Identity Theft and Prevention
Identity Theft Protection Blog
learn about identity theft protection
Posts Tagged ‘Theft Prevention’
Filed under Dumpster Diving
Filed under Computer Hacker
10 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention, Cont’d
Charles H Johnson Jr asked:
In my previous article, I gave you the first 5 tips to help prevent from being a victim. Did you apply any of those tips to your life? I hope you have taken action to complete all of them. You will gain peace of mind.
Here are the next 5 tips:
Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, there’s no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying. You want to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. If you do become one, there is help for identity theft victims. Services that provide identity theft insurance coverage can help save you time and money restoring your identity. Read about it here.
Cover-up your vehicle identification number (VIN): People have been known to get the VIN from atop of the vehicle’s dash board. They would use the VIN to order new vehicle keys and later steal the vehicle using the new keys. Criminal acts can then be completed using the stolen vehicle, yet the true owner gets the blame for the crime.
Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier: You can put a freeze on your credit reports which is called the credit freeze or also known as the security freeze. When you place a freeze on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can’t check your credit history. Without that information, they won’t issue credit. And that also means criminals can’t set up new accounts in your name. This service is great identity theft protection.
Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox. To foil “dumpster-diving” thieves, buy a shredder and destroy documents before discarding. Take action on this tip and add to it identity theft insurance coverage, IDT Insurance.
Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you’re at it, make copies of your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Quick action on this tip can be a great protection from identity theft.
Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, we’re all John and Jane Doe’s if we can’t speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. For some of us, that is a good reason why we carry our social security numbers in our wallets or purses. But, we don’t think about having identity theft coverage.
Even after you observe all of these tips for identity theft prevention, you may still become a victim. What can you do as a victim of the identity theft crime? To find the answer this question, Click here.
Linda
In my previous article, I gave you the first 5 tips to help prevent from being a victim. Did you apply any of those tips to your life? I hope you have taken action to complete all of them. You will gain peace of mind.
Here are the next 5 tips:
Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, there’s no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying. You want to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. If you do become one, there is help for identity theft victims. Services that provide identity theft insurance coverage can help save you time and money restoring your identity. Read about it here.
Cover-up your vehicle identification number (VIN): People have been known to get the VIN from atop of the vehicle’s dash board. They would use the VIN to order new vehicle keys and later steal the vehicle using the new keys. Criminal acts can then be completed using the stolen vehicle, yet the true owner gets the blame for the crime.
Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier: You can put a freeze on your credit reports which is called the credit freeze or also known as the security freeze. When you place a freeze on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can’t check your credit history. Without that information, they won’t issue credit. And that also means criminals can’t set up new accounts in your name. This service is great identity theft protection.
Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox. To foil “dumpster-diving” thieves, buy a shredder and destroy documents before discarding. Take action on this tip and add to it identity theft insurance coverage, IDT Insurance.
Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you’re at it, make copies of your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Quick action on this tip can be a great protection from identity theft.
Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, we’re all John and Jane Doe’s if we can’t speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. For some of us, that is a good reason why we carry our social security numbers in our wallets or purses. But, we don’t think about having identity theft coverage.
Even after you observe all of these tips for identity theft prevention, you may still become a victim. What can you do as a victim of the identity theft crime? To find the answer this question, Click here.
Linda
Filed under Insurance
Useful Tips For Identity Theft Prevention – Guard Your Financial Records
Abhishek Agarwal asked:
Imagine this scene: You’re opening your bills, only to find one of your credit card account balances with an over-due five-digit charge. You know you didn’t make that purchase, so you refuse to pay for it. A few months later, you decide to buy a new car, so you submit a loan application to the car dealer. You get a phone call that afternoon with the bad news, “I’m sorry, Ms. Jones, but we are not able to extend credit to you at this time.” When you ask why, they tell you that your credit report indicated you’re in debt way over your ability to pay. Bummer! You’ve become a victim of identity theft.
Now imagine this: You finally order that credit report, like you’ve been meaning to do for years. When you get it, you learn that you own a house you don’t know about and you have credit card balances at three different stores you’ve never even heard of. Someone has stolen your identity to make their life richer! How did the identity theft happen? And what can you do about it?
There are many ways an identity thief can get your personal information to build a mountain of debt that creditors expect you to pay. Maybe they got hold of your name, address, and social security number by going through your garbage one night. Or perhaps you gave them the information when “their representative” contacted you to verify some details on your account. Or maybe they’re a computer hacker that figured out how to get your credit card numbers when you made a purchase at the local boutique. They may even have gotten your information by pretending to be you (or someone in your family) when they contacted your bank or service company. The worst-case scenario is when someone uses your social security number and then goes out and commits criminal acts. Ever seen the inside of a police station or jail? You could! There are a multitude of ways to become a victim of identity theft!
