Don't Fall For The Latest Internet Identity Theft Scam

: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online collectibles business. I recently received an email that my PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.

A: Be thankful that your paranoia kicked in, Brenda, because you were about to fall victim to the scam of the week, this one aimed at the 35 million merchants and individuals who use Paypal.com as their online payment processor.

The email you received was not from PayPal, but from an Internet bad guy behind a forged email address using the PayPal.com domain. You should understand that no reputable online company will ever ask you to provide your account information. Think about it. They already have this information. Why would they ask you to provide it.

Since I use PayPal for several of my online ventures, I, too, received the email in question. The email first seeks to instill fear in you by saying that your PayPal account will be closed if you do not provide personal information. You are then directed to open an attached executable file and enter your PayPal account information and other personal information that PayPal doesn't even require, including your social security number, checking and savings account information, driver's license number, and other personal information that can be used to clean out your PayPal account and perhaps even steal your identity.

If you're not familiar with PayPal, it is a hugely successful, web-based company (purchased by eBay in 2002) that many online retailers and eBay sellers use to accept electronic payments for everything from newsletter subscriptions to consulting services to just about any product for sale on eBay.

The allure of PayPal is that it does not require the seller to have a bank merchant account through which to process credit cards. Anyone with a verifiable email address and bank account can use PayPal and the service can be implemented almost immediately after registering. When someone places an order on a website that uses PayPal for online payments, that customer is directed to PayPal.com to complete the payment process using a credit card or electronic check. The merchant can transfer the money collected in his PayPal account to his checking account any time he likes. Since many larger merchants make this transfer just once a week or so, their PayPal accounts are ripe for the picking from those who have the cunning and lack of ethics required to gain access.

The shear number of PayPal customers is one reason it has become a popular target of scam artists trying to steal personal information from individuals and businesses alike. Identify theft is on the rise. Thanks to the Internet stealing someone's identity has never been easier. At any given moment, there are any number of Internet thieves using all manner of high tech wizardry to steal personal and business information from unsuspecting souls, and many times they can gain access to this information simply by asking the person to provide it through fraudulent means.

The PayPal scam is just the latest in a long line of sophisticated attempts to steal personal information through online means, Amazon, eBay, Dell Computer, and many others have been the brunt of many such scams in recent years.

Identity theft is what's known as "a knowledge crime," which means that the criminal doesn't have to break into your house to rob you blind. If you have a bank account and a social security number, you are susceptible to identity theft.

While most people are familiar with identity theft, most business men and women never think about it happening to them, at least on a professional level. Consider this: if a criminal can learn your business checking account number or the number of your company credit card, they can steal far more from your business than if they had simply knocked down the door and carted off your desk.

The Internet aside, most business and personal identity theft is still the result of stolen wallets and dumpster diving. You should guard your business records closely and be very careful what you throw away. Stop and think for a moment what a criminal might find in the dumpster behind your office.

There's a good chance that dumpster has, at various times, contained scraps of paper with your social security number, driver's license number, credit card number, old ATM cards, telephone calling cards, and other pieces of vital business information like bank statements, invoices, and purchase orders. A dumpster-diving thief could literally rob your business blind in a matter of hours.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself from business and personal identity theft.

? Never give out your first name, last name, business name, email address, account passwords, credit card numbers, bank account information, PIN number, social security number, or driver's license number.

? Change your online account passwords every 30 days. Believe it or not, a hacker who steals your personal information can guess your online account passwords in about two minutes. If your Charles Schwab online account password is your birthday or the name of your first born or family pet, count on a hacker cracking that code faster than you can say "Bill Gates."

? Never provide personal information in response to an email or telephone call. Just because someone calls and says they are from Dunn & Bradstreet and need to confirm your business information does not mean they are really from Dunn & Bradstreet.

? Never give your business credit card number over the phone to place an order with someone who has called you unsolicited. If you are interested in what they are selling get their number, check out their company, then call them back to place the order.

If you think that you have become the victim of identity theft or think someone is trying to steal your identity or personal information you should report them immediately to the Federal Trade Commission. You will find more information on their website at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. For more information on what to do if identity theft happens to you visit http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm.

So, if you ever receive an email from PayPal, Amazon, eBay, or any other ecommerce website asking you to update your account information by email you can pretty much bet the farm that it is a scam.

Here's to your success.

Tim Knox, Founder For more information on starting your own online business visit http://www.dropshipwholesale.net, the website for online entrepreneurs.

Tim is written by veteran entrepreneur and syndicated columnist, Tim Knox. Tim Knox is the founder of DropshipWholesale.net, an online

organization dedicated to the success of online and eBay

entrepreneurs. Related Links: http://www.prosperityandprofits.com

http://www.smallbusinessqa.com http://www.dropshipwholesale.net

Identity Theft - Straightening Out Your Credit In The Aftermath

FBI statistics reveal that identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States, with about 1 in 5 families in the U.S. being a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is obtaining another person's personal information (e.g., name, social security number, credit card number, passport) without that person's knowledge and using that information fraudulently. For someone who discovers they are a victim of identity theft, it is important to act fast. Here are some immediate steps to take in order to stop further misuse and to restore your good credit:

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the 3 credit reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. When a fraud alert is placed on your credit reports, creditors will contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert, and they are required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports. When you receive them, check them over carefully for any new accounts that may have been opened without your authorization. Also be aware of any new inquiries by banks, lenders and credit card companies that you were not familiar with.

2. Report the crime to your local police or sheriff's department and request a police report.

3. Contact your creditors, banks, phone companies, and utility companies and have them freeze your accounts. Banks, credit card companies and other creditors may require a copy of your police report. You may be liable for a small sum of the fraudulent charges; check with each of your card issuers for their policies. Most creditors promptly issue replacement cards with new account numbers.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

5. Monitor all bank and credit card statements and other bills carefully to ensure there are no fraudulent charges. If you find fraudulent checks or withdrawals on your bank account, notify the fraud department of your bank in writing immediately.

Stop payment on any missing checks and/or close your existing account. You can also notify the check verification companies not to accept further checks under the account number that was stolen. To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, contact SCAN @ 1800-262-7771.

If unauthorized credit card charges appear, notify your credit card company in writing without delay.

6. If you believe the theft involved your social security number, contact the Social Security Administration. They may re-issue a lost or stolen social security card or may, under some circumstances, give you a new social security number.

As you know, your credit rating is all important. Every precaution should be taken to protect your credit rating. Once you have your identity straightened out, you might consider registering with Equifax Credit Watch?. Equifax Credit Watch? makes monitoring your report easy by automatically alerting you within 24 hours of key changes in your Equifax Credit Report? - like when someone tries to get credit in your name or there are sudden changes in your credit card balances. - so you can act before serious damage is done.

Below are important phone numbers you will need for reporting your identity theft:

Credit Reporting Agencies:
Equifax 1800-525-6285
Experian 1888-397-3742
TransUnion 1800-680-7209

Federal Trade Commission Hotline:
FTC Hotline 1877-438-4338

Check Verification Companies:
Telecheck 1800-710-9898
Certegy 1800-437-5120

To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name:
SCAN 1800-262-7771

Debbie Pettitt who is the webmaster for Understanding Identity Theft, providing essential information on identity theft, it's prevention and what to do if you're a victim. If you've been a victim of identity theft, this page may be helpful: http://understandingidentitytheft.com/identitytheftreporting/

Identity theft basics

Identity theft is one of the latest buzzword within our society in recent times. Identity theft refers to hiding one's original identity and illegally misusing someone else's identity. The person pretending to be someone else tries to make money at the cost of others and makes an abusive use of fake identity. The occurrence of this form of crime has increased partly due to the expansion in our communication network where people interact or know about only the existence of other person but have not met them person. Since one does not recognize the other person by physical appearance it is easier for identity thieves to step into others shoe and gather vital information for their own selfish motives. Identity theft can also occur from distance when someone may call or communicate with any other person just to gather some confidential information and then misuse the data provided.

Emergence of Internet apart from providing many facilities and being a blessing for people has also added a lot to this already existing crime. With more and more business houses using Internet and computerized networks for their official workings increased amount of significant data are now found on web. Apart from the obtaining vital statistics of any corporate house or any important individual information, identity thieves do disguise to fool others and obtain some critical information like the credit card number or the social security number. Theft of credit card number and social security number can result in a great loss and trauma for the victim. As the culprit could use the credit card for withdrawing money from others account and also the crimes committed by the thief can be attributed to the victim since the thief was using a fake identity of other person.

This increasing form of crime has raised concern of many and people are now finding ways to combat such malicious actions that cause loss to innocent citizens. Apart from following the general instructions and relying on social systems to prevent such crimes certain individual effort is also required to protect one from identity thieves. One must be cautious not to provide any confidential information on Internet or any other public communication systems that can be accessed by anyone. Only after perfectly confirmed verification some information may be shared if it's very urgent. Also one should not rely on anyone else without careful verification of the identity of the other person.

It's a matter of great regret that such identity thieves many a times bank upon the sentiments of good citizens and fool them to make some easy money. Many such cases of false identity have been reported in recent past where people pretend to be someone in great need of help and when some virtuous person comes forward to help them they just breach others and make personal profits at the expense of others.

Recently when the world was struck by an unfortunate natural disaster of tsunami help from entire world poured in through all means. Government organizations of countries struck by this calamity had set websites to make people aware of the damages incurred and collect help from them if they could contribute to the well-being of victims. Following the genuine websites many fraudulent websites were also hosted at the same time to bank upon people's sentiments for personal interests. Such incidents and many others make it a moral responsibility of every citizen to come forward and assist in curbing this social crime.

Mansi gupta writes about identity theft .

Preventing Identity Theft

What is Identity Theft? It is the theft of your personal information, such as social security number, driver's license number, credit card and bank account numbers, mother's maiden name, and more, with the intent to obtain credit and credit cards from banks and retailers, steal money from the victim's existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy or obtain a job using the victim's name.

Did you know that in some states Identity Theft is not even against the law? The victim has to prove their innocence. This shocks most Identity Theft Victims, as it should. It shocks me. Law Enforcement and Credit Card Services should be there to help, but in many cases they don't.

Being prepared, just in case someone steals your identity is a must. It may be inconvenient, but unless you want to go out and try to use your credit card one day, just to find that someone else has been using your identity to make purchases and your card is no longer accepted, then you need to take steps to prevent your identity from being stolen. It can take years to clear this up if it happens to you, so a little prevention now is the answer.

Facts about Identity Theft;

? It is considered by law enforcement to be an absolute epidemic, the fastest growing crime in the United States at this time.

? For the criminal, identity theft is a relatively low-risk, high-reward endeavor. Credit card issuers often don't prosecute thieves who are apprehended. Why? The firms figure it's not cost efficient. They can afford to write off a certain amount of fraud as a cost of doing business.

? Recently criminals have been using the victim's identity to commit crimes ranging form traffic infractions to felonies. How would you like to find out you are wanted for a crime you know nothing about? It has happened.

? All that is needed is your social security number, your birth date and other identifying information such as your address and phone number and whatever else they can find out about you. With this information, and a false driver's license with their own picture, they can begin the crime.

? If you wait until it happens to you, it's a nightmare. You won't know until you are denied credit or a creditor contacts you about a charge you know nothing about.

How do I prevent Identity Theft?

At Home;

? If you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home, make sure your personal information is not readily available to them.

? Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.

? Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail. To opt out of receiving offers of credit in the mail, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).

? Give your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers. If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company uses your Social Security number as your policy number.

At Work;

? Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor's offices or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.

Online;

? If you do financial transactions over the Internet, read their privacy and or security statements. You want to know who they share your personal information with. You want to know they use a "secure server" for transactions. You want to know how they store your personal information. If you don't like what you hear, don't do your business at that website. There are always alternatives.

? Use PayPal. You can transfer a limited number of funds into your paypal account and use it to buy merchandise online instead of your credit card.

? Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with.

? Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Check an organization's website by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves may create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information.

Going Out;

? Carry only the identification information and the credit and debit cards that you'll actually need when you go out. Don't carry your social security card with you unless you expect to need it.

Should I buy identity theft insurance?

Some companies offer insurance or similar products that claim to give you protection against the costs associated with resolving an identity theft case. Be aware that most creditors will only deal with you to resolve problems, so the insurance company in most cases will not be able to reduce that burden. As with any product or service, make sure you understand what you're getting before you buy. If you decide to buy an identity theft insurance product, check out the company with your local Better Business Bureau, consumer protection agency and state Attorney General to see if they have any complaints on file.

Conclusion: Be smart. If someone is asking for your personal information, anyone, including friends, acquaintances, companies, stores, websites, or anyone else, ask questions. Find out why they need this information, what they are going to do with it, how long do they keep it stored, who they share it with, and how can you be sure it is going to be kept secure.

For more information on how to obtain credit cards, reduce credit card debt, or prevent Identity Theft, go to http://creditcards.youngparentsmagazine.com Jennifer also has a lot of information at http://www.youngparentsmagazine.com for young parents. Chris McElroy runs a missing children?s organization at http://www.kidsearchnetwork.org

9 Sensible Steps To Prevent Identity Theft BEFORE It Happens

Unfortunately, identity theft has become the crime of the new millenium. Though credit card companies and various agencies work to prevent it, it is, ultimately, the responsibility of each individual to take their own precautionary measures against this crime.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can be taken, even today, to protect ourselves and, better still, prevent a theft from taking place at all. Below are 11 recommended steps that anyone can take, today, to prevent this from happening or to lessen the effects if it has already happened.

At the end of this article is a list of telephone numbers EVERYONE should keep on file.

PREVENTION 1. When ordering checks never put your full name on them, only your first initial and last name. If your checkbook is stolen the thief will not know how you sign your checks. But, because your bank keeps a copy of your signature on file, it will and can stop the payment of checks with forged signatures.

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the whole account number on the "For" line. Your check passes through many hands, both at the credit card company and at the bank, anyone of which has access to all the information on your check, as well as your credit card number. Instead, put only the last four digits of the account number, which is sufficient for the credit card company to identify your account.

3. Put your WORK phone number on your checks instead of your home phone number. And, if you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. In this way, a thief cannot gain access to other accounts you have, some of which use the the name-address-telephone number combination for verification.

4. NEVER pre-print your social security or driver's license numbers on your checks. You can add it, if necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Do NOT sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" in the signature area or just leave it blank. To be really dilligent, while paying, if the clerk does not ask for a photo ID, make mention of this and insist on showing it. It will teach them to be more dilligent as well.

6. Be dilligent. In rural areas, one way a thief can steal your identity is through your mail delivery. Though it is a Federal crime to go into someone else's mailbox, even to put something IN it, many mailboxes are left unattended for hours a day after the mail arrives. If you are missing any bills, especially a combination of utility and credit card bills, contact the companies immediately. With this combination thieves have been known to put in a "change of address" as they pay the minimum on a bill, then call and have a new card issued with the new address, even a new name on a secondary card. Within a week, the thief may be using your credit card without ANYTHING APPEARING TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

7. While traveling abroad, keep a photocopy of your passport with you. If the original is stolen, you can take the copy to the local consul and prevent it from being used again.

8. Photocopy both sides of the entire contents of your wallet, including driver's license, social security card, etc. Keep these copies in a safe place so that, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you have a quick inventory of what was in it. Write the contact information for each company/agency with this copy-- the sooner you can report the theft, the better. Having the combination of your SSN and Driv Lic, as well as your credit card information and address, thieves can do more than simply make purchases. They can also get MORE credit cards, made out in their own name, make major purchases, such as vehicles, even apply for bank loans-- all in your name. Remember, time is of the essence.

9. Even online identities must be protected, especially email addresses related to individual websites. Spammers use robots to comb the internet for email addresses like these, then insert your email address in the "from" section of their Spam, thus avoiding detection or causing the complaints to be reverted to you. Scammers use this information as the contact email for disreputable sales, such as in auction sites like eBay. There are simple, free programs available (such as the scrambler at acme-web-design.info) that will scramble the email addresses on websites.

PROTECTION, POST THREAT If or when your credit cards or checkbook are lost or stolen there are still several steps you can take to lessen the severity of the theft. Most of all, the faster you act, the less you will suffer. Identity thieves know they are working against the clock and will dump your information as soon as they sense that the theft has been detected. If you're very dilligent, you may escape with little or no damage.

1. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations (these telephone numbers are listed below) immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit or charges.

2. File a police report immediately within the jurisdiction where your wallet stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

3. Alert the credit card companies and your bank personally.

4. Sign Up with a reputable identity theft prevention service. Don't assume you are part of one just because your credit card company has some protection available. This only protects your account with THEM. These companies will collect all the necessary information from you and, with one call, most or all of the steps, above, will be handled by them.

Below are the contact numbers you need When your wallet has been stolen. The first three are the major credit agencies, and the fourth is the fraud line at the Social Security Administration. A driver's license or passport will be reported when the police are notified.

1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2. Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Though Identity theft is one of the worst crimes of our time, these simple steps and pre-cautions can save the average consumer months, if not years, of grief and very real damage to their financial status. No one is safe.--mo

 

Marige O'Brien works as a writer, web designer and Internet Marketer.
Visit her Website, Tracker Mo's Den.??For other solutions to identity theft, visit Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., which offers Identity Theft Shield.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Identity theft has become the fastest growing criminal activity in the 20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales. For the perpetrators, it offers the highest profit margin with the least risk. In fact, according to one expert, it is estimated that fewer than 1-in-700-identity crimes actually result in a conviction.

In the United States alone, Identity theft has reached $53 billion dollars a year. Consumers are directly shouldering about $5 billion of that, but the rest, which is paid by businesses and retailers, is passed on indirectly to consumers who are paying more for goods and services.

How BIG is this Problem?

In recent months, there has been a rash of reports about big thefts, where criminals are stealing identities in mass quantities. Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house servers storing passwords or other sensitive, private information have all reported "break-ins" that happened through the use of Trojan viruses and other online hacking methods - resulting in the loss of millions of pieces of information being stolen. There have also been instances of the information just getting "lost", of employees selling it and other lax security measures resulting in the same thing - thieves having access to your identity.

What do Thieves Want?

- Your Name - Date of Birth - Home Address - Phone Numbers - Social Security Number - Driver's License Number - Credit Card Numbers - CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of your credit card) - Your Credit Report - ATM Cards - Telephone Calling Cards - Mortgage Details

Where Are They Getting All Your Information?

High-tech methods include online thefts from:

- Banks - Credit-Reference Agencies - Retailers - Credit Card Networks - Data-Brokerage Companies - Payment Processing Companies - Phone Companies - Schools - Your Employer - Doctors, Clinics and Health Departments - Government Agencies

But there are still low-tech methods that are effective as well:

- Dumpster Diving - Mail Theft - Retail Theft - "Phishing"/pretexting/pretending - Purse/Wallet Theft

What are Thieves Using Your Information For?

- Making charges to your existing credit cards - Opening new credit cards in your name - Having phone or utilities turned on - Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts - Employment purposes - Driver's Licenses - Tax Fraud - Social Service benefits - Student loans - Business or Personal loans - Health care - Mortgage loans/leases - Auto loans - Using your ID when caught committing a crime

How Can You Protect Yourself?

- Keep a photocopy of all your credit cards, bank account numbers and investment account numbers in a safe place - Keep your credit card receipts - don't throw them away in a public place - Put a "fraud alert" on all your credit reports - If you apply for credit and the card doesn't arrive on time, call the card issuer - Choose difficult to guess PIN numbers or passwords. (Don't use birth dates, your mother's maiden name, pet's name, etc.) - Never give personal information to anyone who sends you an email, a letter or calls you asking for it - Shred any personal information - such as bills, credit card or bank statements, even pre-approved credit applications before throwing them away - Don't use the ATM machine if someone is watching you - Pay attention to what's going on around you - cell phones often have cameras in them. If someone is standing close by you with a cell phone while you're entering a PIN number at the ATM or in line at the grocery store, block their view - Review your bills each month for unusual or suspicious charges. If there's something you don't remember or doesn't seem right, call the creditor right away - Check your credit report at least once a year - Store your cancelled checks safely, or better yet, have the bank do it. You can always get a copy if you need one. - Don't leave your purse in plain sight when driving - Keep your valuable locked in the trunk or glove box when driving - Make all personal information on your laptop or computer password protected - Don't carry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and account numbers in your purse or wallet; or at least don't make them easily identifiable as to which account they belong to

Warning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen:

- Although you have good credit, a loan application is denied, or you're refused extended credit requests - You are suddenly contacted by a debt-collection agency - Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house broken into - There is unfamiliar activity on your credit report

What to do if it Happens to You:

- If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police immediately, and file a report. Make sure that you're given a report number - Contact your bank, credit card and other credit extending companies and report the theft - Close the accounts - Contact the credit-reporting companies in your area, and report the theft. - Review your credit report every 90 days for the next year for suspicious activity - If there is fraudulent activity, have it removed immediately and monitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year - Put everything in writing, and follow up with your credit card companies, banks, and credit reporting agencies. Keep copies of all supporting documents - File a report with the Federal Trade Commission - Change the passwords on your existing accounts and create new ones for new accounts

Identity theft is real, and it's a growing problem, and it could happen to you. Although there are no guarantees that you can keep your information safe, by paying attention to the risks and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your chances of someday having an "identity crisis". Good luck!

David Neese is a real estate investing author who offers a free course for real estate investors delivered by email, audio and teleseminar which you can get for free at: http://www.FreeRealEstateInvestingCourses.com You can find more information about David at http://www.DigitalSuccessCoach.com

Identity Theft Protection and Awareness for Travelers

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of the 21st Century. As a traveler, you should know the unobvious ways that you can become a victim of this serious crime and how you can protect yourself and your family.

Travel plans are made over the internet, the telephone, in person at a physical location or faxed in. It does not matter. Each method has a level of risk. Regardless of how you book your reservations, your personal information will still end up on the company's computer and stored in their databases.

The company will put your personal information on their computers manually if necessary. Many companies (including some large major corporations) do not protect your personal information the way they are suppose to. They store and transfer your information without using the proper safeguards. So when a criminal hacks into the company's computer and steals personal information, they will steal everybody's personal information regardless of how you originally gave it to the company.

Usually they do not just steal a couple of dozen people's personal information. Normally when they are able to get your personal information from the computer of a merchant, company or organization that stored it on a badly or unprotected database, they will steal thousands or millions or people's identity at one time.

If you become a victim of Identity Theft, your life can suddenly turn into a totally unbelievable and unimaginable disaster. The longer you take to correct the problem, the worse it will continue to get.

Therefore, you should concentrate on protecting yourself by prevention rather than risk having to go through the entire stressful, very time consuming and sometimes expensive procedures to recover by clearing your name and correcting your credit report.

Anybody can become an Identity Theft victim, but TRAVELERS are more like huge walking targets with flashing neon lights all around them which makes it very easy for them to become victims. Travelers very often neglect to take the very basic common sense steps to protect themselves and their families from this crime. Identity Theft continues to increase because while criminals are educating themselves getting technologically smarter, many people are just letting their guard down and going around with the attitude that "It can't happen to me".

It is much worse than just having someone steal your credit card and then go on a shopping spree. Once criminals steal your identity, they can get new credit cards, open new accounts, take out new loans and leave all of these unpaid bills in your name to end up on your credit report. You might even be arrested for crimes that you did not commit.

What all started out to be a fun family vacation or a required business trip, could result in you having your good credit totally destroyed if you are not careful.

Whether you are at the hotel front desk checking in, at a car rental company or anywhere else, whenever you allow your credit or debit card to leave your sight, you are at risk for becoming an Identity Theft victim.

A few years ago, I was very lucky when I had to deal with a car rental company. I got to learn a very important lesson the EASY way, before any serious damage had occurred. Most people are not that lucky. The whole experience made me become more aware of the unobvious ways of becoming a victim of Identity Theft which in my case all started with Credit Card Fraud.

I received my credit card in the mail several weeks earlier, but I did not activate it. On the day I needed to rent a car for one day, I called and activated the credit card. The Car Rental Company I used is well known and one of the largest in the world. I went into the company in person. No part of the transaction was done over the phone or on the internet.

I did not use that credit card for anything else after that day. So the only ones who had my credit card number was this car rental company. My monthly credit card bill was suppose to be a total of about $25. However, there were several charges made every few days in the range between $20 to about $50 that I never made. The total charges were over $400.

Unlike most people with this problem, I was able to immediately call my credit card company and I told them the name of the Car Rental Company that was responsible for this fraudulent activity. I even sent them copies of the paper work so that they could follow up with their investigation and identify the specific employee who was the only person who I had ever given my credit card information to since I activated the credit card. They deleted all of the fraudulent charges and credited my account. The whole case was resolved very fast and easily. Very little time had elapsed.

I am still 100% absolutely sure that the Car Rental Company was responsible for neglecting to protect my credit card information. However, to this day I still do not know how it happened.

Maybe the employee that I gave my credit card to used it to commit the crime. He could have just carelessly left my personal information on his computer screen or on a piece of paper on his desk, walked away for a few minutes while another employee passed by and took it knowing that the 1st employee would be blamed if anything happen. Another possibility is that he could have thrown away a piece of paper that had my information on it which he did not shred properly and somebody that went through the trash found it and started using it. Or as we discussed, somebody from outside of the company could have hacked into the car rental company's computer and stole my personal information along with a few hundred to several thousand other customers.

Part of the reason why Identity Theft is on the rise and continuing to escalate is because unlike other crimes, there are so many people who do not realize the fact that they are at risk and they live in denial until something happens to them.

Travelers often go to restaurants. Most people would not walk down a dark alley in the middle of the night in a known high crime area because they know it is not safe. They clearly understand the risk involved. It seems really simple.

But these same people will go to a restaurant and at the end of the meal, the waiter gives them the bill. They think nothing of giving their credit card to the waiter who walks away with it. People will sit there at the table completely clueless, unaware of the dangerous risk they just exposed themselves to. They watch their credit cards disappear out of their sight for a few moments after voluntarily giving them to a complete stranger. That is all it takes for a crime to initiate.

Restaurants and any other place of business could have the customers walk up to the cash register and let them give their credit cards to the cashier right over the counter, run the credit cards in front of the customers so it never leaves the customers' sight. It is probably safer to use your credit cards on the internet using secure websites than it is to give it to a waiter to pay your restaurant bill, who walks away with it for a period of time.

Do you to call on the phone to book your reservations for your airline ticket, hotel, cruise, or car rental and you give your credit card information over the phone?

First the obvious, you know it is not safe to give your credit card information to a telemarketer who is a total stranger and calls you at your home.

But do you know the risk of calling a company yourself to place any kind of an order and giving your credit card information over the phone?

This may be less obvious. Telemarketing is the easiest job anybody can get. Positions are for both inbound and outbound calls. Even with no experience, you can still walk into a company in the morning and all you have to show is some enthusiasm, motivation, the ability to read a sales script, knowledge of some basic computer skills and you may be working on the phones the same day.

It is not unusual that there is no criminal background check, no personal reference check, no employment history check, no drug screening test AND in many cases the people working as telemarketers are not always employees, they are often times working as Independent Contractors. Also, there is often a very high turn over rate at call centers.

So what does all of this have to do with you as a traveler? You could be giving your credit card information to people who have unknown backgrounds and highly questionable integrity and character. They may be long gone by the time you realize that anything is wrong and you find yourself dealing with all kinds of credit problems. The bottom line is, nobody is completely safe. When it comes to Identity Theft, you cannot entirely control whether you will become a victim. But there are certain protection steps travelers can take toward prevention and to minimize your risks. Be sure to take all safety precautions.

Use a firewall on your computer. Monitor your credit on regular bases for any unusual and/or questionable activity. You should be able to understand credit report or have a Fraud Specialist assist you with identifying and alerting you to fraud issues. It is safer for you to know rather than to guess. That way you can detect and respond quickly to fraudulent activity.

If somebody does manage to steal your identity, then you need to find out about it in the earliest stages possible so you can take immediate action before things get completely out of control and you can get your life back to normal as soon as possible.

Stephanie Gibbs created http://www.travelcheaphotline.com to educate people about Travel Safety for crime prevention and provide solutions with a FREE Travel Safety List available to be printed right off the website. It also promotes fun & amazing offers for people with low limited budgets.

Identity Theft And Pharming - A New Twist On An Old Theme

Identity theft is big business and, like it or not, the likelihood that you will become a victim is increasing. As the Internet and its popularity have grown, the number of unscrupulous operators out there has grown as well. There are so many scams and attack methods out there it is difficult to keep up with them.

One of the identity thief's more productive techniques is phishing. A phishing scam is one where an email message contains a link to a web site that asks for personal information. The scam uses social engineering to trick people to go to a web site they would not normally visit. A common scam is one in which an email that looks like it has come from a bank or credit card company asks you to "click on this link" to update your user information. There is generally a part of the email that tries to convey a sense of urgency to get you to "do it now". When you click on the link you are actually forwarded to a thief's web site that is designed to look like your bank or credit card company's web site. You are then asked to provide information, such as user id, password, and other identifying information. Identity thieves use this information to open or use credit accounts and steal money from unsuspecting consumers.

Phishing attacks are relatively easy the spot and avoid. Never follow links in email messages unless you know the link is valid. Compare the actual link address with the text you see. If you are expecting to go to PayPal.com, make sure the link really takes you there. You can view the hyperlink before you click on it buy pointing your mouse cursor at the link. Most email clients and web browsers will show you what the actual address is before you click on it. If the address doesn't match the web site address you expected to see, don't click on the link. Likewise, NEVER provide any personal information from an unsolicited source. You will also see the address you are visiting in your web browser's address bar. Make sure you are visiting the site you expect.

There is a new trend in identity theft, called pharming. Well, it is actually a fairly old type of attack put to a new and alarming use. The basic attack generally relies on DNS poisoning or domain spoofing. The difference between phishing and pharming is that while phishing targets individuals, pharming targets large groups of people. Before we get into a discussion of a pharming attack, let's look at a short primer on how Internet addresses work.

Anytime you type in an address in your web browser, such as http://www.somecompany.com, your computer needs to find the Internet Protocol (IP) address before sending any information. There are two main methods for finding IP addresses for web site addresses. The legacy method consists of a file, called the 'hosts' file, that lists all of the host names you may want to visit, along with their IP addresses. The other method is to send a name resolution request to a Dynamic Name Server (DNS). The DNS server looks up the address in its database and returns the corresponding IP address. Once your computer looks up the IP address for http://www.somecompany.com, it then uses the IP address for all further communication.

A pharming attack is one where the host file or DNS entry is modified to send users to a counterfeit web site. The slightly simpler of the two attacks is the host file modification. This can be accomplished with a virus or worm. It is generally harder to compromise DNS servers. With the phishing attack, a careful view of your web browser's address bar will show that you are visiting a site you did not expect. Pharming attacks are more difficult to detect since your web browser tells you that you are at the right site even when you really aren't.

The effect of a pharming attack is that all users who want to go to a particular site end up being redirected to a thief's site. While this might sound similar to a phishing attack, it can be much worse. There is no indication to the end user that a redirect has occurred. The web browser still shows the original web address. This behavior makes pharming attacks more difficult to detect. Also, if the thief is able to change DNS entries on a commonly used DNS server, all users who request IP addresses from the compromised server will be sent to the counterfeit site.

So, how do you protect yourself from a pharming attack? Much of the work in stopping pharming attacks is up to the DNS administrators. They will be responsible for ensuring any DNS entry changes are authentic. But, there are some steps you can take. Following these guidelines will reduce your chances of becoming a pharming victim:

Install and update a good anti-virus program. Since many attacks start as malicious software, protecting your system from viruses and other malicious software will go a long way toward stopping an attack before any information is changed.

Protect your 'hosts' file. On Windows operating systems, the hosts file resides at: (assuming C:Windows is where your OS installed) C:Windowssystem32driversetchosts. On Unix systems, it resides at /etc/hosts. You can manually check your hosts file to ensure no unusual entries have been put there or you can install software shields that watch the hosts file for you (along with anti-virus software).

Know the sites you visit and carefully protect any information you give out. Never divulge any information for any reason unless you are absolutely certain the information is necessary and you are providing it to the correct organization. If your bank web site, or any other web site, asks you to provide confidential information, call their customer service department to get confirmation that the information is needed. Don't call the number on the web site (it may be compromised). Look up the number in the phone book or use directory assistance.

As more and more web sites start using digital certificates to authenticate their identities, you will begin to see more popup windows asking you to accept these certificates the first time you visit the web site. Always read the certificate details and ensure the web site really is the one you wanted to visit. If you are unsure, reject the certificate.

We will all hear more about pharming in the coming months. Its use is growing. This is just another opportunity to remind as many people as possible to be careful with the sites you visit and the information you give out. Protect your personal information. Not doing so can be very expensive.

Michael G. Solomon is a security speaker, consultant and author who specializes in assessing and fixing security vulnerabilities. Michael has written several security certification, security education, and project management books and offers more educational materials at http://www.thesecurityguy.net.

Identity Theft - Understanding And Preventing The Fastest Growing Crime

Identity theft is a crime that directly affected over 9.9 million people last year. That?s right, the US Postal Service reports that identity theft cost victims over $5 billion just last year (http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/idthft_ncpw.htm). We all hear about identity theft, but what is it really?

Simply put, identity theft is a crime that occurs when one person uses another person?s identity without that person?s knowledge or authority. Criminals can put a person?s identity to many uses. Some of the most common uses for someone else?s identity are:

Open new credit accounts or loans
Use existing credit accounts
Get a job
Commit a crime

Since each of the activities listed above results in consequences it is vitally important that the right identity be associated with each action. Purchasing on credit requires someone to pay the bills. Receiving income from a job obligates the employee to pay taxes. Committing a crime has penalties for the guilty parties. All of these consequences depend on knowing the identity of the person who is responsible for the action. A criminal can attempt to avoid the consequences of actions by using someone else?s identity.

For example, let?s say that Carl Crook steals the identity of Fred Goodguy. All Carl really needs is some of Fred?s personal information, such as his social security number and his birth date. Carl uses this information to open 2 new credit accounts and goes on a shopping spree. The next month Fred receives 2 very large credit card bills for items he has never seen. After calling the credit card company he realizes his identity has been stolen. Carl has the stuff and Fred is stuck with the bills.

If you find yourself in a similar situation to Fred, don?t worry. With some work you can clear your good name and get your credit back to the way it should be. It?s not painless, but it is possible and there is plenty of help out there. You are not alone. In fact, by quickly reporting problems to your credit card companies, you will not be required to pay for someone else?s misuse of your credit.

Although you can recover from having your identity stolen, it is far better to prevent it from happening in the first place. Knowing what criminals can do with your identity is the first best step to protecting your identity. It doesn?t do much good to try and protect your identity from some unknown threat. A criminal that can assume your identity can open and access credit accounts, bank and investment accounts, and generally pretend to be you in many ways. Most identity theft actions result in costing you money, but not all. Identity thieves can use your medical background as well to disclose personal information or just to get fraudulent medical services or drugs. The list of what crooks can do with your identity is nearly endless. That?s why you need to do all you can to protect your identity.

So, how do you protect yourself from identity theft? There is much you can do. The overriding theme is to prevent any personal information from getting into the wrong hands. Then, check up on the health of your identity periodically to make sure no one else is using it. There are several simple steps to protect your personal information.

Buy a shredder and use it. Never throw away anything with personal information on it without shredding it first. Identity thieves can find a lot of useful information in most peoples? trash cans. Once you throw it away, it is fair game. All a thief has to find is one ?pre-approved? credit card application or an investment statement to make sorting through your garbage worth the effort.
Never carry your Social Security card with you! Your social security number (SSN) provides access to your most private financial information. Don?t take the risk of letting it fall into the wrong hands. Also, make sure no other ID cards or accounts use your SSN as their ID number. Again, your SSN is too valuable to disclose.

Do not leave your mail sitting in your mailbox for long periods of time. That ?pre-approved? credit card offer just sits in your mailbox until you take it out. Do not give crooks extra time to sort through your mail. Likewise, do not send any sensitive mail, such as checks or applications with financial information, from your own mailbox. Raising the red flag on your mailbox alerts everybody that you have outgoing mail, even thieves. Use a secure drop box instead.

Never divulge any personal information to anyone unless you initiated contact and know who you are talking to. Do not give out any information to anyone who calls you.

Do NOT carry passwords or PINs in your wallet (or anywhere on your person). If a thief steals or finds your wallet with your ATM card and your PIN, nothing will stop him from draining your bank account.

Destroy sensitive information when it is no longer needed. Shred all documents that contain personal information instead of storing them for long periods of time. Unless there is a real need for documents, such as tax supporting documents, get rid of old documents.

The preceding list is only a start. But following these simple guidelines will help you avoid becoming an identity theft statistic. In addition to preventative measures, you need to review your credit report at least annually. Each of the three major credit bureaus must provide you with a free credit report each year. They also provide services for additional fees that allow you to access your credit report more often, and even will alert you when others request copies of your credit report. You can contact each bureau for more information:

Experian, PO Box 2002, Allen TX 75013 www.experian.com 888-397-3742

Equifax, PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30348 www.equifax.com 800-685-1111

Trans Union, PO Box 4000, Chester, PA 19016 www.transunion.com 866-887-2673

Michael G. Solomon is a security speaker, consultant and author who specializes in assessing and fixing security vulnerabilities. Michael has written several security certification, security education, and project management books and offers more educational materials at http://www.thesecurityguy.net.

5 Simple Steps To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

Are you the victim of identity theft? According to Joanna Crane of the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Program, 80% of the victims who call the FTC say they have no idea how it happened.

Furthermore, an FTC survey reported that 4.6% of those polled reported that they had been a victim of identity theft within the past year. Additionally, according to a recent General Accounting Office report, it is estimated that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year.

Is this an invisible enemy and are American's personal and financial information that easily accessible to identity thieves? What can the average American do to protect themselves from these personal attacks on their privacy? Although there are no guarantees, here are five simple steps to help prevent identity theft:

1) Shred private credit card statements, tax documents, bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers or any other documentation with private financial information.

2) If you are inundated with pre-approved credit card offers you can call toll free 1-888-567-8688 to opt out and request to have your name removed from the mailing list. In addition, you can call the national do not call registry at 1-888-382-1222 to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls where you could divulge personal information.

3) Monitor your credit report at least once a year. You are entitled to a free credit report and can get one by calling 1-877-322-8228. Look for suspicious activity. It is also wise to subscribe to a credit protection service which will inform you of changes in your credit report.

4) Check your mailbox daily and do not allow mail to sit overnight in your mailbox. Mail theft is an easy way for thieves to secure personal information. It is best to mail outgoing bills and checks at the post office or other secure locations. If you believe your mail has been stolen you must contact the nearest postal inspector. You can look in the white pages under Government Services or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

5) Be defensive and more guarded with your information. Do not divulge your personal information freely. Never "validate" your personal or financial information when contacted through an email, even if it is a company you do business with; they have this information on file. It may look legitimate and realistic, but these attempts are getting more sophisticated and these types of scams are what is known as "phishing".

We have explored five simple steps that the average person can do to help themselves prevent identity theft. In this age of advanced communications and technology and with the thieves getting more deceptive than ever, it is imperative to continue to educate yourself. Be cautious and understand that this information can be abused and it is up to you to safeguard yourself and your famliy from this growing trend.Robert Benson operates http://www.ezshoppinghere.com a web site devoted to helping shoppers find unique gifts in unique places. Find Three Stooges Memorablilia, Collectibles, Home Decor, Novelties and more articles from Robert at the web site.

Identity Theft Protection

Protecting your personal and financial information against identity theft is something that everyone should be concerned about. Even though there is no one solution to guarantee your protection against identity theft, there are ways to minimize your risk by wisely managing your personal information.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from identity theft is to review your credit report as frequently as possible. You should review your credit report at least once a year. Keeping a watchful eye on your credit report will alert you to any unauthorized accounts or any possible fraudulent activity. Obtaining a copy of your credit report is easy and well worth the little amount of effort it takes to do so. There are even many companies that will provide you with a copy of your credit report for free.

Many of the companies that will provide you with a copy of your credit report free of charge can be found on the Internet. Most of these websites will also provide you with other helpful resources and information relating to protecting your identity and credit.

Other ways to keep your identity safe is to not to reveal any personal information until you find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. This means never giving out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you were the one to initiate the transaction.

Putting passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts is another way to protect yourself against identity theft. Avoid using easily available information like your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number, or your pet's or your mother's maiden name. Sadly, an identity thief may be someone you're acquainted with, like a store clerk who would have personal knowledge of such information.

To protect yourself from having mail stolen that contains important personal or financial information, deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office instead of leaving it in your mailbox for pick up. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you're planning a vacation, have your mail held at the post office.

It only takes one person to destroy another person?s credit rating. By following these simple tips you can dramatically increase the chances of protecting your identity and your credit. By keeping tabs on your credit report and playing it smart with your personal information you will keep your personal information as safe as possible.This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports and protecting your identity please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com today!

Identity Theft - Red Flags That May Indicate You're a Victim

You've heard the "buzz" about identity theft, but what exactly is identity theft? According to Wikipedia, identity theft (or identity fraud) is the deliberate assumption of another person's identity, usually to gain access to their finances or frame them for a crime.

"Dumpster diving" (someone going through your trash), "shoulder surfing" (someone watching from a nearby location as you punch in your credit card number or ATM PIN # or eavesdropping as you give your personal information over the phone) and "phishing" (someone sending an email that appears to be from a legitimate business) are only a few ways of obtaining your personal information.

Once they have obtained your personal information, identity thieves often change the address on your bills, keeping you unaware that your identity has been stolen unless you are aware of when your bills normally arrive in the mail, keep track of what you charge and check your credit reports annually.

Here are several red flags that indicate you may be a victim of identity theft:

1. You check your credit reports annually and find there are new charge cards showing with companies you don't know.

2. You receive a bill for a credit card account you didn't open.

3. You notice charges on your credit card statement you did not authorize.

4. You haven't received your bills or credit card statements when they normally arrive.

5. Your bank statements show unauthorized transfers or withdrawals.

6. You receive a call from a collection agency about an account you never opened.

7. You receive calls from businesses about merchandise you didn't buy.

8. You're denied credit because debts show up on your credit reports that don't belong to you.

If you notice any of these red flags, don't panic - there may be a logical explanation. But DO follow up on it right away. If it appears you may be a victim of identity theft, go to http://understandingidentitytheft.com/articles/article-67.html for a list of steps you should take immediately to rectify the situation.Debbie Pettitt is the webmaster of two web sites designed to provide you the latest news and information on identity theft and credit scores. For further information on identity theft, visit http://understandingidentitytheft.com. For information on how to check and/or correct your credit score, go to http://yourcreditscoreranking.com

Identity Theft - Your Prevention Guide

Identity theft occurs when someone illegally obtains your personal information (social security number, credit card numbers or some other personal information) and uses that information to apply for loans or credit cards under your name or to make unauthorized purchases or gain access to your financial accounts. It is extremely prevalent these days, but there are steps you can take which will reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. NEVER give out personal information (date of birth, social security number, credit card numbers) over the phone, by email or on the internet unless you initiated the contact and know whom you're dealing with. If your social security number is requested, ask if another form of ID could be substituted in its place.

2. ALWAYS shred papers that have your personal information on them before throwing them away. Papers that should be shredded include credit card receipts, checks, bank statements, credit card statements, expired credit cards and pre-approved credit card offers. Cross-cut shredders are great for this purpose.

3. Keep accurate and current records of all your credit cards and who you should contact in case they are lost or stolen. You may want to take copies of your credit cards and write the customer service number on the copy. If you are not currently using some of your credit cards, you should keep them securely locked away. Other things to keep in a secure location include: unused checks, your social security card, bank statements and credit card statements.

4. ALWAYS make sure you get your copy of a credit card receipt when making a purchase. Check to make sure your credit card was returned to you as well.

5. Check your credit reports annually. There are three credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Every year, you are allowed one free credit report from each of these credit reporting agencies. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to order your free credit reports, ordering one from a different agency every 4 months.

6. ALWAYS make sure there are no "shoulder surfers" around when you are keying in your PIN number at an ATM or store. Be careful that no one overhears you when giving out your credit card number or personal information over the phone.

7. When purchasing on the internet, always make sure the site you're using is secure. You know you're on a secure site if the web address changes from http:// to https:// when you click on "buy" or "add to cart." You will also note a lock or key symbol in the lower corner of the web page.

8. On your own computer, use a firewall and virus protection. Use passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols to make them more difficult to break. Never use PIN numbers that are obvious, such as your birth date, street number, phone number, the last four digits of your social security number or any consecutive numbers. Memorize your PIN number-do not write it down. If your mother's maiden name is requested for security purposes, use a password instead-one you will remember.

9. NEVER respond to emailed requests from banks or creditors to update your information. You should always call the institution directly or go to their website (do NOT use the website the email directs you to) to update your information. Rarely do banks or other institutions request such information by email, and it is a simple task for someone to create a website that looks just like your bank's or creditor's.

10. If you receive lots of pre-approved credit card offers in the mail, call (888) 5OPT OUT to have your name removed from the marketing lists sold by the major credit bureaus.

11. Drop off outgoing mail at your post office or collection box rather than leaving it in your mailbox for pick up.

12. Have new checks mailed to your bank and pick them up there.

13. Place passwords on your bank accounts, brokerage accounts and credit card accounts for protection. Once again, use a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.

14. Consider an ID theft insurance policy.

15. Register with Equifax Credit Watch?. Equifax Credit Watch? makes monitoring your report easy by automatically alerting you within 24 hours of key changes in your Equifax Credit Report? - like when someone tries to get credit in your name or there are sudden changes in your credit card balances. - so you can act before serious damage is done. Debbie Pettitt teaches you all about identity theft: what it is, how it occurs and what to do if you are a victim at http://understandingidentitytheft.com. If you need help straightening out your credit report, learn all about it at http://yourcreditscoreranking.com.

Minimize your Risk for Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of identity theft incidents reached 9.9 million in 2003. These crimes are estimated to have taken the average victim $500 and 30 hours to resolve.

From stolen credit cards to total identity kidnapping, these ugly and prevalent crimes are hard to prevent and often difficult to correct. Although it is hard to truly avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, there are a few ways you can guard against this damaging crime.

1. Types of identity theft

Identity theft crimes range from purse snatchings to kingpin-style fraud rings. The definition of identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personal information, such as a Social Security number, in order to impersonate someone else. Identity theft can occur when someone takes your mail, steals your wallet or swipes your records from an institution. Most cases can be resolved fairly easily if they are caught early. Creditors and banks usually hold you responsible for only the first $50 of fraudulent charges. The most serious cases of fraud can take several years and many resources to resolve.

2. Preventative measures

In this world of smiling strangers, it can be tough to keep your identity safe. The best security policy is to be aware of fraud and cautious about where you share personal information. Check your account statements carefully each month and keep an eye out for suspicious activity on your credit report. A paper shredder can also be a powerful tool for making sure personal information and pre-approved credit offers don't end up in the wrong hands.

3. If your identity is stolen

If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, the first step is to get all the facts about the damage. Become your own detective-search your credit report and bank accounts for clues. Ask your creditors to immediately cancel any fraudulent charges and consider putting a security alert on your credit report. If the theft is serious, file a police report. If fraudulent records start to show up on your credit report, send letters of dispute to the reporting agencies with copies of documentation supporting your claim. Signing up with a credit monitoring service will inform you of changes to your credit. It may take a while to fully recover the security of your accounts, but it's crucial that you don't let the fraud escalate.

Get your credit report and score NOW! (http://www.legalhelper.ws/credit-reports-online.aspx)

Jeffrey Broobin is a free-lance writer on family and finance issues; his main goal is to help people during their complicated period of life.

Website: http://www.legalhelper.ws

jeffreyb@legalhelper.ws

All HYIPs Are Scams

High Yield Interest Programs, or HYIP for short, are all scams. It is easy to say that objectively but sometimes hard to believe when faced with something that sounds very good. Especially in this day when people are having a harder time making ends meet, something that is listed as a guarantee return is very tempting. The old saying of if it sounds too good to be true than it probably is fits HYIPs very well.

Part of the problem is that HYIPs are not always called by this name. Others are used so even someone who knows to stay away from them might be lured in with a different name. The biggest give away that HYIPs are scams is that people are told there is no risk. This should send red flags off in anyone's head. When it comes to investing money there is always a risk, even if it's minute. As well as the fact that the higher the risk the more money that can be made. It's like when someone gambles, if the stakes are 2 to 1 you won't earn as much as if they are 50 to 1. Less people take the 50 to 1 odds and so less money has to be paid out to the winners. However those that do win win a lot and if they lose they lose a lot too. Being told that you will get all your money back plus a percentage guaranteed is not feasible. No matter what the investor says they know.

Of course it doesn't help that these scam artists have done this thousands of times before and know exactly what to say to the unsuspecting person. They will say that they have done it for so many years, or the company they work for has, or something along those lines. It may be true they have taken money from people for years, the actual payback they have not. One thing that should make a person suspicious is why would they be calling you, a stranger, to benefit from this "guaranteed" investment? They wouldn't. They would be doing it themselves over and over to become rich and maybe telling their families and close friends. No person who has found a way to make money easily, legally, quickly, is going to tell the secret to a complete stranger just to be able to use someone else's money for the return, even if they are taking a percentage of it. It comes down to using common sense to realize it's a scam.

Raiel Schwartz has been in the HYIP Arena for several months and has been able to create a successful income online with HYIP Investing. He has recently wrote a report entitled Riding The Ponzi which outlines basic rules all HYIP Investors should know

Identity Theft Scams

Identity Theft scams continue to flourish on the web. One that you need to be aware of and beware of is any site that seems to be selling high-demand items (digital cameras for instance) at a much lower (almost unbelievable) price than you can find on other sites or the manufacturers site.

Often the victims are told to pay nothing until they receive the merchandise. The person behind the scam uses the victims name and a credit card number belonging to another person to purchase the item at a legitimate site.

Once the item is shipped, the victim then authorizes his credit card to be billed or sends payment directly to the scammer. The scammer has now put you in the position of being in receipt of stolen merchandise while they get away with your money.

Another scam that still seems to be working is being contacted through e-mail by someone claiming to be from your credit card company, your internet service provider, Paypal, or Ebay.

The scammer will send a message stating that your account information needs to be verified because their files were hacked into, their database crashed or they believe that someone has tried to steal your account information and they want to verify your information in order to protect your account. The con artist then uses the information supplied to verify your account to run up fraudulent charges.

NEVER give personal information to a company, such as AOL or Ebay, that already has it. If you are suspicious about being contacted, contact the company yourself before giving out any personal information.

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jimdim815@aol.com