Stop Identity Theft Crime

Friday, August 1, 2008

U.S. Senate OKs revamped identity theft legislation

Sorry for the lack of posts but I was out of town again and will be leaving again tomorrow. I hope to post while on the road this time.

Senate OKs revamped identity theft legislation
Dan Kaplin

An amended bill that would impose harsher restrictions on cyberattacks and allow identity theft victims to recoup costs in federal court passed the Senate on Wednesday.

The legislation, known as the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act, is included in a U.S. House-approved bill that states that former vice presidents would receive U.S. Secret Service protection. The combined bill will now return to the House for consideration.

..This bill allows ID theft victims to recoup costs associated with the loss of time and money spent restoring their credit standing...

...The bill also would make it a felony to use spyware or keyloggers to damage 10 or more computers, regardless of the amount of destruction caused...

..Under the proposed law, the definition of cybercrime also would be expanded to include cyberextortion cases, where malware is removed or DDoS attacks halted in return for a ransom..
(Full text at www.scmagazineus.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

Thursday, July 24, 2008

IRS Needs to Improve ID Theft Protection

IRS urged to improve protection against identity theft
Alexandria, VA -

Identity theft protection at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should be improved, according to a report from the Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate.
The Office was created 10 years ago through the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 and is designed to protect the rights of taxpayers.
The report said tax-related identity theft is one of the most serious problems facing taxpayers. It noted that the IRS does not have adequate procedures in place to assist victims of identity theft and does not have adequate systems in place to quantify the number of tax-related incidents of identity theft that occur.

...The report made eight recommendations, including the creation of a centralized unit to handle identity theft cases and the development of a centralized set of procedures that cuts across IRS functions.
The IRS has already taken a number of steps to improve its procedures, including developing an IRS-wide identity theft indicator, and is studying the creation of a centralized unit to assist identity theft victims...(Full text at www.sulphurdailynews.com)

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Palm Reading and Identity Theft

When I was growing up, I remember going to the fair and circus and seeing the Palm Reader booth. That was the person who would predict your future from "reading" your palm. Once, I remember being told that I had a long lifeline after someone looked at my palm. Don't know if it's true but I hope so.

Now Palm Reading is becoming a preventative measure to medical identity theft and possibly other types of Id theft in the near future and it's all due to biometrics.

Palm-vein biometrics help accurately ID patients
Joel Hagberg, vp, marketing and business development, Fujitsu Technology Products

All too often, people are victims of identity theft. Less common, but perhaps more dangerous, is the growing trend of medical identity fraud. According to an FTC report, three percent of all identity theft victims in 2005 were victims of medical identity theft — which means of the 8.3 million ID theft victims that year, approximately 250,000 people were victimized by medical identity theft. Victims do not normally realize that they have been victimized — unless they get a hospital bill for a procedure they never received.

What is even more troubling, however, is that doctors might make incorrect diagnoses based on data from the identity thief's medical history. It may take years for a victim to clear his or her medical record of incorrect data, and HIPAA, which is designed to protect patient privacy, can work against victims if their files contain someone else's medical information.

...Clearly, patient identification relates directly to patient safety, which is a number-one priority for hospitals. In recent years, biometric technologies have emerged as solutions to not only protect medical records from being tampered with, but also to accurately identify patients...

..In recent years, palm-vein pattern recognition technology, also referred to as “vascular recognition,” has been refined to meet these concerns. The underlying technology of palm-vein biometrics works by extracting the characteristics of veins in the form of an image. The image is captured by a high performance sensor that maps the deoxygenated hemoglobin running through someone's veins...

...This technology is non-intrusive: There is no need to physically touch the sensor. All users must do is to hold their hand above the sensor for less than a second.

The method is also highly accurate. The International Biometrics Group (IBG), which evaluates all types of biometrics products through comparative testing, found that palm-vein technology was on par with iris scan biometrics in accuracy ratings...(Full Text at SCMagazine.com)

So all that stuff we watched in the old James Bond movies and Star Trek is finally coming to fruition.

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

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Rapper DMX Charged with Medical Identity Theft

I guess Rappers aren't making enough money or aren't saving enough of it (possibly due to drug purchases) to pay for their medical care as the following article describes.

Rapper DMX Charged With Medical Identity Theft
Written by Ed Dickson

Earl Simmons a.k.a. DMX — a rap artist who seems to run afoul of the law frequently was arrested in a Phoenix mall on Saturday for identity theft.
Apparently, DMX used the name Troy Jones when seeking medical care for pneumonia, according to KNXV-TV in Phoenix. He also used a social security number that didn't belong to him. Allegedly, DMX did this to get out of paying a $7500 bill.
...
The type of identity theft DMX allegedly committed is known as medical identity theft. Medical identity theft is a growing phenomenon that causes great harm to it's victims, according to the World Privacy Forum, who performed the first in-depth study of the problem.

