Posts filed under 'identity theft'
Identity theft is a scenario that many dread happening to them. Once your identity is stolen, it can be a nightmare to get it back. If someone steals your credit card, it is possible for damage to be done before you even realize that your card is missing. This can damage your credit, your savings, and even your reputation with your bank or place of employment.
Prevention is the best defense against credit card fraud. For instance, remember to avoid any on-line sales or stores you feel uneasy about – if it does not feel safe, you are probably right. Second, if you must make an on-line purchase, learn to recognize the scams from the authentic websites. If a website is verified, you will find an authenticity seal somewhere on the page proving the website is trustworthy. You can also message customer support to ask any questions you might have. If they do not return your message within twenty-four hours, it is probably a scam.
If in the end there is nothing you can do about preventing your credit card from being stolen, you will need to react quickly in order to salvage your credit and your future.
First, you want to immediately notify your bank to what has transpired, and verify the appropriate actions to take to prevent yourself from being liable for the charges. Your credit is also in jeopardy, and to protect it you should contact the social security administration: (http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm).
Contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to report your identity being stolen: http://www.ftc.gov
You might also wish to contact the IRS and pay close attention to any charges that suddenly appear on your account. The IRS can help protect you, but you must let them know what has transpired and follow the appropriate instructions: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=136412,00.html
August 19th, 2008
It is a crime which can leave a person’s credit and future in tatters: identity theft. Identity theft is the crime where a criminal deliberately steals the confidential information of another person and assumes that person’s name, using their information for their own ends. With the level of technology available in this new century, it is more difficult than ever to keep one’s personal information safe. Every day, our information is being passed around in the form of e-mails, bank statements, and postal mail. Once our information is intercepted, it is near impossible to set things right.
There are a number of steps you can take to avoid allowing your identity to be stolen. First, try to avoid allowing your information to be accessible to begin with. Make sure you keep your information confidential, and share only if you must. If you are accessing information on the internet, be very cautious which website you allow to have access to your personal information. Keep Internet Explorer to a minimum of “medium-high” security. Always run your anti-virus to avoid any worm viruses and if you must use a website, scan it carefully first.
If your identity is compromised, immediately call or e-mail the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov
You should also contact your bank right away and ask them to alert you to any changes in your account, and notify your credit card company to block any incoming charges. You may also wish to contact the IRS: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=136412,00.html
The Social Security Administration is also a good idea if your social security ID card is stolen: (http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm).
Identity theft can be one of the most damaging situations you find yourself in. However, with a little bit of prevention and playing it safe, you can at the very least minimize the damage, if not prevent it all together.
July 27th, 2008
Identity theft is a type of crime where someone purposefully obtains another person’s information for the purpose of fraud or deception. In the 21st century, our information is being broadcasted digitally in many different locations. Every single day people are signing their signature or passing out their credit card information in front of others. Once damage has been done, it is very hard to set things right, especially financially.
To avoid having your identity stolen, there are a number of steps you can take. First among these is to try and avoid potentially damaging situations. For instance, try to recognize if something is a scam. While the internet is a wonderful tool, it is far easier to create and run a scam on-line than it is in person. If you have the slightest suspicion about a website, don’t buy on that site. Or, if you must buy on that site, try to be very cautious about what personal information you give out.
If your identity is stolen, call/e-mail the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov
You want to immediately contact your bank to explain the situation, your credit card company to put a block on any possible charges and request a new card, and the social security administration: (http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm).
It is also a good idea to contact the IRS – sometimes you can get your identity and money back but the IRS might still believe you made those hefty purchases or committed fraud: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=136412,00.html
Prevention is your best defense against identity theft. Be cautious and check your information like your bank account regularly.
July 10th, 2008
Identity theft is growing and is recently very rampant in almost any country all over the world. The primary targets of thieves are young consumer adults that are unsuspecting of any form of identity theft. However, this doesn’t mean that older adults are no longer possible victims. In fact, anyone can be a victim of this serious crime so beware.
