Nikki Greene asked:




Ask anyone who’s ever been robbed of their identity, and they’ll tell you that it typically takes years to recover from such a violation. This extremely personal crime goes far beyond using someone else’s name to make a hefty purchase at a department store. In addition to credit card charges, bank account withdrawals, social security tampering and a number of other ways in which your life would be impacted, unrelated crimes can also be committed – in your name – for which you may be held responsible.

It’s pretty safe to assume that when you hear the phrase “identity theft,” you’ll know immediately what’s being discussed. Not many folks, however, are aware that criminal identity theft takes this type of crime a step beyond simply racking up charges on someone else’s credit cards.

In fact, criminal identity theft is the term used when an individual poses as someone else when confronted by a law enforcement officer. In other words, if someone – who has taken on your identity – is arrested or approached in any way by a law enforcement official and they offer some form of ID that identifies them by your name, then the line has been crossed from identity theft to criminal identity theft.

By obtaining vital documents, such as a driver’s license, social security card and other legal documents in your name, they can effectively “become” you. In some cases, these individuals build a life for themselves in some other part of the world and, unless some red flag goes up on your end, you might never know it until something drastic takes places, such as an arrest warrant that’s issued in your name.

Obtaining a job, buying a home, taking out a loan and every other area that you can think of will be impacted if such an event takes place. In most cases, it takes a specific set of circumstances that brings about the knowledge that criminal identity theft has been committed. Some examples of this would be the discovery that there’s a criminal record in your name that renders you ineligible for a particular job, the denial of a loan or application for a mortgage as the result of unsatisfied debts that you didn’t incur or an arrest as the result of an outstanding warrant in your name when you’re simply stopped for a routine traffic violation or safety belt check.

The real tragedy here is that the burden of proof is on the victim when it comes time to clear up these issues, which can take years in the legal system and cost thousands of dollars as the judicial clock continues to count down the minutes until you’re able to prove that you are, in fact, who you claim to be and did not commit the crimes of which you’ve been accused. This particular type of criminal activity occurs more often than you might imagine and has devastated the lives of countless innocent people.

If you should be the target of criminal identity theft, here are just a few of the things that you can do in order to begin the process of clearing your name within the legal system:

Report the misidentification to your local law enforcement agency
File an official impersonation report
Gain knowledge of the particular laws within your state regarding criminal identity theft and your rights as a victim
Insist that the law enforcement agency who takes the impersonation report files a copy with the authorities in the state or county where the perpetrator resides
Contact the Motor Vehicle Department, in the event that your license has been violated
Check to see if your state has any victims’ rights groups or other advocates who can help you to win your case
Hire an attorney that has experience with criminal identity theft

Don’t let someone ruin your good name – take the necessary steps to protect your documents and other means of identification. Otherwise, there may be an imposter out there who will be laughing all the way to the jail cell – yours.

Spencer Ray asked:




With the advancement of technology, the way we manage our money has also advanced. Unfortunately, the ways in which dishonest individuals try to steal personal information has also become increasingly sophisticated. In order to protect your identity and financial information, implement these guidelines:

Shred bank and other financial documents instead of just throwing it in the trash bin. Keep important records under lock and key. Never carry both your driver’s license and social security card together in your wallet or purse. Use a secure mailbox to send outgoing mail. Pick up mail from your mailbox as soon as possible. Never give out your social security number or other personal information over the phone; unless you are sure of the company or individual that you are speaking with. Purchasing items online is usually secure; however, always use caution and make sure you know that the business is legitimate.
If you would like to go a step further; some services will actually monitor your personal identity for you. They will use sophisticated methods to prevent identity theft from occurring, will notify you of suspicious activity, and can help if identity theft has occurred.

These companies will monitor any sort of activity that takes places on your credit report, and will allow you the ability to prevent identity theft from occurring.

We work all our lives building a nest egg of money to retire on; its important that we protect our lifetime of work. It is important to take certain steps against identity theft. Use the steps provided to make your personal information more secure.

Hilary Basile asked:




The law specifies that parents must apply for a social security number for each child. Once a social security number is applied to your child, we immediately begin years and years of filling in forms with this magical number on it. From signing children up with a new pediatrician, to getting health insurance, to registering them for sports programs, it seems as though everyone wants personal information.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, child identity theft is increasing at an alarming rate. This means more people – primarily a parent or a guardian – are using a child’s social security number to open a credit account, apply for a loan, or rent an apartment. Such actions tend to go undetected until the child is old enough to do this for his or herself.

It’s important for parents to be on the look out for ‘red flags’ such as getting a bill in your child’s name from a credit card company or receiving calls from a collection agency looking for your child. Following are ways to protect your child’s financial identity: Keep your child’s social security information and birth certificate in a safe, or in a computer file that is protected from unauthorized access. Limit access to your child’s social security number by not providing it on non-essential forms, such as when registering them for sports. Do not give your child their social security information until they are old enough to understand how to protect this information. Shred papers containing your child’s social security number. Do not carry your child’s social security card in your wallet. Never give out your child’s social security number over the phone or on the Internet. Scan your mail for bills, statements, or credit card offers that arrive in your child’s name. If bills arrive in your child’s name, call the credit reporting agency to ensure there is no balance.

Children typically don’t use their social security numbers until their late teens, when applying for a first job, a student loan or a credit card. This makes them easy targets since thieves have years to rack up considerable damage. Two-thirds of child identity theft cases involve relatives. Victims need to file a report with local law enforcement officials and can file a dispute through the Fair Credit Reporting Act to credit bureaus.

J. M. Smith asked:




The fact about identity theft is that it doesn’t matter what you do to protect yourself against it, you will not keep the identity thieves from getting your personal information. You can shred every single piece of paper that enters your home, have government software protection on your computer, never use a credit card, never carry your social security card around, never give out your social security number to anyone, never have a bank account or library card, never apply for a job, never purchase a car or home, never rent a home or apartment and the list goes on and you can still be a victim of identity theft. Why? because it’s too late and you have already given this information out.

Realistically, who can live like this? Face it, you have a social number and birth certificate, you have rented or own a home and the vast majority own credit cards.

The media and the so called experts want to have you believe you can keep yourself from becoming a victim and if you can’t there are services that can. Here’s the question to ask yourself. Can the so called top three protection services keep major corporations or even the Government from having their clients or citizens information compromised?

How about these startling facts of stolen victims information from the Privacy Rights Clearing House.

US Dept. of Veterans Affairs on May 3rd 2006, veterans who were discharged since 1975 including names Social numbers, dates of births and in many cases phone numbers and addresses. Theft of a laptop 26.5 million veterans. I know I received my letter from the V.A.

May 2, 2006, Time Warner 600,00 lost backup tapes. Ameritrade, 200,000 lost backup tapes. Cal Poly-Pomona, Univ. of Colorado, Sonoma State Univ., Univ of Utah, Univ of North Texas, Calif. State Univ., all hacking and thousands of victims.

The list goes on from school districts, Major Banking Institutions, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hospitals, CPA’s, States, Townships, Medical facilities, AFLAC, Dept of Education, Census Bureau and I think you get the picture.

So lets see how these services could have helped me from being a victim when a laptop was stolen and I became part of 26.5 million veterans who also had their information compromised.

The fact is they can’t and could not have kept any of the above victims from being victimized. Identity Guard Total Protection, Life Lock, Trusted ID and Identity Guard offer prevention services but the theme of their services is financial prevention and is only 1/3 rd of the problem and they do not help you with any legal services to give you the complete restoration service you need.

Ask this question to them. If I was arrested at 2am in the morning because there were warrants for my arrest because I was a victim of criminal identity theft, what phone number could I call at 2am and how will you help me? Or what if social services were at my door threatening to take my children because they said I had a drug baby 3 weeks ago and left it at the hospital and I haven’t had a child in 4 years and I am a victim of medical ID theft. What if I’m a teacher accused of being a ********** when in fact it was one of my previous students.

You see credit monitoring, resolution services, Id theft prevention services are all good and better than nothing but they do not cover you in these examples when you need real help.

It’s like the fire department saying they will monitor your house for you and call you if you have a fire. A great service but what about putting out the fire? What if the fire department then sent out a fire truck but you still had to put the fire out using the truck and the tools. A great service but how do I use the equipment? What if the fire department said not only will we monitor your home every day and call you if there is a fire, we will also send out a truck with the professionals to put it out for you and not only that, we will rebuild the section of your home that was damaged back to its condition before the fire took place.

I think the answer is clear on the so called top three ID theft prevention services. They say prevent but they can’t. They may slow it down but they are unable to prevent you from being a victim. Prevention is better than nothing but if it was your spouse or child in jail how could they help you?

The complete wall of protection is Monitor, Restore and Legal. Having access to a system that in the event you were arrested or your spouse or child, you would want to talk to an attorney now! Whether it was 2am or Christmas morning, you want an expert to begin the researching for all the applicable data bases out there to return your good name and keep monitoring them for you.

