Identity Fraud Protection and Education - The Shocking Facts and Figures

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AppId is over the quota

CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service have published some rather worrying statistics when it comes to identity fraud and general theft of personal data for illicit purposes. Their data shows that there are two types of ID theft:

Identity Fraud - where personal/confidential information which has been stolen is used to obtain goods or services. Or alternatively, the stolen information is often used to forged identity documents including passports, driving licences and more. These false documents can then be used to apply for credit cards, loans or other financial services.

Account Takeover - is another sort of identity theft where an individual's bank accounts are taken over and drained dry.

Neither of these types of identity fraud is pleasant for the victim and in this time of recession within the UK (and worldwide) ID fraud is on the rise. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, there were over 65,000 incidents of identity fraud annually and a sharp rise in the number of account takeovers from 6,272 in 2007 to well over 16,000 in 2009. The steep rise in 2009 onwards, shows that not only that identity theft is becoming more prevalent but also that the knowledge about how to prevent it is not sufficiently widespread. It's not only the individual that suffers from ID theft, but society as a whole. Banking institutions, loan companies, insurance firms and the providers of goods and services all suffer as a result of identity fraud and generally the cost is passed on to the consumer. The result is - everyone suffers. It is estimated that identity fraud costs the UK economy over £1 billion per annum.

Identity Fraud Facts and Figures

The facts and figures of identity fraud are pretty shocking:

The average amount stolen from a victim through identity fraud is over £1,000, yet only 7% of people have been a victim. Despite this, 95% of Britons believe ID fraud is a direct threat to them.

25% of people in the UK do not shred confidential documents at home.

96% of people believe that organisations do not handle their data correctly and as a result they might be at risk of ID fraud through the actions of others.

In the UK, there are around 4.3 million victims of identity fraud to date and the number of victims continues to grow.

Statistics show that around 18 million households in the UK are failing to properly protect themselves from the risk of ID theft.

Yet identity theft protection is simply a matter of education in prevention methods. In many instances, this simply involves encouraging home owners and individuals to shred important and confidential documents before disposing of them in their weekly rubbish - because this is where the biggest threat lies - criminals rifling through your rubbish. Obviously shredding all your paperwork is a hassle and takes time, but there is an alternative. The Japanese have invented an ID protection stamp, which is a simple stamp that when used quickly and easily covers and obscures personal data and cuts out the need for shredding. Confidential waste can then be put to better use and recycled rather than thrown in the landfill - while you can remain confident that your data is safe and secure.

Don't be a victim of ID fraud, protect your data simply and easily with little hassle or fuss.

Adrian writes on behalf of Stamps Direct - the UK's exclusive supplier of the ID protection stamp.

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Are You High Risk for Identity Theft? Get Protection

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AppId is over the quota

Identity thieves originally went after high value targets that had the most money. Nowadays, they have gone out of that comfort zone and target lower income groups who make for easier pickings. Identity theft cases have skyrocketed in the 21st century fueled by technological advancements. It is becoming easier for identity thieves to get information about people which they eventually use to carry out fraudulent activities. Although identity thieves prefer richer people, their information is not as easy to come by compared to low income earners. The following people are more vulnerable to identity theft.

Frequent users of social networks. Research suggests that people who frequently use social networks are vulnerable to identity theft due to the possibility of sharing personally identifiable information. People who have used such networks online for over five years are twice as likely to fall victim to identity theft.

People who reside in apartments in major cities. Identity theft in this case is made possible by the ease by which mail can be intercepted by identity thieves. This group of people also move house frequently. This means that mail can easily land in the wrong hands at a previous residence.

It has become fairly obvious that online shoppers have the highest risk factor when it comes to becoming a victim of this kind of theft. This is because they usually give out loads of sensitive personal information and even credit card numbers.

A proactive approach can serve as a good means of preventing theft. The following are some steps that can be taken to deal with the risk of identity theft.

Always ensure that on changing addresses, you inform the people that send you regular mail such as banks. This will prevent your mail from landing in the wrong hands.

Always shred documents that have personally identifiable information before throwing them in the trash. Even better, burn items with highly sensitive data.

Always cancel all credit cards that you no longer use. People usually get shocked to see purchases made with unused credit cards.

Always have passwords that are hard to guess. Password-protected accounts usually have personal information within them.

Memorize all important numbers such as social security numbers so as not to leave them lying around on a written piece of paper. If not, save them in a secure password-protected location.

Check your bank statement every month to make sure that all transactions were performed by you.

Always make sure that any website you use to make online purchases is genuine. Such websites are usually validated and make use of secure connections.

Britney Fuller is a writer who enjoys writing on a number of different verticals. For more on identity theft, Online Security Authority offers readers information on tips for job seekers concerned with identity theft.

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Types of Identity Theft - Things You Should Know

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What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft has become one of the most common criminal offences in Canada. This kind of theft usually occurs when someone takes possession of personal information such as your name, address, social security number, credit cards and/or driver's license along with other data. The intent behind committing this crime is to take illegal advantage of your identity, and your assets. The goal is for the thief to avoid the repercussions of their dishonest actions through impersonation of the victim. In some cases identity thieves have even gone as far as to try and sell property and embezzle the money. The largest credit bureaus in Canada receive over 1,800 identity theft complaints a month from Canadian Citizens.

1. Financial / Credit Identity Theft

Credit identity theft occurs when someone uses your information to obtain loans, goods or services and doesn't pay the bills. Their actions often include opening a credit card account fraudulently and attaining government benefits, passing bad cheques or opening a new bank account. Getting loans in another person's name is another way that identity thieves are able to attain finances. Due to the accumulation of bills the victim's line of credit is often negatively affected.

2. Medical Identity Theft

Through the use of a name and other aspects of one's identity the thief obtains medical insurance in the victim's name or uses their current medical insurance policy to obtain medical care or prescription drugs. Using the stolen identification, the thief is able to obtain consent to have medical services, or goods provided. If you are a victim of medical theft, you can be denied health coverage or lose your current health coverage because of false information being put on your medical record. This type of identity theft is the most dangerous form due to the thief's ability to change existing medical records that could potentially be life threatening for the victim, and is unfortunately the hardest theft to track, stop and fix.

3. Criminal Identity Theft

This type of identity theft occurs when someone has personal information including a valid driver's license and other forms of ID. Identity culprits are then able to obtain other false credentials to show authenticity to the stolen identity. The ID thief then impersonates the victim when apprehended for any type of crime or illegal act. They use the victim's information so that the crime will not show up on their own record and instead on the victim's. In this situation warrants could be issued for your arrest, you could be detained and end up spending time in jail for a crime you didn't commit. Often this type of identity theft is discovered when the victim is pulled over and ticketed for speeding or a smaller road violation. Criminal ID theft is just as difficult as medical ID theft since it is difficult to explain, fix and stop.

