Tummy Tuck = Medical Identity Theft

I'm back from Michigan after conducting 4 Identity Theft Awareness seminars and getting caught up. I saw this story and had to share it with everyone. It is another caper of a vain woman having plastic surgery courtesy of another woman.

Medical identity theft was up 400% last year. Enjoy the story.

Lauderdale Lakes woman stole ID to pay for tummy tuck, feds say
By Vanessa Blum |South Florida Sun Sentinel

FORT LAUDERDALE - A Lauderdale Lakes resident stole another woman's identity to pay $5,000 for a tummy tuck operation, federal authorities say.

Patrice Thomas, 33, used a stranger's personal information to apply online for a credit card, which she used to help pay for the plastic surgery at a Weston clinic, according to criminal charges filed this month in Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. federal court.

Thomas, who was arrested April 9, is charged with credit card fraud, social security fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Defense lawyer Christopher Grillo could not be reached for comment. If convicted on all counts, Thomas could face more than four years in prison.... (Full text at www.sun-sentinel.com)

The huge problem with medical id theft is if the thief has your records altered. What if the thief has a different blood type than you or has a positive aids test done in your name? This could be deadly and also make you uninsurable until you can prove it wasn't you,

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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Nebraska has new law to help protect against Identity Theft

Legislative Bill 177, which Gov. Dave Heineman signed last week, reduces the cost for residents to lock up their personal financial data by putting security freezes on their credit information.

Security freezes require credit bureaus to seek permission before releasing a consumer's credit reports, with certain exceptions. That way, consumers know if someone was trying to use their name to open a credit card account or line of credit.

Under LB 177, the cost of getting a security freeze will be $3 per credit reporting agency, down from $15 per agency. The change will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, or in early September.

LB 177 also eliminates an automatic seven-year expiration for freezes, leaving the decision up to the consumer about when to lift or cancel a freeze.

My only concern for Nebraskans is that they don't relax because of the freeze. There is still plenty of id theft that doesn't involve their credit files, such as medical and character 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!

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Caller ID Spoofing

Most people screen their telephone calls with Caller ID. We answer the calls from the people we want to speak with and avoid others based on the caller id. Don't You?

What if you saw that your bank or credit union was calling you? You would answer the call (unless you weren't paying on a loan). Then the person on the phone from the bank tells you that there was unusual activity on your credit or debit card and needs to verify your number or some other information. Most people wouldn't think twice because they were talking to someone at their bank.

Well start being more cautious about trusting that Caller ID. Why? Because of Caller ID spoofing. There are web sites that charge about $10/hr and offer the ability to change what someone sees on their caller ID display when they receive a phone call. Simply dial the toll free number and then your PIN. You'll then be prompted to enter the destination number followed by the phone number to appear on caller ID

Any 10 digit number can be used. Not only will the number show up but also the Name registered for that number would automatically appear. And whatever number you enter as the spoof number will show up on the bill of the person you called. They won't ever see your actual phone number!

You also have the ability to change your voice to a Male or Female. If you do choose to change your voice, the person whom you call will hear your transformed voice in real-time. This spoofing service also offers the option to record your conversation, which can later be retrieved by logging-in to the control panel or calling the toll-free access number from any phone.

Is it legal? Yes, because there are some legitimate uses. For example, business professionals such as doctors can return calls using their personal telephones without disclosing phone numbers they prefer to keep private.

However, I believe most are being used in the field of Identity Theft to trick individuals into giving up private information. I received 2 calls this week regarding a credit card being suspended. When I called back the number on the caller id, it was an insurance company in Utah and they had been getting a few calls from other folks as well.

So now we never really know if mom is calling or not. Beware!

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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Operation Number Games was Illegal

Larimer Judge throws out Operation Number Games

Sharon Dunn

A second judge has ruled that a search of a Greeley tax preparer’s records last October was illegal, taking the heat off more than 1,000 suspected illegal immigrants caught up in Operation Number Games.

Larimer District Court Judge James Hiatt put a stop to the identity theft investigation Monday, saying deputies from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office wrongly seized federal income tax records to pursue suspected illegal immigrants in the investigation. Hiatt ordered Weld District Attorney Ken Buck and Weld Sheriff John Cooke to return or destroy in the next seven days all evidence seized in the case.

“This is an important ruling for all of America,” said Reid Neureiter, an attorney with Jacobs, Chase, Frick, Kleinkopf and Kelly of Denver. He is working on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed for a preliminary injunction against Buck and Cooke.

