Chase Bank Notifies Customers of Breach

Backup Tape Reported Missing from Vendor Storage Facility
September 11, 2009 - Linda McGlasson, Managing Editor

Chase Bank has sent out data breach notification letters to an undisclosed number of customers after a computer tape with customers' personal information was reported missing from a third-party vendor's storage facility.

Tom Kelly, spokesperson for New York-based Chase, the commercial/consumer banking arm of financial giant JPMorgan Chase, says the vendor -- which he would not name -- confirmed it received and maintained the tape, and that its offsite facility had been searched thoroughly after the tape disappeared. Kelly would not say if the data on the tape was encrypted, but says its data can be read only with special equipment and software. "We have no evidence to indicate any of the information has been viewed or used inappropriately," Kelly says. (emphasis added because: That's what they all say. It must be a boilerplate all use in case of a breach) (Full text at www.bankinfosecurity.com)

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com

Another Guilty in ID Theft that nailed Bernacke

Makieta Leake, 36 years old, of Prince Frederick, Md, plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit bakn fraud Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria, VA.

She was the fifth person to plead guilty in the scheme that resulted in more than $2 million in losses at 10 banks.

Leake was a doctor's receptionist and admitted stealing bank account information from 37 patients as part of the ID Theft ring that took advantage of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernacke.

She was paid between $200 and $500 for each victim's information. About 40% of the above losses can be traced to her.

Note: It still amazes me that most healthcare professionals still don't know about the FTC's Red Flags Rule and that the must comply with this amendment to the FACTA law. Enforcement begins 11/01/09.

We can assist any business with the Red Flags or FACTA training of their employees. For more info visit http://www.redflagsrulepolicy.com/ or call me.

To learn more about Identity Theft and what to do if you are a victim, visit http://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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com

Uni-ball® offers consumers an anti-theft solution with its specially formulated “Super Ink”

Identity theft scams are at an all-time high. As economic pressures continue to increase, identity thieves and other criminals are finding new (and traditional) ways to commit this crime, which rose 22 percent in 2008, and is expected to be even higher in 2009.

Uni-ball, a leading brand of pens, has an ongoing campaign to elevate awareness about the growing threat of identity theft. Many of uni-ball’s pens contain specially formulated ink that helps prevent check fraud. As it becomes more difficult to get new lines of credit, identity thieves may be increasingly drawn to commit check fraud. These crimes may take the form of stolen checks, using checks thrown into the trash by unknowing consumers, or a type of identity theft known as “check washing.” Check washing occurs when checks or other tax-related documents are stolen from the mail or by other means and the ink is erased using common household chemicals, allowing thieves to endorse checks to themselves. This is where inexpensive uni-ball pens can help. With exclusive "Super Ink™”, these pens help prevent document and check fraud by absorbing into the paper fibers. When an individual tries to wash or lift the inked information written on the document, the ink remains “trapped" within the fibers of the paper, thereby discouraging the efforts of identity thieves.

Doing something as simple as paying attention to the pen you use could potentially save you thousands of dollars and endless hours of headaches. “Uni-ball pens with uni-Super Ink help prevent identity theft,” said Steve Gradman, senior brand manager of uni-ball. “Our goal is to help ease the minds of individuals when writing sensitive materials – from legal and medical documents to checks and tax forms. It’s a simple, inexpensive pen, but it packs a lot of punch when it comes to identity theft prevention.”

For more information on uni-ball and uni-Super Ink, and to see check out which pens contain the special ink, visit www.uniball-na.com.

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com

Who's in Your Wallet?

It never ceases to amaze me as to the "blissfull ignorance" of people when it comes to the world of identity theft. The less people know about a subject the less they fear it - that is Blissful Ignorance.

However, after educating people, either in person or at an Identity Theft Awareness Seminar, and they still don't take measures to protect themselves it turns to just plain ignorance! I guess some people think if they have their head in the sand and don't see the lion that it won't bite them in their butt.

Anyway, today I have a few articles to demonstrate that you never know who will steal your identity from your bank or your health treatment provider.

Former Federal Reserve Bank IT worker charged with ID theft

Angela Moscaritolo

Two brothers, one a former IT analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, have been charged with committing identity theft to obtain fraudulent loans.

Curtis Wiltshire, 34, of Staten Island, N.Y., previously worked as an IT analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he had access to employee personal information, including names, birth dates, Social Security numbers and photographs of bank employees.

Wiltshire allegedly used the identities of two individuals without permission to apply for two different student loans, totaling $73,000, the according to a Department of Justice news release and a criminal complaint.

A bank investigator found a removable storage device, connected to Wiltshire's computer, which contained the loan applications, the image of a student loan check for $36,000 payable to one of the victims, and a fraudulent Maryland state driver's license with a photo of a bank employee who is not the person identified on the license, prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Wiltshire, 40, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who is Curtis' brother, allegedly used stolen identities to apply for a loan to purchase a boat, prosecutors said. He used a driver's license and a fake income tax return in the name of another bank employee to apply for the loan, prosecutors said in a separate criminal complaint. (Full text at www.scmagazineus.com)

Va banker sentenced for fraud, ID theft
By the Associated Press

April 27, 2009

RICHMOND, Va. - A former bank credit card department manager has been sentenced to two years, three months in prison for bank fraud and identity theft.

U.S. Attorney Dana Boente (BEN'-tay) said Monday that 38-year-old Bernard James Brown Jr. of Saluda also was ordered to pay more than $65,000 in restitution to his former employer, Eastern Virginia Bankshares.

According to prosecutors, Brown used a stolen access device and identifying information to withdraw money from someone else's account. After the credit card account was closed, Brown reopened it under a new name and address and continued to tap the account for cash and purchases.

Brown pleaded guilty in January.

Nurse indicted in federal identity-theft case

CHRIS DUMOND MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: April 27, 2009

LYNCHBURG -- A nurse who worked at two assisted-living homes for seniors has been indicted on 32 charges related to identity theft of patients there.

Karen Jones, 48, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury. The indictment charges that she used information stolen from nine people to take more than $9,000. (Full text at www.timesdispatch.com)

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com