Once you find out that your identity is stolen, you must immediately seek the help of identity theft attorneys. By getting the services of an attorney, all your actions can be guided and your attorney will even give you pieces of advice on how to deal with your situation and how to restore your lost identity. This is a necessary step that you should take especially if you don’t know much about identity theft. So where can you find these attorneys?
The best place to make a search is the internet. Look for the directory of ‘Find Law Lawyers’ on the net because you can obtain a list of lawyers there. To make it easier for the users, the list is broken by states and cities. Find your exact location and if you can’t find one in your city, you can be referred to a nearby city that has an identity theft lawyer. The lawyers included in the list have profiles so that you can easily contact them. It includes information such as telephone numbers, address, website address, fax numbers, or email address.
Type the words ‘identity theft attorneys’ on any search engine like Google and Yahoo and the results will be displayed on the screen. If you can’t find an attorney in your local area, you can try this step. However, most searchers find this step a bit hard because they have to go through the general results one by one until they found the exact one that can cater to their needs. By being specific in your search, you can filter the information provided on the search engine. This will result to having only a few choices. Find a competent attorney’s website and fill the form provided on the site. It would usually include providing information about your particular case.
Don’t forget to check the directory of ‘Martindale’. You can find a list of attorneys or lawyers there with their address, telephone numbers, email address, and fax numbers. They have their own website so you can easily find them.
To obtain more accurate results, try to include the state that you belong so that you can get the names of attorneys within the state. There are still numerous sites in the net that you can try. Don’t stop your search until you’ve found the best attorney who can help you with your case. If you still find the task overwhelming, you can ask help from friends and family members. If you know someone who has been previously a victim of identity theft, you can also ask for help. Who knows, you can get useful referrals from them.
Protect yourself and always be an educated consumer. If you’re careful in using your personal information, you can prevent identity theft. Remember, immediately seek the help of an attorney so that you can prevent further use of your personal information. Forget about the cost when looking for an attorney because if your problem is not addressed immediately, you’re bound to lose more money and your reputation as well.
December 2nd, 2007
Criminals are now finding the internet as their newest breeding place. They are no longer satisfied to do their crimes on the streets and are keeping up with the technological advancements of today’s times. The internet is widely used by people from all countries and this makes it the perfect place for criminals to conduct identity theft.
Criminals are already part of the society and you can’t do anything about it. Even the authorities can’t stop their operations completely. Identity theft is well-known all over the world and anyone can fall victim to it. But do you know what it is?
Click Here to Protect Yourself from Internet Identity Fraudsters!
Identity theft happens when criminals acquire your personal identity information. The information can include bank statements, card numbers (credit card and social security), addresses, and many others. If the criminals are able to steal these personal pieces of information, they can already commit numerous fraudulent acts using your name. This will allow criminals or thieves to go shopping and consume all your money in savings accounts; but this seems to be not enough for them. Some of the sophisticated criminals can also create an entirely new life inclusive of getting jobs, setting up a new house, and get your social benefits.
It is believed that the internet is the most common place where identity theft is committed. The number of identity theft on the internet cases are increasing every year.
Way back in 2005, statistics have shown that over one billion people all over the world use the internet. According to one organization, cases of identity theft have reached over 400,000 and the losses have reached to over two billion every year. The facts are rather alarming and if you don’t want to end up like all the other identity theft victims, you’d better act now.
Nowadays, many people use the net to make online investing, banking, shopping, processing financial applications, sending emails and then receiving them. In all these applications, you have to provide a large amount of your personal information. Thieves and criminals alike developed advanced skills to conduct such crime on the net and they are still getting better and better.
So what can you do as an ordinary individual? Well, there are several identity theft prevention methods. The most effective way is to protect all your personal information. Be alert whenever you’re using them especially in public places. And if you’re using the internet for an online transaction that involves your personal information, be sure that no one else can have access to it other than the receiver of the information. The page should always be encrypted and there are ways to tell if the page is encrypted or not. If you don’t know about this, you can ask the seller, company, or the individual concerned if they use anti-spyware software.