There is only one company that can do that. Do you think if you were like the woman that had 81 people in over 17 states using her social number for jobs and having the IRS asking for 1 million dollars in unclaimed taxes you might want an attorney. Most attorneys only practice in the State they are licensed in. Do you think she would need an attorney in those 17 States? There is only one company in the US to offer the services that woman would need. The service is Pre-Paid Legal Services and the Identity Theft Shield. They are the only company to offer the type of services to give you a whole wall or complete wall of protection.

Kasturi De asked:




Identity theft, also known as identity fraud, refers to the fraudulent act of obtaining personal data to assume that person’s identity for the purpose of carrying out illegal or malicious activity. Personal data may include name, mother’s maiden name, bank account number, credit card number, social security number, email address, or mailing address.

Identity theft takes place in all countries almost everyday. Only by taking proactive effort can you protect yourself from identity theft. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to reduce the risk of identity theft.

Do’s:
1. Shred all important documents before throwing them into the trash.
2. Memorize your passwords and social security numbers.
3. While mailing documents that contain your personal data, take them directly to the post office instead of mailing them from your personal mail box.
4. Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts and check them regularly.
5. Review your credit reports and financial information periodically.
6. Keep a close watch on your checkbook while writing checks to prevent someone from copying your information.
7. Make sure that all your checks are delivered to your bank instead of home address.
8. Assign passwords to credit card, bank accounts, and home accounts.

Don’ts:
1. Do not throw any document containing your personal information.
2. Do not give out your social security number unless absolutely necessary.
3. Do not carry documents with your personal information, such as birth certificate, passport, or social security card, in your wallet.
4. Do not lose deposit slips as they have your name, address, and account number printed on them.
5. Do not give out your personal information on the phone without verifying the identity of the person.
6. Do not write your phone number on checks while depositing them.
7. Do not reveal your credit card number on the internet.
8. Do not write your social security number on credit receipts or checks.

Mark Berger asked:




Who CAN you trust? With the Internet expanding at an alarming rate, there are some places on the web that resemble a dark back alley: an area you simply wouldn’t tread for fear of personal safety and security. But it’s hard to tell when you should be aware of your personal information being stolen – you might think that you are safe, but there are a great deal of people everyday whose identity is taken without warning.

What can you do in such a globalized setting; where someone half a hemisphere away can take you to the cleaners overnight? Be knowledgeable. Be aware. Know the following tips, and you’ll never have your identity stolen.

Number one places where you can lose your identity

E-mail

One of the leading problems in Internet security is how easy it is to get someone’s e-mail address. There are a number of e-mail spoofs that can take your credit card number away from you in the blink of an eye. These are:

-Paypal e-mail spoofs

- E-bay e-mail spoofs

- Tricks, like those e-mails that claim they are a long-lost third uncle or cousin of some important figurehead in a third-world country, and they would like to give you $4,000,000 or some ridiculous number.

If you know what you have to watch out for, it definitely helps. Never send anyone any kind of important personal data in an e-mail; not even if they claim they are Paypal, E-bay, or some other company you trust. No one should ever ask you for something like your driver’s license, social security card or credit card over e-mail.

A Paypal spoof site can steal your Paypal login information by simply having you put your username and password in as usual; but in reality you’re not submitting it to Paypal, you’re sending it to scammers so they can steal your account information and of course your personal information, such as credit cards. Never login to Paypal except anywhere other then http://www.paypal.com

In fact, if you use a spam-blocking utility like Qurb, it makes a world of difference. You might still get the odd scam or two, but you’ll be able to tell now that you know how they look.

The next avenue of personal data theft evolves around…

Pop-ups, unsafe URL addresses and third-party installers

The next area that personal data theft can occur is simply by being in the wrong place (and not even necessarily at the wrong time!) While most pop-up windows and URL addresses are safe, there are some forms of malicious software out there we know as “auto-installers” or “self-installing software.” You can recognize what I mean by this if you use Internet Explorer and if you have some toolbars across the top that either you know you didn’t put on there or simply can’t get rid of. That is an example of self-installing executables: that install themselves without asking you.

Some of this software is harmful, but most know it is ad-ware/spyware most of the time. It’s just blatant advertising, but the worst self-installing software can access your cookies and attempt to transfer that data to a remote server.

So how do you steer clear of this junk?

Easy – use Firefox, or if you find yourself enduring pop-ups, get a pop-up blocker. DON’T get a third party program – get something reputable like Google Toolbar, because a third party “pop-up blocker” can ALSO be a form of spyware/ad-ware if you don’t know what you’re doing.

