IdentityLockBlog.Info

2007-08-28T17:27:00.001-05:00

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9 People Using 1 Social Security Number!

2007-07-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

Read about this man's identity theft nightmare, in an interesting article detailing efforts being made by Congress to better protect identities. Read the story here.

Interesting excerpt:

Scott Giordano didn't know his identity had been stolen until he decided in 2005 to move to take a new job. He'd put a down payment on a house and quit his job as a San Bernardino firefighter before hearing that he'd failed a background check conducted by the employer that wanted to hire him. The reason: There were nine people, in different parts of the country, employed under his Social Security number.

ID Theft Scam Targets Military Families

2007-06-03T12:48:00.000-05:00

Another of the disgusting scams involving identity theft. This one targets military families. Read the full article here.

Noteworthy content:

It can begin with a phone call — the voice on the other line says it’s the American Red Cross, and they’re calling to inform you a loved one in the military has been injured.

But, there’s another problem: The wounded soldier can’t receive medical attention until you fork over a name, address and, moreover, a Social Security number.

And this:

According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site, identity theft occurs when personal information is stolen and used to commit fraud or other crimes.

The FTC’s identity theft page for military personnel and families suggests people deployed away from their usual stations should consider setting an “active duty alert” on their credit reports, which essentially requires creditors to take steps to verify the identity of a person before granting new credit.

Aside from normal steps, such as shredding financial documents and other sensitive material, the FTC recommends safeguarding one’s military identification by keeping it on his or her person or locked up at all times and securing personal information, especially while living in barracks.

Identity Theft From People You Know

2007-05-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Protect yourself against identity theft from people you know. Interesting article on this problem at NBC25.com

Noteworthy content:

When it comes to identity theft, most of probably think about it, but never consider who could be using your information.

Now a Chambersburg couple is fighting to clear their credit report after they say someone they knew stole their identity.

"The place called me and said, the credit card was accidentally opened in your name, which $4,500 in credit is not just an accident to me,” says Andrew Wagner.

Wagner and his wife, Beatrix,, are trying to clear their credit report, after they say someone opened an account at his daughter's dentist and charged more than $280. They can't know for sure who gave the office Andrew's social security number and date of birth, but they have their suspicions it's someone they know.

Remember, LifeLock can prevent identity theft. Sign up at IdentityLock.Info for a 20% discount which is a rate of $88/year.

Preventing Identity Theft - YouTube to the Rescue

2007-05-25T09:25:00.001-05:00

From the world's most popular video site, here are some excellent videos which educate and inform on how to avoid and/or recover from identity theft.

From a law enforcement point of view - good suggestions.

Here's another video - this one with a good explanation of how the process of identity theft works. Like most reports, this one offers no concrete solutions. We recommend LifeLock - sign up at www.identitylock.com for a 20% discount - only $88/month.

New Jury Duty Identity Theft Scam!

2007-05-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

From the Thousand Oaks Acorn - this insightful article exposing another form of identity theft. In this case, a person calls you explaining that they work at the Court, and that they have an arrest warrant for you - for failing to appear for jury duty.

They ask you to "verify" your social security number, birth dates, and credit card numbers. I'd suspect they might also ask about your mailing address and driver's license, but this article says nothing of these two data points.

This scam has been reported in 9 states. Sometimes the callers ask for bank details so that they can arrange direct deposit of the daily stipend for serving on a jury.

Bottom line: never ever, ever give our your social security number, driver's license, birth date, bank details, credit card details - to a person that called you. If they are legit, they will have a phone number that you can verify and then use to call them back.

If still in doubt, conduct the business in writing.

Remember, LifeLock.com is a great way to protect yourself - just in case these thieves fool you and succeed in stealing your identity - you've got protection up to $1,000,000. Sign up at www.identitylock.info for a 20% discount which reduces the normal $110/year price to $88/year.

Read the full article here.

Credit Card Numbers Available on the Web

2007-05-24T21:25:00.000-05:00

In another great post from the Consumerist, this fascinating article about how easy it is to find credit card numbers on the internet via Google. The original article is located at Slashdot at this link.

Noteworthy content:

Frequent Slashdot contributor Bennett Haselton gives the full-disclosure treatment to the widely known and surprisingly simple technique for finding treasure-troves of credit card numbers online. He points out how the credit-card companies could plug this hole at trivial expense, saving themselves untold millions in losses from bogus transactions, and saving their customers some serious hassles.

And this:

It would be simple for companies like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover to take a list of the most common 8-digit prefixes, query for them every day on Google, and de-activate any new credit card numbers that were found that way.

And finally:

I did try the "Good Samaritan" approach, calling the credit card companies when I found one of their customers' card numbers on the Web. For each of the four major card companies, I called their security departments and reported two of the cards that I had found compromised, and then a week later, called the cardholders themselves to see if the card companies had notified them. Surprisingly, of the four companies, American Express was the only one whose customers in this experiment, when I called them a week later, said that AmEx had contacted them and told them to change their numbers.

Proposed Immigration Bill Would Create Another ID Database

2007-05-24T00:20:00.000-05:00

Just as many of us are trying to protect our identities, because of the rapid increase in identity theft, the newly proposed immigration bill will likely end up creating another massive database of identity information.

Essentially, when employers wish to offer someone a job, they must be verified in the database as having a right to work in the U.S. If they can't be found, they can't work.

Read the full article here.

Noteworthy content:

The so-called Employment Eligibility Verification System would be established as part of a bill that senators began debating on Monday, a procedure that is likely to continue through June and would represent the most extensive rewrite of immigration and visa laws in a generation. Because anyone who fails a database check would be out of a job, the proposed database already has drawn comparisons with the "no-fly list" and is being criticized by civil libertarians and business groups.

And this:

There is no privacy requirement that the federal government delete the information after work authorization is given or denied. Employers would be required to keep all the documentation in paper or electronic form for seven years "and make it available for inspection by officers of the Department of Homeland Security" and the Department of Labor. It would also open up the IRS' databases of confidential taxpayer information to Homeland Security and its contractors.

And finally:

Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute, said he worries that the verification system, or the EEVS, will grow beyond its initial plan.
"The system will migrate to all kinds of new uses," Harper said. "Our pictures will be available for government officials to pull up whenever we deal with them and the federal surveillance infrastructure will grow. Watch for news in a few years of government officials and employers using EEVS to play 'Hot or Not' using drivers license photos."

Get the Government's Guide to Fighting Back Against Identity Theft

2007-05-23T01:42:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Uncle Sam, the Federal Trade Commission has published this useful guide to fighting back against identity theft. This e-book not only educates us on how to recover, but also on how to prevent identity theft.

View the entire publication here.

A very practical option is to sign up for a proven identity theft prevention service. I recommend LifeLock - they back up their claims with a $1,000,000 guarantee. You've seen this guy on TV or heard him the radio. The CEO publishes his social security number publicly. He's that confident!

Sign up here for a 20% discount off the normal rates of $10/month. The yearly amount is just $88.

Social Security Number Scam

2007-05-22T08:09:00.000-05:00

A new scam is making the rounds.

A caller tells you that your social security card is no longer valid and wants to help you get your "new card." But, they'll need a little bit of banking information.

Of course, when you provide that information - your bank accounts will be drained in a short period of time.

Read the full article here.

Noteworthy content:

Milne received a phone call stating his Social Security card was no longer good and new ones were being issued, however in order to get his new card Milne was asked to give the caller his bank account information.
When Milne reported the phone call to the Social Security Fraud Hotline he was told there is no program in place to replace social security cards and under no circumstances should he give out his social security number or bank account information over the telephone or online.

and this:

The Social Security Administration is the only agency authorized to issue a social security number, and if you are eligible no fee is charged. Any private company offering to obtain a new social security number for a fee is most likely bogus and will provide no real service. In addition, the social security number they supply may be fraudulent and your use of such a number could constitute a crime.

The Amazing Targeting of Seniors

2007-05-21T23:43:00.000-05:00

From this New York Times article, mentioned recently in the Consumerist, is an amazing article about how companies are actually building and maintaining mailing lists of senior citizens that are vulnerable, gullible, and an easy target for being bilked out of their money.

Read the full article here, and commented on by the Consumerist here, and then immediately warn your grandmother and grandfather.

Noteworthy content:

InfoUSA advertised lists of “Elderly Opportunity Seekers,” 3.3 million older people “looking for ways to make money,” and “Suffering Seniors,” 4.7 million people with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. “Oldies but Goodies” contained 500,000 gamblers over 55 years old, for 8.5 cents apiece. One list said: “These people are gullible. They want to believe that their luck can change.”

and this:

Telemarketing fraud, once limited to small-time thieves, has become a global criminal enterprise preying upon millions of elderly and other Americans every year, authorities say. Vast databases of names and personal information, sold to thieves by large publicly traded companies, have put almost anyone within reach of fraudulent telemarketers. And major banks have made it possible for criminals to dip into victims’ accounts without their authorization, according to court records.

and finally:

The thieves would call and pose as government workers or pharmacy employees. They would contend that the Social Security Administration’s computers had crashed, or prescription records were incomplete. Payments and pills would be delayed, they warned, unless the older Americans provided their banking information.
Many people hung up. But Mr. Guthrie and hundreds of others gave the callers whatever they asked.
“I was afraid if I didn’t give her my bank information, I wouldn’t have money for my heart medicine,” Mr. Guthrie said.

Friends, take a moment to help your older parent or grandparent sign up for LifeLock today. LifeLock protects your family from identity theft and is backed up by a $1,000,000 guarantee.

Follow this link for a 20% discount. One year of protection is just $88.

Bank of America Sues Identity Theft Victim

2007-05-21T23:36:00.000-05:00

In another sign of the torment a person may endure if they are victimized by identity theft, the folks over at the Consumerist have brought to our attention this poor woman sued by Bank of American after her identity was stolen and thieves drained her account of $68k, and then a whopping $23k provided by Bank of American in overdraft protection.

Read the full article here.

This is a good opportunity to remind you that LifeLock would have invaluable for this woman. For only $88 a year, she would have been protected against this kind of identity theft and resulting lawsuit.

Sign up here.

Freeze or Fraud Alert?

2007-05-20T22:59:00.001-05:00

Consumers have two different weapons in their arsenal to prevent identity theft. We can (in most states) put a "freeze" on our credit reports, or we can put a "fraud alert" on our credit files. What are the differences? Which one is best? Do either of these impede my ability to secure credit in the future?

Let's take a moment and dissect the choices.

Credit Report Freeze

A credit report "freeze" is a new option available to consumers in many states (approximately 30). If its not in your state yet, it probably will be soon. Think of a "freeze" as a permanent lock on your credit report that makes it impossible for anyone else to use.

Sound great? Maybe not. Remember, the purpose of these identity theft prevention steps is to keep bad guys from securing credit fraudulently in your name, while permitting you to secure genuine credit based upon your good credit scores. Access to your credit report is often required for house and car insurance quotes, new job background checks, etc. in addition to bona fide requests for credit from you.

In order for these inquiries to go forward, you must get the credit reporting agencies to remove the freeze. When the freeze is no longer needed (i.e. when you have secured the job, credit, or insurance you need) then you request that the credit reporting agency re-enacts the freeze.

Sounds great, except for the simple fact that you'll have to pay for the privilege of freezing your credit report, unfreezing it, and freezing it back again. As this news report states:

To initiate a credit freeze, you might have to spend up to $20, and removing it from your accounts can cost another $20.

Bummer. Sounds like it could get expensive.

Besides that, the same news report indicates its a bit of a hassle:

To start the process, send a certified letter to each of the three major credit reporting agencies. That letter should have your full legal name, all of your home addresses for the past two years, your Social Security Number and your date of birth. You'll also need to include a copy of a state-issued ID, a recent utility bill and a copy of the police report if you've been the victim of ID theft in the past. The agencies will then process your request.

And, there are limits to its effectiveness. Again, from the same news report:

A credit freeze will not stop someone who already has your credit card information and is using it. And because it blocks access to your credit records, getting access for a credit check for a car loan or a mortgage may take a few days. Also, freezing your file won't stop those pre-approved credit offers.

And, there's one more hassle if you are married:

Finally, if you're married, you and your spouse have separate credit files, so both of you have to follow the procedures to request a credit freeze and pay the necessary fees.

I think that means you'll pay double fees.

So, is there a better option?

Fraud Alerts

I recommend consumers protect themselves using a credit fraud alert. These are not permanent but they offer some major advantages in my judgment.

To keep things simple, think of them this way: Fraud alerts put the burden on the credit reporting agency and/or the company that wants to offer you credit. Freezes put the burden on you.

A fraud alert requires the organization wishing to grant you credit, to contact you and make reasonable efforts to make sure that it is really you that is requesting a loan for that new RV, boat, car, house, etc.

This is what Experian says about a "fraud alert" at this link.

You can add a fraud alert message to your credit report to help protect your credit information. Fraud alert messages notify potential credit grantors to verify your identification before extending credit in your name in case someone is using your information without your consent.

But, fraud alerts (of this type) only last 90 days. So, you'll need to renew them or else you'll be exposed again.

Here's some more details from the FTC at this link:

When a business sees the alert on your credit report, they must verify your identity before issuing you credit. As part of this verification process, the business may try to contact you directly. This may cause some delays if you're trying to obtain credit. To compensate for possible delays, you may wish to include a cell phone number, where you can be reached easily, in your alert. Remember to keep all contact information in your alert current.

Notice, there is the potential of this verification process slowing down the credit approval process. Probably, if you are applying in person (such as at a car dealership) this won't create such a problem. But long distances applications may be an issue.

The plus side: there's no intervention on your part except to keep your contact information current and verify your identity when contacted by someone that wishes to grant you credit. Also, this is a real plus: if someone does attempt to fraudulently apply for credit by using your identity, you're usually going to find out about it quickly. There's nothing quite like getting a phone call asking if you're really applying for a loan for a $120k RV, when in fact you've never done so.

Recommendations

I recommend using the fraud alert as opposed to the credit report freeze. The biggest problem to overcome is the fact that the fraud alerts must be renewed every 90 days. If you're like me, you'll forget.

Plus, it is also said that fraud alerts are not always respected as they should be, and that sometimes credit gets granted without your permission.

So, that's why I recommend LifeLock. LifeLock proactively sets the fraud alerts and then renews them every 90 days. If something does get through this level of protection, they back up their service with a $1,000,000 guarantee. They'll put your life back the way it was before the identity theft - and spend up to $1m to make it happen.

You can have this service for $88/year. That's money well spent in my judgment. We insure our cars, houses, boats, planes, RV's, etc. because they have value to us. Sadly, it is now necessary that we "insure" our good names, our identities - and LifeLock is a great way to make that happen. In fact, as far as I can tell, they are presently the only company that can really provide this level of service and guarantee.

That's the kind of peace-of-mind I appreciate.

So, in summary: drop the expensive credit freezes - go with credit fraud alerts. If you want to do them yourself, great - have at it. If you'd rather have a little help, and a guarantee - use LifeLock.

Follow the above links in order to sign up. (Make sure promo code IDBLOG is applied as you begin the check out. This will insure you get the 20% discount and the rate of $88/year).

Detecting Synthetic Identity Fraud

2007-05-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

The good folks over at The Consumerist have linked to an article on Bankrate.com about detecting synthetic identity fraud. "Synthetic" identity fraud is when parts of your identity data (stolen) are blended with parts of other people's identity data (also stolen) to create a new, "synthetic" identity.

Read the full post here.

Noteworthy content:

In typical synthetic fraud, a fraudster uses a real Social Security number and combines it with a name other than the one associated with that number. The combination often doesn't hit the consumer's credit report, says Chris Jay Hoofnagle, senior staff attorney to the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic and senior fellow with the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at the University of California.

Synthetic fraud is quickly becoming the more common type of identity fraud, surpassing "true-name" identity fraud, which corresponds to actual consumers. In 2005, ID Analytics reported that synthetic identity fraud accounted for 74 percent of the total dollars lost by U.S. businesses to ID fraud and 88 percent of all identity fraud "events" -- for example, new account openings and address changes.

And this suggestion - to scour the public records databases to find fraudulent uses of your social security number.

Once a year, you can order a free report from: ChoiceTrust

Do it now. I did.

You might also consider signing up for professional services to protect your identity. LifeLock protects your identity and offers a $1 million guarntee. Use promo code IDBLOG for a 20% discount.

Identity Theft: The Affects Linger

2007-05-17T20:39:00.001-05:00

From The Village News, a very interesting but sad tale of a long battle with identity theft. Starting 10 years ago, Christian Macone-Greene details her battle to redeem her good name and to recover from Identity Theft. Read the full article here.

I recommend signing up with LifeLock.com to prevent identity theft. They work hard to prevent your identity from being stolen, and if it should occur, they will pay up to $1 million to restore your good financial identity back to the way it was. Sign up here for a 20% discount using promo code IDBLOG.

Noteworthy content:

It was my sole responsibility to contact each and every bank institution, retail department store and utility company that had interacted with the fraudulent account in my name. I filled out countless ID Theft Affidavits and personally paid notary costs and postal charges. My phone calls reached out to police departments, FBI, Social Security Administration and United States Department Passport Services. I spent countless hours repairing this unjust damage.

And this:

It took roughly one year before my credit rating peaked to its original state before its hostile takeover. Trust me; the after effects still linger on. To this day, my “Florida” address still pops up once in a while on a credit report and my personal check is still denied at a Southern California department store chain.

A Philosophy Change

2007-05-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

We insure our houses against financial loss. We insure our cars. We insure our boats, RV's, planes, etc. We do this at some considerable expense. Why? We do it because we know the potential of loss is significant and such loss would have serious consequences for us.

In some cases, we would owe a huge debt to our mortgage company, and their collateral (our house) would be gone. That's why insurance on our house is mandatory when we have a mortgage. Same goes for cars or other assets that we normally finance.

This business of buying insurance has been with us for many years. True enough, insurance costs are greater and greater, but the concept is quite old.

Now all of a sudden, it is 2007 and we live in a rather strange new world. Its a new world where gangs of thieves still steal from us, but they steal in ways we never imagined. They steal our identity.

I imagine that trying to explain the concept of a "stolen identity" would be nearly impossible should a person from the 1800's should time-travel forward into our generation. But even for all of us the concept can be a bit fuzzy.

The simple answer is that criminals now pretend to be us. They assume our identity to some measure (large or small) and we are hurt in the process. The damage can be crippling. Thieves may steal our identity, apply for loans, and then of course not pay the loans. The bad data goes onto our credit report (not the thief's) and ruin our good credit scores.

But it may be much worse. The thief may do things that trigger alerts to the authorities. That is, they may act in such a way (e.g. passing bad checks) that warrants are issued for our arrest - when we've done nothing to deserve it. You can't hardly blame the authorities. They see that John Doe is passing bad checks all over town. They go to arrest John Doe.

But poor John Doe knows nothing of this criminal behavior. He pleads his innocence to the police, but then again, everyone pleads their innocence to the police. This certainly won't dissuade an arresting officer.

Some have even spent jail time, wrongly so, until they could finally prove that while they are John Doe, they are not that John Doe.

The end result of all of this is financial loss. The amount of time and energy to recover your identity and good financial credit worthiness is huge.

So, what to do?

Well, we must have a fundamental change in philosophy.

Just as we lock our doors on our car and insure our cars for loss, we must do the same with something that is even more valuable.

We must lock our identity and then insure it against loss.

At present, the best option I know to accomplish this is the bright rising star in the industry: LifeLock. This company does just what I've described. They lock the doors and insure the car. Or to be more precise, they lock my identity and then insure my identity. If someone sneaks through the walls of security, they pay up to $1 million to set things right.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I am a partner with LifeLock.

However, if you should determine that the benefit LifeLock offers is meaningful to you, then I encourage you to sign up with them through my web site.

Visit me at www.identitylock.info and sign up for LifeLock today. Through my website, you will have the opportunity to get LifeLock for a 20% discount from the normal rate of $10/month and you will be able to get the first month free. Be sure to use promotion code IDBLOG on LifeLock's website.

David Watts Jr.

Identity Theft Risks At the Post Office

2007-05-15T22:56:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting and helpful video that shows the potential of identity theft risk at your local post office. This exposes the ease with which a person can turn in a change-of-address form at your post office for your address, and then receive all of your mail at their address (or PO Box).

View the video here.

New Law Gives More Identity Theft Protection to Hoosiers

2007-05-15T08:45:00.000-05:00

Residents of Indiana have another arsenal in their defense against identity theft. Beginning September 1, 2007 Indiana residents will have the ability to freeze their credit reports.

Read the full article here.

Noteworthy content:

The bill was authored by State Rep. Joe Micon, D-West Lafayette, who began to construct the bill following the loss of 16,000 Purdue University student, faculty and staff social security numbers into cyberspace over several years. Micon said the social security number is a key to the most valuable information of citizens.

and this:

Micon is confident that the benefits of this bill will ultimately provide the protection needed against identity theft.

"We crafted a bill that I believe is on the cutting edge and fore front of consumer protection," Micon said.

"It will require the (three consumer credit report) agencies to accept requests for freezes online every 15 minutes. It will provide more access, but also quick protection, for somebody who has had their social security number stolen."

Check Your Credit Report - A Strategy

2007-05-13T23:33:00.000-05:00

One strategy for remaining alert to fraudulent use of your identity information is to check your credit report regularly for signs of suspiscious activity. By law, you are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus each year.

But, don't order from all three at once.

Here's a better strategy:

Order from Equifax today.
In four months, order from Experian
In four more months, order to TransUnion
Repeat this process each year.
This way, you get a new updated credit report every four months - completely free.

Here's the official place to order your credit report:

www.annualcreditreport.com

Don't try to order your report elsewhere. Many sites offer a free credit report but only with the purchase of credit monitoring.

Note: after you select a credit reporting agency, you will be taken to their website. You will probably be offered some "add-on" options, such as your FICO score. These are not free and you should not accept them unless you genuinely wish to pay for these extras.

Subscribe to our RSS Feed

2007-05-12T23:17:00.000-05:00

Subscribe to our RSS feed so that you won't miss a single update in all the latest identity theft developments.

You can subscribe by following this link.

600 Kraft Employees Targeted by ID Theft Gang

2007-05-12T23:10:00.000-05:00

In a chilling reminder of the sophistication of the ID thieves, a "gang" of ID thieves with inside connections at Kraft Food's Rye Brook, NY facility stole identity data on 600 Kraft employees. The gang used the stolen identity data to secure credit cards and purchased over $200,000 worth of merchandise.

This all stems from a temporary consultant hired by Kraft that at one time had access to 60,000 Kraft employees' data.

The gang has been indicted.

Read the full article here.

Federal ID Protection Bills Move Forward

2007-05-12T22:59:00.000-05:00

Two federal legislative efforts to provide more identity theft protection to consumers have move ahead today. The Social Security Protection Act of 2007 and the Securely Protect Yourself from Cyber-Tresspass (SPY Act) were unanimously approved in committee today. In a few weeks they'll be voted on in the House of Representatives.

Read the full article here.

Noteworthy content:

The Social Security Protection Act of 2007 -- first proposed by Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat -- makes it illegal to purchase or sell social security numbers in a manner that violates Federal Trade Commission (FTC) anti-fraud regulations.

and this:

Of the two acts the Spy Act is undoubtedly the more controversial.

Meant to protect Internet users from unknowing transmission of their personal information via spyware programs, the Spy Act bans the most commonly known techniques used by malware and adware brokers, such as the use of keystroke-logging programs or installation of software without gaining approval via a clearly stated EULA (end user licensing agreement).

Even the Dead: Victims of Identity Theft

2007-05-12T02:13:00.000-05:00

From our friends at AlabamaConsumerLawBlog, this post shows how that even the dead can be victimized by thieves intent on stealing identities. Some excellent suggestions on what to do after your loved one has died - in order to protect their identity are included. See full article here.

Noteworthy content:

Shortly after Johnny Salter died, his identifying information was obtained by the thieves and sold to the highest bidder. Within a few weeks, they had done their damage. Mr. Salter's sister was interviewed about what happened. “A new car and about $10,000 had been charged,” says Crane, 73. “It's bad enough to steal someone's identity and ruin their credit history. To do it to a dead man, and to his family so shortly after his death, it's just terrible.”

MetLife Offers Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

2007-05-12T02:03:00.000-05:00

In a press release (link) from MetLife, the company offers 10 tips to help protect your identity:

Full Text:

WARWICK, R.I.- ID theft is the fastest-growing crime in America. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) statistics estimate that almost ten million Americans were victims of some sort of identity theft last year, and also, that Hispanics are more likely to be victimized by ID theft than other ethnic group. Surprisingly, the majority of identity theft cases do not result in out-of-pocket expenses for victims--what most victims lose is time and their sense of personal security.

"Clearing your name after an identity theft can be a very complicated and disruptive process," said William D. Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home®. "There are a lot of people to notify, including creditors, credit bureaus, and law enforcement. It can take many months--or possibly years--before you get your life back in order, and clear your name. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to avoid ever becoming a victim in the first place, and also services, including services with Spanish-speaking representatives, that can help you restore your name should you become a victim."

For information about identity theft, including an Identity Theft Prevention Checklist, Spanish-speaking individuals can visit espanol.metlife.com/identidad, or call toll-free 1-866-Met-Vida to contact a personal representative. To reduce the likelihood of being a victim of identity theft:

• Be careful with your social security number. Avoid carrying your social security card in your wallet, and don’t print your number on personal checks.

• Only release your social security number when it’s absolutely necessary. Legally, almost no one has the right to require it, and most merchants and companies have the ability to do a background check without it.

• If a merchant asks for your social security number, ask why it’s necessary, and what safeguards they have in place to protect your information.

• Minimize the number of credit cards you have, and only carry one or two in your wallet. It’s a good idea to keep a list of all your credit cards, bank accounts, and investments in a safe place.

• Never leave envelopes containing bills and checks in places where there’s a danger of their being stolen. Consider mailing your bills at the post office, rather than leaving them for your letter carrier at your front door or mailbox.

• Think about computer safety--never use obvious or easily guessed passwords or PINs, and always create passwords that combine letters and numbers.

• Be wary of "phishing" schemes. Phishing is a fast-growing type of fraud that usually starts as an email or pop-up designed to trick you into revealing personal financial details. Never reply to emails asking for personal details, or even click on links in emails that appear suspicious.

• Be careful what you throw away! Trash is a prime target for identity thieves, so take the time to shred all paperwork containing sensitive information, including pre-approved credit offers. The most secure shredders are "cross cut" shredders, because they ensure that the documents cannot be reassembled.

• Carefully review financial statements each month for unauthorized use, including your credit cards, bank statements, and phone bills. Alert your creditors immediately, in the event that you notice a discrepancy.

• Do a "check up" on your credit history once every year. Securing this information is easy--simply visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You’ll be able to get one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Another important consideration: determine whether you have protection in the event that you are victimized. Many credit card companies offer protection against identity theft. Ask your credit card agent or company representative if yours does. In addition, some insurance companies now offer identity theft assistance as part of their automobile or homeowners insurance policies. This assistance can prove invaluable, because it can help guide victims through the arduous process of reclaiming their good names. MetLife Auto & Home was the first insurer to offer ID theft resolution service at no additional premium on its homeowners, renter’s, and condos policies, and recently added the service to all auto policies, in all states where approved.

"Having a Spanish-speaking representative work with you to restore your good name can provide you with greater peace of mind, as well as lessen the time that it will take to resolve the problem." said Moore. "This advocate will work with you, to make certain that all the appropriate steps are taken, including notifying the appropriate authorities, tracking and monitoring credit files, and working with grantors of credit until the situation is resolved."

Massachusetts Giving Consumers "Freeze" Ability

2007-05-12T01:58:00.000-05:00

Massachusetts is moving toward giving their citizens the ability to "freeze" their credit reports in an effort to stop criminals from fraudulently using these reports.

Other parts of the bill include these features:

Breach notification - requires organizations to notify individuals if their identity data has been stolen.
Police Reports - allows victims of identity theft to get a copy of their police report even if it did not occur in that particular jurisdiction.

Read the full article here.