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/

Valuable Information for Identity Theft Victims

Identity theft is one of the biggest problems we are facing in society. Bankers, credit card lenders, law, and other sources are working to find a solution to the problems. At what time a person falls into the hands of an identity thief, they will struggle for months and even years to restore their identity.

As a victim of identity theft, I learned to never lose control and keep the fight going, even if activity ceases. Every day I struggle to survive rejections and pray that the perpetrators do not commit a crime that lands me in the courtrooms or in jail. Thus, I took up Criminal Justice working to obtain my Bachelors degree for the purpose to have ammunition to continue my battle. It is costing me over $20 Grand and this does not include the mental anguish and price I have paid in the past as the victim of identity theft.

One of the best sources online according to a few identity theft victims came to my attention, thus I am ready to share any information to help you prevent identity theft, or else recover from the crime. Rely Delta is one of the many sources that help fight identity theft. The company teams up with others working together to fight identity theft, and according to victims of identity theft, this particular company helped them in less than a week.

One week...I can only dream of what these people are saying, since it has been seven long years fighting for my own identity when I spent a lifetime to find my identity. If this service offers help this quickly, I encourage everyone victimized by identity theft to request help from this source, since the law and other authorities have done nothing in line of helping me restore my life, since 2000.

Another great source supposedly is Kroll who teamed up with Pre-Paid Legal Services, which I have used in the past, to work against identity theft. Kroll is a risk management service that helped track down some of the terrorists of September 11 according to few. The service monitors your credit reports ongoing and opens the doors so that you have access to your own credit reports. CV2Now is another source that helps to fight identity theft, while monitoring credit reports; however, I visited the site first hand and did not see security, thus proceed with caution if you want to challenge this site for help. Payment processors are one of the biggest problems that lead to identity theft. Payment processors are machines that process payments abroad the World Wide Net and phone lines. The source has the biggest leakage over any other source that makes identity theft easier than ever.

Again, as a victim of identity theft, there is no such thing as I heard enough. As a victim of identity theft, until now I have not heard any positive news. I read a bulletin board recently, that informed me about the Rely Delta, which I have not tried yet, but at least the story told was positive. I was robbed of my identity twice, once in 2000 and once in 2001. The first time the perpetrator was offline and stole my personal identification, meaning all my personal identification, my vehicle, and myself. Fortunately, I escaped the hands of the perpetrator, all to learn that the thieves had taken full advantage of my truck and identity before I awaken from the drugs administered to me, which knocked me unconscious so that they could commit the crime. The second crime was committed online when I first joined the Internet. As na?ve as I was regarding the Internet, it did not take me long to learn all I could about computers, identity theft, Internet, and other related subjects.

If Paypal an online bank had not contacted me, it would have taking a couple days longer for me to learn that I was a victim, since my bank regardless that nearly $2000 was drained from my account in less than a day. The first event the perpetrators got fifteen years, while the second perpetrator has not been caught to date. Protect your self now!

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

The Dangers Of Identity Theft

Identity Theft is a real and growing problem. So what is identity theft exactly? Basically, identity theft is when someone uses your social security number, your bank credit card number, your driver's license number or any other form of identity without your knowledge or permission.

Many people have fallen victim to identity theft through many different means. Some of these ways are easily preventable due to their common sense obvious nature. Other ways identities are stolen are more dubious and discreet.

What Identity Theft Can Do To You

We often take our liberties for granted. What you know life to be can suddenly change if you've been a victim of identity theft.

While you've been busy with your day-to-day life someone could have stolen your personal information and racked up debts or committed fraud - all with your name on it. What happens then can be anything from being denied employment, credit or even being arrested for a crime you didn't commit.Identity theft is that serious.

Victims of identity theft can spend years paying back debts or fighting to restore their credit as well as their reputation. Finding out you are a victim of identity theft can be frightening and a source of anxiety even after you've resolved the issue.

According to a survey conducted by the FTC (Federal Trade and Commission) 4.6% of Americans involved in the survey responded that they had been a victim of identity theft within the past year. That means about 10 million Americans dealt with some form of identity theft - from using existing credit cards to setting up new accounts or giving false identification when arrested for a crime.

It doesn't stop there. The cost of clearing up the theft ranged from an average of $500 to $1200 per victim. It took them on average 30 hours to resolve the issue while also costing time and money for businesses and agencies who assist these victims.

With all the tools available to potential thieves along with our increasing reliance on paperless money transfers (credit cards, debit cards and online payments) we are incredibly susceptible to having this nightmare come true.

How can you reduce the risk and what do you do if it happens to you or your family?

So, the question becomes, how can you protect yourself from someone stealing your identity?

To protect yourself from identity theft, the first thing you should do when considering how to divulge information about your identity to someone you do not know or may not trust is to use your common sense. Never make one-sided assumptions or take things for granted where your identity is concerned.

Credit card company statements and bank statements you receive in the mail contain your account information including your account number. Any of these items need to be shredded with an inexpensive shredder you can buy at any office supply store. Do not throw credit card statements, old credit cards or bank statements, etc. in the trash as that presents an easy way for someone going through the trash to steal your account information and use it as if they were you.

Another thing you can do to protect yourself against credit card fraud and unauthorized credit card usage is to sign the back of your card as "Check ID". If a store clerk asks to see your card, he or she will check the signature on the back and compare it with some other form of ID you have. This safeguard will not work where a purchase can be automatically completed (like at a gas pump).

When you are buying items at a store or withdrawing money from a bank or ATM machine using your ATM debit card always protect the visibility of your PIN number as you punch it in.

Do not carry your social security card with your number on it in your wallet. Keep your social security card or anything with your social security number on it in a safe place where no one has access to it but you. If you must dispose of anything that has your social security number on it, do not forget to shred it.

When online, do not open files sent to you by strangers or even files that are from someone you know but were not expecting to receive any from them. Do not click on hyperlinks or download programs from people you do not know either. Opening a computer file from an unknown source could expose your system to a computer virus, a Trojan or spyware. These types of programs could be ones that could log your keystroke information containing your credit card numbers, passwords or other sensitive information as you type it in.

If you use Ebay or Paypal, read the company website policies concerning how they handle communication to you about your account information. Never trust an email you may receive out of nowhere from Ebay or Paypal asking you to "update your account information" as this is more than likely a ploy to steal that information and use it illegally.

Use a firewall program and a router while you are online if you have high speed internet that leaves your computer connected to the internet 24/7. The router and the firewall program both make it much more difficult for a hacker to see your computer's actual IP address which means that you have a better chance of safely sending and receiving sensitive information over the internet. Windows XP operating system SP2 has a built in firewall which you should make sure is enabled in your settings.

When you are shopping online, always use a secure browser and shop from a web site that offers secure transactions when shopping online. Most browsers in use today have this protection feature including the popular Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers. Secure website shopping carts you visit will show up as "https://thestoresdomain.com" in the web browser address bar.

Practice keeping your computer clean from spyware or Trojan programs that log keystroke information by using virus protection software and spyware monitoring and removal software. These programs should be updated regularly, and updates for you're operating system and other software programs should be installed regularly to protect against the compromise of your computer files and password information. Ideally, virus protection software should be set to update itself frequently. The Windows XP operating system will update itself automatically if you enable this feature, which you should.

The consequences of identity theft once thieves have your information can be quite severe and range from going on a spending spree to taking out auto loans in your name. For these reasons and others, it is a good idea to monitor your credit report periodically. A credit report can be obtained from Trans Union Corp. New laws have made it easy for you to get at least one free credit report that you can use to see if accounts have been opened in your name.

Dan Farrell is the owner of http://www.identitytheftcop.com that offers "The Dangers Of Identity Theft And How To Protect Yourself!"

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

How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft With Your Purse

Identity theft is the fastest growing criminal activity in the 20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales.

How BIG is this Problem?

Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house servers storing passwords or other sensitive information all report ?break-ins?through Trojan viruses or other online hacking methods ? resulting in the loss of millions of pieces of information. Instances of lost information are employees selling it and other lax security measures resulting in thieves having access to your identity.

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 Your Information?

- 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

There are other effective methods:

- 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 your credit cards, bank account numbers and investment account numbers in a safe
place
- Keep your credit card receipts
- 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 PIN numbers or passwords. (Don?t use birth dates, your mother?s maiden name, etc.)
- Never give personal information to anyone who sends you an email, a letter or calls you asking for it
- Shred personal information
- 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 by you with a cell phone while you're entering a PIN number, block their view
- Review your bills each month. If there?s something you don?t remember, call the creditor.
- Check your credit report at least once a year
- Store your cancelled checks safely.
- Don?t leave your purse in plain sight when driving
- Keep your valuables locked in the trunk or glove box when driving
- Make all personal information on your computer password protected
- Don?t carry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and account numbers in your purse or wallet

Warning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen:

- A loan application is denied, or you?re refused extended credit requests
- You are contacted by a debt-collection agency
- Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house broken into
- Unfamiliar activity on your credit report

What to do if it Happens to You:

- If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police
- Contact your bank, credit card and other credit extending companies and report the theft
- Close accounts
- Contact the credit-reporting companies
- Have fraudulent activity removed immediately and monitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year
- Put everything in writing
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission
- Change passwords on your existing accounts and create new ones for new accounts

Identity theft is real. There are no guarantees you can keep your information safe, by taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your chances of having an ?identity crisis?. Host, Sintilia Miecevole offers resources for purses with designs influenced by the latest trends at http://www.trendipurses.com. Be sure to visit http://www.trendipurses.com to find information from designer handbags, fashion, trends and accessories to vintage, replica, wholesale and much more.

WILL THE REAL YOU PLEASE STAND UP?

How To Prevent Identity Theft

Every day, nearly 1,400 Americans are victims of identity theft. It can take anywhere from two to four years to straighten out the nightmare, and the average victim will invest approximately 175 hours and over $800 of their own money trying to get their situation resolved. Here are five steps you can take to protect yourself, safeguard your identity, and ensure that your credit remains sound.

1.Guard your Social Security number. If you have the number printed on your checks, cross it off manually and reorder new checks without it. If you have your SSN as your driver?s license number, request a new one with a different number.

2.Check your bank and credit card statements every month for unusual activity. You only have sixty days to report identity theft, or you become liable for the damages yourself.

3.Mail your bills from the Post Office or a public mailbox to deter thieves from stealing your outgoing checks and erasing the ink to use them later.

4.Shred any receipts and documents containing account numbers, policy numbers, or other personal information that could aid a thief in taking your identity. Trash diggers are known to target dumpsters for personal financial information.

5.Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. You can opt out of receiving these annoying and potentially dangerous offers simply by calling toll-free at 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You will be mailed a form asking for your Social Security Number, however, in this case, it?s safe to give it to them so they can remove you from their database.

Don't let someone else live a life of leisure at your expense. Taking these simple steps to protect your identity will pay off for you long term by saving you countless hours of time and aggravation trying to restore your credit and your good name.
How To Prevent Identity Theft

Every day, nearly 1,400 Americans are victims of identity theft. It can take anywhere from two to four years to straighten out the nightmare, and the average victim will invest approximately 175 hours and over $800 of their own money trying to get their situation resolved. Here are five steps you can take to protect yourself, safeguard your identity, and ensure that your credit remains sound.

1.Guard your Social Security number. If you have the number printed on your checks, cross it off manually and reorder new checks without it. If you have your SSN as your driver?s license number, request a new one with a different number.

2.Check your bank and credit card statements every month for unusual activity. You only have sixty days to report identity theft, or you become liable for the damages yourself.

3.Mail your bills from the Post Office or a public mailbox to deter thieves from stealing your outgoing checks and erasing the ink to use them later.

4.Shred any receipts and documents containing account numbers, policy numbers, or other personal information that could aid a thief in taking your identity. Trash diggers are known to target dumpsters for personal financial information.

5.Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. You can opt out of receiving these annoying and potentially dangerous offers simply by calling toll-free at 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You will be mailed a form asking for your Social Security Number, however, in this case, it?s safe to give it to them so they can remove you from their database.

Don't let someone else live a life of leisure at your expense. Taking these simple steps to protect your identity will pay off for you long term by saving you countless hours of time and aggravation trying to restore your credit and your good name.

Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management, time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.

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.


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.

 

Catching Spyware to Avoid Identity Theft

 Arming your computer against spyware is an important move to make to protect your personal security and private information. Statistics on the number of identity theft victims continue to rise as do the number of computers being infected with spyware. Some numbers have shown nine out of ten computers are affected by spyware, many on computer whose users are unaware of the infection. Identity theft and spyware are connected in that spyware has become a common method for intruders to gather your personal information and bank numbers so they can commit identity theft.

Spyware installs itself or comes installed with freeware and shareware programs. Once embedded in your computer it tracks your internet and software usages, records sent and received email and instant messages and logs keystrokes to identify passwords and credit card numbers. The information is sent out to advertisers or other intruders who will use it to bombard your computer with ads or at worst steal and use your accounts.

You will often lose complete control over your computer once spyware has been installed. The spyware can cause browser crashes and other unauthorized changes in your computer. The unwanted pop up ads that result from spyware can cause the computer to work slower and possible destroy some programs from being able to run. Spyware specific tools are needed to rid of and protect against spyware because normal anti-virus software is not designed to detect spyware, as it is unique from viruses. Spyware programs should also be able to detect adware, a similar application that runs on your computer by sending a constant stream of pop ups. Adware can be dangerous to the proper functioning of your computer.

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htmas well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm