Identity Theft: Phishing In Dangerous Water

Have you received one yet? You know. The email directing you to visit a familiar website where for some odd reason you?re being asked to update your personal information? The website asks you to verify your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account. You recognize the company name as one that you?ve done business with in the past, so you click on the ?take me there? link and proceed to provide all the information they?ve requested. No problem right? Except you find out much later that the website is a fraud. It was created for one reason: to steal your personal information. Welcome to the world of phishing.

Phishing (pronounced as ?fishing?) means to send an email to a recipient falsely claiming to have an established, legitimate business. By fooling the recipient into giving their private information, the phisher has in effect stolen their identity.

It?s not easy to spot an email phishing for information. At first glance, the email may look like it is from a legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's website, but in fact, it is a fake website built to replicate the legitimate site.

Many of these people are professional criminals that have spent considerable time in creating emails that look authentic. Users need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully. When reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" can be easily changed by the sender. While it may look like it?s coming from a company you do business with, looks can be deceiving. Keep in mind that phishers will go all out in trying to make their emails look as legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails. They also like to include a clickable link which the recipient can follow to conveniently ?update? their information.

How do you check to see if the link is authentic? Point at the link with your mouse, and then look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer. The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view. This is a fast and easy way to check if you are being directed to a legitimate site.

Also never and I mean NEVER click the links within the text of the e-mail. Delete the e-mail immediately and empty the trash box in all of your e-mail accounts as well. If you are truly concerned that you are missing an important notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full URL address of the website into your browser. That way you can be confident that you are being directed to the true and legitimate website.

Phishing is a major weapon of choice for online identity thieves. Don?t get hooked.

Daryl Campbell?s website http://fightidtheft.winthemarket.com provides free tips,resources, featured articles from experts and up to the minute news concerning identity theft and fraud.

Protecting Your Social Security Number From Identity Theft

Any victim can tell you identity theft is no laughing matter. The hoops you may have to crawl through for weeks or even years to come, in trying to straighten out your life, can elicit far more tears than laughter. These tears would be most certainly tears of frustration as you do anything and everything to reinstate your good name and most probably your good credit.

Those of you who have no identity theft insurance, which means most of you, will spend at least a part of your day notifying businesses and agencies, credit reporting entities and credit card companies. You will write letters that will need to be notarized, claiming you are indeed the unwitting victim and not the architect of some nefarious plot to ruin your own reputation. Meanwhile, until the matter is cleared, you may suffer mightily as your credit score plummets and bills come due. Bills for things you never purchased.. This translates into being denied credit for products and services you really want or paying higher, penalty interest rates for having such lousy credit.

Identity theft begins with nine little numbers. These nine numbers can mean the world to you. They are the nine digits comprising your Social Security Number, and they are as vulnerable to corruption as a politician at a lobbyist convention. Chances are your Social Security has been disseminated, accidentally or for a job. You probably have it in your wallet and on your computer. It may be crumpled up in your trash can; along with the other papers you didn?t bother shredding. With your Social Security Number and your date of birth safely in hand, an identity thief is off to the races.

These are but a few ways thieves gain access to your Social Security Number. There are even creepier ways, including Internet and database hacking. Then there is your new found lover, the Mr. or Miss Possible you met somewhere or even online. This is the person you dated, brought home and after you fell asleep they went roaming your house, rifled your desk or purse, or rummage your computer for your most intimate files. Doesn?t happen? When you discover to your chagrin someone took out a credit card with your name but at a different address, you?ll know the answer.

To an even greater extreme, your Social Security, accompanied by your date of birth can enable an identity thief to not only acquire credit in your name, but maybe a passport, which can used by or sold to some of our more unsavory members of this planet. While there is an adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity, it?s questionable whether there is anything positive about having your identity associated with a terrorist who just made the headlines on CNN.

Losing your identity to someone else will not only damage your credit and create all sorts of legal troubles. You can face psychological difficulties as well. Besides the task at hand to make your life whole once again, you will feel violated and abused. After all, our very identity is based on?well?our identity, and if some louse has usurped it for his own purposes, then it is understandable that until you repair the damages you feel you have lost at least a little piece of yourself. Identity theft is also embarrassing, because it will become incumbent upon you to explain to everyone that matters why your life has been rendered upside down.