Despite the risk it carries, it's probably one of the least studied forms of identity theft. When someone becomes a victim of medical identity theft they not only face having to fix all their financial records, they also face having a lot of erroneous information placed in their medical records.

Medical identity theft victims might receive the wrong treatment, have their insurance used up, and could even be classified as a bad risk when seeking life and medical coverage. They could also fail a medical exam for employment when diseases show up in their medical records that they never had...
If you are interested in learning more about this, or have been a victim of Medical Identity Theft, I recommend reading the Medical Identity Theft Information Page on the World Privacy Forum.
The World Privacy Forum plans to issue a second study on this problem later on this year. (Full text at www.blogcritics.org)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

How to Opt-Out from Credit Card Offers

Are you tired of having your mailbox full of credit card offers and other junk mail?

Then you can opt-out of receiving these unwanted pieces of mailbox stuffers. If you receive these credit card offers and just put them in the round file, you are taking a chance that a dumpster diver or trash can raider will get access to them and possibly request a new credit card, in your name, with a change of address. Don't round file them but SHRED THEM!

Consumers can and should elect to “opt-out” of these pre-approved offers and marketing lists sold by the credit bureaus. To “Opt-Out” of these pre-screened and pre-approved offer lists, consumers can visit the “Opt-Out” website established by the credit bureaus, or call the toll free opt-out number.

Opt-Out Website: www.optoutprescreen.com

Consumers can opt-out for a period of five years, or permanently opt-out by mailing in the form that is produced during the online opt-out registration process.

Opt-Out Toll Free Number 1-888-5-OPTOUT

Within approximately two weeks, the consumer should receive a confirmation letter to complete and return, which confirms that he or she wishes to be permanently removed from these lists. If the consumer does not return this letter, their name will be returned to the lists.

It can generally take 60 to 90 days before the consumer will begin to see a noticeable reduction in the number of credit offers that he or she receives. However, not every prospective credit provider uses the lists offered by the credit bureaus. Consumer information is purchased and resold by thousands of companies,and consumers will still receive some offers.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Online Games Can Lead To Identity Theft

Online Games Can Lead To Identity Theft
By LARA NAAMAN, JEN PEREIRA and EMILY YACUS

When you update your profile on social networking sites such as Facebook, are you helping thieves to empty your bank account? Or ruin your credit? A Baltimore teen learned the hard way about some of the new ways private information can be used against you online.
Lisa Lockwood knew about her 17-year old son's Facebook page, but what she didn't know about were the games attached to the site he was downloading and playing -- until she got a phone call.
"I received a phone call from a Heritage Subaru Volkswagen about my son's credit card application for a vehicle. I spoke to the gentleman, and I said, 'My son hasn't filled out any credit applications. I don't know what you are talking about. He is underage,'" Lockwood said.
...One of the games Lockwood's son was playing on his Facebook page offered extra points in exchange for filling out an application that asked for a Social Security number. He provided the information, filling out a total of seven loan applications, a decision he now finds embarrassing... (Full text at www.ABC.com)

Monday, July 14, 2008

FTC Assessing Identity Theft Fallout

If you've been a victim of identity theft and filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission between Jan. 1 and May 30 this year, you may be contacted for a follow-up survey.

The FTC plans to examine victims' experiences as they reported the matter to credit reporting agencies, as is permitted under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act).

Among other protections, the FACT Act gives consumers the right to place fraud alerts on their credit files if they are, or suspect they may become, victims of identity theft; block information on their credit reports that resulted from identity theft; and obtain copies of their credit reports free of charge.

The survey results will help guide the FTC's efforts to enforce the law and educate consumers and the credit reporting industry about their rights and duties.

Learn more at IDtheft.gov.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

What is "NICLE"?

Answer: National Identity Crimes Law Enforcement Center or NICLE.

It is being started in the Philadelphia area but I hope will roll out National soon. Law Enforcement will have a computer system to share Id Theft Info.

...Pat Meehan, U.S. Attorney said, "This is really an exciting day because the bottom line is we are introducing something that will help us identify those people who are the real culprits in identity theft... catch them and put them in jail."
Data will be uploaded to the network via computer and agencies will be able to exchange information in real time. They'll now know immediately if a driver's license or credit card number was stolen so they can connect the dots in an investigation more quickly.... (Full Text and news video at www.6abc.com)

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Joe Maddon a Victim of Identity Theft

Tampa Bay is kicking booty but ID Theft can happen to anybody as the story shows.