Practice carefulness and attentiveness every time you use your personal information. Prevention is better than any other means of fighting identity theft. And if you want to decrease the identity theft cases, start by taking good care of your personal information. You can relate this to other family members and relatives. Help fight identity theft and show these criminals that the internet is not their territory.
For all you internet users, be careful because the criminals are out there waiting for the biggest fish that they can catch.
November 28th, 2007
The internet is a very useful tool used by many individuals in their everyday life. While it offers endless opportunities and rewards, it is also the best avenue to conduct many forms of crimes. One of these serious crimes is identity theft.
For all of you who don’t know what identity theft is, well, it involves stealing all your personal and financial information and using such pieces of information to steal your money and ruin your credit history; this may seem more like a horrible movie plot but this is true and this is happening worldwide.
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If you’re a frequent internet user and if you have email addresses, then you probably received lots of emails with subjects like you’ve won the lottery, your bank account is nearly closing or there is a certain block, and many others. All these emails are delivered to you for the sole purpose of purloining your secret passwords and codes.
There are so many online shopping sites that make it easier for people to do their shopping activities. What these people don’t know is that by carelessly shopping online, their identity can be stolen in just seconds. Cyber thieves are out there looking for unsuspecting victims and you could be the next sufferer.
The emails sent to you usually have instructions and links. It would be best to not follow the links and check your account in question the usual way. Or if you suspect such email, don’t bother to open it because it may contain a virus of some sort. Credit card companies and banks usually provide for ‘spoof emails’ so if you’re quite suspicious, don’t open the email and simply forward it to the spoof email.
Businesses and private individuals are possible identity theft victims. In order to safeguard your personal and financial information, follow these tips as your identity theft shield of protection:
- The dangers of having debit cards – it is said that credit cards are far better than debit cards. If your debit card is lost, you must immediately report it to the bank concerned so that you can protect your money and you will not be held responsible for its loss.
- Check writing – think again before you start writing a check. Authorities believe that this is one way for criminals to obtain some of your personal information like the address, account number, license number, and signature. Why not consider automating your payment of bills.
- Protect your mail – mailboxes usually don’t have locks so this makes it very easy for thieves to steal your mail. Mailboxes contain your personal information so if you want to prevent identity theft, you can rent a mailbox. Also check your trash and make sure that you tear or shred all important documents before disposing them.
- Go virtual – if you’re a frequent online shopper, try to use virtual credit card numbers. These numbers are disposable and used only once. The virtual card number is linked to your true card number so it is automatically reflected on your bills. You can check out Citigroup, Discover, and MBNA for virtual cards.
- Create your own identity theft emergency kit – have your important cards and papers photocopied and put it inside an emergency kit. A deposit box is highly recommended so that your papers are safe even if there is an unexpected catastrophe.
Follow the tips and your shield of protection will definitely work.
November 13th, 2007
It is a fact that people nowadays look for several ways to make some easy cash. Because of this, people turn to the internet and look for one of the easiest ways to earn money, which are the online paid surveys. Normally, paid surveys works like this: You register with an online paid survey and you answer any surveys given to you in order to get paid.
This is a great way to make some extra cash. However, what people don’t know is that criminals or identity thieves are now using online paid surveys to scam people out of their money. Today, there have been many reports of identity theft which resulted from online surveys.
Click Here Now to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft!
Because you need to disclose your personal information when you register in online paid surveys, this means that you will be vulnerable to identity theft. Many identity thieves are quite talented in conning people to join online paid surveys. Some even offers quite a lot of money for taking surveys. It is important that you should not be gullible and fall for this kind of trap as this will just get you into trouble.
You have to consider the fact that identity theft is one serious crime. It is a type of crime that you won’t know that you are already a victim until it’s too late. After a month, you will receive calls from credit card companies asking you for payment on the purchases you didn’t even know about.
Identity theft has ruined people’s credit score and lives. It also got people deep in debt. You have to remember that your credit score is one of the most important things that you need to take care of. However, if you become a victim of identity theft, you will see that your credit score will take quite a while to be repaired. It takes years before your credit score goes back to normal not to mention the things that bad credit scores can do.
Just imagine that you are just a regular person who pays your bills on time and one day, you have been rejected for the loan that you really needed because of unpaid bills that you didn’t even know about.
Paid online surveys may seem to be an attractive offer. However, it is important to make sure that the website you join with is legitimate. Never fall for offers that seem too good to be true. You will be surprised on how many people fall for such things.
If you do want to make money through paid online surveys, make sure that the website you join up with is real. There are some websites that can look legitimate but is just a front for identity thieves to phish for personal information from their would-be victims.
Try taking a look at forums before joining a paid online survey website. Here, you will be able to know what paid online survey websites are legitimate and which ones are not.
You can also try and check for the authenticity of the website.
These are the things you have to remember about online surveys and identity theft.
By remembering these things, you will minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. So, the next time you want to join a paid online survey website, never fall for offers that seems too good to be true and always check if the website is authentic or not.
November 11th, 2007
There are many forms of crimes that are happening everyday. Some of the criminals get punished but there are also those who get away with it. Despite the many efforts of the authorities to combat different crimes, it seems that criminals still find more effective ways to commit their crimes without being caught.
One of the most serious crimes that are continuously increasing these days is identity theft. Criminals are not only found in public places but also on the internet. A lot of people are now taking advantage of the comfort and convenience brought about by the use of the internet and even financial transactions are now made virtually. This makes it easier for criminals and thieves to steal your personal information.
Click Here to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Identity Theft!
People get confused between identity theft and identity fraud and they often find it synonymous to each other. But you see, there is a big difference between the two.
Identity Theft
Identity theft happens when criminals or crooks obtain your personal information like driver’s license, social security or SSN, address, name, maiden name of your mother, and other pieces of important personal information in order to impersonate you. Once these pieces of information are obtained, the crook can assume your identity.
Only two things can happen when a criminal steals your personal information. One is that the criminals can open one or several new accounts under your name. Cases involving this matter are called true accounts identity theft. The second possible thing that criminals can do is to access your existing accounts. This is more commonly called as account takeover.
Identity Fraud
Identity fraud happens when a criminal makes up personal information. The criminal does not steal personal information from a real individual or person. Identity fraud is very much different from identity theft because the perpetrator doesn’t assume a real person’s identity; rather the criminal uses the personal information of a fabricated individual. This serves as their mask in committing fraud and other criminal acts.
Identity theft causes a lot of damage because there are victims. The criminals benefit a lot from the victim’s money and even go to the extent of destroying their credit standing, and at the same time destroying the individual’s future. It will take some time before the victim can get over this tragic crime but with the help of support groups and the authorities, they can survive the times of hardship.
Identity fraud can cause damages as well. By using a fictitious individual’s identity, the crook can make financial transactions to the different banking and credit institutions. Even ordinary individuals can be affected especially if they made a financial deal with the perpetrator.
Both identity theft and identity fraud are serious crimes. People and financial companies or organizations should be very careful when conducting their financial transactions to prevent any form of fraud. Prevention is the best action that you can take.
Don’t trust other people easily because identity theft and identity fraud can happen to anyone. If you don’t want to become a victim of these crimes, exercise all protective measures to keep your personal information safe. Not only that, you should make sure that the other person is using his or her real identity and you can do this by conducting background checks.
Help in preventing identity theft and identity fraud.
November 4th, 2007
It seems that no one is safe in this world nowadays. If you think that identity theft only takes place in movies, well, you’re quite wrong. Identity theft is real and it can also happen to you or any of your family members. This can give anyone a big headache because you don’t know when the thieves will strike, be it during the day or in the darkest of the night.
Identity theft is a serious crime that can be prevented so by having an effective action plan. You too can prevent it from happening to you and your loved ones. A lot of identity theft victims suffer for many years because of these heartless criminals.
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One step is to lock the doors of your car when you leave. Do this every time you have to leave you car even for just a few minutes. Remember that thieves are always on the lookout for vulnerable victims. Even if you need to leave your car for a minute or two, lock the door. A lot of people make this mistake so don’t be like them. Identity theft can occur in split seconds. By not rushing things and taking time to lock and open and your car door, you can already protect yourself from identity theft.
Thieves like bigger things. So if you have bigger vehicles, you’re more vulnerable to these thieves. Be attentive especially in busy places like convenience stores, gas stations, and car parks. Again, lock your car door and it would even help if you have a security device in your car. Some of your important things that contain personal information are left in the car so don’t give the criminals a chance to steal your personal information.
Another step is to check your monthly statements on the credit card purchases that you made. Check every item and you will easily notice if there are suspicious entries included in the statement.
When you receive letters from banks, open and see what’s inside. Not all letters from banks are promotional matters. By checking what’s in your mail, you can find out if someone else opened an account on your behalf. If this happens, have the accounts closed immediately and inform the bank that you are not aware of such transaction.
By checking your credit report from time to time, you can determine if someone else is using your name and destroying your credit records. You will know if there are lawsuits filed against your name in other states or places.
Criminals are after your personal information like birth date, name, address, contact numbers, credit card and social security numbers, etc. Once they get hold of this pertinent information, they can use it to apply new accounts by using your name. A simple application form stored in different databases can be hacked by these criminals to get hold of official or legal documents.
Most identity theft victims find out too late and criminals have already caused serious damage to your name. You will suddenly find yourself harassed by collection agencies, IRS, and lending institutions for crimes or obligations that you didn’t commit.
The key is to always take time to check important things like credit reports, mailed letters, and monthly statements. This can save you a whole lot more in the future.
October 31st, 2007
Identity theft or identity fraud, whatever you want to call it, is still one the most common and serious crimes all over the world. Despite increased public awareness, a lot of criminals are still able to get away with it, taking all your hard-earned money and savings.
Why should you be concerned about identity theft? Well, the answer is quite simple. Identity theft can happen to anybody and it can even happen to you or any of your loved ones. It seems that no one is safe from identity theft and once your identity is stolen, only heaven knows what’s in store for you in the future.
Click Here to Learn How to Prevent Identity Theft Crisis in Your Life!
How does identity theft happen? There are different nefarious schemes that criminals make use and this includes the following:
• Right to Trash – it is quite ordinary for homeowners to clean their house every now and then. They often go through their piles of paper and remove the ones that they don’t need anymore and throw them in the trash can. If you’re in the habit of doing exactly the same thing with your unused papers, be warned. Criminals can dig your trash anytime. There’s more to your trash because the criminals can find useless credit cards, access information about your passwords, account statements, and much other important information.
Thieves can earn a lot of money from your trashed loan offers and pre-approved cards. The thieves will only have to master the number for activation and the appropriate zip code.
If you don’t want this to happen to you, make sure that you destroy the papers by using shredders or you can even burn them so that no other individuals can have access to it.
• Public Scrutiny – public places are the best and many crimes go unpunished. Make sure that no one is close to you when you’re using the public keyboard or when you’re using the ATM or automated teller machine. It is very easy for criminals to memorize your security and account information.
When you’re using public telephones, be watchful for these criminals. Waiting stations are also great places for criminals to steal your personal information. These criminals are watching and listening closely to you especially when you’re keying your card information, social security number, account information, zip codes, and passwords.
When you’re talking with the cashier, make sure that no one else is listening to your conversation especially during rush hours.
• Online Theft – there are so many online activities that can make way for identity theft. These criminals can device scripts so that they can keep a close eye on your login information and cookies. They often set up bogus web pages and emails to attract unsuspecting victims. Once a victim logs to their site, the criminals can take the personal information and access accounts to take away all your funds.
Those are just some of the ways for criminals to carry out identity theft. The authorities are looking for more effective ways to counter identity theft but because of technological advancements, criminals have more opportunities to steal identities. Computer devices and cell phones are also some of the devices that criminals can make use to steal important information.
The best approach to prevent identity theft is to always stay informed. Don’t let criminals steal what is rightfully yours.
October 10th, 2007
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