4. Social Security Identity Theft

Your social security number may be the most valuable piece of personal information a thief can steal. With this one piece of identification, a dishonest person can obtain other personal information to validity the identity. In some cases when a social security number is stolen the thief uses it when hired onto a new job. Specifically, they use your name and identity as their own. The thief's employer reports wages and the victim is forced into paying income taxes on those earnings. Another repercussion to this form of theft is that the victim will lose life sustaining benefits.

5. Synthetic Identity Theft

Synthetic ID theft is a fairly new type of identity theft and in which the criminal attempts to convince people that they are another person who is either real or fictional. In this case a thief will take information from various victims and combine it to create a new identity. In this case all victims whose information has been collected and used in the new identity will negatively be affected, although some more than others. Synthetic identities can be completely fabricated in some cases but a common technique is to obtain a real SSN number. This type of theft is more difficult to catch because the perpetrators credit report is difficult to track and obtain.

6. Child Identity Theft

Child ID theft occurs when a social insurance number is obtained and used to impersonate a child. Young children are an easily accessible target for identity theft because they are completely unaware that their information is being used, and discovery of this theft is usually not until the child is older. For this reason child identity theft has become a growing concern that can be difficult to avoid. When children are young the last thing they are concerned about is checking their credit. Often the culprit is a close family member or family friend who has stolen such information. Because the victim typically knows the person who has taken their identity, legal action is often not pursued.

Protect Yourself Against ID Theft

As long as "trusted" facilitators and have access to private information, you are always at risk for identity theft. It only takes this valuable information to fall into the wrong hands once, for identity theft to ensue and cause an uproar of liabilities for the victim.

To protect your assets including your property, credit rating, insurance and finances from being taken from you by an identity thief, avoid giving out personal information as much as possible, shred all unwanted mail, and never carry your SSN card with you. As well, keep private information out of eye sight and monitor your credit regularly.

Ann Jolliffe believes that it is important to have piece of mind when it comes to your family's overall well being and safety. It is a good idea to invest in Insurance London Ontario so that those we hold dear to us will always have financial security. Read up on What does home insurance cover

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Lesser Known Facts About Identity Theft

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AppId is over the quota

Many facts about identity theft are now common knowledge. Identity theft has been rising every year for at least a decade, and it has exploded wildly along with the growth of the Internet. Some hackers steal personally identifiable information and then sell it in private forums to other, would-be thieves. Phishing websites collect your personal information to facilitate identity theft, the list goes on.

Yet there are lesser known facts about identity theft that may help shape your plans to prevent it and how to monitor for it.
Many, but not quite a majority, of cases of identity theft involve family members and close friends. Parents have used a child's Social Security Number to get credit cards and even home mortgages after their own credit is shut down. Unfortunately, this ruin's their child's credit just as they are starting their own lives. And many financial institutions won't let the loans be forgiven unless the child presses charges against the relative.
Making up a Social Security Number (SSN) on a credit card application is identity theft as well as fraud. Since credit reporting is based on the Social Security Number, using a false one results in them checking someone else's credit.
Illegal aliens using your Social Security Number are committing identity theft as well as fraud, whether they use your name as well or only your SSN along with their name. This is done to pass background checks and determine if they are legal to work in the United States. Identity theft has also involved American born children of illegal aliens. Once the child has a Social Security Number, the parent uses that SSN to work and apply for credit. Unfortunately, the teenager can discover they now have a long work history and are at risk of audits by the IRS when they try to work at a fast food joint. The IRS may say they owe taxes on another job or have to explain the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claimed when they were a minor.
Impersonating someone's identity is increasingly used to gain access to health benefits. From using another's Medicaid card and ID to listing the health insurance information of a friend, this permits someone not entitled to the benefits to get free or discount care. Unfortunately, it also adds incorrect information to the correct person's medical records. This can result in bills sent to someone who never even received care. In rare cases, the medical insurance cap is reached and the person paying the health insurance premiums is unable to get care due to the health insurance fraud.
If someone is working using your Social Security Number and then claims retirement benefits, the payments go to whomever retires first. If it isn't you, you will face an uphill battle to prove the money is going to the wrong person. And there are as of yet no court cases in which the person received the benefits paid to the identity thief.
Basic shredding of your bank statements is sound advice but of limited use. Anywhere your Social Security Number and contact information are listed is vulnerable to ID theft. Your doctor's office can be hacked and your personal information stolen as easily and reliably as the Department of Motor Vehicles. An attorney's records include the SSN, address and phone number, allowing those who steal legal records to gain access to even more information for identity theft. You cannot control the information security of all of these hundreds of locations where this information is stored.

While you can never be 100% safe from identity theft, it's important to remain alert. Catching identity theft early is the key to preventing financial ruin. There are services to help protect your identity, but everyone's situation is different, so this may not be the best option for you.

Jason is the Founder and Creative Director of StartProducingWealth.com. For more resources and information on wealth creation and wealth protection, visit Start Producing Wealth.

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ID Theft Prevention and Recovery Service: Are You Protected?

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Identity theft is the fastest growing consumer crime in the United States. According to the Federal Trade Commission, approximately 9.3 million individuals are victimized by the crime every year, so it's no wonder that more and more people are turning to ID theft prevention services to safeguard their identities. But consumers aren't the only ones at risk. Any size business, whether a giant corporation or a small business, must be vigilant to protect themselves from ID theft.

ID Theft Prevention Service Vs. ID Theft Insurance Vs. Credit Checks:

Identity theft experts agree that using an ID theft prevention service is the most effective way to protect against ID theft, but note that consumers and companies can also take matters into their own hands by using common sense to protect their identities. Some preventative measures include keeping copies of credit card information in a safe place, obtaining their credit reports from the three major credit bureaus once a year, and implementing credit freezes.

Some ID experts also recommend purchasing ID theft insurance, but the benefits of an ID theft prevention service far outweigh the benefits of ID theft insurance. The insurance covers some of the expenses to deal with the aftermath of identity theft, but it does nothing to prevent it. Even the National Association of Insurance Commissioners states that ID theft insurance "cannot protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft and does not cover direct monetary losses incurred as a result of identity theft."

Instead of insurance, consumers, corporations, and small businesses should invest in an ID theft prevention and recovery service that is proactive and provides comprehensive protection against ID theft. There are many competing identity theft prevention services out there, and not all of them offer the same level of service.

The Most Effective ID Theft Prevention and Recovery Service:

The Identity Advocate has been researching the best of the best services for preventing ID theft and what to do if it happens to you. We believe the most proficient and comprehensive identity theft prevention and recovery service in the marketplace is Entrust America. It is the only ID theft protection company with a 100% track record of recovering stolen identities over the past five years of providing ID theft prevention services to corporations and consumers alike.

One of the most unique things about Entrust America is that the company has a proprietary partnership with law enforcement nationwide. The company's network of law enforcement professionals recovers identities and ensures clients across the entire United States get back to pre-theft status. As law enforcement professionals they also have the ability to get fast and accurate results that would be nearly impossible for victims to achieve on their own. In addition to providing ID theft protection and recovery services, Entrust America pursues and assists with the prosecution of ID theft perpetrators.