Joe Maddon a Victim of Identity Theft
by Tom Fornelli

...Maddon spent part of his morning Monday getting a new bank card after becoming a victim of identity theft.

"Somebody was charging gasoline in New York City on my debit card," Maddon said. "With the price of gas these days, I would have preferred they had gone to Tiffany's."... (Full text at aol sports)

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Governor Schwarzenegger gets tough on ID Theft

California Expands Identity Theft Prosecution

California has passed a law that makes it easier to prosecute identity thieves.

State law now allows identity thieves to be tried in the victims' jurisdictions, rather than only in the places the crimes occur.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 612 into law this week. It allows prosecutors to charge people with identity theft in the jurisdictions where the victims live. Without the bill, prosecutions could only take place where the crime occurred, which is usually in the perpetrators' towns or cities.

Sen. Joe Simitian, a Palo Alto Democrat sponsored the bill.

The new law does not require prosecution where the victim lives. Instead, it allows a judge to choose where to try identity-theft cases. Simitian and Republican Sens. Dave Cogdill and Bob Margett introduced the law after a "Governor's 2005 Summit on Identity Theft Solutions" highlighted the problem in a report.

Schwarzenegger said he's committed to protecting Californians' personal information and privacy.

Click below to listen to what the Governor had to say to Id Thieves after he signed the bill.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

New Missouri Law Helps ID Theft Victims

On 06/30/08, Governor Blunt of Missouri signed a bill into law that allows Missourians who believe their identities have been stolen to request security freezes on their credit reports.

House Bill 1384, sponsored by Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, also will make it easier for identity theft victims to report their crimes to a local police agency, even if the crime occurs outside of the local agency’s jurisdiction.

The new law will make it a class C felony for the possession or manufacture of five or more fictitious or forged identification cards.

It is now punishable by up to seven years in prison for the first offense, along with up to $5000 in fines, not including restitution to victims. Continued offenses can result in up to 15 years in prison.

Welcome aboard Missouri in this never ending battle to combat Id Theft Crime.

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

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Monkey Wards cover up and Kentucky Attorney General has ID Theft problems

Today we have 2 stories involving ID Theft. The first is about a cover up of a data breach by Monkey Wards (that's what I called them as a child) and the second is about an Attorney General who was a victim of ID Theft.

Report: Montgomery Ward fails to alert victims of breach
by Chuck Miller

Mongomery Ward, an old-line merchant now operating as an internet retailer, suffered a breach of some 51,000 customer credit card numbers, and failed to report it to customers, according to reports.

The furniture retailer, which was once a fixture in towns across America, went belly-up in 2001, but came back, lives on as an internet storefront under the name Wards.com, owned by Direct Marketing Services.

Hackers in December extracted the stolen information from an online database that held credit card account information, according to an Associated Press report. Direct Marketing Services notified the major credit card brands of the incident but failed to alert customers.

....Companies that do not notify their affected customers can be sued, though the exact legal measures vary state by state. ..

...This is just the latest in a continuing string of data breaches involving lost consumer information. Why is this criminal activity cropping up more often?....(Full text at SC Magazine)

The following is an interesting read because the Kentucky Attorney General had just created a new Cyber Crimes Unit and his ID Theft is one of their first cases.

State attorney general becomes identity theft victim
By Jack Brammer

FRANKFORT — One of the first cases Attorney General Jack Conway’s new cybercrimes unit will investigate involves Conway himself.
The state’s chief law enforcement official is a victim of America’s fastest growing crime — identity theft.
“It makes you mad. It makes you feel incredibly vulnerable,” said Conway, who said his case is not getting any special attention from his investigators because of his position.
...Conway said he noticed the theft on a Saturday night in late May at his Louisville home when he tried to use his American Express credit card...
...He later discovered that someone had taken his credit card number and charged a few thousand dollars worth of computers,...(Full Text at Kentucky.com)

Just goes to prove that nobody is safe from ID Theft.

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

Sunday, June 29, 2008

LifeLock Sued for Corporate Identity Theft

LifeLock Sued for Corporate Identity Theft
By Kim Zetter

LifeLock is in the news again.
The identity theft protection firm whose CEO lists his Social Security number in ads for the company is being sued by Namesafe, a competitor in the identity theft protection market, for allegedly stealing the company's corporate identity and deceptive trade practices.
According to papers filed in Tennessee, Namesafe claims that LifeLock stole its trademark and deceptively diverted traffic meant for Namesafe's web site to LifeLock's own web site.
...The company says that when users did a search on the word "Namesafe," sponsored ads appeared at the top of search result pages, which included a link for "Namesafe" and "Namesafe.com." But when users clicked the link, it took them to LifeLock's web site instead. The name LifeLock appeared in the ads next to or beneath "Namesafe" and "Namesafe.com," but Namesafe says the ads were clearly designed to fool Namesafe customers...
...This is not the first lawsuit against LifeLock. The company has been the target of class-action lawsuits from customers questioning its protection claims as well as a suit from credit reporting agency Experian for acting on consumers' behalf to place alerts on their credit accounts... (Full Text at Wired Blog Network)

Click the title of this post to see the whole story. At the end of the story are additional links regarding the co-founder of Lifelock and his resignation because if Identity Theft allegations.