Perhaps the worst part about identity theft is it may be quite awhile before you realize how much damage has been done. If someone applied for credit or ordered credit cards in your name but at a different address, months can pass before you are located and notified of your lapses by either the credit service or the collection agency they send after you. It is a rude awakening the day you get that first call and throughout the day begin to wonder what other shoes may begin to drop. More often than not, if someone secured credit in your name, they will secure more, running the limit in many cases. From that day on you are facing the grim ordeal of cleaning up the mess.

Not all identity theft will relate directly to credit acquisition and unlawful purchases. In Border States especially but no exclusively you may find undocumented workers have somehow come upon your social security number. Perhaps, again, you neglected to shred the sensitive information you dumped into your trashcan. Perhaps he bought it from one of hundreds of peddlers who sell phony documents and someone else?s Social Security Numbers to undocumented workers questing increasingly to appear like legitimate immigrants.

In any event, you Social Security Number is not only used by that one undocumented worker. Chances are he has handed it out to his twelve best friends and family members. You don?t believe me? A woman called me recently to inquire as to why different names appeared on a Social Security Trace she ordered as part of a background check. It seemed odd to her that strange names would be appearing along with her employment candidate on the same document. As a favor, I ran her Social Security Number, and to her considerable chagrin, there was a male name attached to her number as well.

Can this be a problem? Often it is fairly benign and nothing comes of it. But then problems can arise, depending on your new bedfellow?s general behavior and whether he or she attempts to either get credit using your Social Security Number, or whether he or she is suddenly identified as part of a drug cartel or stolen car ring. These things do happen, and they happen when you need it least and least expect it. With the world growing increasingly crazy, what with terrorists and miscreants of every stripe the last thing you need is to be the target of a federal manhunt.

All right, so some of this I may have exaggerated. But not by as much as you think. So, how do you protect against it? Do you call the Social Security Administration? Go ahead, and see what happens there. If it wasn?t so pathetic and frustrating it may even be funny. They can?t do much, they will probably tell you. They are understaffed and overmatched and inundated all at the same time.

So what do you do? First get identity theft insurance. It may not protect you, actually, but most policies will notify you when there is suspected abuse of your credit cards and presumably good name. Credit Card Insurance provides services will assist you in repairing the damage done to your credit and reputation. The insurance will also be helpful in shortening the time and effort involved in making everything whole again. There are numerous policies, many given by credit card companies. I would suggest you shop around.

Run a credit check on yourself on a regular basis. Don?t access just one credit card service, but run all three major reporting companies. They are Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax. There are deals all over the Internet where you can run all three credit services for a total of $25. It is best to run it at least every six to eight months. Monitoring your credit scores on all three services is money well spent.

Finally, we get down to the cheapest and often the best preemptive defense against identity theft, that is besides doing all the foolish things that were mentioned in the earlier paragraphs. Run your own Social Security Trace. There are a variety of reputable companies that should be willing to run your number. Some may require a consent form, verifying you are who you really say you are. This only assists you in protecting your identity, so I would never let that be an obstacle.

When you run your Social Security Trace you will be able to ascertain what names are attached to your number. Sometimes, due to mixed financial efforts, you might your spouse attached, and that is seldom worth concern. It is the strange name or, in some cases, strange names that should cause some alarm. As I noted earlier, this could be undocumented workers who usurped your Social Security Number to appear as a legal worker. Or, worse case scenario, it could be someone out to use your name for their own personal gain.

Once you know that someone has stolen your number, you can notify the appropriate credit services and authorities that there may well be an interloper. You can request they screen any purchases on you accounts and notify you when there are transactions in other cities. Identity Theft insurance will help with that. You can notify the legal authorities, and maybe they will help you track it down. In any event, the faster you become aware that someone has stolen your identity the greater the chance you will minimize the damage.

Finally, there is no reason to live your life with a siege mentality. It is wise to remain aware and to be sentient, especially with regard to who may have stolen your identity. Remember, credit is great but don?t abuse it. Most importantly don?t allow someone else to abuse it for you.

You have only one name. Keep it to yourself.

Tips To Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft cannot be 100% fully prevented. To do so would require a policy of never sharing financial information with anyone, anywhere, anytime. You would not be able to conduct financial transactions in society with that policy. And even if you were able to, your information is already in the records of your physician, bank, the IRS, department of motor vehicles, etc. There is no way to remove this information. Therefore you could become victim to identity theft. However, there are steps you can take to reduce those chances. Internet mail is one of the main sources that perpetrators of identity theft are using to gain access to your personal information. The perpetrator may send threatening emails, or emails that seem appealing. Emails requesting personal financial information are linked to identity theft and arrive in millions of mailboxes worldwide each and every day.

In most cases, no one person is being specifically singled out to become the next victim. It is just not worth the effort involved. Identity thieves are not interested from whom they are stealing the identity from. Instead they focus on targeting as many people as possible as it is a numbers game. The more people they target the higher are the chances that someone will be tricked into volunteering personal financial information.

The senders of these emails are challenging the receiver by using deception, hoping the receiver will give out personal information, such as bank numbers, PIN and passwords, Social Security numbers and other precious information that the thief can use to gain control over your identity. Often these emails state that a bank account or Paypal account has been frozen until information is verified. The victim, being worried that pending transactions will not clear properly, will follow the demand of the email that account information be "updated". The criminal who sent the email will always include a handy link to click on for updating the requested information. Never click on those links.

If you want to avoid identity theft, there are several emails that you may want to bear in mind are SPAM, and you should completely ignore them. One is the forzen account along with a request to update your personal financial information. Another is a claim that you have won x amount of cash, and to act now to receive your prize. If you have not joined a contest, then chances are you have not actually won a prize. A third is an email claiming that you could receive scholarships or grants to attend such and such a college; to earn your degree act now by providing your personal information. These are all fake and designed by criminals to steal your personal financial information. Delete them without a second thought!

Companies that already have your personal information, such as your bank have no reason to ask for this again in an email. In fact, most banks clearly state in their Terms & Conditions that they will never send electronic mail requesting information from the customer at any time. Giving your personal information to someone that sent an email that has your bank name listed in the header is only asking for trouble.

Identity thieves are extremely creative when it comes to stealing identities, including sending emails in respected names. The prestigious FDIC was targeted by thieves; the sender sent emails to recipients of the bank requesting that they provide personal information to avoid closure of their accounts. Microsoft was also targeted by thieves when emails were sent to various inboxes requesting the receiver to download patches to protect their computers. Once the receiver downloaded the attachment, a dangerous virus took control of their computer, leaving a backdoor entry that would give the hacker access to the information stored on the computer.

EBay is also a target for thieves. EBay scams abound. False Paypal payments are common, as well as false or counterfeit checks. Be very wary of anything purported to be from EBay that seems fishy. If you have to think twice about the legitimacy, it is likely a scam. Beware. Here are some helpful tips for you to avoid identity theft as much as possible: 1) Do not open emails if you do not trust the sender.

2) Never give out your personal information over the internet, unless you know that the company can be trusted and is using encryption to secure the web page(s). If Paypal or EBay request your information, which they never have done to this author. go directly to their home page, log into your account there, and see if the request is associated with your account. Never click the link in an email requesting information.

3) Do a background check on any site you are thinking of giving your information to or you are considering buying from. This includes calling the state attorney general's office. 4) Change your PIN numbers and passwords regularly, at as minimum every 6 months. 5) Do not post even general financial information on forums, bulletin boards or discussion boards online.

6) Conceal your personal information at all times, including at home. 7) Never give your personal information over the phone line. 8) When using ATM or other machines to make deposits, withdrawals, or purchases make sure no one sees you type in your PIN number.

9) Do not just throw personal information, such as bank statements or letters containing your postal address, account numbers or any sensitive information in the trash. This is a favorite place for criminals to search. Put it through a shredder first.? 10) Never mail your tax return by putting it in your mailbox with the flag up. Criminals will drive neighborhoods during tax season searching for tax returns. These are the ultimate sources of information for identity theft.

Greg Roy is a leading identity theft author. To find out more about the increasing danger of identity theft, please visit http://identi.ty-theft.com.

Preventing Identity Theft

Unfortunately, one of the growing trends in today?s society is identity theft. Identity theft can happen to anyone and while most identity theft happens online due to hacking, there are dozens of situations where personal information was lost or stolen by a third party . If you are a victim of identity theft your credit rating can suffer. Here are some tips on combating bad credit and identity theft.

If your wallet has been lost, credit card stolen or your computer has been hacked it is important to notify all three credit bureaus immediately (Experian, Expedia and Trans Union). Usually, you will be able to put a block on your account, only allowing a new credit card or loan to be opened with your prior approval. Besides notifying the credit bureaus it is important to complete a police report for your records.

If you have been a victim of identity theft or would like to prevent identity theft the best preventive measure is to regularly request a copy of your credit report. Credit reports are usually given out for free to most US residents, depending on your state upon request each year. For people that think they have been a victim of identity theft, it is a good idea to request a credit report every six months or less.

Reviewing your credit report can usually tell if theft or fraud has occurred. You can easily see if a new account has been opened or new loans have been taken out. You then can contact the appropriate authorities being the lender and police. You may also want to talk to a lawyer regarding your legal rights.

Don?t be a victim of bad credit due to theft and fraud; take a look at the above advice on how to protect yourself from having bad credit due to identity theft or fraud.

Connie Barker is the owner of several financial websites including those that deal with Preventing Identity Theft

Identity Theft: The New Threat To Your Credit

When we think of thieves, images of burglars creeping into homes and apartments come to mind. However, there are new thieves that can take much more than your money or possessions. If your personal information falls into the hands of an identity thief, your credit and finances can be ruined.

Identity thieves use your name or personal information, such as your Social Security number, driver?s license number, credit card information, or other financial account information without your permission, frequently opening new credit accounts in their victims? names. They apply for credit cards, make charges, and leave the bills unpaid. They set up telephone or utility service and don?t pay the bills. Some victims have found that identity thieves have even applied for loans, apartments, and mortgages under an identity other than their own.

Identity thieves are the sneakiest thieves out there, and it?s easier than you think for one to get your personal information. They may steal wallets, or take statements, pre-approved credit offers, and tax information from your mail. They?ll even do some dirty work and search your trash for personal data. The best protection against identity theft is caution: shred all items that contain your personal information and account numbers, and don?t carry your social security card in your wallet. Order your credit report at least once a year to make sure no one is using your identity to open accounts.

Stop an identity thief dead in his tracks by taking immediate action.

? Contact the three major credit bureaus. Contact the fraud departments of all of all three major credit departments to place a fraud alert on your credit file.

? Close accounts. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

? File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

? File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft, and will help others who have been victimized as well.

This article was written by Josh at ACCION USA (http://www.accionusa.org). ACCION USA provides business loans up to $25,000 to small business owners who need financing to expand their businesses.

Reporting Identity Theft

Have you been a victim of identity theft? Do you think that your identity is in jeopardy, and that somebody has taken it upon themselves to use your personal information as their own? If this sounds like a situation that you are in, you will definitely want to look into reporting your matter to the appropriate agency. By doing this, you will be able to document your problem which will go a long way in ensuring that everything is taken care of appropriately.

If you are interested in reporting identity theft you will need to know who to speak with. The reason that most people don?t report this sort of theft is because they simply don?t know who to call. You should never let this hold you back from reporting identity theft.

The first place that you may want to contact is the Social Security Administration. Even if they can?t directly help you, they will be able to point you in the right direction. The Social Security Administration can be reached by calling 1-800-269-0271.

The Federal Trade Commission may also be able to help you out, or point you in the right direction. They can be reached via phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT.

If you know that your credit card information has been stolen you will not want to waste time with the Social Security Administration or the Federal Trade Commission. You will want to call your credit card company direct, and tell them what happened. This will allow them to put a freeze on your card, and quite possibly assist you in tracking down the problem.

By reporting identity theft, you are doing more than just helping yourself. You are also helping other people who have been victims, as well as people that can become a target at any time. If you feel that your identity has been stolen, make sure to report it right away.

Brazilian living in North Carolina, USA since 1996. Married, one teenager daughter. Professional background: Computer Systems Analyst Vision: Improve people's health and wealth. Help needy children. Web page: http://www.etorres.ws

The Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse and its Steps to Prevent THEFT

The Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse is the second step when you become a victim of identity theft to report the crime. When you report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse, the services will contact various contacts, including the law, investigators, particular "consumer reporting companies," lawyers and so forth in an effort to help you through the crime.