Entrust America's ID theft prevention services include:

• A 24/7 hotline for members to call if they suspect they have been a victim of ID theft. Most competitors do not offer round-the-clock support. These on-call identity theft specialists quickly determine whether a fraud has occurred and, if so, which of the over 40 different kinds of identity theft have been committed.

• Overnighting an ID Theft Resolution Kit that includes forms to be submitted to the IRS, DMV, Social Security Administration, and the three credit reporting agencies. An identity theft affidavit and forms specific to the type of ID theft are also included.

• Reporting the identity theft to members' local authorities and creditors, requesting that creditors cancel existing cards and issue new ones, and placing a security freeze on members' credit records that lasts for seven years. Other ID theft prevention services only place a credit freeze on records for 90 days (if they offer this service at all).

• Contacting members with status updates whenever there is activity on the case, and following-up with creditors to ensure that they properly repair the members' accounts.

• Recovery specialist who are all law enforcement professionals. They have the time and expertise to immediately launch a full investigation into the identity theft, completely reverse damages, and bring the identity thieves to justice.

• 100% recovery of members' identity to pre-theft status. No other ID theft prevention and recovery company has a better track record of reducing the likelihood of a member's identity being compromised. Entrust America gives members total peace of mind.

These are just a few of the many ID theft prevention and recovery services Entrust America provides its members. Learn more about Entrust America and the comprehensive services the company provides consumers and corporations to prevent and recover from identity theft by visiting http://www.EntrustAmerica.com.

Entrust America is the only ID theft prevention service endorsed by The Identity Advocate, a leader in the education, training, consulting, and investigation of ID theft. Visit http://www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400 for more information.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit http://www.theidentityadvocate.com/ or call 310.831.4400.

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Amazon Protects Against Fraud With Multi-Factor Authentication

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AppId is over the quota

Amazon.com has not only become the largest online bookstore, but is also a multinational ecommerce company. The company has been spreading its reach like branches of a river while supplying goods to countries across the world. Amazon.com started off by profiting from being an online book brokering system and later offering many products. Amazon.com grew its business through online associates in the form of users.

When scaling a company by having users contributing to both ends of business, buying and selling, fraudulent and malicious activities become inevitable. Amazon did not become one of the largest ecommerce websites in the world by lacking in security though. In 2009, Amazon started to offer multi-factor authentication to protect its users against fraud. They now offer free identification through any mobile device or computer which can run a Time-Based One-Time Password application. They also offer paid multi-factor authentication through a third party proprietary authentication token from Gemalto which is supposed to offer higher security.

Free Amazon Multi-Factor Authentication

If you are able to run a time-based one-time password application on your smart phone, tablet or computer you can utilize the free AWS MFA process. Using this method, when you log into your account with your traditional username and password, a token will be delivered to the application. The token is a one-time password that is generated from an out-of-band network separate from the user's login network which reduces the chances of man in the middle attacks and makes the authentication process more secure.

Gemalto Multi-Factor Authentication

To increase security even further, Amazon's users may pay for service through Gemalto which offers a keyfob device for authentication. Amazon states Gemalto's third part proprietary token device offers better security than the free process. After the RSA hard token breaches, many people are skeptical about the proprietary OTP token's security.

Secure Cloud Computing

Amazon, like many companies, is run on a cloud of servers which allows remote access of data to many users at once. Amazon.com and its cloud network offer financial information to its publishers so they can track their earnings. A publisher's user account could display earnings and options for payment to the user. This is one of the reasons why the need for authentication security using a multi-factor process was necessary.

One of the most secure forms of protection for any company storing data on the cloud is by using an out-of-band, multi-factor authentication process which Amazon has implemented. This is especially true for ecommerce websites which may be storing financial data and personal information belonging to thousands of users. This added layer of security could be the very reason why the multinational electronic commerce corporation has not been present on recent data breach lists.

2011 was the year of data breaches and more companies are becoming like Amazon and are starting to utilize cloud computing. Will these companies follow suit to provide better protection and privacy to their users that are accessing information on the cloud or will there be a bigger data breach list containing more corporations in 2012? Companies utilizing the cloud to store and access information need to add additional layers of security to protect the information and the best way for them to do that is to utilize multi factor authentication.

Adam is a network security professional who believes out-of-band authentication is the most secure form of two factor authentication utilizing a one-time password. He writes to inform businesses about upcoming changes to government regulatory compliance and remote access security.

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Credit Report Monitoring - Keeping Consumers Safe From Identity Theft

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AppId is over the quota

Credit report monitoring has become an important aspect in the lives of many people today. It is regarded as an essential service to have to help ensure protection from identity thieves. These days, perpetrators of identity theft are seldom caught by the authorities. With technology giving them the ability to conduct their illegal business, they can continue conducting their unlawful acts and victimize more people each year. But this same technology can also be used to thwart these criminals. To protect oneself, he has to properly monitor his accounts through services designed to detect suspicious activities. By doing this, he can protect himself from the grave consequences of identity theft.

Getting adequate protection from ID theft is the best defense to stay safe. Through a service that provides monitoring, consumers can take advantage of effective procedures implemented to keep identities away from the hands of thieves. As of recently, a lot of people have already benefited from these services. These specific programs have been instrumental in monitoring the personal credit files of each customer. More importantly, the emergence of these services has protected people from attempts that were made to steal their identities. Some others have been given assistance after they have fallen victims to identity thieves while enrolled in the program. These show the benefits of having such services.

The advantages of getting a credit report monitoring service

Companies that offer protection for identities give consumers a number of benefits. In addition to getting the best service to monitor credit reports, anybody who subscribes to these services can look forward to obtaining certain benefits. One of them is a comprehensive credit report. One's credit report is a highly essential document. It is his ticket to getting services that give him the most privileges. When this is compromised, he loses the benefits attached to having good credit. Therefore, it is crucial that this document be monitored to ensure that there is no illegal movement going on that will put one's identity in trouble.

Another advantage is getting identity insurance. With a good program, a subscriber can take advantage of insurance that will provide assistance to its members who have become identity theft victims. This is usually through done through financial resources that will cover lost income, attorney fees, as well as other expenses related with the restoration of their identities. Along with this service must come identity reestablishment to help them get their credit ratings to good standing.

With an identity theft protection program that offers credit report monitoring service, one is able to access various important files. People who have subscribed to these programs are given easy accessibility to files that are important in monitoring their accounts. With some plans, a member is able to get full access to these documents. Through this, he can easily assess the activities that are going on, specifically the movements that have transpired for any given period. This allows easy detection for any unauthorized changes. Therefore, it is a wise move to have such a service as it works to help enhance security for one's identity.

Credit report monitoring services are incredibly vital in preserving the protection of your identification. By way of the best credit monitoring service, you can benefit from features like identity theft protection provided by companies such as lifelock and TrustedID.

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Understanding Identity Protection

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AppId is over the quota

Identity theft protection is one of the most critical things that you can do, specifically in this day and age when everybody is putting a great deal of private information on the internet and shopping on the internet frequently. If you're seeking a bit more information with regards to identity protection, you've definitely come to the right place, which is certainly true. We will talk about the importance of protecting your identity and a few of the things which you can keep in mind when you are thinking about this important matter here in this short article.

Your credit card information and facts and your social security number are the two things you should be worried about. This information is the most important information out there, and this is the sort of information that people are often stealing on the web. There are several pointers that can definitely help you as getting your identity stolen is certainly a significant issue that you do not want to have to manage.

It is crucial that you monitor your bank accounts and credit card accounts on a daily basis so that you can be sure that all of the charges are charges that you've really authorized. You should also get a credit report every so often so you can ensure there have not been accounts opened in your name or related to your social security number. If you do see unauthorized activity, you need to report it immediately and take the necessary action steps to make sure that it doesn't happen again.

Making sure that you prevent this before it really happens is the best thing to do. You can buy software such as Lifelock to accomplish this. If you do this, your data will be protected each time you get something on the web or enter your very own information anywhere on the net, and that's definitely a very important thing.

You wish to browse around and read some reviews to get the best protection when considering identity theft protection and the purchasing of software such as this. For instance, if you're thinking about Identity Guard, you can search for "Identity Guard reviews" in Google and see what results show up. Reading about the kinds of experiences other consumers have had with these programs is essential. You need to find identity theft protection that has a great deal of reviews that are positive since these programs will be the very best, you will find.

There are many things that you must remember when you are thinking about identity protection. Hopefully you have a better knowledge of this topic in general and you're more prepared to take precautions to protect your identity now that you have read this article. If you protect your identity in the correct way, you need to be able to prevent unwanted incidents and save yourself lots of time, money, and hassle in the long run.

If you're concerned about your identity, it might be a smart idea to get some more facts about Lifelock and also Identity Guard reviews.

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Keep Your Identity Safe By Hiring Professional Shredders

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AppId is over the quota

The crime identity theft has been growing at an alarming rate making more and more people victims of this crime. Professional thieves are stealing people's valuable information like social security number, bank account password, credit card information, insurance numbers and other personal information keeping people in the dark. Though many people are taking preventive measures to stop it but all their efforts are going in vane in most of the cases as the thieves are out thinking them.

Nowadays thieves are smart enough to create a new identity of a person without obtaining his full identity. They don't need the full information, only a portion of information will do for them. Even personal documents like tax ID, national ID, driving license, outdated passport, previous employment history, birth registration etc. which seem not to be important, can also be used to steal your identity. Identity thieves use people's identity to open new credit card, take bank loans, obtain government and employment benefits, use health benefits and commit crime. All these might ruin your cash and goodwill. Here comes the necessity of shredding service to deal with the huge amount of information to deal with. People often rush to shredding services to help them shred their junk of information to prevent identity theft.

Whenever you seek the help of a shredding service, provide them with all information regardless importance. Remember thieves don't need the whole information; they can counterfeit your ID with minimum information. While choosing a shredding service it is wise to choose a commercial and professional shredder instead of small shredder. You may have vast documents containing valuable information which need to be shredded. Small shredder can't deal with such big amount of documents. Besides, only professional shredders can handle harder materials such as computer discs, plastics, DVDs, clothes etc. Small shredder might take too much time in handling things.

Commercial shredding service not only helps you in dealing with hue junk of documents but also saves your time and money. There is a saying, 'Time is money.' As the small shredder takes more time it costs you more. On the other hand a reputable shredder can shred your documents within very short time and prevent your identity from being stolen. Shredding machine usually requires large amount of energy. If you buy one machine to shred your documents, it will cost you some big cash. You may not use it regularly. So it is better to hire a commercial shredding company to shred your data.

Do you know the importance of identity theft protection? You may need the best identity theft protection to stop your credit stealing.

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How to Choose an ID Theft Prevention Service

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AppId is over the quota

Most of us know the prevalence, dangers, and consequences of identity theft. It is the fastest growing white-collar crime. To proactively combat identity theft, more and more people are turning to ID theft prevention services to regularly monitor fraudulent activity.

Unfortunately, not all identity theft prevention services are the same, and selecting the best one for you can be confusing and frustrating. There are dozens to choose from and each offers varying levels of protection for a monthly fee.

Before you even start shopping for an ID theft prevention service, it's important to know that there are many things you can do to proactively defend against ID theft at no cost. For example, you can monitor your credit for free once per year with each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, and can implement a credit freeze to prevent any new accounts from being opened in your name.

One form of ID theft you can't directly guard against is a data breach, which occurs when an identity thief hacks into the database of an organization that has your personal information on file (such as a bank or a doctor's office). There were 662 data breaches in 2010 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, up from 498 in 2009, proving that no one is immune to ID theft.

Considering the growing threats, subscribing to an ID theft prevention service is definitely a good idea. But before you decide to pay for one, do your research and ask whether the service:

• Offers monthly, weekly, daily, or even real-time credit monitoring. Time is not on your side when your identity is stolen, so real-time or at least daily credit monitoring is recommended.

• Provides ID theft prevention services, such as setting-up fraud alerts, obtaining credit bureau reports, and monitoring credit card activity. Although you could complete these services yourself for free, it's a time-saver to have them performed by the ID theft prevention service.

• Monitors all three credit reporting bureaus. Some services only monitor one of the three agencies, which isn't enough protection when you consider that a potential creditor usually only checks with one of them.

• Provides unlimited access to your credit scores. Keep in mind that many ID theft prevention services do not provide access to your FICO score.

• Has customer support. Live representatives should be available 24/7 if you suspect a problem.

• Provides ID theft insurance. Although it does not cover damages resulting from identity theft, ID theft insurance reimburses the costs involved in restoring your identity.

• Offers recovery assistance. Services vary greatly, and you want to know how much help you can expect in the event of ID theft. Some services only provide you with fraud affidavits to complete, while others actually contact creditors, law enforcement agencies, and other entities on your behalf.

You will also want to compare costs of the various ID theft prevention services, remembering that the price doesn't necessarily reflect the level and effectiveness of the service.

With all of the ID theft prevention services available, choosing the best option can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be. Professional practices and individuals alike turn to The Identity Advocate to rest easier. Get tips to start protecting your identity by visiting http://www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit http://www.theidentityadvocate.com/ or call 310.831.4400.

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Personal Identity Protection

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AppId is over the quota

Identity Fraud is running rampant in the world today, are you safe? According to financial research, Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in America, and is the #1 concern among consumers. Personal identify theft occurs when a criminal steals another person's private information and opens fraudulent credit accounts, stealing their identity and financial information. According to two studies done in July 2003 (Gartner Research and Harris Interactive), approximately seven million people became victims of identity theft in the prior 12 months, that is over nineteen thousand lives per day!

Identity theft happens in an unlimited number of ways, some are highly complex, some are as simple as trash diving. It's hard to believe, but some people make a good living by dumpster diving. They dig through public dumpsters and private trashcans looking for information, and it's totally legal. According to the U.S. Supreme Court (California v. Greenwood, decided May 16, 1988), all rights of privacy and ownership are forfeited by your disposal in the trash. The Court also said: "It is common knowledge that garbage is readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public." Another form of attack is the more familiar online computer fraud or computer hacking method. Simply put, the steal all your personal information from your own computer by hacking into your home or office computer.

Protecting your online interest is best left to high quality security software from Norton, Symantec or many other firms. The best defense for protecting your personal identity theft is quite simple, shredding documents with your personal information before disposing of them. Don't give away your information to the public, SHRED IT! A short list of the items you should shred is listed below:

Financial StatementsCredit Statements and ReceiptsPersonal ChecksPay stubs and employer or other income documentationAnything showing names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers, etc.

There are many quality shredders to chose from, most of these you can purchase online at discount office supplies web-sites. Many of the better and less expensive brands will not cost you a great deal of money and will do a great job for you. Shredders by SWINGLINE, FELLOWES and HSM are all fantastic and offer quality products. Choose a shredder with cross cut capabilities to really destroy the document and secure your information.

Securing your identity from theft is an ongoing challenge, these are just a few simple and yet effective ways to protect your precious identity. By shredding and securing your documents and controlling your on-line purchases, you should be fine keeping your personal identity safe for a lifetime.

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Why an Identity Theft Defense Attorney Is So Vital

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AppId is over the quota

If you have been accused of taking someone else's personal information, you need to know that it is vital that you hire an identity theft defense attorney. Whether or not you are guilty, these are very serious accusations and carry strict penalties and fines. In fact, this is considered a federal offense, and thus you need a lawyer with experience in federal crimes.

Not just any criminal lawyer will do, either. You need one specifically who has experience in this area. You are facing loss of liberty and money, and you need a lawyer who understands this very detailed area of the law.

Thefts of identities are becoming more and more common as the Internet gradually becomes engrained in our society. However, the fact that this crime is very common does not make it less serious in the eyes of the courts. Cyber crimes, including these types of thefts of personal information, leave a nasty trail behind, making it harder for attorneys to fight for their clients in these cases. This is why it is so vital to have one who understands the nature of the crime as well as the laws that surround computer crimes.

Because these thefts typically involve commerce, which is overseen on a federal level, the crime you are being accused of is one that will be prosecuted in federal courts. Not all lawyers have experience in these courts. An identity theft defense attorney will.

Even if you are guilty of wrongdoing, and you know it, you can still benefit from legal help. Often the charges are inflated over the facts involved in the case. People are strongly fearful of this particular crime, and as a result the court system tends to make more out of what you have done than what is warranted. Your lawyer will help bring the charges down to a more reasonable level, so you can benefit from his services to protect your liberty after your alleged crime.

As you look for an identity theft defense attorney, start by looking for one that has a long list of successful cases in this specific area of the law. The more success the lawyer has under his belt, the better your results will likely be, and the more understanding the lawyer will have about the laws surrounding your particular crime.

That said, identity theft defense is a fairly new area of the law. For this reason, experience may not mean a list of hundreds of successful cases. You want a lawyer who knows this branch of the law well, but set your expectations at a reasonable level to ensure that you get quality representation, without expecting too much experience in a new branch of the law.

If you need identity theft defense Los Angeles, the key to your case may very well be within reach. Your right to an attorney is best exercised as soon as the charges come in. Call someone with vast experience and knowledge of this particular branch of the law at http://www.gunsberglaw.com/

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How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft, Fraud and Phishing

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AppId is over the quota

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.

Dave P Thompson is a security expert of high regard. Dave operates the highly successful ScamSeeker.org website offering free investigative services to anyone.

Also stars as a public speaker dealing with consumer security protection, offering advice on identity theft, phishing and fraud.

To learn more, please visit ScamSeeker.org

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Prevent Online Identity Theft By Following These 5 Tips

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AppId is over the quota

If you use the internet frequently, chances are you may be presenting yourself as a possible victim of online identity theft. One in every five people will have their identity stolen at some time in their lives. Not all become victims due to activities on the internet but nonetheless, internet identity thieves are becoming more and more elusive in their tactics. Because of this we need to keep our guard up now more than ever before. Here are some tips to help prevent becoming a victim to this deceitful crime.

1. Do not give out your personal information to people you don't know.

This may seem rather obvious to most people but it is surprising how trusting some people are. If something about a situation doesn't seem quite right, then go with your instincts.

2. If you are asked to update information from a financial institution by email, don't do it.

Identity thieves have been known to send spam emails made to look like they came from financial institutions. By clicking the link you are directed to a separate webpage identical to that of your financial institution. By entering your information, you are giving the identity thief full access to your account. Whenever you want to visit the webpage of your financial institution, make sure you type the address into your internet browser rather than using a link.

3. Do not make online purchases unless you are on a secure, trusted site.

Many people who are new to online purchasing fall for this one. Any time you are making a purchase and you are asked for your credit card information, look at the internet browser's address bar. Secure web addresses begin with "https". If it shows "http" do not enter your credit card information.

4. Select "difficult-to-crack" passwords.

Especially do this for highly private accounts like banks and financial institutions. You should consider using passwords with a mixture of capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Passwords should be at least 8-10 characters long but the longer the better. Also, make sure you are not using the same password for every site. A password cheat sheet can be created to help you remember the passwords and usernames for every site. Keep the cheat sheet in a secure but accessible location and do not save an electronic copy on your computer.

5. Make sure your computer protection software is up to date.

This day in age it is extremely important to have a good antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall installed on your computer and always kept up to date. There are many good free ones available but most of the time the free versions do not update automatically. It is usually a worthwhile investment to purchase a good internet security system that constantly updates by itself. This way you can set it and forget it.

Now that you know the top 5 tips for protecting your identity online, it's time to apply them. Remember, try to be aware at all times to whom you are giving information to. Only enter credit card information on secure websites and immediately delete strange emails. Also, do not get lazy with your password selection and computer protection software. They may someday save you a lot of financial and emotional burden and prevent you from becoming the one in five.

Would you like to make more money online but are not sure what to do or where to start? If so, Justin Young would like to invite you to visit http://10waystomakemoneyfast.net/. Here you can find information about the latest online money-making tips, ideas and techniques.

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Identity Theft Threatens Every Small Business

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AppId is over the quota

Identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Estimates from the FTC are as high as nearly 12 million identities stolen in the U.S. in 2009.

Now identity thieves are taking on a new target. The target has more money, is easier to steal larger sums of money and the theft may not be noticed for quite some time. Who is the new target? Small and mid-sized businesses!

A study conducted by the Ponemon Institute found that the number of cybercrime incidents reported increased by 56 percent and the average cost to a mid-sized business now totals $6 million. Included in that estimate is the "direct, indirect, and opportunity costs that resulted from the loss of theft of information, disruption to business operations, revenue loss, and destruction of property, plant and equipment."

The study goes on to say the time needed to respond to a cyberattack on mid-sized businesses increased from 14 days to 18 days, and the daily cost of responding to cyberattacks has increased from $17,600 to $23,000. Resolving the consequences of a data breach is costly, on average $416,000.

A recent Javelin Strategy & Research Study found that although identity fraud among small businesses had decreased since 2008, they still it at a rate of 4.1 percent in 2010, compared with 3.5 percent of consumers.

Only one in 700 identity thieves ever get caught. Relative to other crimes, identity theft is a low risk and high reward crime. Many identity thieves have turned their attention to small businesses since small business identity theft offers even higher rewards. Philip J. Bland, Javelin's marketing director states that, "Overall there's about $8 billion lost in this particular small business market.

The problem is so big the National Association of Secretaries of State formed a Business Identity Theft Task Force to deal with this issue. They recently met in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss small business identity theft prevention strategies and explore safeguards for state business filing systems.

Identity thieves and cybercriminals have moved from larger businesses to small businesses because they don't have the sophisticated computer network protections, or ability to monitor for criminal activity like larger businesses and corporations. They know small businesses aren't as aware of the problem or willing to proactively protect their information like larger businesses because the of the added expense.

At risk are their bank accounts, credit card information, and customer and employee information.
Small businesses must take proactive steps to protect against identity theft or risk going out of business from just one incident. They can't wait or count on government agencies to guard against small business identity theft.

To prevent identity theft, businesses of every size must monitor their bank accounts and credit cards on a daily basis, monitor their Duns File and credit reports looking for unusual activity, and check their state business registration for unauthorized changes.

It is an unfortunate fact; you can't stop or prevent identity theft. All you can do is catch the breach as quickly as possible and limit the impact on your business. Proactive monitoring efforts now could save your business in the future.

Warren Franklin is a Certified Invisus Information Security Advisor (CIISA). He has worked in the security industry for seven years helping thousands of customers secure their businesses against identity theft and fraud. You can learn more about small business identity theft by visiting http://www.smallbusinessidtheftprotection.com/ or call 503-315-9847 for more information.

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Several Miserable Truths Regarding Identity Fraud

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AppId is over the quota

Four years earlier Heartland Payment Processor had a database break in which exposed over financial risk. Last year Sony Playstation Network was breached. 100 million people had their card info exposed. This time internet thieves are at it again.

Spokespeople for the two major credit card companies confirmed that Atlanta base card processor Global Payments was breached and the organization only found out about the breach just recently. While the numbers are a far cry from the above mentioned this is little solace to the one and a half million cardholders who are now vulnerable to identity theft. Unsurprisingly Visa has stopped conducting business with Global Payments.

These types of database break ins make nationwide news but the local media is full of reports of identity fraud just about every day. For instance several people in Georgia were recently convicted of opening fraudulent accounts after stealing mail and credit card information. Another group in Albuquerque New Mexico made use of court records available to the general public online to steal the identity of over two hundred people.

All these occurrences and the many others which go unreported demonstrate a few pretty troublesome realities when it comes to identity theft and fraud

1. There Is Absolutely No Such Thing As 100% Guaranteed Prevention

Regardless of the bank and/or security service none of them can stop your personal identity from getting stolen. Protecting the SSN and other information is effective in reducing your possibility and in a number of instances quite significantly. Yet the bottom line is much of your personal data is available regardless of whether it's medical history, charge card details or even as the Albuquerque incident reveals court files.

In addition to that crooks are finding more and more strategies to take what belongs to you. There has recently been an increase in the number of attacks on mobile phones. Although some identity theft companies do a good job of monitoring what's going on as well as working with you to recover your identity they are unable to stop the attack from occurring

2. More Than Likely You Will Know The Thief

Roughly 50 percent of people that have their identities stolen know the person who did it. Most recently a lady was arrested by the police for taking her very own sister's identity. The sad part is many of these crimes go unreported because the victim either does not know or just does not have the heart to call the police.

3. Mending Your Credit Is Tough

It is really challenging dealing with the credit bureaus particularly if you aren't utilizing some kind of identity theft service. The credit reporting agencies are very slow when it comes to clearing this stuff from your records even when you supply more than enough evidence demonstrating you are not responsible for the fraudulent charges made.

For more information regarding identity theft go to id theft information

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How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft Online

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AppId is over the quota

Uses of the internet have increased tremendously in recent times. People use the internet for sharing information, learning, communicating, and doing business. There are also some people using the internet as a resource to steal your identity. This is why every internet user needs to protect his or her personal information against identity theft. There are several things you should do to protect yourself against identity theft online.

Firstly, guard your online information. Use very strong passwords which should be very hard for anyone to guess. You should also not use one password for every website you use. Never write your password down or save it in a document in your computer. Your passwords should not be your birth date, your family member's name or your pet's name. Instead use unrelated words with numbers and symbols.

The second thing you can do to protect yourself from identity theft online is shred sensitive documents. Many people just fold or tear apart vital documents into several pieces. An identity thief can easily put those papers together and read your personal information. Shredding outdated bank statements, credit card applications and bills before dumping it into trash or recycling will make it very hard for a thief to put the papers back together. In fact it is almost impossible.

You should be aware of phishing. In phishing, an identity thief pretending to be personnel of a famous or loyal company sends an email telling you that you have won some money. The email usually contains a link where you will be directed to fill personal information online. To avoid falling for this, never verify personal information online before researching for the company in question. In your search you can include the word scam and several results relating to scams in the name of the company in question will display. Go through the search results and learn how other people have dealt with it.

Identity theft protection services can also help you to protect yourself from online identity theft. Most of the companies that offer these services, submit fraud alert on your behalf to avoid identity thieves from opening new lines of credit. Some companies also search through the internet for you, to make sure that nobody is using your credit card and social security numbers. Some of the most famous companies include: Identity Guard, Trusted ID and Equifax ID.

The law puts you at liberty to get a free copy of your credit report every year upon your request. You should go through the report keenly, checking on the accuracy to make sure that you can account for each line of credit. It is recommended that you check your credit reports at least three times in a year. Apart from the free copy that you are entitled to; you can purchase the reports from the major credit bureau, that is, Equifax, Experian or Trans Union.

Another important thing you should do to protect yourself from identity theft online, is to secure your computer. Make sure that your antivirus software is updated regularly. This makes a barrier between your trusted networks and untrusted networks which might be trying to access your computer. In addition to that, your mobile devices like smart phones or iPads, should be secured with strong passwords just in case they get lost.

Identity Theft is something to really watch out. Learn how to protect against identity theft

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You, A Victim Of Tax Refund Theft?

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AppId is over the quota

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.

Thomas DeVoe specializes in providing valuable, up-to-date strategies, tips and suggestions on how to avoid becoming the next victim of Identity Theft. For your FREE detailed report visit==> http://www.myidprotectiontips.com/

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What Is Child Identity Theft?

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AppId is over the quota

Identity theft is a rampant problem especially now that there are so many ways to get vital information from people. From skimming credit cards to sending phishing messages to just stealing information from certain databases. But what is child identity theft?

One of the most alarming cases of identity theft is when it occurs on a child. If your two-year-old for example has been getting calls from credit card companies or other banking institutions, you better check what's going on because someone might be using your child's name.

This crime occurs when a child's identity or name is used by an individual for the latter's personal gain -personal financial gain to be exact. What is worse is the perpetrator can be a member of the child's family. Another possible scenario is the use of the child's identity by a family friend. According to authorities however, the perpetrator could also be someone that the family of the child does not know.

Why a child's identity though?

Authorities say this method is chosen by criminals because it takes time before the crime is discovered. Although there are cases that may appear as child identity theft, e.g. receiving a pre-approved credit card under your child's name, parents should still beware of this crime. Child identity theft occurs when your child's Social Security Number (SSN) is utilized in establishing new lines of credit.

The question is, how is this possible? Many do not know that creditors cannot verify the age of their applicants. Most application forms are taken at face value. This is a flaw in the system but there is yet another flaw that the government should take a look at. The credit reporting agencies and the Social Security system do not share information with each other, making it impossible for the CRAs to know that certain applications are fraudulent. This means that a perpetrator of this particular crime can say he or she is 30 and the CRAs will believe him or her unless of course someone files a complaint.

Parents of the victim are the first ones who would usually notice something is amiss. This usually happens when the parents of the child try to open a savings account under the child's name but are denied because of a bad credit record. Another flag is when parents keep receiving checks, credit cards and bills under the name of the child. More often than not, parents discover that their child's identity was stolen when they start receiving calls from collection agencies or when they start receiving letters about certain bank accounts that were not opened by their child.

Trouble later in life

Adults whose identities were stolen when they were children are usually denied credit and won't be able to get a loan even if they never incurred any debt from any banking institution. They are also usually denied utility or phone service and sometimes even tenancy. This crime can really affect a person's life and might even get arrested for something that they do not even know about.

If you think you or your child is a victim of child identity theft, it would be best to file a complaint and investigate as soon as you can.

Jason is the Founder and Creative Director of StartProducingWealth.com. For more resources and information on wealth creation and wealth protection, visit Start Producing Wealth.

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

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AppId is over the quota

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.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit http://www.theidentityadvocate.com/ or call 310.831.4400.

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6 Valuables That Don't Belong In Your Wallet

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AppId is over the quota

For easy portability, people tend to keep important things in their wallet. While it is an efficient way, it is nevertheless very risky. If supposed you are becoming the victim of theft, your wallet will be an easy pass for the thief to access all your personal data and wealth. Here are 6 valuables you'd better leave at home.

1. A generous amount of money

Carrying a huge amount of money will hurt when they get stolen. It is fine to bring a little extra money, however you are suggested to bring an amount that suits a day expense.

2. Personal Identification Numbers and Passwords

Some people can forget the PIN or passwords to their ATM, e-mail account, home alarm, or any passworded personal belongings. Writing (or listing) the passwords on a piece a paper and keeping them in the wallet or purse is the worst thing you could ever do. You will give the thief total access to your personal belongings. For better security measure, write them down digitally in your cell phone and protect it with password (hope you can remember this one).

3. A huge collection of credit card

Besides carrying a lot of money, people also tend to bring along all their credit cards inside the wallet. When they all get stolen, it will take some time to cancel all of them and get the replacements. Bring one or a couple of credit cards for daily transaction and leave the others safely at your home; that will be wiser.

4. USB devices

Sometimes people store confidential data or important presentation in USB devices and keep them in the wallet. Either meant for primary data or mere backup, losing them is a great pain. Irresponsible thieves may misuse the data and use them for your inconvenience.

5. Social Security card

The digits in your Social Security can mean a lot to you or the thief. With the identification number on the card, other people can apply for a loan, buy luxury items, or open a credit card. While they enjoy the items, it will be your loss to pay for their shopping spree.

6. Passport

When you are traveling abroad, it is a must to bring along your passport. However, carrying it around everywhere you go is not a safe thing to do; you'd better keep it inside the hotel safe instead. For your identification, bring the photocopy of the passport and your driving license inside your wallet. This is a better way to prevent identity theft.

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What Is Phishing and How to Detect a Phishing Email

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AppId is over the quota

Here's How Phishing Works:

You receive an email from what appears to be a legitimate company. Most, if not all of the time, it is addressed to "( Company's Name)Customer" or "Valued Account Holder" or "Dear ____ User". The "Phishers" use a generic salutation because these emails are sent out in huge batches. And who has time to address each one with the recipients name! If you don't see your name, be cautious.

The premise of the email is to get you to click on a link in the email. If they are successful in persuading you to do so, you will be directed to a fake website where your personal information is requested. Another possibility is a pop-up window will appear and direct you to enter your information after clicking the link. Remember, a legitimate company would never request any of your personally identifying information through an email.

Beware of links in email. If you see a link in a suspicious email message, don't click on it. Rest your mouse (but don't click) on the link to see if the address matches the link that was typed in the message. Clicking on a link might also lead you to.exe files. These kinds of files are known to spread malicious software. This technique may also be called "social engineering."

Here's What A Phishing Email Message Might Look Like:

FROM: XYZEE Company

SUBJECT: Please update account information

DATE: February 29, 2012

Dear Valued Account Holder,

Per our company policy, XYZEE conducts a periodic account verifcation process.

During the most resent process, we could not verify any of your account information.

In order to insure your account is secure, you must visit

(Example):comapnywebsite.com/account-updateinfo.com

Please click on the above link and update your current account information. If you do

this your account will stay in good standing. Failur to do this will mean your account

will be placed on a 60 day hold.

Sincerely,

XYZEE Company

Did you notice the spelling? Cybercriminals are not known for their grammar and spelling. Professional companies or organizations usually have a staff of copy editors that will not allow a mass email like this to go out to its users. If you notice mistakes in an email, it might be a phishing email scam.

Also, Internet criminals want you to provide your personal information now. They do this by making you think something has happened that requires you to act fast. The faster they get your information, the faster they can move on to the next victim. The best way to protect your identity against theft and keep your personal information safe from a phishing scam is to know what to look for. Recognizing and avoiding email scams can help keep you safe online.

If you do suspect a phishing email scam, report it to: phishing-report@us-cert.gov

Be safe and stay informed.

Thomas DeVoe specializes in providing valuable, up-to-date strategies, tips and suggestions on how to avoid becoming the next victim of Identity Theft. For your FREE detailed report visit==> http://www.myidprotectiontips.com/

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What To Do When Charged With Identity Theft Crime

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AppId is over the quota

Identity theft can be a serious criminal offense; it is an act of fraud usually done for illegal activities or access resources under a stolen identity. At times, a person who is charged with identity theft is the victim of the said crime. Finances and benefits acquired at the time of the crime are usually held against the person accused by the ruling court.