Identity theft and fraudulent use of personal financial records is a growing problem all over the world. In 2004, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducted a study that indicated over 9 million people are victims of identity theft every year. A 2003 study conducted in the United Kingdom suggested that 20% of all consumers had been subject to identity theft. Clearly, in the English-speaking world, identity theft is an ever-greater threat to your personal and financial well-being.
How Can I Prevent Having my Identity Stolen?
Here are some tips on things you can do (or not do) to guard your personal financial information, prevent identity theft, and protect your good credit rating.
- Always take your receipts with you after you’ve made a purchase. Leaving the receipt at the ATM or gas station is an open invitation for identity thieves.
- Maintain good files and records of your financial transactions. Know what you’ve purchased, when, and from whom. Store your old account statements in a safe place. And be sure to shred any papers with personal information before you throw it away.
- The FBI recently reported that a third of identity theft victims admitted the thief was a co-worker or friend. Be careful not to leave personal information out in the open on your desk or in your home office. And don’t ask anyone else to hold your personal papers for you. In this case, most of the identity theft suspects were well aware of their victim’s habits and lifestyle.
- Carefully guard your User IDs and passwords for online accounts. When you create them, don’t go for the easy-to-remember. People who know you may be able to guess simple, straightforward user IDs and passwords. And don’t write your passwords down or keep them where someone can get to them. If you store them electronically, make sure the files are protected.
- Get and keep regular copies of your credit reports and account statements. Use one or all of the three major agencies (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) to get your credit report. Don’t depend on less reputable reporting agencies.
- Opt out of mailing lists whenever you can, and ask telemarketers to “take your name off their list.” By law, they can’t call you again for a year. If you have any doubts, check with your bank and credit accounts to find out what they do with your personal information and what you need to do to better protect it.
- Don’t have printed or write your social security number on your checks. Might as well send it up a flag. Some states still use social security numbers for drivers licenses, but they are changing. Check with your DMV to see if you can have your drivers license changed to remove your social security number.
- Don’t keep a written list of your bank or other account numbers where they might be seen by someone else. Keep lists of this type of information under lock and key.
- Do not respond to and delete any e-mails that ask for an account number or other personal information. Stop internet and snail-mail credit card offers. Install firewall and anti-spyware on your computer for additional protection. If your computer has the feature, register your fingerprint as an additional safety feature.
- Purchase new checks from the bank, not a discount service. And rather than having your full name printed on the checks, use your initial.
- Do not carry PINs in your wallet or purse, and never give them out over the phone.
What If I’m Already a Victim?
If you think someone else is using your identity or personal financial information inappropriately, contact the nearest office of the U.S. Department of Justice. Contact your creditors to alert them to the fraud. Also inform your bank of the activity and secure their agreement to help protect your information. You may want to revisit the names of people authorized to access your personal financial information and limit it to essential parties only. Find out as much as you can about the accounts, purchases, and applications the identity thief has made using your name. Then contact those companies directly and immediately to make sure they close the accounts and notify law enforcement when they become aware of any additional transactions.
Immediately notify the credit reporting agency and creditors if you see suspicious activity or if you find errors like a closed account that shows as open or a paid-off balance that appears to be outstanding. You may have to provide documentation to support corrections, and you may have to make the same contact several times to assure the correction is made. But be persistent. Your credit report is a direct reflection of your financial dealings. Creditors and credit report agencies are obligated to report correct information.
Megan
Imagine this scene: You’re opening your bills, only to find one of your credit card account balances with an over-due five-digit charge. You know you didn’t make that purchase, so you refuse to pay for it. A few months later, you decide to buy a new car, so you submit a loan application to the car dealer. You get a phone call that afternoon with the bad news, “I’m sorry, Ms. Jones, but we are not able to extend credit to you at this time.” When you ask why, they tell you that your credit report indicated you’re in debt way over your ability to pay. Bummer! You’ve become a victim of identity theft.
Now imagine this: You finally order that credit report, like you’ve been meaning to do for years. When you get it, you learn that you own a house you don’t know about and you have credit card balances at three different stores you’ve never even heard of. Someone has stolen your identity to make their life richer! How did the identity theft happen? And what can you do about it?
There are many ways an identity thief can get your personal information to build a mountain of debt that creditors expect you to pay. Maybe they got hold of your name, address, and social security number by going through your garbage one night. Or perhaps you gave them the information when “their representative” contacted you to verify some details on your account. Or maybe they’re a computer hacker that figured out how to get your credit card numbers when you made a purchase at the local boutique. They may even have gotten your information by pretending to be you (or someone in your family) when they contacted your bank or service company. The worst-case scenario is when someone uses your social security number and then goes out and commits criminal acts. Ever seen the inside of a police station or jail? You could! There are a multitude of ways to become a victim of identity theft!