You can also maintain some basic ad-ware/spyware prevention tools on your system. Avast Anti-virus is excellent at detecting a self-installing script and shutting it down before it finishes. So is Microsoft Antispyware, should you have a genuine windows version. Routine scans with a program like Lavasoft ad-aware or other good spyware/ad-ware suites will also help.

And the last spot where you can have your credit card or debit card information is stolen is at your local store. Should someone ever drop your card while handing it back to you, make sure when they bend down they are only retrieving your card. There have been reported cases where shopkeepers (especially disgruntled gas station workers) have “dropped” a card only to swipe it through another machine below.

While it’s less likely you’re going to be scammed locally, the possibility still exists for a disgruntled worker unhappy with their earnings taking your card information and running up some bills in your name. Although, typically people who try this sort of scam run up small bills over a large number of accounts in order to stop the customer from noticing.

Don’t worry – and don’t get paranoid. The first step of personal data theft prevention is awareness. If you’re smarter about the secure and unsecure world, you’ll be identify scams from the get-go. It may even pay to let a company like Paypal know who the spoofers are, if you have a minute to report them to spoof@paypal.com

Remember, you the user control your level of security on the Internet. There is no one to blame when data thievery occurs but yourself.

Rook Davis asked:




Of the various types of identity theft, traffic violations using someone else’s driver’s license is one of the most common. This occurs because of various reasons; sometimes the offender simply does not want a ticket, while other times the offender may not be able to get a license on their own due to a DUI or similar offense. This is always big trouble for the real owner of the license, especially in the case of DUI charges, as in some states, multiple DUI charges can result in jail time. The DMV often views this type of ticket fraud as identity theft, while driver’s license fraud is its own separate crime entirely. However, often the tactics used to gain access to someone’s license in order to commit either crime are the same.

The methods for stealing someone’s driver’s license can range from a teenager pilfering someone’s purse at home to counterfeiters who profit from selling illegal copies. You license may have only cost you a few bucks, but your good driving record and valid license are worth a lot of money in the wrong hands.

Just as with most forms of identity theft, crimes involving your driver’s license are often hard to detect until something bad happens. However, this does not mean you cannot fight the problem. Once you are aware (or even suspect) that your driver’s license may have been stolen or copied, your state’s DMV has departments set up to assist and combat the problem. Your driver’s license is an official government document and the integrity of government documents in our financial society is extremely important. The problem has become so widespread that many state DMVs no longer place the owner’s Social Security Number on the card. Many DMVs advise driver’s not to carry their Social Security card in the same place as their driver’s license.

The best method of prevention is by obtaining a copy of your driving record. These can usually be purchased from you state’s DMV for less than $10, and will give you immediate insight into where and when your license may have been involved in an incident. I can tell you from personal experience that this is a good idea. The first time I requested my driving record, there was an unpaid speeding ticket attributed to me in a city I’ve never visited. Thankfully, the DMV (often the **** of jokes about being agonizingly slow) helped me get it resolved quickly. In my case, it was an open and shut case, but in many cases of extensive fraud, you will need to file a fraud report with your state’s motor vehicles enforcement office.

Be aware that in the case of fraud, you can (and should) change your driver’s license number. Also, the policies regarding commercial licenses are different from non-commercial in most states. At the very least, getting a new number will create a timeline of when you were aware of the activity and help protect you.

As always, arm yourself with knowledge, visit your state’s DMV website and familiarize yourself with your options.

ScamExpert asked:

From the US Treasury Dept. Explains the steps you should take if you become a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name. Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information. ■ Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. ■ Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier. ■ Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. ■ Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit onguardonline.gov for more information. ■ Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. ■ Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it. ■ Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and …

George Dodge asked:




Identity thieves are constantly on the lookout for any documentation they can use to smoothly acquire another person’s identity. The number one document that will open almost any door for these unscrupulous characters is your Social Security card. Once a thief has obtained your SS number (SSN), the path to assuming your identity is now wide open and ready to be trampled upon. Therefore, your SSN should always be protected at all costs. Don’t become a victim of Social Security identity fraud.

You will be required to present a valid SS card to the personnel office when you embark on a new job. Once your employer has recorded the number, the safest thing for you to do, in order to protect your identity, is to store your card in a secure location. Never carry your card on your person, in your wallet or in the glove box of your car.

But what do you do if, despite your best efforts, you discover someone is using your number for fraudulent purposes? You must act immediately. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission either by phone (1-877-438-4338) or via the Internet. Do not procrastinate on this as identity thieves are extremely adept at rapidly assuming your persona and they can cause unlimited damage to your credit rating in very short order.

If you suspect that someone else is using your SSN for work purposes, you should immediately contact the Social Security Office. Identity thieves can wreck havoc with your income tax and if left to their own devices can cause you untold grief with Uncle Sam and the IRS. It could take months or even years and probably a ton of money to prove you have been a victim of identity theft, so quick action on your part is essential.

Should you suspect that someone else is using your number fraudulently to retain employment, you can also go Online at ssa.gov/mystatement/ and check your Social Security Statement, which records all earnings posted to your record. Should your suspicions be confirmed and you discover errors on your statement, you should immediately contact your Social Security Department. Again, procrastination can be devastating as unravelling these records is time consuming and fraught with red tape.

Should the unthinkable happen and you can confirm that someone else has access to your Social Security number and is creating havoc with your credit, you will get little or no satisfaction from the Social Security Administration. Although they may be willing to eventually cancel your Social Security number and issue a new one (which, incidentally is no mean feat), they will offer no help in trying to repair your damaged credit rating. The onus is on you to try to repair any damage from Social Security identity fraud.

You should immediately telephone the fraud department of all your creditors and then follow it up in writing for your own records. Request that your account be flagged with a fraud alert so that no further credit card charges can be incurred without your express knowledge and authorization. Ask that the creditors forward a statement to the credit reporting agencies explaining your problem. Make sure this notation contains contact information, including your telephone number, so that you can be reached if any further charges show up on your record.

Request a copy of your credit report from each of the 3 major credit-reporting agencies. Be sure to contact all three as sometimes creditors are registered with different credit bureaus because of logistics and geographical restrictions. You may contact them On- line, but to be on the safe side, a telephone call – followed up in writing – may get you quicker results. Contact information for the three major credit-reporting agencies can be found at the bottom of this article.

File a police report – chances are that you are not the only one whose identity has been compromised by these criminals. Police Departments now maintain extensive files on known identity theft rings and they may be able to help you get your identity back a little quicker.

Social Security Identity fraud is a very serious matter. Dealing with the various government agencies to clarify your Social Security records is a time consuming and often frustrating experience. Therefore, to avoid having to deal with such a task, you should always, always make every effort to keep your Social Security identity is safe and out of the hands of criminals.

Contact information for Credit Reporting Agencies:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 transunion.com

The above Social Security identity fraud article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.

Jay Fran asked:




Financial fraud and identity fraud are one of the fasted growing forms of fraud. The first line of defense to protecting yourself begins with you. Here are some steps you can take to help you protect and fight against financial and identity fraud.

1. Review and Protect Your Information – The first line of defense in financial fraud is to periodically check your credit report to ensure all your information is accurate. Remember there are three credit agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian) which all operate independently. Make sure you check your credit report from all three because they may each have different information.

2. Destroy Credit Card Mail Offers and Old Financial Documents – If you receive direct or pre-approved solicitations in the mail for new credit cards and do not use them make sure you shred or tear them up before throwing them away. In addition, shred all financial papers including cancelled checks, old bank account statements, or any document with your identity.

3. Watch Out For E-mail or Telephone Fraudsters – Never give your personal or financial information out on the internet or phone unless you initiated the contact. This is especially true with giving out your social security or credit card number. Watch out for e-mails from fraudsters that state they need your account information or credit card number to update your account with your bank or an online company like e-bay. Never give out personal information over e-mail! Many times these e-mails will have links for you to click on that take you to a website that looks authentic. However more times than not, it is a scam to get your personal and financial information.

4. Social Security Number – Keep your social security number in a safe place with other financial documents. DO NOT carry your social security card in your wallet and remember to shred your old social security statements. It is also recommended to not store your social security number on your computer as hackers may have access to it. Never print your social security number on your checks, credit card or drivers licenses.

5. Incoming / Outgoing Mail – Pick up incoming mail promptly and do not send outgoing mail in your residential mail box. Make every effort to keep your mail as securely as possible when it leaves your house.

6. Monthly Bills – If your monthly bills stop arriving, take action quickly. Notify the company right away. Also, review your monthly statements promptly and if you see charges or items on your bills that you do not recognize get them resolved immediately.

7. Credit Cards / ATMs – Report lost or stolen credit cards and ATM cards immediately. Be sure to carry the 1-800 numbers of your bank and credit card company in your wallet.

8. Age Matters – If you are over the age of 50 you are more likely to be targeted for financial fraud. Therefore, keep this in the back of your mind as you handle your daily tasks and personal information.

Most analysts forecast financial fraud and identity thief to cause financial loss to hundreds of thousands people in the next five years and beyond. While fraudsters are very slick and you can never be 100% safe the steps above can assist in you significantly deterring yourself and family from being a victim.