Why Is Identity Fraud/Theft Rising?

A study by Javelin Strategy and Research in 2005 showed that 9.3 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year. This is about 4.25% of adults. The Home Office in the United Kingdom also claims that this crime is reaching epidemic proportions, although they do not actually collect data and statistics. But why is this becoming such a problem? This article hopes to help answer some of your questions.

In the USA today, about $52.6B is the annual cost of identity fraud, which works out at about $5,686 per victim. These statistics from the Javelin study also highlighted that anyone who has been a victim of identity fraud spends about 28 hours trying to sort out the problems. Although the financial cost is met by banks and other institutions, these costs then get passed onto consumers.

In this age of modern technology, it is possible for you to extend your credit without ever having seen your customer. There has also been a massive increase in the use of the Internet and telephones to buy goods and make payments in this way, as well as an increase in the volume of personal information help by third party companies.

You may not realise but, in the USA, a lot of your most personal information is readily available to the public including mortgage details, driving license details, and social security numbers. Although this information is not as easy to get hold of in other countries, it is still help in the relevant organisations where its many employees have easy access to this.

Another problem is with companies such as car hire agencies, car dealerships, and solicitors. They now insist on taking a copy of their client?s identity documents, such as birth certificate. So you end up handing over your identity to these companies. Unfortunately, if you need to deal with these companies, there is nothing that you can do but a way to protect yourself is to ask for any of these documents back when you no longer deal with them.

One of the most common ways of illegally accessing your personal information is still through bank statements, cheques and credit cards. This risk is increased if you throw all bank, credit card statements straight into your rubbish bin. Criminals are known to go through your rubbish looking for this information that they can use to gain access to your finances. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that you buy a paper shredder. These are not expensive, but can save you a lot of money if someone ever gained access to your accounts in this way.

The prevalence of identity theft does seem to depend on the country that you live in. A lot of Continental Europe require people to own ID cards, which must be shown when their identity needs to be proven, e.g. when opening bank accounts, hiring cars and so on. These cards are very difficult to copy and it therefore makes it very difficult for people to commit fraud. Since they are so readily available, most companies will not accept any other forms of identification.
More articles from this author can be found at http://www.identity-theft-center.com

Identity Theft, Credit Reports, & safely disposing of computers

To say that Identity Theft has reached epidemic proportions in the UK doesn't appear to be any exaggeration on the facts which are commonly bandied about... even by totally responsible organisations.

If, as I read, 80% of Councils have reported problems... and 25% of people have been directly, or indirectly affected... then taking basic steps for your own safety should be an automatic procedure nowadays. With the advent of separate paper collections by many councils, it is easy for those who wish to obtain information to rummage through the bins or boxes, to look for personal details.

A shredder, I would say, is a basic necessity... and you can get a perfectly adequate electric strip-cut model which does up to 5 sheets of paper at a time [with paper container incorporated] for less than ?10 if you shop around. I purchased mine from Morrisons supermarket and have had it for well over two [fingers crossed] trouble free years.

If you don't possess a shredder, then at least tear off all names and addresses from your envelopes and destroy all letters, etcetera, which have your details on. I would burn, or shred and dispose of in two separate rubbish collections, all old credit, debit, or shop cards.

As well as these basic steps you will have, hopefully, found many useful tips and further information on the Identity Theft page at http://www.best-uk-electrical-appliances.com where you perhaps obtained this extra information.

Direct link to our Identity Theft info at Best UK electrical appliances

***

If you have a computer with any personal details on it, I can do no better than refer you to the helpful article below... please read and consider VERY CAREFULLY the all information included. Computers soon become out of date, or become less efficient due to many different problems. Consider what is stored on your computer... there are bound to be passwords for something or other, there are names and addresses, and perhaps personal details - even banking details - which could help a potential identity fraudster obtain access to your financial records, credit cards, or even to steal your identity.

Identity Thieves Find Treasure In Your Trash

- by Jim Edwards

(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved http://www.thenetreporter.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Imagine this scenario...