Social Security and Identity Theft

Agency Sees Theft Risk for ID Card in Medicare
by Robert Pear
WASHINGTON — Social Security officials, concerned about the risk of identity theft, are calling for immediate action to remove Social Security numbers from the Medicare cards used by millions of Americans.

But Medicare officials have resisted the proposal, saying it would be costly and impractical.
In a new report, the inspector general of Social Security, Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., says “immediate action is needed.”
“Displaying such information on Medicare cards unnecessarily places millions of individuals at risk for identity theft,” Mr. O’Carroll said. “We do not believe a federal agency should place more value on convenience than the security of its beneficiaries’ personal information.”
...Social Security cannot prohibit the Medicare agency from using Social Security numbers, although Congress could do so. Federal officials say that more than 40 million people who are 65 and older or disabled have Medicare cards with Social Security numbers on them...
...Byron Hollis, director of the antifraud department at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, said, “Medical identity theft is the fastest-growing form of health care fraud.”...
Ms. Frizzera, the Medicare official, said that issuing new Medicare cards would be “a huge undertaking.” The agency would need three years to plan such a move and eight more years to carry it out, she said.
Medicare officials estimate that it would cost $500 million to change their computer systems if they issued new ID numbers to beneficiaries. Doctors, hospitals and other health care providers use those numbers in filing claims with Medicare, which pays a billion claims a year...
“Many individuals carry their Medicare cards in their wallets or purses and could become victims of identity theft should dishonest individuals steal such items or lift their Medicare number from a beneficiary card or medical document,” Mr. O’Carroll said.
Other federal agencies are taking steps to remove Social Security numbers from identification cards. The Department of Veterans Affairs said that new identification cards issued to veterans generally did not display Social Security numbers.. (Full Text at NY Times)

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Vacation Time!

I haven't posted during the last week due to going out of the country for a week. I forgot to post there would be no articles during this time. However, I am back and will resume posting by tomorrow.

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

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Security Breaches Update

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the total number of Security Breaches in the United States as of 06/17/08 is 323 with a the number of exposed records at 16,820,247. Full report at the Identity Theft Resource Center

After reviewing the list, I noticed that the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics was listed as 0 records exposed because the data was encrypted. The number of medical records stolen was 2.2 million. However, when I spoke with the University, I was told only 1.3 million had social security numbers in the records. They are offering ID Theft protection services so they must be worried about their encryption method. If you figure in this number, then the total records exposed would be over 19,000,000. If you have been a patient at these Hospitals or clinics in the last 16 years then visit http://healthcare.utah.edu/billingrecordstheft/index.html

As far as the data being encrypted, this is what is being reported:

After consulting with a recognized information technology security firm, University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics determined that it is possible to access the data, but only by using professional equipment.

Here is what happened:

Early in the morning on Monday, June 2, a metal box that contained backup tapes with patient billing records from University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics was stolen from a vehicle owned by an employee of an independent off-site storage company used by the hospital and clinics. The driver violated two of his company’s protocols: first, he used his own car instead of a secure company van to transport the tapes; second, he did not take the tapes to the company’s secure vault but drove home, where he left the box of tapes in the car outside overnight.

The backup tapes contained billing records for approximately 2.2 million individuals, patients and guarantors (persons financially responsible for paying), treated at University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics’ facilities or by one of our providers during the past 16 years. The billing records included patient names, related demographic information, and diagnostic codes. Approximately 900,000 patients did not have a Social Security number attached to their records. For approximately 1.3 million of these patients, the personal information did include Social Security numbers. Not all data fields on the billing records were filled in for each patient, but types of information possibly included on the tapes are date of birth, physician name, insurance, driver’s license number, and in rare instances clinical notes corroborating diagnosis for billing purposes. No credit card information was included on the tapes.

The University is offering Triple Advantage from Experian. However, with all the medical info on the tapes, I would not only be worried about financial identity theft but also MEDICAL IDENTITY THEFT. I didn't see anywhere at Triple Advantage where Medical Identity Theft would be covered.

