Identity Theft Crisis

It?s one of the country?s fastest growing crimes ? but how do you stop someone from stealing your personal details and using them to get credit in your name? There are a number of ways in which you can help to defend yourself ? and your finances ? from identity fraud.

The electoral roll is used by lenders to verify that you live where you say you do – if you?re already registered, an identity thief will be unable to register in your name. If you haven?t already done so, protect yourself by contacting your local council to register to vote.

An unidentified or suspicious transaction is often one of the first signs of ID fraud. Ensure you thoroughly check your credit card and bank statements for unusual entries. Your credit report can also indicate that someone is using your identity to apply for credit, so check it regularly for applications you didn?t make or accounts you didn?t open. You can view your free credit report online by signing up to a credit monitoring service that will alert you every time there?s a change that could indicate fraud.

If you have had key items stolen, such as credit cards or your passport, report these to the police and any other relevant organisations in order to warn them of potentially fraudulent activity in your name. Thieves may also intercept mail to steal vital information so if any of your mail is going missing, notify the Post Office immediately, and ensure you have mail forwarded when you move.

If you go away on holiday, arrange for your post to be collected regularly to avoid it being stolen and used to commit Identity theft.

An old catalogue with your name, address and account number on it could be useful to fraudsters so ensure that you don?t throw away anything containing personal information that could be used to steal your identity. If in doubt, shred it. Also avoid carrying important documents around unless you really need them. Your passport, driving licence and payment cards can all be used by criminals, so make sure they are kept in a safe place.

Several criminal ploys exist to get hold of your personal details, including cold calls and unsolicited e-mails, so be wary of sharing confidential information with anybody. This includes PINs, bank account details and passwords.

What?s more, steer clear of opening attachments to unsolicited e-mails or visiting dubious-looking web sites – they could contain a virus that will steal important data from your hard disk. Always make sure your computer is protected by installing the latest security patches and anti-virus software on your computer. Increasingly popular social networking sites are ideal for Identity thieves as they can use personal details such as your full address, date of birth, children?s and pet?s names to obtain your password or PIN.

In summary, to protect yourself from ID thieves, use the tips above to ensure that you keep your confidential information secure and stay on top of ID fraud by checking your credit report on a regular basis.

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Impersonation fraud occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act. Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, such as the theft of your wallet, your trash, or from credit or bank information. They may approach you in person, by telephone, or on the Internet and ask you for the information. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, claiming more than 10 million victims a year. Cyber thieves are becoming more sophisticated every minute of the day. It’s harder for consumers to find the best ways to protect themselves against these thieves, but there are some preventive measure that you can take to guard your personal information from being ever stolen. Below will give some ideas how identity thieves gain access to your personal data without you konwing about it:

Identity thieves get your personal information by:

A. Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks and tax information).

B. 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.

C. Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses and public trash dumps for personal data.

D. Posing by phone or E-mail 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.

Some Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud:

1. Never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements, credit cards, or bank statements in a usable form.

2. Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call.

3. Reconcile your bank account monthly and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.

4. Keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet, credit cards, etc.

5. Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and the police as soon as you detect them.

6. Review a copy of your credit report at least once each year. Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed.

7. If your identity has been assumed, ask the credit bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report.

8. If you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others, report it to local or federal law enforcement authorities.

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United States Postal Inspection Service

DeliveringJustice
Identity Crisis: Protect Your Identity
A High Noon Bullet

Identity fraud is the fastest-growing crime in America. With millions of victim…

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“What is there to do when it comes to fixing Identity theft?” ask most fraud victims.

Naturally, this question comes after fraud has happened. Many software programs on the market today are promising to prevent id theft from taking place by making you aware of any flags you establish for existing accounts or new credit lines.

The Federal Trade Commission does offer a slew of great information on it’s website. There is a challenge in trying to tie together all the details about what needs to be done in order to shut down ID fraud, while cleaning up all affected records.

For example, the first piece of sage advice you’ll most often read about will say something like, “Call the credit reporting agencies immediately.” This is absolutely correct. Phone numbers for the big 3 credit reporting agencies are: Trans Union – 800-888-4213, Experian – 888-397-3742 and Equifax – 800-685-1111.

But then what?

There are a few important things you can ask for during the call. For example …

1) You need to request a free copy of your credit report. (Anyone may request a free copy of his or her credit report from CRAs each year. And if you’re denied credit, employment or insurance as a result of identity theft then you’re entitled to an additional free copy of your credit report).

2) Request that a “fraud alert” be attached to your credit profile.

Now comes the more detailed actions. After your credit reports come you must do several important things. Among them are:

3) Specifically identify fraudulent accounts and inquiries and ask that each one be removed from your credit profile. (The CRAs may tell you that you need to do this in writing, which we’ll cover in the next section). Then ask the CRA to send you a copy of the notification(s) of fraud sent to each credit grantor who they contact regarding suspected fraudulent activity.

4) Ask each CRA for a list of names, phone #’s and addresses for all businesses and organizations that looked at your credit history in the past year (and perhaps even longer, depending on how long the fraud has been going on).

Request the agency to call you whenever applications are made for new credit lines in your name. The alert can say something like, “Please contact me immediately at this phone number before issuing any credit. All new credit applications must be validated and personally authorized by me.”

6) Ask the Credit Reporting Agency to contact every company that has received your credit report in the last year and tell them you’re a victim of identity theft. Request that copies of these notices be sent to you in order to make sure the CRAs follow through with your request.

7) Now you need to call the credit grantors your information search has revealed the identity thief has set up fraudulent accounts with. Tell each one you’re the victim of identity theft and indicate the account(s) in question.

Ask each one to stop issuing credit to the fraudster who has stolen your personal information.

9) Request that fraudulent accounts be closed immediately, then ask for their removal from your credit profile. If an identity thief was able to use a valid credit account (one opened by you), such as a credit card account, then you’ll either have to get a new card issued (with a new number) or cancel the card altogether. It’s better to have this kind of request worded something along the lines of, “This account has been closed at the customer’s request.” That reads much better than, “Card was stolen or lost.”.” Wording such as that might negatively impact your credit score in the future.

10) Request all documentation associated with the fraudulent accounts (including original application). Companies are required to send you this information under federal law. Fraudulent applications often contain forged signatures and other information that might be useful to you or law enforcement. Such documentation includes: false application with forged signature, all billing statements, address and phone number where credit cards were mailed, all correspondence between a creditor and the identity thief, plus electronic, audio or video evidence related to the crime.

11) Don’t forget to ask the credit grantor, company or agency to verify your requests … in writing.

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http://www.IdentityRipoff.info
Preventing Identity Fraud

Preventing Identity Fraud is a primary concern these days. 9 Million Americans will have their identities stolen this year alone. You can…

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Many people will not experience a crime like identity fraud during their lifetime. However, the crime is not uncommon; most of us will at least know someone who has been a victim of ID theft, if we ourselves have not been. Because of this fairly high proliferation of identity fraud – particularly during times when the economy is tough – it is advisable that you get to know a little more about this crime, how to tell when it’s happening to you, and what to do about it.

The first step in identification is quite obvious, really. If you’ve had your bank or credit cards stolen or have lost them, you could become a victim. The same goes for entering your bank details on dodgy sites that do not have the small padlock indicating a seal of online security or have an untrustworthy URL when it should be straightforward. Prevention in these cases is easy: for lost or stolen cards, cancel them immediately. And as for online security, simply ensure that all websites you deal through are trustworthy and secure.

However, identity fraud can occur even when you’re being careful, and if you notice money disappearing from your account and being spent on things you know you didn’t buy then it is quite likely that you have had your bank details stolen. We all pay for this, eventually – in higher prices and increasingly expensive credit card terms, even if we ourselves are not affected by such crimes. That’s why it’s important to do your best to prevent becoming a victim to identity fraud.

What’s worse is that, although many banks are good natured about identity fraud, some will refuse to reimburse you should you be unable to prove that you did not buy what has appeared on your card. Therefore, insurance is important – on your cards and on other important possessions, like home contents insurance should the identity fraud prove to be an exceptionally bad case that can affect more than just your bank balance.

If you’re worried about online security, it may be wise to acquaint yourself with some of the most common fraud occurrences that happen online. This can particularly involve email accounts, which many trust unquestioningly when they should consider certain emails more carefully. For example, never give your details to anybody from another country claiming to wish to transfer funds into your account that you’d then pay back, keeping some for yourself. In addition, never trust any lottery win emails – especially if you never played in that draw! Finally, acquaint yourself with ‘phishing’ and watch out for it – it is the biggest email scam likely to succeed.

Identity fraud can be a scary and violating occurrence – so ensure that your cards are well looked after and that the websites you deal through have the https:// in the URL, as well as the security padlock demonstrating that they are safe. This could save you the stress, time and possible loss should you become a victim of this crime.

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Secret services helping stop Identity Theft. If u had an experience with identity fraud, please share it on complaintsboard.com

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Identity thieves are constantly on the lookout for any documentation they can use to smoothly acquire another person’s identity. The number one document that will open almost any door for these unscrupulous characters is your Social Security card. Once a thief has obtained your Social Security number, the path to assuming your identity is now wide open and ready to be trampled upon. Therefore, your Social Security number should always be protected at all costs. Don’t become a victim of Social Security identity fraud.

You will be required to present a valid Social Security card to the personnel office when you embark on a new job. Once your employer has recorded the number, the safest thing for you to do, in order to protect your identity, is to store your card in a secure location. Never carry your Social Security card on your person, in your wallet or in the glove box of your car.

But what do you do if, despite your best efforts, you discover someone is using your Social Security number for fraudulent purposes? You must act immediately. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission either by phone (1-877-438-4338) or via the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft . Do not procrastinate on this as identity thieves are extremely adept at rapidly assuming your persona and they can cause unlimited damage to your credit rating in very short order.

