Identity Theft - Key Actions to Take to Avoid It - Part One

It's a sad fact that identity theft and fraud is quite common today. In the last ten years it's estimated that over 50 percent of adults in the US have faced some form of identity theft. Here's a review of some of the common ways that you can have your personal financial information stolen and how to avoid them.

The biggest threat to anyone is probably the information that they already have online. However, this may not be information that they have knowingly placed there. It is information put there by companies with which they have obtained credit, or have otherwise done business. We read every week of a company whose records have been compromised, whose client/credit information has been stolen. There' s not much you can do about this, except to limit the businesses to you deal with to the best. Keep the number of business you share your financial information to the minimum.

Other forms of identity theft are under your control to a greater extent.

Never respond to phishing emails. This is an email that looks very similar to that you might legitimately receive from a company you have or might do business with. You might get an email from Chase bank requesting that you confirm bank information, etc. They request that you login to take care of some urgent business. It usually includes a logo similar to a real institution and a link to the website and sign-in screen. Of course, it isn't really from Chase, and most institutions are quick to say they will never send such an email. Don't respond to these emails. Don't click on the links. If you believe it might be legitimate then find the contact information of the institution independently and get in touch them separately.

Be very careful on mobile phones, since a similar scam occurs when entering some websites or applications. You enter a site and there is a popup screen requesting your email ID and password. People who are less familiar on a small screen or who are inattentive may enter this information thinking it is a legitimate request initiated by their phone. It isn't. Armed with access to your email account, they can comb through it for other IDs, accounts and passwords.

Be very careful on social network sites such as Facebook and others. You should have all your privacy settings set to the most private. Of course, you should not provide age, address and phone number information at all unless there is something critical you' d like to accomplish by doing so. Avoid revealing information that could be used as security access questions on other sites when you've forgotten your password. For instance, your pet's name or family history (mothers maiden name, etc.)

Don't use your email ID for any other important accounts. Especially don't use the same password with your email ID in another account. If they compromise your email account, they'll have access to the other accounts as well. In general, don't use the same password on many different accounts and sites. Obviously once they get the password, it's only a few short steps to get your accounts/ IDs, and then you'll be completely compromised.

Protect your Social Security number. Essentially, you should not give your SS number to anyone except where it is absolutely necessary. In some situations, where an institution already has your number, and wants to verify it, you can often simply provide the last four digits, and that's enough. In other cases, when applying for a loan, or anything requiring a credit report, they will need your social security number. The key here is to only apply for credit when you truly need it. More importantly, only deal with institutions you believe have a system in place to safeguard your information. You should never give it over the phone unless you are absolutely certain it is a trusted source on the phone.

Take your exact address off of your personal literature such as a resume and other documents where it is non-essential. Have you ever been asked for your zip code to verify a credit card purchase? If someone has your resume (with your address), and they steal your credit card separately, they can fraudulently make purchases. They wouldn't have been able to without your address. This is an example of how thieves can chip away at your identity information from different angles, and combine different pieces to steal from you.

To continue please see Part 2 of Identity Theft - The Best Ways to Avoid It at http://www.best-financial-advice.com

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Learn About Identification Theft

Because the dawn in the facts age, progressively more individuals are turning into victims of identification theft which generally ends in extreme financial losses and legal complications also. Generally, individuals imagine that they are going to certainly not be victims of the crime nevertheless the truth of the matter is the fact it may possibly take place to simply about everyone.

Simply because it's trash to you personally won't indicate it can't be utilized to steal your identification along with your economical details. Each time you throw a paid out credit score card invoice or maybe a pre-approved credit score card offer you from the trash, you set all by yourself in a bigger possibility of turning out to be a victim. Normally don't forget that any bit of paper which has your title and fiscal info on it could be a weapon from the arms of thieves who'll head to any duration, like rooting by way of your rubbish, to steal precious information.

Consumers really usually consider out their credit score cards or open up their wallets way in advance of their flip to buy the things they acquired. Simply because they don't have your genuine card will not indicate thieves can't make use of the quantity in an effort to steal from you. Generally be wary of individuals who appear to be much too shut for you inside the cashier line due to the fact there's a likelihood that they're attempting to consider a peek at your card data. Greater still, only consider out your card when it's time for you to purchase your products.

Should you fork out, your utilities applying the car debit or automobile credit score operate of the card, you ought to be apprehensive. Rip-off professionals can contact the utility business pretending to become you and inquire the consumer support representative to browse back again the card details to them mainly because "you" have forgotten which specific card you applied to purchase the invoice that month. Although it seems astounding, it basically transpires lots as well as utility enterprise is not going to even know it's got grow to be complicit in the considerable crime.

Many persons subscribe to specified expert services or products and solutions on-line and so they fork out with their credit score card every last month. You must never ever be much too cavalier about this mainly because your money details is usually simply stolen specially in case you certainly not verify your protection line of defense this sort of as passwords and verification amounts. If achievable, use Spend Pal or other on line payment processing mediums in order to avoid acquiring ripped off.

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Protecting Your Finances From Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes on earth today. It occurs when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud or engage in other unlawful activities. Consumers, businesses and financial institutions are losing billions each year due to identity theft protection.

If you're convinced it can't happen to you, and then you are wrong, think again. Anyone can fall prey to fraud and identity theft. Identity Thieves are really very creative and can use advanced techniques when they want something. They have realized the power of the internet. For those who are victims of identity theft, the costs may be significant and long-lasting. These thieves can run up debts in the tens of thousands of dollars under your names.

Identity thieves employ a wide array of tactics to steal your personal information, identity protection, the list is exhaustive. These frauds can target many of the major financial institutions and online entities at any time. Recently some high profile institutions are targeted almost continually. Large scale data breaches involve the compromise of personal financial information, such as credit or debit card account information of the customers and they use it mainly for "account takeover". Fraudulent emails ask major bank customers to log into a website and provide sensitive account information. This way these frauds can trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details. Once they receive these information's, they may able to use it in a variety of ways. They can easily take over the victim's account after collecting information's like passwords, user names and account numbers and can directly access your account and do fund transactions and other fraudulent works from your account. They may use your credit card details to make purchases in your name. Apart from this, they can also commit a variety of fraudulent and other criminal activities in your name.

Other types of common methods that these frauds use to steal personal information or identity protection include dumpster diving, phishing, skimming, change of address and old-fashioned stealing. They may use your name and identity to do anything they want or need.

Child identity theft is another fastest-growing segment. If your child uses e-mail or social networking sites, it is very important to explain him about the risks of interacting with strangers and how important it is for them to protect their valuable personal information and identity theft protection.

There are different kinds of Identity fraud protecting insurance plans available from a number of banks for your bank account information's security. This comprehensive plan will protect your medical information; passport-driving license details along with your bank account details.

Being the victim of such theft can be extremely devastating. The best way to protect you is to stay alert and knowledgeable.

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Types Of Identity Theft Ripoffs - What Type of Identity Theft Ripoffs Are There?

The 5 Most Important Type Of Scams To Look Out For Today

1. Phishing E-mails- Regardless of whether you have Spyware programs, Firewall protection, or even the best Anti-Virus money can buy, there are many hackers out there who know how to by pass these systems. Therefore, collecting bits and pieces of information needed to begin breaking into many of your accounts, but mostly they use the information to create emails that look exactly like some establishments you may be doing business with. Example: Pay Pal Accounts, Banking Accounts, and even Medical Accounts. These emails ask for sensitive data and look legit but in fact are fraudulent. Please note that no bank, Pay Pal, or medical accounts will ever specifically ask you to enter your Social Security number or any personal account information through email. Do not respond to these emails, better yet, call the office line directly to the place of your business and notify them about these emails.

2. Spoofing Websites- These websites are just as dangerous if not more than phishing emails. A Spoof Site is a a fake web-site that could be offering a service, product, or free prizes, that look legitimate. Even the URL looks like the real website you were searching for. Crooks have duplicated these websites to look exactly like the real thing, so when you are submitting personal information to buy or receive certain items, you are in fact only submitting you credit card or personal information to an identity thief.

3. Charity Scams- Unfortunately, their are many major tragedies that happen all across the world, and many of us like to help if we can. The problem is that identity crooks also find these tragedies to be an opportunity to steal money for themselves. Most of the time this scam occurs through telephone or internet. These thieves purchase telephone numbers from 3rd party vendors and start soliciting phone calls to innocent people who think they will be doing a good deed, when in reality your donating to a thief. On the internet, it can be through a spoof site that may look like a charitable website asking for your donation, or they can begin sending emails asking for your help to donate for a certain cause.

4. Credit Card Readers- This one is so easy to pull off it's beginning to happen more and more. Many identity theft criminals can buy a card reader for under a 100 bucks, which is also known as Radio Frequency Identification Technology, or RFID. What this means is that these criminals do not have to pick pocket you in order to steal your credit/debit cards, or even your passport information. This Card Reader allows them to hold it in the hand looking like a small book. They only need to pass you by and the Card Reader will pick up your card number information through a radio frequency. THAT EASY! There is no way to stop it because you will never know who it is.

5. Restaurant Credit Card Scam- This is another easy one for identity criminals. We don't think about it much now, but you will after reading this. We sometimes pay for our breakfast, lunch, or dinner with our credit/debit cards, not ever thinking twice about handing the waiter/waitress our card to pay. Many restaurants have been sued by customers after realizing that wait staff had been making copies of customer credit cards when they head to the back to charge them. After making these copies, they usually use them for themselves or sell them off to other identity fraud criminals. Though it's tough to say if every restaurant experiences this type of fraud, it's easy to say that it is happening, and happening more often

In Conclusion...

Despite the fact of how much we may try to stop Identity Theft, it will never happen. The more our technology increases, the more windows of opportunity these thieves have. There are ways however to minimize the risk of Identity Theft but it comes with practice. Many people have this idea that it only happens to careless people, but the truth of it all, is that it can happen to anyone, even children. We don't like to praise thieves but these criminals are good at what they do, which is why it is important to become aware so that we may always stay a step ahead.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

TrustedID Review - Will Your Identity Be Protected?

Identity protection is no game, and TrustedID is here to help you keep your identity safe. According to research and a ton of TrustedID reviews, they offer a wide variety of packages to help keep you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

After some investigation, I found their service to be somewhat useful in ID protection. Not only that, but I've found out that they also have knowledgeable and helpful customer support. What's more, they are backed by a one million dollar guarantee. Not many businesses can stay in business long by paying those kinds of mistakes.

TrustedID does provide maximum security for your personal information. They have an effective system in place for placing fraud alerts on your behalf should you need them. Then you have these alerts in place, your permission must be double-checked and your identity verified, of course, before you can take on an additional line of credit. It a small hassle but it's a lot better than the headache you'd go through trying to put together a shattered identity.

TrustedID over delivers by providing fraud monitoring service, online black market scanning, and scanning of other known hazards where your identify could be stolen. They even provide a CreditLock service. This is basically an account freeze so your personal information cannot be accessed. This lets you to direct the three major credit reporting agencies to release your credit reports to third parties on your permission only.

This feature is available in all states through TrustedID at an additional cost.

What if your identity does get stolen?

This is a real concern. Unfortunately, it happens a lot these days. However, in this event, TrustedID will be there for you to provide assistance in recovering your identity. They will also be there to help you in providing information to federal government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other regulatory agencies needed to help recover your damaged identity.

Backed by their one million dollar guarantee, they agree to reimburse you of any costs you incur. This includes lost wages, legal expenses, or any other costs that occur as a result of their service not working effectively.

What about their customer support? Will they be there if you need them?

This is one way you find out if your identity theft protection service is worth the price you pay.

TrustedID has been reviewed as the main identity theft protection service to use because they have excellent customer help and support. They have live phone support available to take your calls twelve hours every day. If you prefer, you can also access their support via email, of course. The most important thing about TrustedID support is that they are there and they're actually helpful.

In summary, is TrustedID a solid investment in personal identification protection?

While they do have a valuable product and reputable company, they are not the only company to provide this much needed service. When you're looking for an identity protection company that's going to be in your life for a while, you owe it to yourself to do the research required to find the best possible value at the most competitive price.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft With These Helpful Tips

Checking your credit on a regular basis is the best way to protect yourself from identity theft. Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information such as Social Security number or bank account numbers without your knowledge. This could be to open up loans in your name, make purchases or open up accounts.

When someone opens credit fraudulently in your name most often the person who opens these accounts has no intention of making payments. So you have negative accounts that weren't opened by you showing negative information on your credit report. The consequences to you are it can make it difficult for you when you go to apply for an auto loan, mortgage or credit card because the fraudulent accounts that are in a derogatory status appear to be yours which then makes it difficult to obtain credit.

By monitoring your credit report from each one of the credit bureaus you can catch any inaccurate or unauthorized items that appear. If you suspect there is suspicious activity on your report take action immediately. There are several steps you can take to reverse the inaccurate information. By following these steps you can

Start by contacting each one of the credit bureaus to have fraud alerts placed on your report. With a fraud alert on your report, anytime your credit is pulled for an application for credit the lender must contact you and confirm your identity before extending credit. If someone does try to open credit in your name this should prevent any new attempts from going through. Close any fraudulent accounts or accounts that you feel may have been compromised. File a report with your local police and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Don't think it can happen to you? It happens more than you might think. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, in 2008 there were 10 million victims of identity theft. One in every 10 U.S. consumers has been a victim of identity theft. Another study found that it can take the equivalent of working a full-time job for two years to correct the damage done by identity theft.

It is possible to protect yourself from identity theft. You don't have to be a victim. By keeping tabs on the activity on your credit reports you can catch inaccurate or suspicious activity early on before it causes severe damage to your financial reputation.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

How to Prevent Identity Theft From Impacting Your Life In A Big Way

These days most of us are aware of the need to prevent identity theft from messing our lives up in a big way.

So what do we do? Some may shrink from participating in modern life. They may refuse to use the internet, and deny themselves all of its benefits, through fear of having their ID stolen. They may try to live without credit so they do not have to give out their personal information.

Living that way may indeed reduce the chances of being a victim of identity fraud, but would certainly restrict their lifestyle choices.

Others may believe that it "only happens to the other guy." They live their life without taking the trouble to safeguard personal information and therefore put themselves at risk.

Neither of those two attitudes is the way to go. To enjoy the advantages of modern living you have to disclose sensitive information at times, you can't avoid it. On the other hand, being careless about your personal details only increases the chances of becoming a victim of fraud.

To do all that you can to prevent identity theft happening to you, without giving up living, you need to be aware of all the ways crooks could obtain access to your personal data. Then ensure that you take all reasonable steps to stop that happening.

Even in this electronic age criminals still go dumpster diving and sorting through trash, hoping to find juicy snippets of private info they can use. We accumulate so many documents, letters and forms containing personal details that we simply have to throw some out. Before we do however, we should take the precaution of shredding them, using a shredder that cross cuts and so reduces the documents to confetti.

How about your mailbox? Is it secure, can it be locked up so as to deny thieves easy access to your mail?

Phishing emails and phone calls are a constant threat. The email may look genuine or the phone call may sound convincing, but would your bank or credit supplier request details from you that they already have? No, if you think there is a chance the request is genuine, then pick up your phone and call them to find if they really sent the email or made the call.

Prevent identity theft online by keeping your security software and firewall up to date, you do have those, right? And never log on without your virus protection is running. It is also wise to always use the latest version of your browser.

How about the passwords that you use online? The longer the password that you choose, the more secure it is. If it is possible to do so, use a good mix of lower and upper case letters along with numbers and other characters. Never use real names, birth dates, names of pets etc. Change passwords frequently and do not use the same one for each site.

Enjoy social networking, but do be careful about what you post on your updates. A small piece of personal info here and there could give away a lot about your ID.

Be very cautious when using Automatic Teller Machines. If there is anything fishy, anything that does not seem right about the cash machine, don't use it. If there is anyone unnaturally hanging around, then find another ATM to use.

Doing all of the above will go a long way to prevent identity theft impacting your life. Remember also to check bank and credit statements frequently. If you spot something amiss, report it immediately.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Pre-Schoolers At Risk For Identity Theft - Are Toddlers In Pre-School At Risk For Identity Theft?

Many parents are not aware of how Identity Thieves are coming across our children's personal information. Child Identity Theft has risen over the past years to 10% out of 10 million identity theft cases in America in 2010. As technology increases more companies, daycare's, and schools are shifting along with this technology paradigm, therefore allowing our children's information to be more vulnerable to intruders from cyberspace. Not to mention that much of the identity theft begins with employees that have access to other employee, customer, and student information.

How Is Your Pre-Schooler At Risk?

For starters, lots of mothers and fathers don't realize that all an identity thief needs to begin destroying your toddlers pristine credit, is their social security number. All other specifics of your children are not needed because these criminals use their own name and age to associate with your child's social when opening lines of credit, mortgages, or any other accounts that require a credit check. We put our children's information out in places we least think are possible to lose such sensitive data. Schools, day cares, doctor clinics, and other extra curricular activities are examples of places for identity crooks to obtain your children's social security number. We put so much faith in these places to secure the data of our children but in reality many of these places have already experienced this type of crime, and it all starts with the people who work there who are handling this information.

What To Do To Ensure Your Child's Information Is Secured?

There are certain establishments that make it mandatory for you to show your child's social security number in order to meet certain criteria. Places like public schools, day cares, medical facilities, and some after school programs are just unavoidable. However, here are 3 steps to ensure you at least know how your child's information is being handled:

1. Certain places and extra curricular activities require that they have a copy of your child's personal information on file. Schools usually only need the birth certificate and vaccination records of your child, not their social security number. If the school is persistent on having their social security number, first ask to speak to an administrator and ask why they must have a copy of the social on file. If their is not enough reason to believe that they must have it on file, do not be afraid to express the prevention you practice on identity theft.

2. If your child's information must be on file, come prepared with your own copies. Note: Try to avoid using any public copy machines, including school photocopiers because most machines save copies on their hard drives in unencrypted format, therefore making it easier for anyone with access to these machines to pull out the stored copies.

3. When asked to have your child's most sensitive data on file, do not falter, but rather ask with up-most concern on how this information will be kept safe and secure. Do not hesitate to ask to speak with an administrator to find out exactly who and when does anyone have access to your children's data once it is on file. If they fail to give you details or simply can not answer you, then it makes you wonder if they have any security policy at all to protect your preschoolers information.

In conclusion...

Pre-Schoolers are not the only children you have to worry about. If you are a parent of any child under the age of 18, you also should have much concern. Identity criminals are not only focusing on pre-school children, but any child for that matter. Do not be fooled in believing that an identity thief must first physically steal your child's info in order to commit this crime. These crooks are so advanced they only have to take a few guesses at your child's social security number because these numbers all stand for a pattern. A pattern in which they were able to decipher and now no longer need to physically steal a thing from parents. The most important thing a parent can do to prevent this from happening to their child is to have Awareness. There are ways to start protecting ourselves and our children from the identity thieves

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft, Fraud and Phishing

Identity theft is an ever-increasing issue given the sheer amount of people who are having financial difficulties due to the worldwide financial crisis. You can only protect yourself against identity theft, do not leave it up to anyone else to help you.

There are some basic measures we can all take to reduce the risk. The first of which I would suggest would be two have two separate email addresses, one for your financial business, and the other for everything else.

So your online banking, PayPal, your accountant and just about anything you buy online, you should use your financial email address. Use a very difficult password with a minimum of 10 characters including capitals and symbols and don't give this email address out to anyone else. The reason we include any purchases in this email is that you are giving your financial information away to these sites included card numbers and pertinently, your address.

Use the email address only for your financial transactions and never give it even to friends. Use your other email address for everything else.

It's fairly obvious why you wouldn't want people getting hold of your bank details or card number, but the reasons run a little deeper as to why we wouldn't want people accessing this email address. If they guessed your password what would they have access to? A few online purchase receipts (with your address on), details of your PayPal account which they can access to withdraw cash to themselves, your online banking login details? You might think "Well just because someone can access my email doesn't mean they could access your PayPal or online banking accounts" and you would only be partly correct. All they need is access to your email address and they could request a new password be sent. Bang! You're in trouble.

If you have to write down the password and place it in your purse or wallet do so, it's better than making it an easy password to guess or hack.

This has been really focussed on fraud, but there is another, more insidious factor, we need to bear in mind. That factor is identity theft.

Identity theft, to my mind, is worse than fraud. Yes fraud involves stealing your own assets, but identity theft runs deeper than that, they steal your identity and take out loans and credit cards in your name. When the lender comes calling, they are going to be calling the named lender, you! This can not only hurt you financially, but can also affect your future ability to lend, your reputation and your health.

You are particularly susceptible if you create relationships online, i.e. from dating or from social networking. The whole process is ripe for identity theft, it is all about getting to know someone so you can give out very personal information during the course of the chat. For example, they want to know how old you are, you tell them because it's one of those things that come up a lot. But let's take the conversation further:

"What star sign are you?" "Wow I'm Virgo too, when's your birthday?" It all seems innocuous enough, but if you tell them, they combine it with your age and they have your date of birth as easily as that.

Let's go back to the earlier example of them accessing your email. If you have one email address and you give it out, to exchange photos or something (or bear in mind how much information you show on Facebook) they can go to your email provider and pick the option that you have forgotten your password, they can they find out what your security question is and either find the answer by searching through Facebook or directly asking you. As an example, the security question might be your first pets name. They then might start asking questions about your past. "Where were you born?" "Do you have any brothers?" "Were you a happy child" "Did you have any pets?" and before you know it you're discussing fluffy your first rabbit and how it got stuck in your boots. They can then close the conversation, go to your email account and unblock your inbox.

So they have your date of birth and access to your email account, all they need to do is login, find the receipt for the table you bought a week ago and BAM they have your address. And all they have had to do is ask a few questions, ones that are asked every day, very innocuous.

Let's go back to the conversation. They have asked where you were born. In the UK the only information someone needs in order to get a real copy of your birth certificate is your name, town of birth and date of birth. With your birth certificate they have the basis of your whole life.

Where else can someone get your address? Are you on an online directory? Like for example is your phone number listed? The electoral role? Can they search your surname and area and find you?

If you are going to meet someone, do it in a public place, don't show them pictures of your house or your car, all these things can be traced.

Once someone has your address you are open to having your whole life destroyed.

They can apply for loans, credit cards in your name, they could also change your address at your bank although this makes it more likely they will be caught. But if someone has your address and date of birth, and takes out a loan in your name using your credit history by telling them you have recently moved address. Of course this means that the lender will come to you on the first default, also your future credit options will be limited.

Even without your address, if they have your date of birth and birth town it doesn't take much more to get your birth certificate which in some respects can be used to prove your identity. Let's say they want to open a basic bank account in your name, they can take out an electricity account in your name with no ID requirements, when you get your first bill, this can be used as proof of your address, with that, along with your birth certificate, they can open a basic bank account with no credit facility. But after a bit of time they can easily use your electricity bill, bank account statement and birth certificate to take out a contract phone in your name giving them a credit file and history. After a bit of time they can use this credit file to take an overdraft and/or loan in your name, even a mortgage. They can also use your bills to apply for a replacement driving license in your name.

It's surprisingly easy to do all the above simply by knowing your date of birth and address, or in the US your social security number.

So you have to protect yourself. Start off by saving your important emails to your computer and deleting them from your email account. Open a new email account and protect it with a top notch password. Further protect it with a security question that is unusual, one that might cause you to question it if it comes up in conversation. If all the questions are easy then substitute the real answer with one that you will remember that's incorrect, i.e. Mothers maiden name: table.

Be very careful what personal information you give out during normal conversation, it might be a good idea to train yourself to re-read anything you write before you click send.

Be aware also that even your nearest and dearest can steal your identity. I once investigated a case for a woman who's best friend had stolen her identity. In cases like this, I would suggest signing up with a credit reference agency who will be able to email you whenever a change to your file has been logged.

Finally, how do we rectify identity theft? Well if you are in the US, you can call the Federal trade commission on 1-877-IDTHEFT and the IRS on 1-800-908-4490. You should also report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. If in the UK, report it to the police first and foremost, then contact the lenders and give them the crime reference number. Keep a close eye on your credit report and deal with issues as they arise. Give your crime reference number to your bank and any lenders you have. Any company part of the finance act has guidelines on how to assist in these circumstances and they will be able to provide you with further information and support.

Phishing websites.

Phishing is the practise of someone getting you to reveal your bank account (or other account) details by way of a form that looks just like the real thing. Most of these scams are done through emails and you will receive it from a legitimate looking address, it might tell you that there is a problem with your account and you should click the link to get it unblocked. The email looks genuine, the link looks genuine and the page it takes you to looks genuine. The way to always stop these in their tracks is to hover over the genuine looking link and read the actual destination link that pops up in a small box, this is the actual destination rather than what is actually typed in the email. Is this destination address taking you through to the right place? If not, delete it. An example destination address might read paypall.com and you might miss the extra L if you wasn't specifically looking for it.

Most financial institutions have a fraud department dedicated to investigating these matters so you can always forward on the email to the company it is purported to have come from. As an example, there was a recent story that the HMRC (British version of the IRS) were sending out tax refunds to people, the stories were correct, but phishers were sending emails to people asking them to log onto a fake online form where they could collect the details. Once I read it and seen it wasn't genuine I forwarded this straight to the HMRC fraud department. Whether anything comes of it they don't say but I hope they catch the culprits.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Identity Guard - Reducing Fraud Incidents Effectively

Identity theft is a major crime that provides substantial payout with little possibility of getting caught by authorities. As the Internet era progresses, so do the abilities of the perpetrators of identity theft, which can victimize any individual regardless of their location on the planet. In 2009 alone, as Javelin Strategies have reported, more than 11 million American men and women became victims of identity thieves. This increasingly alarming rise in the number of victims is a highly valid reason for people to obtain protection from services like Identity Guard. Carrying on with the slipshod manners of dealing with finances through the Internet can doubly push these figures skywards.

The continued rise of the statistics is somewhat anticipated by many experts. But what is surprising is the fact that despite the constant warnings and reminders from authorities, many people are still oblivious and careless with their financial transactions. A lot of these people still perform financial transactions without making sure that the environment is a safe one. Additionally, many individuals are not the least bit skeptical with the apps they use in conducting such sensitive matters. To make matters worse, lots of folks remain sloppy with their habits that are connected with the safety of their identities. What most people fail to realize is that while identity theft is a rampant problem, it is something that they can truly avoid.

Identity theft prevention is possible. With a number of efforts targeted at curbing instances of theft, consumers can get themselves protected and safe from the terrible aftermath of stolen identities. Aside from getting protection services such as the one offered by Identity Guard, people can perform utterly practical things that seem so simple but are really effective in thwarting theft. One such way is to destroy paper and plastic trails. Getting a shredder may be one of the best investments made as it is an important instrument in the destruction of documents that bear sensitive information. For the best results, get a shredding machine that can be used for both paper and plastic.

Another effective way is through credit protection services. According to the Javelin research, individuals who subscribed to these services were found to have reduced their amount of losses due to fraud. The company's annual survey revealed that the victims who learned of the crime via their subscriptions to the protection services saw significantly lower amounts of filched money. These people were able to avert the possibility of bigger losses through the said subscriptions and by monitoring their accounts regularly. Their self monitoring activities and the added protection from ID protection services have prevented them from completely becoming victims of identity theft.

Therefore, it certainly pays to have the support of reliable protection services, such as Identity Guard. And when this is supplemented with vigilance from the consumers themselves, the odds of becoming identity theft victims are substantially lowered. To make sure of getting the suitable protection, always make it a point to obtain services from companies that have been providing dependable services through the years. In addition, take advantage of the practical tips that help in improving security.

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Protect Yourself From Becoming a Victim of Crimes You Don't Commit

As the fastest growing and one of the most insidious consumer crimes in the United States, identity theft affects nearly ten million people every year. That's about 30,000 identities stolen every day. These are alarming statistics, but even worse is that some of these identity theft victims are arrested for crimes committed in their good name.

Take, for example, a case in which an Indiana man named Jeff Goldsmith was arrested for allegedly abusing his girlfriend's six-year-old son so badly that the child had to go to the hospital. Trouble is, Goldsmith didn't have a girlfriend, let alone a six-year-old son. In fact, he had been married for twenty years and hadn't visited the city where the alleged abuse occurred in over two years. The identity thief used Goldsmith's identity to rack up charges and then subsequently commit a brutal crime-all in Goldsmith's name. After seeing Goldsmith the mother of the actual victim confirmed that he indeed was not the man who abused her son. In like so many other ID theft cases, the real criminal remains unidentified.

Looking back, Goldsmith realized that he could have avoided becoming an identity theft victim if he would have paid more attention to the warning signs. He had received a phone bill and an insurance bill for a vehicle he didn't own. After calling the companies to clear-up the charges, Goldsmith signed-up for ID theft insurance and began monitoring his credit reports more closely. Unfortunately for Goldsmith, the identity thief was able to continue to use his identity to commit fraud and elude police following the abuse allegations.

But what about the ID theft insurance? And the credit monitoring? Goldsmith found out the hard way that identity theft insurance only covers some of the expenses to deal with the aftermath of ID theft. It does nothing to prevent it. Credit monitoring, although important, only shows unauthorized charges and damages after they have occurred. So, what could Goldsmith have done to avoid becoming another ID theft victim?

He could have been more proactive. Most ID theft protection companies only monitor credit and send alerts when someone's credit is checked. Of course, this often occurs for completely legitimate reasons as well, such as when someone (using his or her real identity) applies for a loan. Credit monitoring services and ID theft insurance companies simply do not address the root of the problem-before it becomes a real problem and claims another identity theft victim.

After all, one of the problems with ID theft is that once you're a victim you're guilty until proven innocent. Police officers are simply doing their jobs when they arrest ID theft victims. But the fallout for the victims can be devastating. Studies show that it can take three to five years and more than $1,300 to restore a stolen identity.

The only real solution is to use an identity theft prevention and recovery service that proactively prevents identity theft from occurring in the first place. Entrust America, a company that was created by law enforcement professionals for law enforcement, is the only service that both prevents ID theft and guarantees to restore identity theft victims to pre-theft status.

Too many ID theft victims unknowingly put their trust in services that masquerade as ID theft prevention or, worse, do not invest in a service to protect their identity at all. As in the tragic case of Jeff Goldsmith, it's obvious how the right ID theft prevention service could have prevented his nightmare.

Don't become another identity theft victim. Learn more about protecting your identity by visiting http://www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

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Keidra's Law Degree Stolen And The Phantoms Laughed

Keidra was so excited. She had been accepted by the University of her choice. Even more excited were Keidra's parents. They had been paying money into a good safe investment college fund for sixteen years. Time to liquidate part of the money as Keidra was headed to school to become a lawyer.

Keidra's parents had been very meticulous about funding and keeping track of her future as an attorney. When the statements came to their mail box they were immediately opened and scrutinized. Keidra had been present for this family tradition from the time she was ten years old.

She and her parents planned a special dinner the night the first check was to be sent to the admissions office of the University. Keidra had envisioned herself walking across the stage with that final degree of accomplishment in her hand. She had envisioned as well the victory in passing the bar exam. Her life would be great with her dream becoming a reality.

What Keidra and her parents didn't know was that Keidra's identity had been stolen along with theirs. It was 10:00 AM, a hot muggy summer day when Keidra and her parents received the phone call from the University Staff. The check for Keidra's first semester had bounced. How could this be?

Keidra's family went into panic mode. Her parents checked their financials only to find that the majority of their money gone. They were good stewards of their money. They had worked and saved and invested with wisdom.

What they had not done was listen when there was a news report on the media about Identity Theft because it could never happen to them. Those poor souls that experienced such trauma were out there in the busyness of life.

Starting with the phone call from the University, Keidra and her family entered into a nightmare of hell that had been carefully planned and executed. Their Identity had been stolen and sold to only God knows how many people.

Their hope turned into hopelessness. Their life of happiness turned into a life of stressfulness and dark depression. The family unit was damaged to the point of seeking therapy. They could get very little help from anyone in law enforcement. Keidra's vision of becoming an attorney soon became the reality of being a waitress at a nearby diner.

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the world. It takes years and many times a lifetime to recover. The key factor in Identity Theft is to hold on to hope. Anyone can start over regardless of age, stage, or condition. If we give up our hope, we allow The Phantoms Of Darkness to control our lives.

Is this what we really want to do? Live in the dark world of Phantoms? Envision your hope as a peaceful light of love around your world and allow that love to lead guide and direct you to a new and more productive life. You can do it! Learn how to recover and protect yourself. It just takes becoming aware.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

You, A Victim Of Tax Refund Theft?

But the real purpose for this article? In late January 2012, the federal government conducted a nationwide sweep to crack down on identity theft and tax fraud before the 2012 tax season revved into high gear. The timing of the effort was to try and stem the rising tide of fraudulent tax activity, which involves using stolen identities to file for tax refunds.

In 2011, the IRS found as many as 260,000 identity theft fraud attempts, up from 49,000 in 2010. If my math is correct, that's about an 81% increase! Tax refund identity theft is a growing trend. Unfortunately, at this time, the IRS has yet to put security procedures in place to stem the tide.

It's important for individuals to take steps to protect themselves. And most of these steps are simple to put in place without cost.

1). The ability to file online and commonly used budgeting software. There is a lot of financial and sensitive identity information on your computer. Make sure that you're using secure programs, up-to-date anti-virus protection, firewalls and strong passwords - avoid using passwords that are simple to "crack".

Some of the most common are: 123, abc123, password, password1, mother's maiden name or a pet's name. Hackers don't even need to spend time guessing because they use programs that automatically try the most common passwords and EVERY dictionary word. And be sure to change your passwords frequently.

2). Keep an eye on your credit. Your credit report serves as snapshot of your financial profile, and it's one of the first places fraudulent activity will show up. You can request a free report from the 3 major credit bureaus once per year. I suggest you stagger your requests once every 4 months. Consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service. One that provides 24/7 credit monitoring and alerts you to any key changes to your credit file.

3). Watch your mail. Email that is. Anyone who's looked at an IRS form knows that they are not a relaxed organization. They don't send out emails asking for information. If the IRS wants more information from you, it'll be a formal request and nothing more. So if an email shows up in your inbox, claiming to be from the IRS, don't click on anything - but be sure to report it to phishing@irs.gov.