After serving you well for three to five years, your old computer earns a well-deserved retirement.

You transfer all your old files to your new computer, delete them from the hard drive, and pack the old computer off to the trash heap, sell it, or give it away.

Sounds innocent enough until you stop to consider that you may have just given away your social security number, all your passwords, your credit card numbers, bank statements, financial records, and every other bit of sensitive data you ever maintained on that computer.

With computers getting cheaper by the day, many folks now find themselves replacing old machines with newer, faster models.

But understand one thing: just hitting the delete button to get rid of sensitive files basically rates the same as putting a bank statement in your trash can without shredding it - anybody can reach in and pull it out.

In fact, with inexpensive over-the-counter data recovery software (the kind you can buy to recover files you delete accidentally), virtually anybody can fire up your old hard drive and start pulling off data even though you "deleted" it.

This creates a veritable field day for identity thieves who comb through junk yards for old computers and attend computer shows buying up used hard drives by the dozens.

Whether selling it, giving it away, or tossing it on the junk heap, when it's time to replace your computer with a newer model, you basically have three options for permanently wiping out your data.

First Option:

Many computers come with recovery disks that will completely format the hard drive and return it to its original "factory-fresh" state. Using this approach makes a great option when you plan to give away or sell the computer.

Second Option:

Use a software program designed to erase your hard drive, or at least totally destroy your deleted files.

You can find one fr^e at www.active-disk-wiper.com that claims to completely erase your deleted files without affecting Windows or your other programs.

Third Option:

In keeping with the times, the third option requires a disclaimer.

Only attempt this with safety glasses, a flak jacket, and under close professional, adult supervision.

Unplug your computer and let it cool off.

Take off the cover and remove the hard drive.

Bash the hard drive with a hammer until it looks like a pancake!

That should render it completely resistant to any would-be identity thief armed with even the latest data recovery software.

Physical destruction of the hard drive rates about as secure as you can get in protecting your deleted files from prying eyes.

But before you take drastic action on the computer, remember that your "trash" may just represent a dream come true for someone who can't afford a new one.

Try to find a child, a student, or a struggling parent who could really use your old computer and would consider it a real blessing.

Finding the right new home for it could well change someone else's life forever.

--- Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist (http://www.TheNetReporter.com) and is the author of several best-selling ebooks, information products and software programs. Jim also publishes the *World-Famous* www.IGottaTellYou.com Multi-Media Newsletter!

? Guaranteed Response Marketing, LLC P.O. Box 878 Lightfoot, VA 23188 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

This email is never sent without permission.

___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Just as we used to have remember to be vigilant with our physical property... locking doors and windows, putting anything we value out of sight, cancelling deliveries when on holiday, using security lights... plus many more day to day precautions are automatic necessities. But NOW we ALSO have to consider our intellectual property and even our unique being.

Whatever you have created on your computer is uniquely yours, don't leave it open to abuse or theft any more than you should leave about your credit/debit cards, household bills, or any other important documents which hold your personal details.

Just two more mentions... be extremely careful when answering your home telephone, there are those who can, and will, ask you, deviously, to confirm your name and/or address... and from that they can find out all your private details, and manage to steal your identity.

Sorry, three more... don't ever fall for the lottery win or other scam which requires you to send money or details to get your 'winnings'... finally, if you are selling any big value item [like a car] don't believe that a bankers draft is necessarily safe and don't fall for the scam where you accept a signed payment which is larger than the required amount, and you are expected to give back the overpayment in cash. You will have lost the item you were selling, plus the cash... and the cheque or bankers draft will be worthless.

Take care out there!

Copy and paste the following web address to your browser to check out the full page where some of this information [plus lots more] is available online... http://www.best-uk-electrical-appliances.com/IdentityTheftandCreditReports.html

Identity theft, a horror story

Identity theft. The most damaging of criminal acts

Mary Jones was a good friend and neighbor. She worked for her church as much as she could while being a good wife and mother to her 3 your kids. It was a Monday morning and she went out to pick up the mail as she did every day. This Monday there was a huge amount of junk mail, which she threw out. What she did not see mixed in with the junk was a bank statement.

Tuesday night the trash went out to the curb ready for pick up the next morning. She was doing the same things that all her neighbors did, nothing different. What she did not see was a shadowy figure (we will call him Joe) in the small hours of the morning working his way down the street, digging in trash bin after trash bin. A passerby would mistake Joe for a bum and not look twice, not even ask himself why a bum was in a nice area like this.

Joe stuffs bits and piece in his bag and moves on. . Next day he is sorting through his haul and discovers a bank statement belonging to Mary Jones. Gold mine, he has what he needs. Off he goes and takes the information from Mary's statement and goes to work on his computer. He files a change of address for Mary and once that comes in he has control He now orders a credit card or as many credit cards as he possibly can. Once these start to arrive he is off shopping on Mary's dime. Mary continues with her happy life with no idea that her world is about to come crashing down on her head and her families.

See, it is not only Mary who is affected here. Her Husband Bill is a successful business owner who employ's 25 of their friends and has done so for the past 8 years. The credit scores on Mary's reports start to crash as the late notices come in on bills they did not even know they had. Mary and Bill's credit reports are tied together, which is common with married couples. Now Bills score is taking a nosedive. Bill's business runs on credit and has a good record over the years. However now a supplier rejects his credit request for new supplies. The business falters and eventually gets to a point where he is on a cash only operating basis. The business and family cash flow is not huge. It has given them a good life over the years but not made them rich. Bills business is not faltering and he now has to lay off several of his friends, as he can no longer get the operating capital he needs.

After 9 months of fighting the debts and trying to pay the bills it gets to a point of no return. They can't keep going. The bills are out of control and the house is now at risk as the mortgage is 3 months behind. The bottomed out credit score will not even allow them to get an apartment. Mary has been on the phones to the banks, credit card companies and credit reporting agencies but nothing is resolving. A lawyer is out of the question. The money is gone. Their lives are in ruins. All because of a careless mistake and a criminal identity thief who could not care less. He has long since moved on and is working on many other Mary's.

A scary hypothetical story but variations of this have been the lot of many identity theft victims. Have you ever had your identity stolen or even thought about it? It is one of he most damaging crimes out there. This is due to the fact that the criminals use it to steal money from you, under your name, and destroy your credit rating and good name everywhere they can before they finally discard the identity and move onto another victim.

The end result of this is hundreds, thousands maybe tens of thousands of unauthorized purchases dollars on your credit card that you now have to pay for. The fact that you can't pay for it only increases the damage as now all the late payments go onto your credit report. The more of this that happens, the worse the end result. Many people have had their lives totally destroyed by an identity thief.

Ever tried to rent an apartment without a credit check. Ever tried to get another credit card, buy a car, buy a home, and do anything at all that involves using your credit. Good luck. You will find you have very few friends in the credit world when you have a low credit score and even less friends when your credit score is off the bottom due to 20 purchases that were made using your credit card with our your permission. Getting a bunch of 30-day late marks every month on your credit report is about as bad as it gets. Go try and rent a house or buy a car with a score like that.

Ok, now go any try and get it fixed. Call the credit bureaus and tell them your story and how it is not your fault and you have filed a police report and done all you know how to do and please will they correct the reports now and put yours back to like it was before. Believe me you will fly before they will do this for you.

It now becomes your problem totally and completely to handle this mess and you have no friends on the inside to help you. You now have no credit, can't get credit and can't do anything that requires a credit check, as you will come up looking like the criminal yourself. It does not matter that the mess was made be someone who stole your identity, it is on your report and all the talk and reasons why from your end will not recreate the financial trust you had before.