If you suspect that someone else is using your Social Security number for work purposes, you should immediately contact the Social Security Office. Identity thieves can wreck havoc with your income tax and if left to their own devices can cause you untold grief with Uncle Sam and the IRS. It could take months or even years and probably a ton of money to prove you have been a victim of identity theft, so quick action on your part is essential.

Should you suspect that someone else is using your Social Security number fraudulently to retain employment, you can also go Online at www.ssa.gov/mystatement and check your Social Security Statement, which records all earnings posted to your Social Security record. Should your suspicions be confirmed and you discover errors on your statement, you should immediately contact your Social Security Department. Again, procrastination can be devastating as unravelling these records is time consuming and fraught with red tape.

Should the unthinkable happen and you can confirm that someone else has access to your Social Security number and is creating havoc with your credit, you will get little or no satisfaction from the Social Security Administration. Although they may be willing to eventually cancel your Social Security number and issue a new one (which, incidentally is no mean feat), they will offer no help in trying to repair your damaged credit rating. The onus is on you to try to repair any damage from Social Security identity fraud.

You should immediately telephone the fraud department of all your creditors and then follow it up in writing for your own records. Request that your account be flagged with a fraud alert so that no further credit card charges can be incurred without your express knowledge and authorization. Ask that the creditors forward a statement to the credit reporting agencies explaining your problem. Make sure this notation contains contact information, including your telephone number, so that you can be reached if any further charges show up on your record.

Request a copy of your credit report from each of the 3 major credit-reporting agencies. Be sure to contact all three as sometimes creditors are registered with different credit bureaus because of logistics and geographical restrictions. You may contact them On- line, but to be on the safe side, a telephone call – followed up in writing – may get you quicker results. Contact information for the three major credit-reporting agencies can be found at the bottom of this article.

File a police report – chances are that you are not the only one whose identity has been compromised by these criminals. Police Departments now maintain extensive files on known identity theft rings and they may be able to help you get your identity back a little quicker.

Social Security Identity fraud is a very serious matter. Dealing with the various government agencies to clarify your Social Security records is a time consuming and often frustrating experience. Therefore, to avoid having to deal with such a task, you should always, always make every effort to keep your Social Security identity is safe and out of the hands of criminals.

Contact information for Credit Reporting Agencies:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com

The above Social Security identity fraud article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.

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An elaborate identity theft scheme has reached the highest levels of the U.S. financial system, striking the personal bank account of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his wife. (Aug. 27)

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Identity fraud is a crime that costs all of us. As measures have been increased in recent years to mitigate identity fraud, so too has the level of sophistication of the fraudulent acts. Persons that were dedicated to committing fraud had the upper hand for some time, but technology is now catching up to these predators.

Identity Authentication Goes Digital:

Like many forms of communication, a transition is occurring to move paper records to a digitally stored format. Paper identification methods had a downside of being open to tampering. For a while predators where keeping pace with advances in paper record security, in particular home office technology allowed the criminal element to keep up with changes in state-issue ID cards. To stay ahead of criminals seeking to commit identity fraud you need to have an ID authentication process in place. Moving from a dependency of paper to a streamlined digital system is one way identity fraud risk patterns can be identified and mitigated.

The Case to Move Away from Human Error:

Paper forms of identifying a person rely heavily on the skills and ability of a human to identify potential fraud and risk. Training personnel can help with fraud caused by paper records, but there is still an accepted level of human error that is permitted. By placing less reliance on humans to perform an ID check and more reliance on digital technology, the human error factor is reduced and higher efficiency rates can be achieved.

The Case to Move towards Digital ID Authentication:

Moving away from a paper-based identity verification system to one that is digital is a matter of accuracy. By providing your customers with a digital form of identity authentication you are providing better customer service and an added benefit of lower costs because the digital system through increased accuracy can further reduce costs that are passed on by identity fraud. Moving towards a digital ID authentication system means the addition of hardware and software can replace the human error factor that occurs by human-only verification.

The Case to Utilize Fingerprint Biometrics:

Fingerprint biometrics are a leading digital technology that can be utilized in digital identity authentication. Those in a point of service setting that use fingerprint biometrics do so by scanning a customer’s ID through a system and instructing the customer to use a keypad to match fingerprints with a stored fingerprint identity. Fingerprint biometrics help increase the chances that the person in front of you presenting an ID is that ID’s true identity. The result is an ability to capture and link fingerprints to a single ID record, which will increase fraud prevention and help ensure fraudsters do not attempt to use multiple identities.

The Case to Implement Biometric Verification:

Those in a point of service setting pay for fraud twice, once stemming from the initial act of fraud and a second time as a result of cost of goods, services and even insurance rates increases. Biometric verification can help resolve the problem of ID fraud and provide the point of service person that the customer presented is the actual person represented on the ID. The benefit of a biometric verification is that legitimate multiple IDs can be linked to a single person through one unique biometric fingerprint records. The additional benefit is that this unique biometric fingerprint can not be utilized in multiple fraudulent IDs.

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