“Tax records should be private, and just because you have a suspicion that someone filing taxes with a Hispanic tax preparer might be doing something wrong doesn’t give you license to seize 5,000 tax records and look for the needle in a haystack,” Neureiter said.

Buck and sheriff’s investigators based their search of Amalia’s Tax and Translation Service on one defendant who had been investigated for identity theft and said illegal immigrants throughout the community knew to file their taxes there. Deputies searched through 5,000 records and found evidence of roughly 1,330 suspected illegal immigrants filing returns with false or stolen Social Security numbers. The Internal Revenue Service requires everyone to file tax returns, regardless of citizenship. In cases where filers do not have a valid Social Security number, the IRS issues individual taxpayer identification numbers.

..The case has divided many in the community on the issue of illegal immigration and the rights of the victims of identity theft. The IRS’ policy of issuing special identification numbers to illegal immigrants points to the problems, Buck said.

“The federal government has turned a blind eye to illegal activity in this country, with its failure to enforce the law at the border, with its failure to enforce tax laws, and Social Security laws within this country,” Buck said...

What about the id theft victims now? The 1330 people who were having their social security numbers being used illegally. I guess only time will tell.

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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Identity thieves got data on 3,400 employees, Irving school district says

Identity thieves got data on 3,400 employees, Irving school district says

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
kunmuth@dallasnews.com

Irving school officials now say that identity thieves obtained the names and Social Security numbers of 3,400 teachers and other employees contained in an old benefits report and then used the information to make thousands of dollars in purchases.

District security director Pat Lamb said a woman charged in the case said the information came from a list of names pulled out of a trash bin.

"We still do not know how our records were compromised," said Lamb, who mentioned that his own name was on the list. "We don't know if somebody was supposed to shred that information, but it ended up in a Dumpster."

....The victims include Cynthia Will, a former teacher who worked at the Union Bower Center teaching students with disabilities for five years. More than $25,000 in credit card charges were made in her name, including a $4,000 diamond ring from Zales.

"It was stunning the damage that was done in just seven days," she said in an emotional appeal to the Irving school board Monday night.....(Full text at www.dallasnews.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!

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Job Seekers Beware!

Job hunters must guard against identity theft

Richard Burnett |Sentinel Staff Writer

April 9, 2009

With unemployment soaring, identity thieves are increasingly preying on unsuspecting job seekers by stealing personal information and trying to cash in on it.

The scams run the gamut from fake help-wanted ads and job-search services to bogus resume-posting Web sites, part of a new arsenal of weapons targeting millions of recently unemployed people.

Job-search fraud is one of the fastest-growing segments of identity theft in Florida, generating thousands of complaints a year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It fielded more than 2,400 such complaints from Florida in 2008, up nearly 40 percent from 2007.

Overall, Florida posted the highest number of identity-theft complaints on record in 2008 (24,400), up nearly 44 percent in the past three years. The state ranked third in the nation, behind only California and Texas.

...Most job-search fraud appears to come through bogus help-wanted ads, which have spiked nearly fourfold in the past three years, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center,.. (Full text at www.sun-sentinel.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!

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ID Theft Victims Get Help To Avoid Wrongful Arrest

Kudos to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for taking steps to help the victims of id theft. Perhaps all other agencies should take note.

ID Theft Victims Get Help To Avoid Wrongful Arrest
Cards Issued To ID Theft Victims

INDIANAPOLIS -- Victims of identity theft now have a new option to avoid being wrongfully arrested within Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has started issuing ID cards with the finger print, picture and case number of the person whose identity has been compromised, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

The department doesn't keep statistics concerning the number of people who wind up arrested when someone else fraudulently uses their identity, but officials said it's on the rise. (Full text at www.theindychannel.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!

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Medicine slams FTC over forcing physicians to police identity theft

Medicine slams FTC over forcing physicians to police identity theft
Physicians object to the broad application of the "red flag" rules and say they were not forewarned properly. Enforcement begins May 1.

By Amy Lynn Sorrel, AMNews staff. Posted April 6, 2009.

Organized medicine and the Federal Trade Commission continue to joust over the application to physicians of new identity theft prevention rules. With a May 1 compliance date just around the corner, neither party shows signs of capitulation.

The FTC regulations require a variety of business entities -- mainly financial and banking institutions -- to implement a written program for preventing identity theft as well as detecting and responding to warning signs of such incidents. The commission maintains that when physicians defer payment for services, they become creditors -- entities that regularly extend, renew or continue credit -- under the "red flag" rules.