Once you report to the right authorities that you have become victim of identity theft, police department worldwide will have this knowledge. Next, you will need to report the theft to TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax and request and dispute any unauthorized debts, including bankruptcies.

It depends on the state in which you live, but few states offer the option of placing a FREEZE on your credit reports, which supposedly prohibits access to anyone but you and the bureaus. You will be provided a PIN number, which you can remove temporary to allow viewing of your reports in the event you are applying for a job or credit.

Victims of identity theft should be aware that any debts incurred on their reports come from creditors, or public records. When a person is sued, files bankruptcy, files for divorce, or judgments and tax liens are filed against, thus the information is public.

One of the cruelest laws is that the media can report crimes committed by a person, including placing the persons address in the papers. This is a surefire failure in the system that opens up the advantage for perpetrators of identity theft, and even predators to take control of a person's life. Thus, placing your social security number, home address, phone number and other information on credit reports where anyone can gain access is another failure in the system that opens the door for identity theft.

Thus, when a person is victimized by identity theft and the perpetrator commits an act that enforces tax liens, bankruptcies and delinquencies the information goes on the credit report. It is up to the victim to dispute the charges, however, even if the victim succeeds the information may stay on the credit reports for seven, ten, or fifteen years. Many people believe that debts stay on credit reports up to three years, however, Experian clearly states on its letters that debts linger on reports for 'seven years," while 'bankruptcies" remain on the reports for 'ten years,' and "tax liens" stay on the reports for fifteen 'years.'

When you dispute a charge on your credit report and after the investigation it is found you are telling the truth, thus the credit bureaus will place deleted behind the charge. To dispute any charges you must contact the credit bureaus dispute service by calling or going online and visit the credit bureaus sites. Keep all letters where a dispute was filed on records. If the companies accusing you of the debt, after a dispute is made cannot show proof that you incurred the debt, thus the credit bureaus will include "dismiss" or "deleted" behind the charge.

Thus, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) laws you have the right to sue anyone causing damage to you, by giving out, selling, or leasing your information, you may sue him or her in federal or state courts. Therefore, learn your rights, since companies will sell, rent, lease, or give out your information to others in some instances.

It is against the law for any company willfully given out information to others without the consent of the individual. Thus, under law the person can be sued, fined and tossed in jail, or both. For example, if a company sells, leases, rents, or gives your information out to someone else and you become victim of identity theft by reason of this action, you have the legal right to file charges and sue the company.

Finally, the steps to reporting identity theft include: Filing a report with the police, Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse and notifying the credit bureaus. You will also need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as the Social Security Administration. For more information on identity theft, read and learn.

Tony Robinson is an International Author, Webmaster and Security Guru. Check out his Identity Theft Protection Tips at http://www.officialidentitytheft.com/

Identity Theft

Identity Theft - the 10 Best Tips You Can Use Right Now!

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed by someone stealing a name, address, Social Security number or credit card. Here are 10 suggestions you can take to help protect yourself.

1. The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of your first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they won't know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. When you are writing checks to pay your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you don't have a PO Box, use your work address.

4. Never have your Social Security number or driver's license number printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. It's also a good idea to carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling abroad.

6. For couples or friends traveling together - each of you should carry a different, unique credit card. For example, one of you could carry a Visa card and one of you a Discover card. Don't both carry the same credit card! That way if one of you has their credit card stolen, you still have a valid credit card to use and aren't completely without funds while you are traveling.

7. Another tip for couples or friends traveling together - each of you should carry the other person's photo copies of their credit cards and passport. If someone steals your wallet or purse, your traveling companion still has copies of all your information.

8. When you're reading email, don't click on any of the links listed in the email message. No matter how tempting the offer is! This is a way 'phishers' use to direct you to their website and capture your credit card and personal information.

9. We are told to cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep these numbers where you can find them separate from your credit cards.

10. File a police report immediately in the city where your credit cards, purse or wallet were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation.

Brought to you by www.Prepaid-Legal-Help-4U.com

I developed www.prepaid-legal-help-4u.com to help the 'little guy' have access to legal services previously reserved for the wealthy!

Identity Theft Exploding: Heres How you can Avoid Becoming a Victim - Plus, Tips if you do Become a Victim

Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or corporate fraud, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Star Systems.

Nine out of ten Americans demand new federal legislation, while two-thirds say the financial services industry needs to do a better job of verifying the identity of customers who open bank accounts (66 percent) and credit card accounts (72 percent).

Some 5.6 percent of respondents reported being victims of identity theft, which translates to 12 million people. When debit and credit card fraud and identity theft were combined, close to 15.9 percent of consumers say they have been the victim of one of these crimes. (Source: Star Systems, 2003)

For most of us, using your debit or credit card to make a purchase has become an every day aspect of life. Many of us do it every day and feel safe in doing so.

But it is far from safe. People with your debit or credit card information may make purchases with your card information over the telephone, via the Internet, or at a local retail store.

As we moved to a cashless system of transactions by debit or credit card, a relatively simple crime niche has grown identity theft and fraud.

Some law enforcement authorities are not pursuing the crime in a coordinated and cooperative fashion. Thus, a situation has grown that affords the people who perpetrate such acts of theft and fraud, act with a degree of confidents that they will not get caught.

What can you do to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud?

Here is a list of actions that you can take to avoid becoming a victim of identity crimes.

1. Never throw receipts or statements away that have personal information on them. The trash is the greatest repository of information for the identity thief. Even better, shred everything that has identifying information on it (transaction receipts, etc.).

2. Pay to have an unlisted telephone number in your local telephone directory.

3. Take as much identification off of your personal checks and drivers license as possible. Thus, no home addresses, phone numbers, or social security numbers on personal checks. Last only your last name and first initial rather than your full name. You want a retail clerk to check your ID when you are cashing a check.

Most states now provide a photo ID on all new automobile drivers licenses issued. If you do not have one, conceder getting your licenses renewed now to get a photo ID for identification purposes. Do not put your social security number on your drivers license.

4. Check your bank accounts for suspicious activity everyday, this can be done online via the Internet.

5. Have your middle initial removed from all public documentation if possible. Middle initials help identity thieves narrow down their searches for victims.

6. If someone calls you asking for your personal information on the telephone do not provide any personal information to anyone over the phone.

7. Dont leave your mail out overnight. If you will be away from home for any period of time: have your home mail delivery stopped. If possible, secure a locked mail box at your local post office or a retail store mail box service for your home mail delivery.

If you go on vacation, have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped and arrange to have your yard maintained. Include the post office, newspaper service, and your friends or neighbors to insure that your home looks as if it is occupied while you are gone.

For a checklist for your home security while you are away see ProtectionConnect.com/homesecurity www.ProtectionConnect.com/sitemap. www checklist.html or html#home.

8. Write Check ID on the back of your debit or credit cards next to your signature. In that way, when a retail store checks your signature on your card, they will verify that the card is being used by the proper individual.

9. Be aware of people standing too close to you and shoulder surfing you while you conduct your ATM transactions.

If you do become a victim of an identity crime do the following:

1. Demand to file a police report no matter how unwilling the law enforcement office may be. Make sure to get a copy or at least the report number.

2. In the case of card fraud, make sure to cancel your card and report it as stolen to your credit card company as soon as you find out.

Immediately, fill out affidavits with the appropriate financial institution denying that you were the one who made the relevant purchases. In most cases, the banks will respond with up to a 30-day process that requires the businesses that accepted the fraudulent transactions to repay the banks.

3. Report the fraud to the three major credit bureaus:

~ TransUnion Post Office Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022

~ Equifax, Equifax Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc Post Office Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374 1.888.766.0008

~ Experian Consumer Information Post Office Box 1909 Orange, CA 92865

4. The U.S. Secret Service handles fraud cases that cross state borders. If you know that your case applies, contact their local office to make them aware of your case. If it is part of a broader fraud case, you may be contacted by an agent.

5. You can also fill out a complaint form with the Federal Trade Commission, although this is strictly used to track national identity theft statistics.

Steven Presar is a recognized small business technology coach, Internet publisher, author, speaker, and trainer. He provides personal, home, and computer security solutions at
www.ProtectionConnect.com. He provides business software reviews at www.OnlineSoftwareGuide.com. In addition, he publishes articles for starting and running a small business at www.abcResults.com. Be sure to sign-up for the SOHO newsletter.