Identity theft and fraudulent use of personal financial records is a growing problem all over the world. In 2004, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducted a study that indicated over 9 million people are victims of identity theft every year. A 2003 study conducted in the United Kingdom suggested that 20% of all consumers had been subject to identity theft. Clearly, in the English-speaking world, identity theft is an ever-greater threat to your personal and financial well-being.
How Can I Prevent Having my Identity Stolen?
Here are some tips on things you can do (or not do) to guard your personal financial information, prevent identity theft, and protect your good credit rating.
- Always take your receipts with you after you’ve made a purchase. Leaving the receipt at the ATM or gas station is an open invitation for identity thieves.
- Maintain good files and records of your financial transactions. Know what you’ve purchased, when, and from whom. Store your old account statements in a safe place. And be sure to shred any papers with personal information before you throw it away.
- The FBI recently reported that a third of identity theft victims admitted the thief was a co-worker or friend. Be careful not to leave personal information out in the open on your desk or in your home office. And don’t ask anyone else to hold your personal papers for you. In this case, most of the identity theft suspects were well aware of their victim’s habits and lifestyle.
- Carefully guard your User IDs and passwords for online accounts. When you create them, don’t go for the easy-to-remember. People who know you may be able to guess simple, straightforward user IDs and passwords. And don’t write your passwords down or keep them where someone can get to them. If you store them electronically, make sure the files are protected.
- Get and keep regular copies of your credit reports and account statements. Use one or all of the three major agencies (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) to get your credit report. Don’t depend on less reputable reporting agencies.
- Opt out of mailing lists whenever you can, and ask telemarketers to “take your name off their list.” By law, they can’t call you again for a year. If you have any doubts, check with your bank and credit accounts to find out what they do with your personal information and what you need to do to better protect it.
- Don’t have printed or write your social security number on your checks. Might as well send it up a flag. Some states still use social security numbers for drivers licenses, but they are changing. Check with your DMV to see if you can have your drivers license changed to remove your social security number.
- Don’t keep a written list of your bank or other account numbers where they might be seen by someone else. Keep lists of this type of information under lock and key.
- Do not respond to and delete any e-mails that ask for an account number or other personal information. Stop internet and snail-mail credit card offers. Install firewall and anti-spyware on your computer for additional protection. If your computer has the feature, register your fingerprint as an additional safety feature.
- Purchase new checks from the bank, not a discount service. And rather than having your full name printed on the checks, use your initial.
- Do not carry PINs in your wallet or purse, and never give them out over the phone.
What If I’m Already a Victim?
If you think someone else is using your identity or personal financial information inappropriately, contact the nearest office of the U.S. Department of Justice. Contact your creditors to alert them to the fraud. Also inform your bank of the activity and secure their agreement to help protect your information. You may want to revisit the names of people authorized to access your personal financial information and limit it to essential parties only. Find out as much as you can about the accounts, purchases, and applications the identity thief has made using your name. Then contact those companies directly and immediately to make sure they close the accounts and notify law enforcement when they become aware of any additional transactions.
Immediately notify the credit reporting agency and creditors if you see suspicious activity or if you find errors like a closed account that shows as open or a paid-off balance that appears to be outstanding. You may have to provide documentation to support corrections, and you may have to make the same contact several times to assure the correction is made. But be persistent. Your credit report is a direct reflection of your financial dealings. Creditors and credit report agencies are obligated to report correct information.
Megan
Filed under Personal Injury
Lifelock: Identity Theft Prevention Services
Pj Germain asked:
LifeLock is the consort to use. But they don’t stop there; LifeLock also protects you from the headache of a lost or stolen wallet. And, to help you rest at night, they back up their promises with a $1 million guarantee. LifeLock is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they’re American based in Tempe, Arizona. If you would like to order their service over the phone you can call 1(877)- Lifeloc and use promotion code BestOffer or idlabs . LifeLock is said to be different because it is a system designed to prevent your identity from being stolen rather than reporting it after the fact. The company claims that it is so confident with their service that their CEO commonly publishes his own social security number because he knows his identity is safe.
LifeLock is the first identity theft protection service in the U.S. The company maintains active fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus as well as ChexSystems, thwarting fraudulent use of personal information by requiring subscriber approval of any new credit account openings and bank account and address change requests. LifeLock is an identity theft prevention service available online. You may have heard radio advertisements in which its CEO, Todd Davis, confidently reveals his social security number. LifeLock is safe and secure. This is the most stringent security certification within the industry and LifeLock is currently the only company in the identity theft prevention field who has achieved this status.
LifeLock is a personal identity and fraud protection company founded in 2005. It is now serving tens of thousands of customers in different states of the union, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. LifeLock is a scam! They are charging a ton for everything an individual can do themselves for FREE if they had the info. LifeLock is the new breed of protection. Be sure to check out the testimonials in their LifeLock Stories section.