At least I know the company I recommend, Kroll, Inc. will assist if medical identity theft occurs.

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

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

How to Recognize and Report Phone Fraud

Today we offer a video lesson on how to recognize and report phone fraud by the FTC.

A recap - to get on the Do Not Call list go to www.donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register

To file a consumer complaint go to www.ftc.gov or call 877-FTCHELP

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

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Canadian Mail Theft Capital is Vancouver!

Vancouver is Canada's mail theft capital
Vancouver leads the country in cases of stolen mail, part of an epidemic of identity theft here, authorities say in the first of a four-part CTV series.

The city is a bonanza for identity thieves, who use stolen credit card statements and cheques to drain victims' bank accounts, said Sgt. Ken Athans, who runs the Vancouver Police Department's identity theft task force.
......At any one time, police are keeping track of 300 identity thieves in Vancouver alone....
Vancouver is at the centre of a perfect storm, he said. Crystal meth addicts who need to support an expensive lifestyle turned to the high density of Vancouver's West End and Yaletown to find a lot of mail in a small area.
...Athans said he's worried that identity thieves, who are targeting Vancouverites, will widen the hunt when the city welcomes the world for the Olympics in 2010....
A dedicated crown prosecutor, Peter Stabler, convicts an identity thief every other business day in Vancouver.

Authorities struggling to keep up with the problem are appointing another dedicated crown prosecutor in Surrey as well, said Stabler. (Full text and a video at CTV British Columbia) With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jonathan Woodward

If methamphetamine is a huge crisis in Canada now, the problem will continue to grow. I know since I worked with the DOJ/Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for 2 years in California and mainly worked meth sales and labs.

I can't remember when we arrested someone who did not have someone else's financial information with them or at their illegal lab.

Good Luck to my friends in the Great White North and if you need Identity Theft protection, visit my shameless plug because we offer our plans in four provinces of Canada and BC is one of them.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

A Conglomerate of Things

I've been gone for a few days assisting the Crime Victims Coalition. I'm just going to post a few briefs here to bring everybody up to today.

And a Happy Fathers Day to all! Enjoy your family or golf game or Lakers game or Just Enjoy!

1. For those that don't know, Stanford University had a laptop stolen with 72,000 names, social security numbers, etc. I was able to speak with a spokesperson there and they will be using Kroll, Inc to protect the victims. Kroll is the servicer of the plan that I recommend on my shameless link at the bottom of my posts.

2. In a bid to combat the increasing incidence of medical identity theft, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has contracted with Virginia-based Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., a leading global strategy and technology consulting firm, to assess and evaluate the extent of the problem in US. The privately held company was awarded the contract worth $450,000 in May this year.

3. A federal judge on Friday declined to approve a proposed settlement of a class-action representing as many as 6.3 million TD Ameritrade customers whose privacy was breached when hackers stole personal identifying customer information. ..

....The data theft, disclosed in September, gave hackers access to customer names, phone numbers, e-mail accounts and home addresses. There is "no evidence" Social Security or account information was compromised, according to Ameritrade. According to the settlement, there is no "evidence of identity theft." Customers fell victim, however, to spam attacks.....

..For the most part, the accord gives customers a one-year subscription to spam-blocking software. (Full Text at www.wired.com)

Spam blocking software --- Isn't that special. I hope they settle for nothing less than ID Theft Shield.

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

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Identity theft has increased by 66 percent in 2007 in UK- report

A report says the number of UK citizens seeking help from credit reference agency Experian after facing identity theft has increased by 66 percent in 2007.

In 2007, over 6,000 victims requested help from Experian UK’s victims of fraud team, compared to over 3,500 in 2006. Londoners are most affected by ID fraud capital in the UK, with its residents being on average almost twice as likely to fall victim to ID fraud compared to people living in the rest of UK. London-suburbia Kesington is the UK Capital’s ID fraud hotspot, with its residents three-and-a-half times more likely to fall victim compared to the UK average.

Researchers say the typical ID fraud victim is aged between 26 and 45, has one of the highest incomes and is also a homeowner. The report reveals that people earning GBP 50,000 (USD 97,855) a year are almost three times more likely than the UK average to fall victim to ID fraudsters. The report also points out that people at company director level or contractors are the most at-risk, being almost three times more likely to fall victim than average persons.

Analysis of fraud first reported to Experian in the second half of 2007 reveals that forwarding address fraud continues to grow and is now the most commonly perpetrated method, representing 36 per cent of identity fraud.

The report is titled ‘The Experian Victims of Fraud Dossier’ and was produced by UK credit reference agency Experian. A copy can be obtained by going to the following link.