4). You need to be aware of the signs that identity theft tax fraud has occurred. Keep an eye out for IRS notices or letters saying that more than one tax return was filed for you or that IRS records show you've received wages from an employer you don't know. If you receive a notice from the IRS, respond as soon as possible and file an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit.

Again when it comes to your federal taxes, you may not be aware you have become a victim of identity theft until you receive a letter from the IRS stating more than one tax return was filed with your information or that IRS records show wages from an employer that you have not worked for in the past.

If you do receive a notice from the IRS indicating identity theft, you should follow the instructions in that notice. A taxpayer who believes they are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should contact the IRS immediately so the agency can take action to secure their tax account. Here's the information:

IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

When it really comes to protecting your own Identity, you can't rely on the government, you can't rely on any banks, and you can't rely on law enforcement. If you want to protect your identity, you must become proactive.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

4 Techniques Thieves Utilize To Acquire Your Personal Identity Via The Telephone

Identity thieves have gotten quite sophisticated over the years. As reported by IBM's X-Force Trend and Risk Report fraudulent emails rerouting consumers to a bogus site also known as phishing is rising. It does not stop there however. There has been a surge in online server break ins. Not surprisingly the same is true for mobile phones given that many people have gotten rid of the traditional land line and are now using their cell exclusively.

Whichever sort of phone someone uses identity thieves have a scam for it. And it's not like they have to break into it either. Speaking with you directly often produces the best results simply because it works on a number of emotions not to mention the immediacy of the issue. Some of these are

1. You Owe The Internal Revenue Service

Very few things can scare you like getting a call from the Internal Revenue Service. The scammer states that something was wrong with your tax information from this year or previous ones. In order to stop an audit, a severe fiscal fine or even going to prison it is critical that you cooperate with this fake representative.

They take the gamble that after giving you this spiel that you will be to shook up to do anything else. So you begin to provide the maximum amount of private information as is possible.

2. Jury Duty

A bench warrant has been issued for your arrest. You had jury duty on whatever day and failed to appear. Saying you never got a summons of any sort doesn't work. The sheriff's office is on the way. they ask to verify some information. After doing that they state that they will verify everything is correct and get back to you.

3. The Process Servers

This could be by means of a subpoena or an alleged debt. Like the IRS and jury duty scam, the thief can be quite demanding. This notice has to be delivered to you immediately so they need to check the home address and ensure you will be there. To your temporary relief the home address doesn't match what's on their records and so they decide to verify the social security number.

4. Congratulations You Won

It's an ancient con however it can still get the job done. Especially on senior citizens considered to be one of the segments most targeted by identity thieves. You have won a sweepstakes of some kind. The award will be sent to you right away but first the "agent" will need you to provide answers to the following questions.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Five Myths Concerning Identity Fraud

The good news is identity theft over the past few years has decreased. But the fact of the matter is it still tops the list as the number one consumer complaint.

There's a lot of information going around when it comes to this criminal offense as well as a number of misconceptions which if you are not careful can have you moving in the wrong direction.

1. Safeguarding Your Social Security Number Is All You Have To Do

You will see this on the local and national news a lot. More than a few professionals may say this is all you have to do when it comes to guarding your identity. Regrettably that's not true. The reality is your identity can easily be stolen in a variety of ways without thieves even bothering your social security card. Among them is stealing your mail, shoulder surfing, setting up a skimming device at an ATM machine or just going through your trash also known as dumpster diving.

2. Any Fraudulent Charges Are Your Responsibility

Do not allow any company to force you into paying anything if you were the victim of identity theft. It is not your responsibility to pay any fraudulent charges thieves have put on your account. You will discover debt collectors do not care about that. They want the money and they want it now. No problem. As long as you remember you aren't the one doing the payback.

3. It Won't Happen To You

Famous last words. No doubt at one time or another many people who were victimized said the exact same thing. Identity theft spares no one. While it may be on the decline eight million people last year still had their identities stolen. Considering that the number usually hover around ten million as well as the alarming number of ways thieves can pilfer your information and there is little doubt identity theft can happen to you.

4. The Majority of People That Steal Your Identity Get Arrested

Since law enforcement and financial institutions have been more aggressive in dealing with identity theft you figure the arrest rate would be pretty good. Think again. According to studies done by the Gartner Group roughly 1 out of 700 people ever gets caught. No doubt you have seen news reports of law enforcement officials cracking a major fraud ring. This is true but day to day identity theft generally goes undetected let alone prosecuted.

5. Most Identity Theft Criminals Are Strangers To The Victim

Not true and this in many ways is what makes identity theft the epidemic that it is. Most thieves are someone the victim knows. A neighbor, friend, coworker, but mostly a family member. Which should give you a pretty good hint as to why many identity thieves never get thrown in jail. As bad as it is along with the damage done many people that have been victimized refuse to take the next step of preferring charges against their friends and/or loved ones.

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program   The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention