Bank of New York Mellon Paying for Screw Up

Bank to provide two years of identity theft protection

by News Channel 8's Alan Cohn

(WTNH) _ For two years, hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents will get free credit monitoring. But they're still paying a steep price knowing their personal information is at risk after it was lost by a New York bank.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal emphasizes there is no evidence right now that the personal information of anyone involved has been misused. But the number of potential victims keeps growing. In Connecticut alone, almost 500,000 people.

...a computer back-up tape that was lost by the Bank of New York Mellon. They handle transactions for People's Bank and dozens of other companies, including Disney and John Hancock.

...Blumenthal has gotten the Bank of New York Mellon to provide two years of free credit protection to those affected including credit reports, identity theft insurance and credit freezes.

...Blumenthal says the company is still trying to figure out how the information was lost and who might have it. The Bank of New York Mellon has set up a hotline for consumers seeking information at 877-278-3451. (Full text at www.wtnh.com)

Knowing who has the info that was lost would be nice but wouldn't matter except for prosecution. Blumenthal stated that there is no evidence that any of the stolen info has been misused. Again, it may not be used for years to come and then it may be used and then resold.

I just hope that the free services they are offering the victims includes restoration of credit and not just monitoring or the victims will still have an uphill battle if their info is misused.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided (including restoration) by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Patient Health Care Data at Risk

Patient Health Care Data at Risk

by Greg Masters

A new report on the security of the personal information of health care patients was just released and it indicates that steps need to be taken and rules enforced.

Among the findings of the 2008 HIMSS Analytics Report: Security of Patient Data, commissioned by Kroll Fraud Solutions, is that patient data collected and stored in hospitals and health care facilities is a prime target for malicious data hunters.

The patient records in these facilities include the golden combination that data fraudsters require -- names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Records also contain mailing address, insurance policy information, medical history and sometimes credit card and financial information used to expedite billing and payment – “more data in one record than those of any other source such as banks, schools or HR departments.”

...in the period from 2006-2007, more than 1.5 million names were exposed during data breaches that occurred in hospitals alone...

..Only 56 percent of respondents who experienced a security breach notified the patients involved,.. (Full text at www.SCmagazineus.com)

Kroll Fraud Solutions who commissioned the report, is the largest Risk Consulting firm in the world. They are also the company that provides the Identity Theft Shield service which I offer to protect individuals like you and me. I personally would not be without it.

The identity information compromised from hospitals can not only be used for financial identity theft but also Medical Identity Theft. This is where someone uses your health care information to obtain treatment in your name.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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How Can You Prevent Identity Theft?

The following tips can help you lower your risk of becoming a victim.

- Protect your Social Security number and don't carry the card in your wallet. If your health plan (other than Medicare) uses your Social Security number, ask the company for a different number.

- Scam artists "phish" for victims by pretending to be banks, stores or government agencies. Don't give out your personal information - unless you made the contact. Don't respond to a request to verify your account number or password. Legitimate companies do not request this kind of information in this way.

- Shred or tear up papers with personal information before you throw them away. Shred credit card offers and "convenience checks" that you don't use.

- Protect your personal information on your home computer. Use strong passwords, with at least eight characters, including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.

- Use firewall, virus and spyware protection software that you update regularly. Steer clear of spyware. Download free software only from sites you know and trust.

- Don't install software without knowing what it is. Set browser security to at least "medium." Don't click on links in pop-up windows or in spam e-mail.

Source: California Office of Privacy Protection.

STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening accounts in your name. Contact any of the three credit bureaus listed below to do this. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.

- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

A fraud alert lets you order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus. Once you get your credit reports, look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and unauthorized debts. Check that your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. Remove any fraudulent or inaccurate information. Check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

2. Close accounts you think have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Call the fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies of supporting documents. Notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. With new accounts, use new personal identification numbers and passwords. Avoid using your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a set of consecutive numbers. If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask for forms to dispute those transactions.

3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

You can go to www.ftc.gov and file an online complaint or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

Filing a complaint with the FTC provides important information that can help law enforcement officials fight identity theft. The FTC can refer victims' complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.

4. File a report with your local police or police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "miscellaneous incident" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. Provide a printed copy of your online FTC complaint form. The FTC complaint, in conjunction with the police report, can entitle you to certain protections.

Source: Federal Trade Commission. For more information about identity theft go to www.ftc.gov or call the Commission's ID Theft hot line at 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338) or TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

However, the best way to combat ID Theft is to be proactive and have a service monitor your credit and provide the restoration so you don't have to spend 600 hours and $1500 to do it yourself.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Nevada Offers an Identity Theft Passport

Nevada Attorney General offers special program to assist identity theft victims

By Catherine Cortez Masto, • Nevada Attorney General

In 2007, Nevada was ranked third in the nation for identity theft crimes. To help address this situation, my office is offering the Nevada Identity Theft Passport program as a service to Nevada residents who are identity theft victims to assist them with recovery from this intrusive and damaging crime....

....After you discover that you have become the victim of identity theft, you will need to file a police report with local law enforcement and ask for the Nevada Identity Theft Passport brochure and application. You will then make an appointment with your local County Sheriff or Attorney General's Office to complete an online "Passport" application. The Sheriff's Office will then send the completed application to the Attorney General's office in Carson City. After we verify the application, you will receive a secure, personalized Nevada "Passport" program card that contains your picture, signature and thumb print.

This card is an effective tool for you to use in order to demonstrate that your identity has been stolen. It is likely to be most useful to help you explain your situation to merchants, banks and law enforcement officials.

For example, suppose the thief who has stolen your identity commits a crime using your identity. Unfortunately, all the police investigating that crime would have to go on is your name, your identity. You would know nothing at all about what the real criminal has done while using your identification information.

Now suppose the police pull you over and accuse you of this crime that has been committed with your identity information.

Remember, the only thing law enforcement in this case has to go on is your name. Would you want to quickly be able to show the police a card that explains you are a victim of identity theft and that you are not the real thief they are after? Of course you would...

..An Identity Theft Passport does not prevent identity theft. It can only assist in helping to clear things up afterwards. It is a valuable tool that can be used by an identity theft victim to recover from this alarming and intrusive crime.

First and foremost, remember that it is best to protect yourself from identity theft before it happens. While there are no guarantees, everyone should take a few simple steps.

For frequent questions and answers about the program visit the Nevada AG's website by clicking here.

The Nevada AG is correct about protecting yourself. It is better to be proactive than reactive.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".
Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Identity Theft: Will You Be A Victim?

Identity Theft is now the fastest growing crime. Estimates are that 10 – 15 million people will become victims of identity theft this year. In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the store, hand your credit card to your server at a restaurant, rent a car, or apply for a credit card. Chances are that you don't even give these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does.

People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Victims of identity theft may lose a job opportunity, be refused a loan or even get arrested for a crime they didn't commit.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity Theft includes:

• Financial and Non-Financial Identity Theft
• Driver’s License Identity Theft
• Social Security Number Misuse
• Medical Identity Theft
• Identity “Cloning” and Assumption
• Business / Commercial Identity Theft
• Child Identity Theft
• Identity Theft of the Deceased

There are certain precautions that you can take to reduce the risk that your identity will be compromised or stolen.

• Do not give out financial information such as checking and credit card numbers, or your social security number, unless you know the person or organization you are dealing with.
• Report lost or stolen cards or checks immediately.
• Shred any financial solicitations
• Closely guard your ATM and credit card personal identification numbers (PINs).
• Put outgoing mail into a secure official USPS collection box
• If your bills include questionable items, don't ignore them – investigate.
• Order your free credit reports and review them annually from all three credit reporting agencies. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. This is the only website authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law.
  

Remember, no matter how careful you are, you can still become a victim of Identity Theft through no fault of your own. This is because business databases can be hacked or an employee can steal your information from a company like what happened on July 3, 2007 at Fidelity National Information Services, Certegy Check Services Inc.(Jacksonville, FL)

A worker at one of the company's subsidiaries (Certegy Check Services, Inc.) stole customer records containing credit card, bank account and other personal information. The company first estimated that about 2.3 million records were affected but quickly boosted that number to 8.5 million in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A California law firm has filed a class-action suit charging Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and one of its subsidiaries with negligence in connection with a data breach.

On 03/14/08, William G. Sullivan, a Florida resident who worked as a senior database administrator at Certegy, was arrested for allegedly downloading the information and selling it to another person for $580,000. ...Sullivan's duties at Certegy included defining and enforcing data access rights. He pleaded guilty and was to be sentenced today. Meanwhile CERTEGY has offered to settle the lawsuit. To read whole story, click here.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit www.StopIdTheftCrime.com and subscribe to the newsletter to obtain your free 46 page eBook "Fighting Back Against Identity Theft".

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Jail Inmate Accused in Identity Theft Scam

Cayuga jail inmate accused of identity theft scam

Victoria E. Freile • Staff writer

An inmate at the Cayuga County Jail is facing felony charges that he ran an identity theft scam from jail.

Eduardo Camacho, also known as Eddie Cruz, 24, was charged Monday with fourth-degree conspiracy, a felony, and second-degree criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of personal identification information, both misdemeanors, according to Cayuga County sheriff's deputies.

Camacho, who is originally from New York City, is accused of telephoning people from the jail and impersonating employees of the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office to obtain personal information such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers, deputies said.

...Camacho was in the jail on charges involving another identity theft scam. In October, he was accused of first-degree identity theft and second-degree forgery, both felonies, and he is still facing those charges, Weeks said..... (Full text at Democrat and Chronicle)

From the article it seems like the jail needs to monitor the phone system better. Then again, it also proves that if someone wants to steal your identity, it doesn't matter where they are at. This only strengthens the reason why everyone should have an Identity Theft protection package and that is where I can help you.

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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What is FACTA?

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA).

Consumer reporting companies are required to notify consumers of their rights under FACTA and steps they can take to protect themselves against identity theft and difficulties resulting from identity theft.

The identity theft rights summary includes the major new identity theft rights granted to consumers by FACTA, including the right to place fraud alerts on their credit reports, to block businesses and credit bureaus from reporting information in their credit files that is a result of identity theft, and to obtain from businesses information about accounts or transactions in their name that result from identity theft. The identity theft rights summary will be provided by consumer reporting companies to consumers who contact the agencies because they believe they are victims of fraud or identity theft.

The general consumer rights summary includes, among other things, consumers' right to see their credit files and know when they have been used against them, to correct inaccuracies, and to opt-out of unsolicited offers. The summary also notes that, in addition to identity theft victims, active duty military personnel have additional rights under the FCRA and FACTA. This general summary of rights updates the current summary, which credit reporting companies provide to consumers with their credit reports.

FACTA Identity Theft Red Flags Rule

The federal regulation imposes new responsibilities on businesses to prevent consumer identity theft. The impact is broad and the rule affects every single bank, credit union, mortgage lender, auto dealer, credit card lender, payday lender, landlord, utility company, phone company and any consumer or small business lender in the country.

The compliance deadline is Nov. 1, 2008. Failure to comply can lead to civil money penalty for each violation, regulatory enforcement action, private plaintiff lawsuits, negative publicity and loss of business.

If you are a business owner and would like a free Risk Assessment for your business, even if you do not fit into the above category, then give me a call.

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Homeland Security making Identity Theft a Priority!

It's nice to see that our Homeland Security is taking ID Theft seriously. It's just a shame that other agencies (and people) don't think it is a problem and can happen to them.

Thwarting identity theft is a priority, officials say

By JEFF ECKHOFF

Claudia Farrell didn't know there was a problem with her Social Security number until the tax man called.

Farrell, a Washington, D.C., spokeswoman for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, said it was about 20 years ago that she received a demand for unpaid taxes on income from several suburban Virginia jobs that she'd never held.

Repeated telephone calls eventually turned up a restaurant manager who remembered a male ex-worker named Claudio Farrell, who apparently got the job with Claudia Farrell's Social Security number...

...Federal authorities charged more than 300 people with similar forms of Social Security fraud after last week's raid on the Agriprocessors plant in Postville.

Julie Myers, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said that such thefts are among the agency's highest priorities and an illustration that illegal immigration may be a driving force behind the nationwide growth in identity theft cases......

.....An investigation by MSNBC in 2005 found that a Social Security number from suburban Chicago had been used by illegal immigrants to get jobs at 37 businesses......

.....Each year, millions in payroll tax deductions end up in a special catch-all account because of mismatched names and Social Security numbers. The size of the fund, which also includes errors because of misspellings and things such as married women who are paid under their maiden names, apparently began to skyrocket in 1986, when a new federal law required workers to produce Social Security cards to get employment.

By October 2006, the Earnings Suspense File had accumulated $586 billion....

...Alan Jackson, an assistant U.S. attorney in Dallas. Federal authorities last month charged 45 people with false use of a Social Security card after raids on Pilgrim Pride poultry plants in Texas and four other states.....

.....Jackson said consumers may never know their Social Security numbers have been stolen if the identity is not used to obtain credit or obtain loans.

(Full text at Des Moines Register)

It makes me wonder what the total of these types of thefts are in California and Arizona as well. With $586 billion (which is a 1.5 year old total) sitting in an account, I wonder if any of it is mine. Then again, I'm sure the government has plans for the money already.

Wouldn't it be nice if the Government refunded all that money.

Remember, estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Lifelock sued Again!

It seems that Lifelock is being sued on a consistent basis with three recent filings, which an attorney is trying to get combined into a class action suit. Anyway, the article confirms what I have been saying all along. Get your ID Theft protection from experienced companies (a link is presented at the end of this post).

My comments are interspersed throughout the article and are in black writing with outtakes of the article in red.

ID theft protection firm sued

LifeLock misinformed customers, lawsuit says

For a time, the ads were everywhere on TV and radio, the ones with the head of a security company brazenly challenging would-be thieves to try to steal his identity.

By Andrew Clevenger

Staff writer

For a time, the ads were everywhere on TV and radio, the ones with the head of a security company brazenly challenging would-be thieves to try to steal his identity.

Richard Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock Inc., was so confident in his company's ability to protect his identity that he publicly revealed his Social Security number: 457-55-5462.

But according to a new class-action lawsuit filed last week in Jackson County, LifeLock's identity theft protection services were so inept that Davis' personal information was stolen repeatedly.

"While LifeLock has only publicly acknowledged that Davis' identity was compromised on one occasion, there are more than 20 driver's licenses that have been fraudulently obtained [using his personal information]," the suit states.

"Furthermore, a simple background check performed using Davis' Social Security number reveals that his entire personal profile has been compromised to the extent that the birth date associated with his Social Security number is Nov. 2, 1940, which would [inaccurately] make Davis 67 years old.".....

..LifeLock... made false and misleading claims in its multimillion-dollar ad campaign about the level of protection it provides....

...LifeLock doesn't protect against many forms of identity theft, according to the lawsuit.....

... LifeLock knows, yet fails to disclose, that the services it provides do not offer the breadth of protection that it promotes ....

Again, most people don't understand that financial ID Theft is only about 28% of all ID Theft. That's why we cover all forms of ID Theft.

.."In actuality, once you get beyond the numerous legal limitations and disclaimers, the policy really only guarantees that LifeLock will investigate how to fix its failure," Grubb said in a news release. "The subscriber receives no monetary recompense and no guarantee that their reputation and credit status will be restored."....

As a reminder, our Identity Theft Shield by Kroll, Inc., covers restoration by a licensed investigator if your identity is compromised.

.....In addition, the company fails to reveal that it obtains its credit reports by requesting on its clients' behalf their free annual credit report. That means consumers can't ask for their own free report for at least 12 months, according to the suit.....

Remember, only go to www.annualcreditreport.com for your free reports and obtain a report from one bureau and your next free report from a second bureau approximately 4 months later and the third bureau again in 4 months. This way you are checking your credit throughout the year. Finally....

.. "In Wisconsin, a woman's debit card was stolen, and that thief used that card to sign up for LifeLock," ...(Full Text at the Charleston Gazette)

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE company in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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It's Never To Late - Or Is It?

Hospital admits error in handling I.D. theft

by By Glenn Nyback

Sunday May 11, 2008, 5:15 PM

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As tens of thousands of Staten Island University Hospital patients seethe over the decision by hospital administrators to wait four months before informing them that a computer containing their personal information was stolen, SIUH's chief executive conceded officials could have handled the situation differently.

Frankly, I'm surprised that the hospital waited except maybe they thought it would all just go away by itself. With possible penalties of up to $92,ooo per victim, this could get expensive.

....The hospital only 10 days ago began informing 88,000 patients whose names, Social Security and health insurance numbers were included on a password-protected desktop computer stolen from the hospital's Rosebank billing office in December....

..... All 88,000 were offered a year of free credit monitoring from Equifax.

And that's all they are going to get is credit monitoring, That is sad, especially if the victims become victims again of Medical Identity Theft. Either way, they will not get any restoration unless they pay for and handle it themselves, Spending about 600 hours and unknown amounts of money to fix any problems.

...If the personal information hasn't been used yet, it probably won't be, said Jeff Sovern, a law professor at St. John's University School of Law.
(Full text at SILive.com)

Professor Jeff needs to read more about Identity Theft. These people may not be victims for years and then once used there information will be sold again.

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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2 men arrested from Lunardi's ID Theft

The following story is about the arrest from a previous post on 05/04/08. You can read that post by clicking here.

Two men linked to Lunardi's identity theft arrested in So. Cal, make bail

By Mark Gomez
Mercury News

Police say two men arrested Thursday in Southern California are connected to last month's massive identity theft scam at the Lunardi's Supermarket in Los Gatos.

Just how deeply they are involved remains a mystery. The men were in possession of two of the 222 stolen bank account numbers from Lunardi's and $70,000 in cash when they were arrested by Orange County Sheriff's Deputies.

But the two men made bail before Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police found out about the arrest....

..... To date, thieves have stolen about $225,000 from the 222 victims who swiped their debit cards at the Lunardi's on Blossom Hill Road, according to Forrest. Thieves swapped out part or all of a debit-card-reading machine with an easily hidden skimming device that collects shopper's card number and personal identification information. (Full text at Mercury News)

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Canadian Councillor claims Facebook identity theft

This is an interesting story from Canada. It seems that somebody impersonated a Councillor on Facebook to bash another Councillor.

Hall Monitor: Councillor claims Facebook identity theft

Posted: May 08, 2008, 6:15 PM by Allison Hanes

An alarmed Toronto city councillor has alerted police after discovering someone has been impersonating him on the social-networking site Facebook.

Howard Moscoe (Eglinton-Lawrence) said he learned of the "identity theft" when a fellow councillor mentioned that he was his "friend." Unfamiliar with the term as Facebook lingo for being part of each other's online social cirlces, Mr. Moscoe asked for an explanation. He told his colleague he didn't even have a Facebook page....

...Mr. Moscoe told reporters that some of the comments, which he did not make, concerned blustery city councillor Rob Ford (Etobicoke North)....(Full text at www.network.nationalpost.com)

I can help people in Ontario protect themselves from ID Theft as well.

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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It could happen to You!

Yes, most people think ID Theft is just credit cards or financial but if someone commits a crime using your name, you could end up in jail like the gentleman in the story below.

Identity theft victim recalls night in jail

Michael Baird arrested on warrant for man who stole his ID.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

By TOM QUIGLEY

The Express-Times

FLEMINGTON | Michael Henry Baird can now add a new item to the list of outrageous incidents he's endured since the 2005 theft of his identity -- his first time in jail.

The Upper Mount Bethel Township resident said he's also looking for a good lawyer.

A Florida arrest warrant for a man who used Baird's identity led to the 29-year-old Baird's arrest by a Clinton Township police officer Monday.

"I explained to the officer on the scene what happened to me with the identity theft," Baird said. "Several more officers were called for backup."

..... Georgia authorities have charged Sean Vincent Zarate, a Northampton County native and former friend of Baird's, with stealing Baird's identity

(Full text at www.NJ.com)

We should all have friends like Mr. Baird. Actually a large number of ID thefts are done by family members as well.

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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New Identity Theft law in Arizona

Arizona, California and Texas have a large number of ID theft with Social Security numbers due to illegal immigrants and their desire to work.

PHOENIX - Speaker Pro Tem Bob Robson's latest battle against identity theft was signed into state law April 16.

HB2587 requires creditors to verify a consumer's address before extending credit if the address differs from the one on record and verify the identity of a consumer if they do not use consumer credit reports.
"Identity theft is all too prevalent in Arizona and companies need to take every reasonable step to prevent this fraud," Robson, R-Chandler, said.
In addition, the governor also signed a bill Robson spent this session working on. The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Aguirre, allows Arizona residents to freeze and unfreeze their credit for just $5.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, with Arizona leading in this disturbing

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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Sex worker collared for multiple identity theft

This story from Japan, exhibits what I believe to be the most dangerous type of Identity Theft - Medical Identity Theft.

An employee of a Tokyo sex business has been arrested after he illegally obtained health insurance certificates in other people's names and used them to take out loans, police said.

Yuzo Watanabe, 34, the sex business worker from Toshima-ku, was arrested for fraud and forgery...

(Full Text at Mainichi Daily News)

Medical Identity Theft can actually kill you. If somebody uses your insurance and is tested for AIDs and positive, it could cost you a job or life insurance. But worst is if the person using your insurance has a different blood type and you are injured, unconscious and needed blood immediately and your record shows A+ but your B-.

Something to think about.

Debit card scams hit shoppers in tech-savvy valley

Should it be a surprise that the technology used in this ID Theft scam originated in "Silicone Valley"?

By Jessie Mangaliman and Mark Gomez
Mercury News

In the time it takes to pay for a bag of groceries or a tank of gas, thieves can empty your bank account. It happens when you swipe your debit card.

That's the hard lesson customers of a Silicon Valley gas station and grocery store have learned in recent weeks following two major cases of identity theft using stolen personal information from debit cards.

As the number of victims topped 200 Friday, and police warned to expect more, experts say the thefts underscore that even a tech-savvy region is hardly immune from a problem that is becoming all too common across the country.....

....It's unclear how, but police said the thieves may have swapped a debit-card-reading machine at one or more of the store's checkout stands, or installed small, easily hidden skimming devices that collect a shopper's card number and personal identification codes. The thieves then typically use the information to make new debit cards, often out of gift cards, old credit cards or any card with a magnetic strip...

...Lunardi's customers first began reporting the thefts Sunday. Cash withdrawals were reportedly made from ATMs in Southern California. Los Gatos police detective Dave Gravel said police are still trying to determine how much money was stolen.

(Full text at Mercury News.com)

My guess is very few of the over 200 victims had Identity Theft protection services because most people think "it can't happen to me" which is due to blissfull ignorance, a term coined by a Doctor at the University of Iowa. The less people know or understand about a problem, the less they fear it.

Estimates are that every 2-4 seconds an Identity is compromised. Why take chances? Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with the best suite of services provided by the best NYSE companies in the field? Educate yourself and visit the shameless plug below or call me at (909) 208-3728!

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City gets its 1st 'identity theft' case

When I first saw the article title I thought where in the world could this be? Actually since I work in the US and Canada, this was the continent I was thinking of. However, it still surprised me that this was the 1st case reported.

"The complainant, whose name was not disclosed by the cops, has alleged that an independent party had used his name and address as proof to open an account with one of the branches of a private bank in the city and transactions to the tune of around Rs 1 crore had taken place through it. " (Full Text at www.timesofindia.com)

A crore, according to Wikipeia and my math is right, is 10 million rupees which equals $246,736.49 U.S. If I messed up the calculation, someone let me know,

Personally, I'm surprised this isn't the first case investigated in India since we outsource so may telecommunications services there. I thought by now, we would have definitely had some reported Id Theft in the U.S. originating from India or Pakistan

New Web site teaches consumers and professionals about credit scores

The website videocreditscore.com has some nice videos to teach consumers about credit and their scores. However, the Identity Theft portion is a tad weak.

They offer True Credit which is a 3-Bureau monitoring which includes unlimited 3-in-1 Credit Reports & Scores for $14.95/month has a really nice user interface with its clean layout and it’s main advantage is that it features true tri-merged reports. This is useful as it allows you to see your 3 credit reports side-by-side. Personally, I don't know why a person would need unlimited reports and scores in a month. It won't change that often.

I would (I actually do) rather spend $15.95/month for Identity Theft Shield, or $12.95/month with a Legal plan to have continuous credit monitoring and protection before, during and after an ID theft. Kroll, Inc actually will place a licensed investigator on your case to handle the majority of work. Unless you would like to invest on average of 330 hours and over $1500 of your time and money to fix a problem of ID Theft.

Plus, Kroll will not only provide restoration for you but check national databases for any criminal activity in your name as well as a slew of other things. To learn more visit

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Oops, I missed this one!

In March, Legislators in the State of Washington addressed the issue of Identity Theft by passing bill SB5878 which requires police to file police reports for victims of identity theft to help them clear their names and also allows prosecutors to bring separate charges against an accused identity thief for each use of an individual's information. This bill reverses policy set in State v. Leyda (2006) where the Supreme Court held that a defendant can only be charged once—even when the ID is used multiple times.

Also,HB 2637 Promoting ID theft prosecutions allows records provided by out-of-state businesses to be authenticated by affidavit, rather than in person, in criminal cases to reduce time and expense in bringing ID theft prosecutions. (which is very low)

Both measures were supported by the Attorney General Rob McKenna. For more information, visit www.atg.wa.gov.