Identity Theft Protection
How to minimize the risks

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, and other personal identification can net criminals thousands of dollars in a very short period of time.

Identity theft statistics accounted for the bulk of fraud complaints filed with the FTC and represented 42 percent of fraud reports entered into the FTC's database in 2001. The FTC's associate director for planning and information Hugh Stevenson states that a good portion of ID theft are tied to the Internet.

The Information Age affords would-be identity thieves countless opportunities to steal or purchase your personal information thereby fraudulently incurring hugh debts in your name and leaving your credit history in disaster. The Internet gives thieves easy access to personal information through a variety of unethical means. Web site hacking, password fishing, and phony credit card offers are just a few of the ways that thieves can get your information. Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods - low- and hi-tech - to gain access to your data.

Peer-to-peer file sharing programs, like Morpheus or KaZaA can open up sections of the users computers the users would never share knowingly. Users sometimes unwittingly share their entire hard drives, everything they have -- their email, the web pages they’ve surfed, and the documents you've written. Depending on the permissions & settings selected they can unknowingly share everything a thief would need to steal an identity, all available because of a supposedly fun file-sharing program downloaded on their computer. This was excerpted from an ABC Action News report 02/15/06
http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2006/02/060215p2p.shtml

While the financial loss incurred by this type of crime is not always incurred by the consumer, it can significantly traumatize them, and take them months if not years to restore their credit and good name, and may keep them from being able to cash checks, obtain loans, or even rent an apartment or obtain utilities.

In many instances it may take months or even years before the ID theft is uncovered and many victims report spending countless hours convincing creditors, credit agencies, government agencies and others that transactions are fraudulent and should be purged from their files. This damage to victims' credit history and reputation can result in denial of credit for things such as auto and home loans.

Victims of identity theft report that it is extremely difficult to get information related to financial transactions. If a business has information relating to violations of the Identity Theft Act and may have done business with the thief, the business must provide, upon the request of the victim, copies of all relevant information. Before providing the requested information, businesses may require the victim to verify his or her identity. Businesses may require proof of identity and charge reasonable fees for providing the information.

HOW IDENITY THEIVES USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

• They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there's a problem.

• They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and SSN. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

• They establish phone or wireless service in your name.

• They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.

• They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.

• They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.

• They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.

Preventing Identity Theft

While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft:

• Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information: can you choose to have it kept confidential? Request a copy of all company privacy policies for businesses that you have dealings with both on and off line. Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Do they share customer information with affiliates? Do they sell to third parties? What do they do to protect their customers personal information. Ask if you can have a copy or review any information a business might have on file regarding you. If you are not fully satisfied that your information will be properly used you have the option of going to another business. This includes banking industries, insurance and health related industries. To understand the limits of consumer privacy rights: On line privacy rights.

• Pay close attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

• Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother's maiden name, financial account numbers and other identifying information. Legitimate organizations with whom you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.

• It is highly recommend that users remove these types of parasitic programs. Most of the spyware and adware programs listed here (as well as several others not listed) can be removed with the assistance free programs such as Ad-Aware from Lavasoftusa.com horsy. We recommend that users scan their computers with both of these programs as an added precaution and update them regularly. Both are free programs designed to remove spyware and adware off of your computer.  (Please note that most spyware and adware programs are not detected by standard anti-virus programs and can only be removed with reputable spyware removal programs.)

• We also recommend that after removing spyware from your computer that you permanently protect your computer with a personal firewall such a Download ZoneAlarm Proor McAfee Personal Firewall These programs will alert you to any attempts to access your computer while you are surfing on line as well let you know if any program on your computer that might be attempting to send data out from your computer without your knowledge. These are the most highly recommended firewall programs around. It is also advised that you use a good Anti-Virus program and keep it updated regularly.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements that you are discarding, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.

• Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.

• Find out who has access to your personal information at work and verify that the records are kept in a secure location.

• Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.

• Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place.

• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. The law allows credit bureaus to charge you up to $8.50 for a copy of your credit report.

** Spyware & Adware Test Scan ** If you are viewing this site with Internet Explorer and see an alert displayed here then it is an indication that your computer is infected with one or more spyware programs that we can scan for. If you do not see any alert displayed in the center of this notice then our scan did not detect any of the 122 spyware programs we can scan for, however, there are still many other programs out there that we can not yet scan for. Please note: Currently we can scan for a 122 distinct spyware programs that can effect PC users and the alert will only be display if a specific targeted program is identified. Unfortunately, we are limited to finding only certain types of spyware and there are many other forms of spyware and adware that we can not currently test for. In addition, our test scan does not work well with NetScape or other browsers, if you suspect that you might have spyware on your computer please feel free to check this page while using Internet Explorer. Also, if you have a Personal FireWall installed it may interfere with our ability to scan your computer for Parasite Adware and Spyware.

CHOOSING TO SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION  — OR NOT

What happens to the personal information you provide to companies, marketers and government agencies? They may use your information just to process your order. They may use it to create a profile about you and then let you know about products, services or promotions. Or they may share your information with others. A little known fact is that customer information is routinely bought, sold, and traded from business to business.

A SPECIAL WORD ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS

Your employer and financial institution will likely need your SSN for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other private businesses may ask you for your SSN to do a credit check, such as when you apply for a car loan. Sometimes, however, they simply want your SSN for general record keeping. You don't have to give a business your SSN just because they ask for it. If someone asks for your SSN, ask the following questions:

• Why do you need my SSN

• How will my SSN be used

• What law requires me to give you my SSN

• What will happen if I don't give you my SSN

Sometimes a business may not provide you with the service or benefit you're seeking if you don't provide your SSN. Getting answers to these questions will help you decide whether you want to share your SSN with the business. Remember, though, that the decision is yours.

Written by Debbie St.Clair
UnwantedLinks.com
Reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

Identity Theft Resource Center
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/

Identity Theft - Web Resources
http://slisweb.lis.wisc.edu/~idtheft/resources.html

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, you may use the link below to file a report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03

Please check our News Archive for recent accounts of Identity Theft

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There are number of new laws pending without your support they will not get passed. Let your congressmen know that we want stronger privacy protections. For more information see our legal section.

 

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