(Full text at www.Experian.co.uk)

I wouldn't be surprised if some of these victims aren't the government's fault. In November 2007, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized to the nation following the loss of two CDs containing the personal and financial details of 25 million people.

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

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

ID Theft Notification Laws Not Reducing ID Theft

Researchers say notification laws not lowering ID theft By Robert McMillan

Over the past five years, 43 U.S. states have adopted data breach notification laws, but has all of this legislation actually cut down on identity theft? Not according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who have published a state-by-state analysis of data supplied by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
"There doesn't seem to be any evidence that the laws actually reduce identity theft," said Sasha Romanosky, a Ph.D student at Carnegie Mellon who is one of the paper's authors

Romanosky's team took a state-by-state look at FTC identity theft complaints filed between 2002 and 2006 to see whether there was a noticeable impact on complaints in states that had adopted data breach notification laws such as California's SB 1386, which compels companies and institutions to notify state residents when their personal information has been lost or stolen.

...However, they found that other factors, such as the state's population, gross domestic product and fraud rate did have a significant effect on identity theft rates....

..In fact, there may be good reasons that explain why breach laws have not cut down on identity theft. Many consumers simply ignore breach notification letters. (emphasis added) And Romanosky believes that security firms are still not doing enough to protect data themselves. "In so many of these cases, the breaches occur because of ridiculous security practices," he said..(Full text at www.networkworld.com)

The reason many consumers ignore breach letters is called "blissful 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..

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

Saturday, June 7, 2008

An Analysis of Identity Theft Via the Victim

The Identity Theft Resource Center(ITRC)released an important report discussing the impact of identity theft victimization. The Aftermath 2007 does not distinguish between those who are still being affected from those who are not. Thus, certain measures of victimization represent conservative estimates since the assessment was imited to the ending date of the study.

The following are highlights of The Aftermath 2007 study. An analysis of the entire study was done by two business analysts and a psychologist, with their comments included in the full report, which can be found on the ITRC website:

Prevalence of Types of Identity Theft Crimes: The “unlawful use of personal identifying information” for only financial identity theft crimes was reported by 78% of the respondents. 2% reported criminal cases only, and 2% reported governmental issues only. The rest were combination cases: financial and criminal (7%), financial and governmental (9%), and a combination of all three types were reported by 3% of those surveyed.
Uses of victim information: More than one-half (57%) of the 2007 sample reported their personal information had been used to open a new line of credit in their name. 13% of all respondents noted their information was used for obtaining new cable and/or utility services. Additionally, check fraud and debit card fraud is increasing. While this may indicate changes due to the sampling taken, for two years ITRC has predicted that criminals will turn to other types of identity theft when it becomes more difficult to open new lines of credit. After The Aftermath 2008, ITRC will be able to draw more definitive conclusions about new trends.
Non-financial forms of identity theft: In 2007, 62% of respondents reported thieves had committed financial crimes that resulted in warrants being issued in the victim’s name, more than 2 ½ times higher than in 2006 and double the amount from 2004. All areas of criminal identity theft combined with other issues increased between 2006 and 2007. It should be noted that identity thieves continued to obtain government assistance and benefits using the victim’s information.
Sources of Stolen Information: With a five-year history to study, it is clear that according to the respondents about 1/3 of cases were started by a person known to the victim. The next highest category of identity theft originated from a lost/ stolen wallet or PDA. Scams became more of a problem for victims in 2007 than previous years. Identity theft due to mail theft and theft of information from a burglary of car or home has dropped in the past few years.

Moment of Discovery: In 2007, 82% of victims found out about the identity theft through an adverse action compared to 76% in 2006. Ways listed included: creditor demanded payment on a late bill, contacted by collection agency, noticed missing funds from bank account, denied credit or a loan, law enforcement notification, someone I know saw bills or other evidence of a crime. Only 10% of respondents found out about the crime due to proactive measures taken by businesses and 8% saw something unusual on their credit report. 42% reported that they found out within the first three months of the crime. One analyst believes that people found out more quickly because of the more aggressive nature of collection efforts and the tightening of the credit market.

Costs to Victim: Respondents in 2007 spent an average of $550.39 dollars in out-of-pocket expenses for damage done to an existing account. These expenses include: postage, photocopying, purchasing police reports, travel, buying court records, and childcare. In reference to new accounts, respondents spent an average of $1,865.27 compared to $1,342 in 2006.

Cost to Business: In 2007, the average loss in goods and services to businesses, as reported by survey respondents, was $48,941.11 compared to $87,303 in 2006. Six individuals exceeded $100,000, with one in excess of $700,000. This study only includes respondents who contacted the ITRC in 2007 and is not necessarily indicative of a national business loss average.

