From lampasasdispatchrecord.com
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(Photo courtesy of naveenium at Flickr) Software Piracy is a multi-billion dollar issue. Whether it's hawked in a spam e-mail, a flea market or on a auction site -- it might not work as well as advertised -- and could even lead to identity theft. You never know what might be installed in pirated software. The person selling it to you might add a little malicious software (containing a keylogger) and steal all your personal and financial information. A recent case showing how pirated...
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(Tom Fragala, CEO of Truston and Identity Theft Victim Advocate) The identity theft protection/prevention industry is enjoying double-digit growth in what many believe is a faltering economy. Everyone seems to be jumping into it, even the big three credit bureaus and a LOT of members of the financial services industry. Critics of the identity theft protection industry say the services they provide are available for free and the proponents say they are making a difficult process easy for...
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There are very few identity theft protection services that I TRUST one-hundred percent. The reason for this is most of them require that a victim, or even someone who wants to be proactive, provide them with all their personal information. Some of them even require that you furnish them with a power of attorney, which is even scarier. In the wrong hands, a power of attorney would give the wrong person the ability to do a lot of damage to a name, or financial portfolio. In the era of...
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(Photo courtesy of wazzywooze at Flickr) It never ceases to amaze me how a lack of information security translates into official statements that no one is aware of any identity theft that has occurred. With as many people, we know have been compromised, and accounting for episodes like the one below where we probably aren't sure, who really knows? Here is the possible compromise, where no one seems to be certain, whether or not, a lot of people were compromised courtesy of the State of...
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*Cartoon courtesy of the Virginia Watchdog site. BJ (Betty) Ostergren a.k.a. “the Virginia Watchdog” is ONE woman making a difference on a daily basis. The way she makes a difference is by stopping our personal information from being plastered all over the Internet by local governments. Most of these records have been sitting in different county offices for a long time, however in the past ten years; many of them have gone online. These records contain everything a criminal would need to...
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Reporting
Losses and Fraud
If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize
they've been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s).
Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service
to deal with such emergencies. By law, once you report
the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility
for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum
liability under federal law is $50 per card.
If you suspect fraud, you may be asked to sign a statement under oath that you did not make the purchase(s) in question.
Guarding
Against Fraud
Here are some tips to help protect yourself from credit
and charge card fraud.
Do:
- Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.
- Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
- Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
- Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
- Void incorrect receipts.
- Destroy carbons.
- Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
- Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
- Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
- Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
Don't:
- Lend your card(s) to anyone.
- Leave cards or receipts lying around.
- Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
- Write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
- Give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.
In view of the breakup of a global identity theft ring and the arrest of its members, the National Crime Prevention Council is advising consumers to take extra precautions to protect their personal information. From data breaches to phishing scams, thieves are targeting consumers, and they need...
- Guidelines for Preventing Identity Theft (topix.com)
Overviews identity theft tactics such as Spoofing, Phishing and Pretexting as a means to steal identities. Covers means to protect ones identity and recommends review of free annual credit reports and the services of a proactive identity theft protection service.
More perspectives...
From ezinearticles.com
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The Federal Trade Commission has announced a proposal for a consumer survey research project "to advance its understanding of the experiences of consumers who interact with consumer reporting agencies following ...
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From rss.topix.net via
Topix.
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This article discusses the peril and the crime that identity theft is. This article also introduces a precautionary measure that may be taken in order to combat identity theft.
From ezinearticles.com
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- Identity Theft Protection Tips (ezinearticles.com)
- Identity Theft Protection Software (ezinearticles.com)
Susan Hazel, Huron County clerk of courts, is warning county residents about an identity-theft scam the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports is making the rounds under the guise of jury duty verification.
More perspectives...
From news.search.yahoo.com via
Yahoo News.
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The battle against identity theft rages on and if you are counting on the government to protect you, forget it. Remember there are 303 million people in this nation and like a major corporation you might do business with, well, you are just another number and if the governments got your number so...
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From ezinearticles.com
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Tens of thousands of state residents whose Social Security numbers and bank account information were on a stolen laptop will be protected against identity theft even though fraud alerts on their credit reports lapsed.
More perspectives...
From news.search.yahoo.com via
Yahoo News.
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Wouldn't is be wiser and safer to know how vulnerable you are to identity theft before the theft occurs? Too many ID theft programs only help you after you are a victim.
More perspectives...
From ezinearticles.com
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... Inc. made initial appearances today in United States District Court in Hattiesburg, with each facing a federal charge of aggravated identity theft. ...
From news.google.com via
Google News.
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- Man sentenced for aggravated identity theft (daytondailynews.com)
The Federal Trade Commission’s Red Flag ID Theft Program ruling emphasizes that organizations should implement Identity Theft Protection programs by Nov. 1. ...
More perspectives...
From news.google.com via
Google News.
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