To help you avoid from being wrongfully accused, it is advised that you regularly check the movement of your finances. If you see an irregularity in your financial accounts, cancel your accounts immediately and report the suspicious activity.

However, if your finances are already compromised, it is time that you seek counsel from an identity theft lawyer to help you clean your name. Identity theft lawyers will examine every information and events to prove that you have been a victim of stolen identity and it was not you who committed but someone else under your name.

Without legal representation, it can be difficult to clean your records; there are so many regulations, formalities that you should undergo to prove that you are innocent of the crime. Identity theft lawyers will represent you and help you find justice.

In some states, identity theft lawyers work differently as there are various ruling in one jurisdiction. This is why it is important that a person should be represented rightfully in court and help you find your way in the criminal justice to defend you from unfair prosecution.

Identity theft attorneys can also help if your credit score has been affected due to fraudulent activities done in your name. It is best to ask away questions from the lawyer about his plans on helping your case, and explain to you in a comprehensible way.

Facing ID theft can be a painful and insulting experience and nobody should face it alone. By seeking help from a specializing attorney, cleaning your name and proving you are innocent will get you through this difficult time. All paperwork and legwork will be handled and of course, with your full cooperation everything will be in its own place again.

If you find that, there is suspicious activity going on under your name, immediately call for help from a trustworthy lawyer. Know your rights and fully cooperate with the proceedings.Facing ID theft can be a painful and insulting experience and nobody should face it alone. By seeking help from a specializing attorney, cleaning your name and proving you are innocent will get you through this difficult time. All paperwork and legwork will be handled and of course, with your full cooperation everything will be in its own place again.

If you find that, there is suspicious activity going on under your name, immediately call for help from a trustworthy lawyer. Know your rights and fully cooperate with the proceedings.

No one should be a victim of fraud, if you want to seek help from a fraud lawyer in Orange County CA, visit http://www.orangecounty-criminaldefenselawyer.com/ and the Orange County criminal defense lawyer will be there by your side.

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Credit Card Security: What to Do If Yours Is Stolen

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AppId is over the quota

We all use credit cards, and many of us use them daily. We use them at local businesses, online and over the phone. With credit cards being used in so many different places, thieves have many opportunities to steal information. One of the biggest fears of credit card users is that their accounts will be compromised.

In the event that your card is stolen, it is important to know exactly what to do to prevent significant financial loss. There are several things you can do both before your information becomes compromised, as well as after the fact.

Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Notify your credit card company:

Before the theft happens, be sure you have the phone number of your credit company and your account number in an easy-to-find place. Call them immediately upon learning that your information has been stolen, so that they can deactivate your card and prevent future purchases by the thief.

Often credit card companies will not hold you liable for fraudulent charges made on your card. By notifying them quickly, you not only are able to stop future purchases, but your credit company can document the date from which you are not liable for purchases made on your card.

Be sure to write down the names of each person you talk to when you call the company, and document the date and time that you called. It is also useful to have a short, written summary of your phone conversations with each person. This information may be crucial in the event you need to prove that you took immediate action, and that you were instructed by official representatives from your credit card company.

2. Call the credit-reporting agencies:

Alert these companies of the theft so that they can put a fraud-alert on your account. Do this as soon as you become aware that your account has been compromised. This prevents the thieves from opening any new accounts in your name. Here is the contact information for two of the major national credit-reporting agencies.

3. Document your credit status:

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year. Take advantage of this if your credit card information falls into the wrong hands. If your credit card information is stolen, it is important to get documented proof of your current credit standing before any fraudulent activity is reported.

Keep in mind that even if you have already obtained a free copy this year, you may be able to get another one if there is a fraud alert on your account.

4. Call your local police

Let them know of the theft and file a police report.

5. Consider filing an identity-theft report:

This report is generally in two parts. You will probably complete part at your local police station and part at a consumer reporting agency.

Hopefully, your credit card information will never be compromised. But if you should become the victim of fraud, these tips will help you take control of the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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Ten Great Steps To Avoid Identity Theft And Fraud

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AppId is over the quota

Preventing Identity Theft and Fraudulence

When Keeley Hawes read the first scripts for ITV drama series, Identity, some of the plots were strangely familiar. The show centres on a police squad investigating identity theft and fraud - and Keeley already knew the way the victims of this fast-growing crime feel.

"I have been a victim myself, so the stories weren't so much of a shock," says the actress, who is most widely known for Spooks and Ashes to Ashes. "It was simply someone who worked in my house, came and took my credit cards and spent £7,000."

And she's far from the only sufferer. This past year, Experian's Victims of Fraud service saw a 20 per-cent rise in the sheer numbers of people impersonated by criminals to max out their credit, clear accounts or borrow money in their names - or all three. Meanwhile, CIFAS, the UK's fraud prevention service, reported a 22.86 per cent rise in victims of identity theft and fraud in the first quarter of 2010, with almost 27,000 people affected.

These Ten simple steps will prevent The Theft of your Identity:

Keep valuable items and documents, for example credit cards, cheque book, passport and bank statements, safe when you're not using them - preferably under lock and key.

Shred sensitive documents before throwing them out, especially bank and card statements or anything giving account data. Get into the habit of deleting your name and address from routine post too - this way, you won't let anything slip through and will also be preventing identity theft.

Don't give your ID away to cold callers or unsolicited e-mailers - you don't know what they might do with information that is personal.

Check all financial statements carefully, looking for unfamiliar transactions that could indicate ID fraud.

The Home Office recommends checking your credit report regularly. It lists your credit accounts, repayment history and any new applications - if you spot anything suspicious, you can stop trouble before it escalates. It's free to see your Experian credit report with a 30-day trial of CreditExpert.

Always use the privacy settings on social networks and be careful how much you tell your online friends. Anything you might use as a PIN or password, such as an anniversary, family birthday or nickname, must not be public. And remember to update your firewall and virus protection software.

Redirect your post when you move house - intercepting post is an easy way to steal your identity. Report any missing mail immediately to prevent theft of your Identity, in case it has been taken or sent on to another address.

Never share your PINs or passwords and don't write them down in a form that anyone else might see and understand. Don't use the same security details for several accounts, either - it's like giving a crook the key to your finances.

Followup if you're unexpectedly refused credit - a criminal could possibly have ruined your credit rating by running up debts in your name.

Tell the police and any organisation that might be affected if potentially hypersensitive items are stolen - for example, tell your bank if your cheque book has gone missing and contact your card company if your credit card disappears.

Conclusion to Identity Theft and Fraud

In case the ten simple steps are to much for you to do at once then start by following a few steps and then slow increase until you have covered all the steps that you can. Identity theft is no joke and ought to be taken seriously as identity theft can ruin your life until you have proven that it has happened an that you are the victim.

Writer and Publisher Mark Aucamp has been supplying content and articles about DEBT ADVICE for a many years. Mark is skilled in providing MONEY Advice and information. Today's information is about IDENTITY THEFT
http://talkmoneyblog.co.uk/.

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