The Identity Theft Guardian

Identity theft is becoming an increasingly frequent problem among people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and nationalities, who are living in locations spread across the world. The theft of one’s identity is non-discriminating, as clever criminals find new and improved ways of profiting off of another’s loss and misfortune.

In the end, a complete invasion of privacy often takes place, where identity thieves are able to drain entire bank accounts, steal credit card numbers, use driver’s licenses to commit crimes; and steal important information from computers. To prevent identity theft, it is highly recommended to follow a few simple procedures to boost your protection level against such a widespread crime.

Identity theft criminals use a wide-range of techniques to steal private information for their own personal use and gain. One of the most talked about forms of identity theft is executed across the Internet, as individuals trick others into downloading a wide range of spyware, which is then used to transmit information stored on a computer. This may include the usernames and passwords associated with online banking accounts. With this information, a thief is then able to intercept bank transactions and steal money from unsuspecting victims.

In order to efficiently prevent identity theft, it is important for people to recognize all of the techniques a criminal may use. Some individuals steal postal correspondences and fill out credit cards under another’s name. A stolen wallet also serves as the perfect gateway for thieves, as driver’s licenses, credit cards, birth certificates, Social Security cards, job identification, and other photo ID are common tools of identity theft. There are even criminals who dig in dumpsters and garbage cans for discarded bank statements, credit card bills, and other identifying pieces of information.

To prevent identity theft, it is highly recommended to follow some of the suggestions listed below:



Prevent identity theft by installing an effective anti-spyware program that creates barriers between your personal information kept on your computer and third party intrusions.

Changing your passwords is often a good way to prevent identity theft because it is less easy for thieves to lock onto or guess frequent changes. It is also suggested not to use the same passwords. Also, it is not advised to select passwords that can be directly connected to you, such as your last name. Use passwords that contain both upper and lower case letters, as well as 1 or 2 numbers.

It is important to quickly remove mail from the mailbox, as criminals are known to forge signatures on credit applications. If you find you have stopped receiving mail, call the post office because someone may have signed a release for the forwarding of your mail to another location.

Over the telephone, you never know who is calling you; therefore never give your credit card number, Social Security number, or other personal information to an unsolicited caller.

Once you are done with credit card receipts, unused loan applications, and other paperwork containing personal information, tear them up or use a shredder so thieves rummaging through the garbage are unable to retrieve personal details.

Make it a habit to review your credit report and check for false accounts and other information. When you spot an error, you should immediately report it to the credit bureau.

Do not delay in reporting stolen credit cards.

You may prevent identity theft by carefully analyzing your credit card and bank statements to make sure there are no mistakes on your bills.

When a relative passes away, it is important to properly shred unused checks and other personal documents because identity thieves also take advantage of the misfortune of the deceased. Entire accounts have been wiped out, loans taken out in their names, and new credit cards issued.

It is important to exercise extreme caution when dealing with PIN numbers, especially those attached to ATM machines. When these numbers fall into the wrong hands, individuals are able to withdraw money without being detected. It is suggested to memorize your PIN number and when you must write it down – never choose your card or leave the reminder in your wallet or purse. And never use your birthdate as your PIN, as that will be the first one that the thief will try.





By: Jon Arnold

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According to the Federal Trade Commission, the most common types of identity theft are credit card fraud, utility fraud, bank and loan fraud, employment-related fraud, and government document or benefit fraud. While many people are award of credit card fraud as it is the number one crime committed and is also the easiest way a criminal can use your information, it is important to understand the other types of identity theft in order to protect yourself. It is the goal of this article to discuss remaining four types of identity theft and some ways to protect you from each method. While nobody is completely safe from identity theft, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of becoming a victim.

Identity theft can extend to utility fraud which is currently rated the number two type of fraud in the United States and is actually higher then credit card fraud in certain states. Utility fraud is relatively easy to commit and is the practice of an identity thief using your personal information to obtain utility accounts such as gas, electric, water and sewer, cable, and other services. The thief can also setup telecommunication accounts such a home or cell phone and in many cases a thief needs only your name, address and phone number to commit utility fraud. About 15 percent of senior victims report that an identity thief obtained unauthorized telecommunications or utility equipment or services in their name. In order to avoid utility fraud it is imperative that you keep a tight rein on all of your personal information. Burn or shred any documents or mail with your personal information on it instead of putting it in the trash as many thieves are not above dumpster diving.

Bank and loan fraud is another identity theft crime that often affects the elderly as about 10 percent of all victims over age 60 reported fraud involving their checking or saving accounts and seven percent reported that an identity thief obtained a loan in their name. Bank fraud is sometimes perpetrated from the inside by a bank employee or manager who already has access to financial information and will sell it to the highest bidder. There are also thieves who already have some of your information and will disguise themselves as a bank official to try and get banking account numbers. Never give any information over the phone to somebody that claims that they work for a financial institution. Instead, ask for an appointment where you can meet with them in person at the bank. It is also important that you never click on an e-mail link in a message said to be from a financial institution asking for information to verify your account. A legitimate bank will never use this type of communication.

Employment fraud comes in two styles with the first type being where someone steals your social security number to get employment. With the ever increasing influx of illegal immigrants looking for work in the United States, the chance of somebody using your social security number to find gainful employment is on the rise. In fact, about two percent of victims over the age of 60 reported that an identity thief used their personal information for employment purposes. While you can reduce the possibility of this crime by keeping tight control of who has access to your social security number, there are no guarantees as many of these illegal immigrants will pick as social security number at random. While most people utilizing this method are simply people looking for work and not true identity thieves, the method is still illegal and can cause some negative effects for the victim.

The second type of employment fraud should be particularly concerning to most Americans as this is the practice of a thief obtaining employment in small businesses such as doctors offices, dentists, and banks to gain access to patient or customer records. Because it is the responsibility of a business to keep their records safe, there is very little an individual can do about this type of crime other then choose only well known and reputable businesses with a strong privacy policy.

Government fraud can occur in many ways including tactics such as applying for government benefits, unemployment insurance, financial aid, or even filing for bankruptcy while using somebody elses social security number. Some identity thieves will commit traffic violations or other crimes and then give a victims personal information when caught as it is easy to get falsified drivers licenses, state IDs, bank cards, and social security numbers if you know where to look. While government fraud is a major focus for the law enforcement groups and agencies in the United States and government fraud comes with a high penalty, too few criminals are ever caught. Once again it is up to you to protect your personal information to avoid this type of fraud.

As you can see, identity thieves are not limited to credit card fraud but can practice other techniques such as the four listed above. Even though credit card fraud, utility fraud, bank and loan fraud, employment-related fraud, and government document fraud are the top 5 methods that identity theft criminals utilize, it would be foolish to think that they are the only methods available. The methods that an enterprising thieve may employ is limited by only their imagination. Because identity theft has become so common a crime it is impossible to be completely safe but you can take steps to reduce the risk. The important thing is to take some type of action be it taking steps on your own or employing an identity theft program such as LifeLock.



By: Rick Churchill

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Most people think that it won’t happen to them. When it does, they are shocked. They feel violated, and worse, they are often well on the road to financial ruin before they even know that a crime has been committed against them. You guessed it. We are talking about Identity Theft, and if this has happened to you, you may actually need an identity theft attorney.

As much as we hear about identity theft today, few people know what steps to take when they first realize that their identities have been stolen. Most people mistakenly think that they can handle things on their own, and don’t seek ‘outside help.’ This is the worst mistake that you can make, and the chances for recovering from the identity theft just became slimmer.

It is true that there are steps that you need to take. Obviously, you need to notify your bank and cancel your bank cards. You need to call the driver’s license office in your state and the social security administration. You definitely need a copy of your credit report, and you may even need to contact the State Department to ensure that nobody is using your identity to obtain a passport. There is much to do, and it takes time.

Even if you start taking all of these steps, you still most likely need an identity theft attorney. Here is what will happen without one. You get your credit report, and discover that someone is using your good name - and your good credit - to obtain expensive items. If you’re lucky, they haven’t used your credit card, but there is a good chance that even if they didn’t use your existing credit cards, they have obtained other credit cards, as well as lines of credit, in your name.

You see this, and you start contacting these companies, and even banks, to let them know that the person who opened the line of credit in your name is not you. You expect the company to take immediate action to get this off of your credit report, but that is not going to happen. In fact, they are most likely going to treat you like a criminal. They will essentially tell you that you are responsible for thousands of dollars and that if you don’t pay; they are going to take legal action against you. You see, most businesses are not set up to deal with the effects of identity theft. They just want the money that is owed to them, whether you are the one that owes that money or not. Their records say that you owe it.

This is why you need an identity theft attorney from the get-go. The identity theft attorney will work with you to contact creditors and credit bureaus. The attorney will then work with you to get the documentation that the companies and credit bureaus require, so that the negative report can be removed from the company files, as well as your credit file. The identity theft attorney will follow up to ensure that everything was done correctly, and will work to make sure that your good name is actually protected, despite what someone else may be doing with your information. If for some reason a company or credit bureau is grossly uninformed, your identity theft attorney will take legal action against them, so that a judge can give them the schooling that they need - usually at their expense.

Identity theft is a serious problem today, and you can be affected by it before you know it. If it happens to you, the best thing that you can do for your peace of mind, and your good credit, is to get in touch with an identity theft attorney right away. The worst thing that you can do is to try to fix things on your own. In fact, you will find that trying to correct the problems caused by identity theft without legal guidance is more costly than paying an identity theft attorney in the long run.



By: Steven Jones

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