...The commission "did not give physicians an appropriate opportunity for notice and comment on the ruling that the red flags would be applied to them," said AMA Secretary Ardis D. Hoven, MD. "The AMA is calling on FTC to re-publish its rule so that we can make the case that physicians should be excluded."...

...The FTC has no plans to extend the deadline again, said Naomi Lefkovitz, an attorney with the FTC's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. "That said, we continue to take a view that we're looking for reasonable efforts" by doctors to comply...(Full text at www.ama-assn.org)

To any non-compliant Doctors out there:

We offer an Affirmative Defense Response System (ADRS) in which:

1. We provide a written policy outlining specific requirements for protecting customers and employees personal info

2. A letter that can be used when appointing an employee as security compliance officer - which is required by the GLB law.

3. A comprehensive training program which according to the FTC is one of the 1st steps to protecting NPI by conducting a mandatory meeting to educate employees about the risks/liabilities of data loss.

4. When employees complete the ADRS training, they sign the "Use of Confidential Information by Employee" form that serves as proof they've completed a mandatory training in handling NPI. This signed document demonstrates that the company is taking reasonable measures and actively working to comply with FACTA, GLB and HIPAA.

We do all the above at no direct cost to you if allowed to offer our Pre-Paid Legal services (PPL) and Identity Theft Shield to the employees as an employee benefit.

PPL spent over $1 million developing the above to assist companies in becoming compliant with all the new laws. PPL is a 36 year old NYSE company and named as one of the top 200 small businesses on the NYSE by Forbes magazine 7 times.

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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Red Flags Rule requires veterinarians to have identity theft prevention programs

Rule requires veterinarians to have identity theft prevention programs

Veterinarians are not exempt from a new federal rule to prevent identity theft. The Red Flags Rule, which the Federal Trade Commission will begin enforcing May 1, requires creditors to develop programs to prevent, detect, and mitigate identity theft.

The FTC proposed the Red Flags Rule in late 2007, and it took effect in 2008. The commission delayed enforcement until this year because many organizations did not consider themselves to be creditors—not in the same sense as financial institutions, which also fall under the rule. Nevertheless, the rule applies to most organizations that make arrangements to defer payment of debts, including almost all health care providers. Health care providers are creditors under the rule, for example, if they bill clients after completing medical services.

...Each organization must write, implement, and administer an ongoing program to detect warning signs and respond appropriately to prevent or mitigate identity theft after finding a red flag. Responses to warning signs could include monitoring accounts or changing account numbers.

Finally, organizations should update their programs periodically to reflect changes in identity theft risks.

The intent behind the Red Flags Rule is good, said Dr. Patricia Wohlferth-Bethke, an assistant director in the AVMA Membership and Field Services Division...(Full text at www.avma.org)

To any vets reading this article, this is what we do for you at no direct cost to you.

We offer an Affirmative Defense Response System (ADRS) in which:

1. We provide a written policy outlining specific requirements for protecting customers and employees personal info

2. A letter that can be used when appointing an employee as security compliance officer - which is required by the GLB law.

3. A comprehensive training program which according to the FTC is one of the 1st steps to protecting NPI by conducting a mandatory meeting to educate employees about the risks/liabilities of data loss.

4. When employees complete the ADRS training, they sign the "Use of Confidential Information by Employee" form that serves as proof they've completed a mandatory training in handling NPI. This signed document demonstrates that the company is taking reasonable measures and actively working to comply with FACTA, GLB and HIPAA.

We do all the above if allowed to offer our Pre-Paid Legal services (PPL) to the employees as an employee benefit. PPL spent over $1 million developing the above to assist companies in becoming compliant with all the new laws. PPL is a 36 year old NYSE company and named as one of the top 200 small businesses on the NYSE by Forbes magazine 7 times.

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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NCIS Crime Reduction Program targets identity theft

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) recently focused its crime reduction program (CRP) campaign on identity theft.

By:MC1(SW/AW) Kristen Allen, Naval Criminal Investigative Service Public Affairs

04/02/2009

"Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our country," said NCIS Special Agent Carrie Nelson, CRP coordinator. "This campaign is designed to highlight the protective actions individuals can take to safeguard themselves from becoming a victim."
NCIS has been working closely with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide the most current information on identity theft to all Sailors and Marines during this campaign. The FTC is the federal government's center for resources, information, and coordination with other agencies on identity theft issues. FTC's campaign motto in fighting identity theft is to deter, detect, and defend.