Lifelock is eating into Experian’s core business of selling our data. Lifelock is now becoming an integral part of the human life because of its importance and necessity in the present world due to the need to avoid identity thefts. The need for it is increasing day by day. Lifelock is of the opinion that the citizens of America can do the above mentioned activity on their own. However, Lifelock ascertains that the thing is done and is done correctly.
LifeLock is the leading provider of Identity Theft Protection Services and now it gets even better. If you are considering enrolling with LifeLock, there are promotion codes available for you as well as LifeLock Special Offers. But, LifeLock is so dramatically more than that. They want to be the most comprehensive solution out there to actually prevent this crime to mitigate the risk on the front end. LifeLock is, at this time, the only company to offer credit checks and monitoring services for a member’s child who is under the age of 15. LifeLock recognizes the growing number of child identity thefts and is leading the market in providing this needed service.
LifeLock is the premier identity theft prevention company in the world today. LifeLock is adding two new identity theft protection services to their already strong lineup. The first is called eRecon and it is a high tech program that regularly scours the internet looking for compromised private records of LifeLock customers. LifeLock is one of the major and most renowned identity theft protection services throughout the world. The inexpensive and excellent service by the LifeLock community has proved to be the best identity theft protection service.
LifeLock is not the only company that offers its services to consumers (see also Debix , LoudSiren and TrustedID ). But as of this month, LifeLock had become the target of several class-action lawsuits from competitors, credit bureaus and lawyers in several states. LifeLock is currently the only identity theft protection service that has risen to the occasion and is protecting children from this crime. They now offer the world’s first identity theft protection program for children, and we have to say that really impressed us. Lifelock is now providing promotional codes. Check out our site for further details regarding this.
Jamie
LifeLock is the consort to use. But they don’t stop there; LifeLock also protects you from the headache of a lost or stolen wallet. And, to help you rest at night, they back up their promises with a $1 million guarantee. LifeLock is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they’re American based in Tempe, Arizona. If you would like to order their service over the phone you can call 1(877)- Lifeloc and use promotion code BestOffer or idlabs . LifeLock is said to be different because it is a system designed to prevent your identity from being stolen rather than reporting it after the fact. The company claims that it is so confident with their service that their CEO commonly publishes his own social security number because he knows his identity is safe.
LifeLock is the first identity theft protection service in the U.S. The company maintains active fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus as well as ChexSystems, thwarting fraudulent use of personal information by requiring subscriber approval of any new credit account openings and bank account and address change requests. LifeLock is an identity theft prevention service available online. You may have heard radio advertisements in which its CEO, Todd Davis, confidently reveals his social security number. LifeLock is safe and secure. This is the most stringent security certification within the industry and LifeLock is currently the only company in the identity theft prevention field who has achieved this status.
LifeLock is a personal identity and fraud protection company founded in 2005. It is now serving tens of thousands of customers in different states of the union, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. LifeLock is a scam! They are charging a ton for everything an individual can do themselves for FREE if they had the info. LifeLock is the new breed of protection. Be sure to check out the testimonials in their LifeLock Stories section.
Lifelock is eating into Experian’s core business of selling our data. Lifelock is now becoming an integral part of the human life because of its importance and necessity in the present world due to the need to avoid identity thefts. The need for it is increasing day by day. Lifelock is of the opinion that the citizens of America can do the above mentioned activity on their own. However, Lifelock ascertains that the thing is done and is done correctly.
LifeLock is the leading provider of Identity Theft Protection Services and now it gets even better. If you are considering enrolling with LifeLock, there are promotion codes available for you as well as LifeLock Special Offers. But, LifeLock is so dramatically more than that. They want to be the most comprehensive solution out there to actually prevent this crime to mitigate the risk on the front end. LifeLock is, at this time, the only company to offer credit checks and monitoring services for a member’s child who is under the age of 15. LifeLock recognizes the growing number of child identity thefts and is leading the market in providing this needed service.
LifeLock is the premier identity theft prevention company in the world today. LifeLock is adding two new identity theft protection services to their already strong lineup. The first is called eRecon and it is a high tech program that regularly scours the internet looking for compromised private records of LifeLock customers. LifeLock is one of the major and most renowned identity theft protection services throughout the world. The inexpensive and excellent service by the LifeLock community has proved to be the best identity theft protection service.
LifeLock is not the only company that offers its services to consumers (see also Debix , LoudSiren and TrustedID ). But as of this month, LifeLock had become the target of several class-action lawsuits from competitors, credit bureaus and lawyers in several states. LifeLock is currently the only identity theft protection service that has risen to the occasion and is protecting children from this crime. They now offer the world’s first identity theft protection program for children, and we have to say that really impressed us. Lifelock is now providing promotional codes. Check out our site for further details regarding this.
Jamie
Filed under Cyber Law