Victim Hours Repairing Damage: In The Aftermath 2007, victims reported spending an average of 116 hours repairing the damage done by identity theft to an existing account used or taken over by the thief. Answers included 6,000, 8,640, and 5 years of time (outliers). In cases where a new account was created, respondents reported an average of 157.87 hours to clean up the mess with outliers of “endless” and “too many to count.”

Extended involvement: In 2007, 70% of victims indicated that it took up to 12 months to clear issues of all misinformation, compared to 50% in 2006. A moderate amount of victims (12%) stated one to two years. Unfortunately, another 19% indicated that it took two or more years to resolve their case. In studying the four year history it appears to be that identity theft victims are resolving cases faster and may be spending less periods of time to become whole again.

Response by Creditors, Utilities and Collection Agencies: As in previous years, credit issuers, utility companies and collection agencies continue to rate poorly in their handling of identity theft victims.

Inability to Clear Negative Records: Credit agencies, either by putting negative information back in records (31%) or not removing it in the first place (32%), topped the list of reasons for victims’ inability to clear their records. Other prominent responses include Social Security Number tied to another person’s file (22%) and victims’ fraud alerts ignored (19%). An increase was also seen in the sale of credit accounts even though the fraudulent account was cleared by the creditor and the inability to get proof even with a police report.

Unexpected secondary effects: Victims reported a number of additional problems including: higher insurance rates, current credit card interest rate increased and criminal records not cleared. The inability to get credit resonated with the majority of respondents (64%). In addition, 36% reported an increase in credit card rates, 53% have collection agencies still calling, 27% had credit cards cancelled (even though the accounts were being properly maintained), 18% said it affected their ability to get a job, and 14% reported tenancy issues.

Relationship of Imposter to Victim: It is important to note that a large percentage of respondents seem to have been victimized by those who may have easy access to personal identifying information including friends, family members, ex-spouses/significant other, or those in close contact with the victim, such as co-workers.

About the Imposter: Of those respondents who knew something about their imposter, many reported their thief has committed other crimes, experienced financial difficulties, have or are dealing with addictions, and may have committed identity theft against other family members.

Child Identity Theft: In 2007, 47% of this special case group reported that one, both, or a step parent was the thief. Another 12% reported that it was another family member. 18% said that the person had access to information but is not related and 24% did not know how the case first began. The age of the victim when the crime FIRST began varied with 18% under five years old. It should be noted that the crime may have been discovered years later.

Victim Response to Family or Child Identity Theft: Throughout the five year range, we have seen spikes in categories such as family supports victim in trying to force responsibility on the thief (2004). In addition, “the family will turn against the victim if action taken” noticeably decreased from 15% (2005) to 6% (2006) and then increased to 18% in 2007. Family support does appear to be increasing, yet some families are torn or still in denial or want the victim to drop the case. Victims are also torn about filing a police report. Since respondents could answer multiple times, it appears that family support is critical to the outcome of the case.

Emotional Impact: Few significant positive changes have occurred in the feelings of victims and in terms of reported victim symptomology. More than 49% of the respondents reported stressed family life, 22% felt betrayed by unsupportive family members and friends, and 23% said their family didn’t understand. The strongest feelings expressed were: rage or anger, betrayal, unprotected by police, personal financial fears, sense of powerlessness, sense they were grieving, annoyed, frustrated, exhausted, sleep disturbances, an inability to trust people, and the desire to give up and stop fighting the system. ITRC long term emotional responses included: 8% felt suicidal, 19% feeling captive, 29% ready to give up and 10% felt that they have lost everything.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS OF THIS STUDY
This study clearly indicates a need for research on various topics including family identity theft, long-term emotional impacts of this crime on victims, child identity theft, and the criminal elements involved in identity theft. (Full text at www.itrc.org)

The study is in pdf format and 37 pages long. Click on the link above or title of this article to read and/or save the whole report to your computer.

Friday, June 6, 2008

New York State Senate Passes Identity Theft Bill

The New York State Senate Thursday passed legislation sponsored by Senator Stephen Saland (R-C-I, Poughkeepsie), that would toughen the state’s law against the crime of identity theft by expanding the types and amount of personal identification that would be needed to charge someone with identity theft, as well as increasing criminal penalties for the crime.

Under current law, a person has to unlawfully possess at least 250 pieces of personal identification to be charged with identity theft. This bill decreases that number to a much more reasonable ten pieces. In addition, the bill expands the list of personal identification information to include such things as an individual's driver’s license number, social security number, Internet account number and taxpayer ID numbers.

This legislation strengthens existing penalties for identity theft in the second degree to a class D felony, from a class E and identity theft in the first degree to a class C felony penalized by as much as 15 years in prison.

