraud, online or in person, is to simply use common sense. You can never go wrong calling your credit card issuer and asking why certain charges are on your statement. There is no penalty for asking questions.

Tags: Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft, id theft prevention // Add Comment »