Scary stuff. This is a hypothetical situation but all to real. The following advice is excerpted from the www.socialsecurity.gov site. Identity thieves get your personal information by: Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information); Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site on the Internet, From business or personnel records at work and personal information in your home; Sorting through trash for personal data; Posing as someone who legitimately needs information about you, such as employers or landlords; or Buying personal information from "inside" sources. For example, an identity thief may pay a store employee for information about you that appears on an application for goods, services or credit. Show your card to your employer when you start a job so your records are correct. Then, put it in a safe place. DO NOT carry your card with you. If you find out that someone is using your identity you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft

If you think someone is using your number for work purposes, you should contact Social Security. One way to find out whether someone is using your number in order to work is to check your Social Security Statement. The Statement lists earnings posted to your Social Security record. If you find an error on your Statement, contact Social Security right away. What if I think someone is using my number and creating credit problems for me? If someone used your Social Security number to get credit, Social Security cannot fix your credit record. To fix your credit record: Call the creditors who approved the credit (follow up with a letter). File a police report. Contact the fraud department of the major credit bureaus. Ask: To have a flag placed on your record, requiring creditors to contact you before approving additional credit using your name and number; How long your account will be flagged and how you can extend the flag, if necessary; and To have a statement added to your credit report--include your name, explain the problem and provide a telephone number where someone can call you. Request a copy of your credit report from each major credit bureau and check to see if it contains any entries you do not know about. If you are denied credit, you may be entitled to a free copy of your report. The major credit reporting agencies are: www.equifax.com www.experian.com www.tuc.com

Contact Social Security in addition to using their website, you can call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

As a final note if you have stolen or lost valuables please click this link to http://www.osldb.com to place the data in a very secure web site and this will allow others to help you find them.

CTW Inc is the owner of the http://www.officialstolenlost.com web site. The company founders have done red carpet security for celebrity events, movie premiers, large concerts, general event security & personal celebrity security. We have extensive experience with private investigations with the legal profession. Personal and home security have become our specialty. Free articles at http://www.osldb.com

Identity Theft Surge Likely to Create Multiple Employment Opportunities in IT Security

A recent survey conducted by the United States Department of Justice indicates that identity theft is indeed on the rise. Affecting millions of households in the U.S each year, identity theft costs have now soared well above $6 billion per year. The study confirms that roughly three percent of all U.S. households experienced some sort of ID theft during the first half of the calendar year 2004. While this particular method of illegally obtaining personal information for the purpose of financial gain only accounts for a percentage of the total losses resulting from identity theft, it represents an undermining of the online banking systems that many financial institutions have undertaken great expense to implement. Countering the surge in identity theft, many banking firms and other lenders are relying on an influx of recent and future graduates of IT security degree programs to spearhead efforts to thwart would be offenders who seek to commit criminal activity through electronic means. Whether the supply of IT security professionals is able to meet the current and future demands of the marketplace, however, is unknown. With identity theft and other data loss concerns becoming more commonplace in the information technology sector, an increased likelihood exists that security positions within the field will become harder to fill in the upcoming years. As IT security is a constantly evolving milieu, the need for well trained, competent systems management professionals is likely to extend into other sectors of information security as well. Not only are individuals at risk, institutions have also lost millions of dollars due to inadequate information security protocols. For those seeking a career opportunity, database security may represent one of the safest bets for future job security. According to the United States Department of Labor, "Employment (for computer security specialists) is expected to increase much faster than the average as organizations continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies". While the future technologies implemented to effectively counter identity theft are unknown at this time, the need for qualified security personnel is an almost certainty. In a world where cyber crime is steadily rising, one can only hope that the professionals needed to design and implement advanced security measures needed to combat identity theft will be available to protect the resources of consumers and institutions alike.

Earn a Degree in IT Earn a degree online on our other site. Click here to read other articles about online education

Identity Theft Protection Safety Precautions

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!



 

Protect Your Self Now from Identity Theft

Protect Your Self Now from Identity Theft

Protecting your self now from identity theft is the best thing you will ever do in your lifetime. Companies are now working to fight identity theft by adding new software programs that supposedly adds additional protect, however when you give out your information over the World Wide Web you are always at risk. Thus, in this article we will inform you of the steps you will need to take to protect your self from identity theft.

Steps Never give your personal information out on the World Wide Net, unless you know the company is trustworthy and has encryptions to secure the site. Still, you may want to consider ordering products or paying bills by use of Money Orders, rather than checks. Recently, I learned from a friend living in England that UK postal workers were caught selling personal information to immigrants so that these people can remain living in the UK. Thus, I have not received a steady collection of information as of yet, still, it is something to consider, since thieves come in all forms. The Criminal Justice Departments try to blame the crimes on the poor, however, most crimes committed are acted out by less suspicious people, such as lawyers, doctors, postal workers, et cetera. Continuing the steps you should NEVER respond to Phishing or Spam Mails, since the mails often have potential thieves sending them. Phishing Mails slightly differ from Spam mail, in that the sender will send out an email claiming that your accounts are frozen or pending stop. Some of the mails have links, which direct the receiver to a site that appears to be a legitimate account site. Thus, banks, creditors and lenders already have your information, thus giving information to these mails will only land you in a whirl of problems in most instance. Spam mails or other types of Phishing Mails may propose winnings. NEVER open or give personal information to anyone via email. It is important to change your PIN numbers and Passwords randomly. Changing the codes will confuse the server, thus it will help prevent identity theft. Few people claim that changing your Password and Pin Numbers every six months will help; however, I recommend random changing of the codes for additional protection.

As a victim of identity theft, I learned the hard way of how to protect, prevent further activities and so forth. Restoring trust after your identity is stolen is next to impossible. Still, I do not set my self up by allowing my lack of trust to control my life.

If you are ordering online make sure you know the companies worth. Conducting a background check of any company online is easy and only takes a few minutes. To conduct a background check, visit the Better Business Bureau Site by typing in the search engine BBB.

When making purchases with credit/debit cards, checks or other types of cards make sure no one is watching you when you type in your PIN numbers or Passwords. If someone is standing over you when you are making a purchase, I recommend changing your Pin number and/or Password right away. I become suspicious when at a store using my debit cards to make purchases. Often the customer standing behind me is watching and it annoys me, and sometimes the clerk watches the transaction. I immediately alert them, letting them know that this is a personal transaction and no one has the right to watch me type in my PIN number. Thus, I change my passwords and PIN numbers randomly to prevent identity theft.

It is important to conceal your personal information at all times. If you carry a wallet and/or purse make, sure you know where your valuables are at all time. Personally, recalling numbers in your mind rather than carrying them in your material possessions is safer. In other words, remember your Social Security Number at least and store the card in a safe place. You should never give your Social Security Number over the phone lines, however when contacting the Social Security Administration you will have no choice.

Finally, taking all the steps to prevent identity theft includes learning all the details as possible about the crime.

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

Internet Mail Identity Theft

Internet mail is one of the main sources that perpetrators of identity theft utilize to gain access to personal information. The perpetrator may send threatening mails, or mails that seem appealing. Spam or Phishing emails are linked to identity thieves and arrive in millions of mailboxes worldwide. Not one of us is singled out to become the next victim. Rather, identity thieves focus on getting identities to gain, instead of worrying about whom they are stealing the identity from.

Few thieves will target a specific company or person, especially if they are aware of the worth of the accounts. Thus, these thieves are acting on greed and intend to get rich by stealing someone else's identity. The dispatcher of such mails are challenging the receiver by deception hoping the receiver will give out personal information, such as banking routing numbers, bank numbers, PIN and passwords, Social Security Numbers and other precious information that the thief can utilize to gain control over your identity.

Added emails that you may want to bear in mind are Spam mails that often assert that you have won x amount of cash, please act now to receive your prize. Logic should tell you that if you have not joined a contest or gave your information over the phone lines or internet, then chances are you have not won a prize. Recently, I received various mails claiming that I have won $32,000 and is requested to pay the tax on the winning, and to please respond now to receive your prize. DELETE. Other mails followed claiming that I could receive scholars or grants to attend such and such college, to earn my degree act now by providing my personal information. NOT!