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

When I first saw this information, I wondered why was it initially 250 pieces of information. I guess 10 is better than 250 but one piece of information is still too much, especially if it is mine.

I wish I had time to research their original law because if such things as an individual's driver’s license number, social security number, Internet account number and taxpayer ID numbers were not included as personal identitfication, what was included?

Well at least New York Senators are trying to come up to speed.

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

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Suffers Data Breach

The following article is proof that even the Government organizations have Identity Theft problems.

Walter Reed suffers peer-to-peer data breach
Sue Marquette Poremba
Unauthorized file-sharing is to blame for a data breach at Walter Reed Army Medical Center that exposed the personal information of nearly 1,000 patients.

Walter Reed officials said in a statement that they were notified of the possible breach on May 21 by an outside company. Preliminary results of an ongoing investigation have identified a computer from which the data was apparently compromised. Data security personnel from Walter Reed, located in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Army continue to investigate the source and causes for the information compromise.

Victims, who are military health system beneficiaries, are being notified and offered credit monitoring services, the statement said.

“The disclosure of this information raises the possibility that individuals named in the file could become victims of identity theft,” the release said. (emphasis added)

(Full Text at www.scmagazineus.com)

Since the beginning of 2008 and as of June 3,there have been 298 data breaches in businesses in the United States with 16,683,718 records exposed. The largest number of records, over 7 million, have been taken from Banking, Credit and Financial companies. However, the greatest number of breaches have been in Business with 36% of all breaches.

Obviously, the financial industry offers more records per security breach.
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

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Identity Truth, Inc. Faces Legal Test

Identity-theft services face legal test
Suit targets claims by rival of local start-up
By Hiawatha Bray

IdentityTruth Inc. of Waltham says it will reimburse customers up to $2 million if they're victims of identity theft. But a Phoenix lawyer says the identity-protection company's promise isn't worth nearly that much.
IdentityTruth charges $10 a month or $100 a year to insure people against unauthorized use of their personal information. The privately held company is funded with about $20 million in venture capital from investors that include Argonaut Ventures and Stata Venture Partners. It's one of a host of companies that say they protect consumers from identity theft crimes, which cost Americans $49 billion last year, according to Javelin Strategy & Research Corp.
IdentityTruth posts fraud alerts with credit reporting agencies on behalf of its customers. These alerts warn banks and other businesses not to open new accounts unless they confirm the identity of the customer. In addition, IdentityTruth scours the Internet and a host of private and government-run databases, looking for evidence that somebody out there is pretending to be you. The company doesn't actually pre vent identity theft; it's designed to warn you immediately when a theft occurs.
...
The IdentityTruth website states, "if you are a member of our service and are a victim of identity theft resulting in the loss of your money, we will reimburse you up to $2 million."
But Rob Carey of the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro in Phoenix said the fine print of the IdentityTruth guarantee belies this assertion. Carey recently filed a lawsuit in the US District Court of Arizona against a rival service, LifeLock Inc. of Tempe. The suit, which seeks class-action status, claims LifeLock's $1 million guarantee is fraudulent because it contains loopholes that make it far less generous. Carey said the same loopholes are present in the IdentityTruth guarantee......
....In addition, the IdentityTruth guarantee excludes coverage of "consequential damages." According to Carey, that would include any debts incurred by an identity thief....
....Asked why the guarantee doesn't cover debts incurred by identity thieves, he replied, "The reality is that most of the money that would be lost here would be covered by the person's bank." (Full text at www.boston.com)

Monday, June 2, 2008

Guam Getting On Board with ID Theft

Bills Propose Safeguards Against Identity Theft
Written by Mana Silva, Pacific News Center - Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific

Guam - In this day and age of technology, and high-tech toys, more and more people are becoming victims of identity theft, but a couple of bills that was recently introduced at the 29th Guam Legislature would institute some safeguards.
Bill 306 would require all Government of Guam agencies to develop an information security plan and Bill 307 establishes procedures for agencies and private businesses to notify consumers in the event of the unauthorized access of a resident’s personal information.

The author of the bills, Republican Senator Ray Tenorio believes that information entrusted to the government and private businesses must be protected from unauthorized. (Full text at www.pacificnewscenter.com)

Identity Theft is a worldwide problem. It is good to see everyone is recognizing it. A work of caution to you worldly travelers. In some countries, hotels will photocopy your passport and have an unsecured file cabinet stuffed with everyones copy. What if............?

Saturday, May 31, 2008

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.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com

Saturday, May 24, 2008

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!

Shameless plug
the Best Identity Theft Protection available dot com