...She said service members can have particular problems with identity theft because their Social Security numbers are so closely intertwined with their identities, and Social Security numbers are often what identity thieves are looking for to open up new accounts. Deployments and being stationed overseas also put Sailors and Marines at risk.
"Considering the frequent deployments our service members experience and the amount of time spent away from home, they are at high risk for victimization," added Nelson...

...Identity theft victims need to file a police report in order to pursue their rights and start clearing their name and cleaning up credit reports. Sailors and Marines in the United States can make a report at any police department. Personnel who are deployed or stationed overseas, can file a report with base law enforcement.
Broder also advised bringing the issue to the attention of your command because it may require quite a bit of time to resolve the issues, and reporting identity theft issues to the FTC...(Full text at www.zwire.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!

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Breaches Update

As of 03/31/09, there has been 133 security breaches in the US with over 1.5 million records (that is personal information) compromised.

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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ID Theft Red Flags: Institutions Found Lacking in Awareness, Vendor Management

ID Theft Red Flags: Institutions Found Lacking in Awareness, Vendor Management
FDIC Examiners Find 'Substantial Compliance' with New Reg, But Also See Common Challenges
March 31, 2009 - Linda McGlasson, Managing Editor

In the five months since the compliance deadline for the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule, banking institutions generally are compliant. But examiners are finding issues with security awareness and vendor management.

This is the initial report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the largest U.S. bank regulator. The FDIC and other regulators have been testing Red Flags compliance at financial institutions since Nov. 1.

The good news, says Michael Jackson, spokesperson for the FDIC's regulatory compliance division, is that examiners have found "substantial compliance with the Red Flags regulations."

Still, there are three common issues that have arisen among banks that have been examined:

Covered Accounts - Some banks are misidentifying their covered accounts. Small business accounts are not automatically covered under the Red Flags regulation, Jackson says, but some should be included if the risk for identity theft is reasonably foreseeable. Some banks have had small business accounts that were victims of identity theft, but were not included among covered accounts.

Security Training - Some banks have not put together employee training, which is required, Jackson says. "By the regulation, they may have talked about it or assigned it to someone, but they need to have an actual program in place and have their employees trained on it." He says it would look better to examiners if institutions already had moved forward in training. "While banks may at this time be more focused on other things -- they may have [training] scheduled for sometime in the future -- but it is something they do need to work on a little more."

Vendor Management - Another area where examiners are interested in is in the area of third-party service providers (TSPs), says Jackson. "Banks are not adequately overseeing the oversight of their third party service providers' (TSP) compliance with red flags regulation," he says. "Even though they are not directly answerable to the regulation, these TSPs that hold information on these covered accounts or process transactions for these covered accounts need to be taking appropriate steps to prevent and mitigate ID theft."
(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!

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Fake ID = Fake Breasts

The following story is to make sure everyone keeps abreast of all in the world of Identity Theft.

Calif. Cops Seek Breast Implant Bandit
Hunt On For Woman Who Allegedly Stole Someone's ID To Pay For Cosmetic Surgery

CBS2 in Los Angeles reports on the hunt for a California woman who allegedly stole someone else's ID to get herself breast implants.

Police in Hungtington Beach, south of LA County, are searching for a Laguna Niguel woman who is accused of using someone's identity to pay for $15,000 worth of cosmetic surgery.

A $20,000 arrest warrant has been issued for Yvonne Jean Pampellonne, 30, who was identified through a photo line-up as the woman who allegedly had liposuction and a breast implant at the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery in Huntington Beach, said Huntington Beach police Detective Larry Pitcher. (Full text at www.cbsnews.com)

UPDATE: The Breast Burglar has surrendered to Huntington Beach Police.
To see story online click here!

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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Heartland Data Breach: Visa Questions Processor's PCI Compliance

Heartland Data Breach: Visa Questions Processor's PCI Compliance
Visa Executive: "We've Never Seen Anyone Who Was Breached That Was PCI Compliant"
March 24, 2009 - Linda McGlasson, Managing Editor

Despite the Heartland Payment Systems (HPY) data breach and other noted compromises, Visa staunchly supports the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

This is the message from Adrian Phillips, Visa's Deputy Chief Enterprise Risk Officer, who in an exclusive interview hammers home the credit card company's support for the security standard - and suggests that, contrary to Heartland's own statements, the payment processor may not have been PCI compliant when it was breached sometime in 2008.

"We've never seen anyone who was breached that was PCI compliant," Phillips says without specifically naming - or excluding -- Heartland. "The breaches that we have seen have involved a key area of non-compliance."