After my identity has been stolen, unless your name is GOD you are not getting any personal information from me. My bank already has my personal information, thus there is no reason for them to email me asking for my personal information. Banks clearly state in the Terms & Conditions that they will "Never" send electronic mail requesting information from the recipient at any time, thus giving your information to an electronic email with your bank name listed in the header is only asking for trouble.

Identity thieves think of everything when it comes to stealing identities, including sending emails in respected names. FDIC was targeted by thieves, thus the sender sent mails to recipients of the bank requesting that they provide personal information now to avoid closure of their accounts. Microsoft was also targeted by thieves when mails were sent to various boxes requesting the receiver to download patches to protect their computers. Once the receiver downloaded, the attachment a dangerous Virus quickly took control of their computer, leaving the computer bleeding and leaking with empty spaces that would direct anyone to the information stored on the computer.

EBay is a target for thieves. Few thieves purchase items on EBay claiming to send the owner a check that amounts to more than the purchase price and that the owner should send the remaining amount back to the purchaser by electronic form, or else through "Western Union." The checks were found to be copycats and were attempts to steal. Thus, the Internet is not a safe environment; therefore, I will provide helpful tips to help you prevent identity theft.

Steps to protecting your identity:

Never open emails that you do not trust.

Never give out personal information abroad the internet, unless you know the company is trusted and has encryptions to secure the site. Still, you may want to reconsider and order directly via postal mail from the company.

Do a background check on any site you are thinking of giving your information to.

If possible, send Money Orders to pay bills or else pay for products online and offline.

Never give our personal information over the phone lines.

Do not post personal information on forums, bulletin boards or discussion boards online.

Conceal your personal information at all times, including at home.

When using ATM or other machines to make deposits, withdrawals or purchases make sure no one sees, you type in your PIN number.

Change your Pin numbers and passwords randomly.

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

Identity Theft - 10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Good Name

Identity Theft is one of the most serious problems facing Internet users. Identity Theft is exactly as the name states - someone steals your Identity and commits fraud in your name. It can result in untold financial and legal problems that may literally ruin your peace of mind and/or your life. Someone gaining control of your most personal details can reck havoc and result in dire consequences for you and your family.

So you must do everything in your power to prevent Identity Theft. Actually, if you follow some simple 'common sense' procedures - you can reduce your risk significantly. Follow these simple steps and you may prevent yourself from becoming a victim of Identity Theft.

Please keep in mind, any computer connected to the Internet can be hacked! The only way to be 100% safe from Identity Theft is to not use a computer or the Internet. Even then, many banking institutions and government agencies may have your vital information in their hands and possibly online - so no one is really safe!

Despite this grime prospect, there are many things you can personally do to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Simple safeguards that canstop would-be thieves in their tracks and make it difficult for anyone to misuse your well earned good name and reputation.

Try these relatively simple steps:

1. If you do a lot of surfing on the web - set your own security standards! Most browsers will let you set the security level of your connections. If you're using Internet Explorer, click on Tools in the task bar, go to Internet Options and set your level of security. Try to set this to as high a standard as you can.

2. Place a firewall on your computer or network. A firewall is a system or gateway that prevents unauthorized access to your computer or private network.It is usually the first line of defense in protecting your private information or data. A good firewall will help protect you from malicious attacks of spyware, adware, malware, worms, trojans, and hackers. There is no reason not to have a firewall in place, you can download a free firewall from www.zonealarm.com for your personal use.

3. Get a good anti-virus software program that will help protect your computer against spyware, adware, malware and so on. Purchasing such a program that is updated regularly will save you money in the long run and will add an extra layer of protection for your PC.

4. Don't store your vital information (credit card numbers, family information, passwords, etc.) on your personal computer, instead store it on CDs or floppy disks or on a computer that is not connected to the Internet.

5. If you use passwords, make sure they are hard-to-guess passwords. You should have passwords that are at least eight characters long - consisting ofa mixture of numbers, upper case and lower case letters. Many securityexperts suggest changing your passwords regularly.

6. Never open emails from people you don't know. Especially, don't open any attachments until they are properly scanned for viruses and spyware.

7. Be aware of phishing - this is where you get an official looking (though fake)email from companies that you may be doing business with - never use a link in these emails to provide personal information. Always open a new browserwindow and type in your 'own' links you have for these companies or sites. Most secure connections will start with "https://"

8. Regularly check your operating system and download any updates that may contain security patches and fixes for your PC.

9. Use an encryption service if you can. This will also help in protecting your vital data from prying eyes.

10. Always shut down your computer when its not in use - especially if youhave a cable Internet connection. And make sure you know who is using your computer.Keep track of family members or friends who have access to your computer.

No doubt there are many more ways to protect yourself against Identity Theft but following and implementing the above steps will give you added protection and peace of mind. In the same light, don't let your guard down -- always be aware of your surfing habits and the information or programs on your computer. Keep a close eye on your PC; any slow down or unorthodox operations should be checked out immediately. Scan your machine regularly, and check out any unauthorized attempts to access your computer. Keep your machine clean.

Believe it or not, a little common sense will go a long way in stopping Identity Theft and keeping your good name safe!

To learn more about Spyware and Adware Click Here:Spyware Removal Guide
 

Identity Theft - Don't blame The Internet

 Identity theft also known as ID theft, identity fraud and ID fraud describes a type of fraud where a criminal adopts someone elses identity in order to profit illegally. It is one of the fastest growing forms of fraud in many developed countries.

In the UK identity theft is increasing at the rate of 500% each year and, according to Which Magazine, 25% of the population have either suffered from identity theft or know someone who has.

In the USA, a report issued by the Better Business Bureau revealed that, in 2004, over 9 million Americans became victims of identity theft with the total sum defrauded being estimated at $52.6 billion.

With figures like this, its no surprise that there is a certain amount of concern regarding computer and internet security. After all, the internet is basically a mechanism for exchanging information and the possibility that some of the information exchanged may be more than intended is never far from many internet users minds.

Its easy to imagine criminal masterminds worldwide using the internet to hack into computers in order to gain access to information with which to advance their devilishly cunning schemes. However, as revealed in the report, the facts of the matter are a little more down to earth and the internet, far from making you more at risk to identity theft, can help to significantly cut your losses if you do fall victim this form of fraud.

According to the Better Business Bureaus research the main methods by which criminals gain access to information used for identity theft fraud are as below:

Lost or stolen wallet, chequebook or credit card. 28.8%

Accessed as part of a transaction. 12.9%*

Accessed by friend, acquaintance or relative. 11.4%

Don't know, refused, no answer. 11.1%

Information accessed by corrupt employee. 8.7%

Stolen paper mail or fraudulent change of address. 8.0%

Obtained some other way. 7.4%

Computer spyware. 5.2%

Information stolen from garbage. 2.6%

Computer viruses and/or hackers. 2.2%

Emails sent by criminals posing as legitimate business. 1.7%

* 12.9% due to transactions 10.4% offline transactions, 2.5% online transactions.

In total, when the instances where information was accessed during transactions are subdivided into online and offline transactions, only 11.6% of the information used to carry out identity theft fraud was obtained from computers.

Of this more than half was obtained by the use of spyware, viruses or hacking the risk of which can be greatly reduced by installing the appropriate protection software and ensuring that this is kept up to date.

Not only did the survey reveal that the internet was not a major source of illegally obtained personal information, but it was also found that those fraud victims who checked their financial records using the internet, ATM machines or other electronic methods suffered financial losses which were, on average, 8 times lower than those of victims who used traditional paper statements to monitor their accounts. This very significant reduction was attributed to the rapid discovery of the fraud due to real time monitoring.

Of course, thats not to say that you shouldnt exercise caution when using the internet or take care to protect the personal information which you may have stored on your PC. However, as long as you install suitable virus, firewall and spyware protection, and keep this continually updated the internet can should be more of a help than a hindrance when it comes to avoiding identity fraud.
Hamish Hayward
Don't become a victim of identity theft. Get the facts.
http://www.id-theft-info.com