Interviewed during last week's Visa Security Summit in Washington, D.C., Phillips acknowledges Heartland and other recent breaches, but uses them as an opportunity to support the PCI standard. "Let's remember we've had some bad breaches, but if we had not had PCI DSS, it would have been much worse," Phillips says. "As of today, I am confident that PCI DSS works."

Phillips comments come one week after news that Visa had removed Heartland Payment Systems from its certified PCI-DSS Compliant Service Providers list.

Gartner analyst Avivah Litan recommends that merchants and other card-acepting enterprises using Heartland take no action, "because the processor will likely be recertified soon." Litan says the Visa delisting should "nonetheless make it easier for [Visa] to help card issuers recover financial losses they may have suffered as a result of the breaches from the processor." She adds the delisting should also make it easier for Visa to impose fines, probably $150,000 or more, on Heartland. (Full Text at www.bankinfosecurity.com)

For a current list of the now - 625 institutions that have been affected 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 (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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Red Flag Rule Takes Aim at Medical Identity Theft

Red Flag Rule Takes Aim at Medical Identity Theft
By: LYNNE JETER

Healthcare Providers Must Be in Compliance by May 1
In Jackson, Miss., the office manager of a physicians' practice quietly went on a spending spree. She had plastic surgery done, dined at the finest area restaurants, bought a hot tub and then an RV, and spent big bucks on other luxury items that eventually totaled $120,000.

Today, she's serving three years in federal prison, paying restitution, and faces three years of supervised release after completing her sentence.

...Identity fraud is the fastest-growing type of white-collar crime in America. Medical identity theft is the fastest-growing type of identity fraud, having mushroomed more than 400 percent in 2008.

Medical identity fraud typically takes place when a person's name and parts of their identity—insurance information, for example—are used to acquire medical goods or services without that person's consent, usually because the criminal needs treatment or is uninsured. This type of deception often results in erroneous entries being placed in existing medical records and may involve the creation of false medical records in the victim's name....

...Aimed at thwarting medical identity fraud, the new Red Flag Rule under HIPAA requires mandatory compliance by healthcare providers—which the FTC labels as creditors—to have an Identity Theft Prevention Program in place by May 1.

"The financial ramifications of your patient's information being lost or stolen could be devastating to even the most successful practices," said Asbell. "Did you know that a medical insurance card can sell on the black identity theft market for up to $500 each? Did you know that a patient's chart is worth $100,000 to an identity thief? It doesn't matter how the thieves get the info, your facility can still be held liable if you don't comply with the laws."

...Red Flags that definitely apply to healthcare:

• Documents provided for identification appear altered or forged.
• Photographs or a physical description on file are not consistent with the appearance of the patient.
• Other inconsistent information identifies the patient.
• Inconsistent signatures are on file.
• Patient forms or applications appear forged, altered, or destroyed and re-assembled.

Red Flags that may apply to healthcare:

• Statements sent to the patient or guarantor are returned as un-deliverable despite ongoing transactions on active records.

Red Flags that most likely do not apply to healthcare:

• A fraud alert is included with a consumer report.
• A consumer reporting agency provides notice of a credit freeze in response to a request for a consumer report, a notice of address discrepancy, and/or unusual credit activity.
• Financial institutions and creditors use challenge questions that the person opening the covered account cannot answer with readily available information.
• A request is made for new, additional or replacement cards or the addition of authorized users on the account shortly after a change of address request.
• A new revolving credit account is used in a manner commonly associated with known patterns of fraud patterns.
• The use of a covered account is inconsistent with established patterns of activity on the account.
• There is unexplained usage of a covered account that has been inactive for a reasonably lengthy period of time. (Full text at www.acadiana.medicalnewsinc.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!

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A strange case of identity theft

This story is a must read as it describes what happens if an identity thief uses your information to commit a crime in your name.

While I was reading the story, all I could think of was how much better off the victim would have been if she had Identity Theft Shield and Kroll working for her.

A strange case of identity theft
Susan Sward, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, March 22, 2009

Margot Somerville knew she was in for a hassle when her wallet was stolen in 2006 on a San Francisco streetcar. But she had no way of knowing she would end up facing felony identity-theft charges 950 miles away.

Somerville, 64, was a retired Wells Fargo Bank vice president. Her youngest son, Todd Harris, was a nationally known Republican strategist. The entryway of her expensive Walnut Creek home was decorated with pictures of her with former President George H.W. Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. She had never been accused of a crime in her life.

But one Sunday morning in April 2008, nearly two years after her wallet was swiped, police came to her house and took Somerville away in handcuffs on a no-bail warrant out of Colorado.

Prosecutors in a town near Denver claimed she had masterminded a scam in which a woman armed with Somerville's identification had used stolen checks and bank withdrawal slips to steal more than $60,000 from other people's accounts at local Wells Fargo branches. Somerville was charged with 19 felonies.

By the time the charges were dropped seven months later, Somerville said she had spent more than $46,000 in legal bills. (Read this lengthy article at www.sfgate.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!

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Identity Theft Red Flags Rule: 56% of U.S. Mortgage Brokers Have Never Heard of It

Identity Theft Red Flags Rule: 56% of U.S. Mortgage Brokers Have Never Heard of It

Mortgage Brokers Will Struggle the Most to Hit the May 1, 2009 Deadline

Orange, CA, March 21, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Only forty three (43%) of U.S. Mortgage Brokers have ever heard of the law and most will have trouble meeting the May 1 deadline for compliance with the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule. This is the key finding of a survey aimed at gauging the success of mortgage broker’s efforts to meet the terms of the new regulatory mandate.

With roughly two months to go before the Identity Theft Red Flags compliance deadline (May 1, 2009), over 50% of the mortgage brokers who were aware of the rule, say they have no idea how they’ll comply and therefore will have trouble beating the May 1st date. Only 17% of the mortgage brokers say they are already completely compliant.

The challenge is even more profound for the majority of mortgage brokers who responded, with 56% saying they weren’t aware of the rule at all or that that it pertained to them. (Full text at www.pr.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!

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CVS to pay $2.25 million to settle HIPAA violation

CVS to pay $2.25 million to settle HIPAA violation

Dan Kaplan

CVS Caremark must pay $2.25 million to settle federal charges that its employees threw out personal information about patients into garbage bins.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday that the company -- which operates about 6,300 retail outlets -- lacked proper procedures for discarding sensitive data about customers when, in 2006, pharmacy workers unloaded pill bottles, medication instruction sheets and computerized order information into open trash containers.

This personal information was protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), according to the FTC. (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!

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Heartland Data Breach: Visa Sets Deadline for Issuers to File Fraud Claims

Heartland Data Breach: Visa Sets Deadline for Issuers to File Fraud Claims

Heartland, RBS WorldPay Removed from Visa's Compliant Service Providers List

March 16, 2009 - Linda McGlasson, Managing Editor

Heartland Payment Systems (HPY) has been removed from Visa's list of compliant service providers, and banking institutions affected by the Heartland data breach have until May 19 to file their fraud claims with Visa.

This news emerged late last week from a public statement by Visa, as well as from a letter sent by the credit card company to card-issuing banking institutions.

In the statement, Visa confirmed that both Heartland and RBS WorldPay as a result of their recent data breaches, have been removed from the company's Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Compliant Service Providers list. This list represents the service providers that Visa has validated as being PCI DSS compliant for merchants and other businesses to run their credit card transactions.

Heartland and RBS WorldPay are now considered to be "on probation," and can apply to be relisted once they revalidate PCI DSS compliance and meet other security stipulations.

...Visa says:

• Heartland is now "in a probationary period" and subject to several risk conditions, including "more stringent security assessments, monitoring and reporting."

• Heartland's sponsoring banks will be assessed undisclosed fines as a result of the data breach.

• Card issuers can recover an unspecified portion of losses connected to the Heartland breach, but they face a May 19 deadline to file their claims with Visa.

So far, neither MasterCard nor any other credit card company has issued similar statements about Heartland's status or how/if institutions can recover money losses from the breach. (Full story at www.bankinfosecurity.com)

If you were a victim, you had better circle May 19th on your calendar in red.

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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Red Flags Rule and Hospitals

U.S. erecting barriers to ID theft

By Antonio Olivo |Tribune reporter

March 15, 2009

This spring, health-care providers will be required to install new safeguards against identity theft that federal regulators say can help control rising health costs and protect against potentially fatal information that has corrupted thousands of medical records.

"Say someone uses my health insurance to obtain care; I'm diabetic; they're not. Suddenly my records are corrupted because they've received treatment that would be inconsistent with the treatment that I'd expect in my medical condition," said Betsy Broder, an assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission, which will oversee the new "red flags rule" that also applies to banks and other creditors.

The measures could include using staff to screen new patients and track down victims to ensure their records are accurate, Broder said. A hospital's strategy should depend on its risk for identity theft, she said. (Full text at www.chicagotribune.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!

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