heard about identity theft and its apparent ugliness. But do we actually have to believe on it? Isn’t this just a bunch of media hype? Certainly not.

Last year alone, 10 million Americans were victims of an identity theft crime costing around $57 billion in total damage. The Web site called identitytheftlabs.com estimates that the average victim of theft crime can expect to see over $6,300 illegally charged in their name. The average expenditure to the individual ranges from $400 to $2,000. However, these values do not capture the stress, time, and bureaucracy involved with recovering your identity.

Accordingly, what’s really scary about this crime of the decade is that you are at a much great risk when a thief gets a hold of your social security number, or bank account numbers, or starts combining information on you from multiple sources. The SSN alone is considered by thieves to be the master key to the kingdom owned by you.

While it’s a fact that there is no fool-proof mechanism to avoid identity theft, everyone still has options. The same Web site identitytheftlabs.com outlines two workable options:

1. Secure yourself from the danger and search for identity insurance elsewhere. This works if you’re the person who plans a schedule and will follow it without missing important deadlines. The dilemma is that all the relevant tasks prevents you from saving money because the insurance will cost as much as the full identity protection plan.

2. Secure a proactive identity protection plan that renews your fraud alerts and incorporates identity insurance and/or guarantees one million dollars.

Indeed, identity protection plan is the best course available for most people because it works for the best protection at the best price.

Who Provides the Best Identity Protection Plan?

There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on your wants and needs and how much value you place on the differences each company has. However, I am lad to note that IdentityTheftLabs.com has investigated and proven three companies (LifeLock, Trusted Id, and the LoudSiren Debix team). Expectedly, the site recommends and vouches on the expertise and capability of these three identity protection companies.

IdentityTheftLabs.com admits that they were recommending Debix before they partnered with LoudSiren and before they signed big contracts to protect the residents of Ohio, Connecticut and the city of Nashville. The staff at IdentityTheftLabs.com have done this as they have made their ultimate purpose on the three companies.

IdentityTheftLabs.com relates that all three companies LoudSiren, LifeLock and Trusted Id are well backed financially, and are the established leaders in identity theft protection. They all belong to the league among the fastest growing companies in America, and rightfully so. All three companies set and resume fraud alerts and support their identity protection plan with one million dollars. They also remove clients from pre-authorized credit offers which have been known to be a source of identity theft. They all provide experts to defend victims if it comes to that point.

By: Charles White

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Identity theft protection must be a number one priority for you in this day and age. The fact is that you simply cannot ever really let your guard down when it comes to 21st century identity theft protection. The reality is that even when you are having an enjoyable dinner out you must make sure that you have proper identity theft protection in place.

You might initially think that there is no real way in which you can fall prey to identity theft while you are dining out. The fact is that in this day and age a significant number of people from around the world actually have fallen to prey to identity theft after dining out even in finer restaurants. In order for your identity theft protection program to be fully in place you need to understand the risks you face in regard to identity theft even when you are having a pleasurable dinner out on the town.

In this day and age, in most instances when people dine out they tend to use a debit or credit card to pay the tab. You are likely such a person. Because you are likely to use a debit or credit card, you actually are handing over to a person you do not know (your server) a good deal of financial information. You are providing them your credit or debit card to satisfy your tab. And your debit or credit card actually can provide a person a great deal of information – indeed, really enough to begin the process to stealing your identity.

The fact is that in most restaurants the server removes the credit or debit card from your sight. There are some exceptions to this practice; however, in most instances your credit or debit card really will end up out of your sight at least for a short amount of time. Therefore, even if you have other identity theft protection practices in place, you are still at risk.

There are a surprising number of individuals involved in the food service industry that actually work at deals with identity thieves. These servers and other types of employees gather credit card and other information from their customers and turn around and sell it to these identity thieves.

The only sure way of fully protecting yourself against this type of practice is to pay with cash. However, that is not always convenient. With that in mind, you are well served to always monitor your credit or debit card – perhaps checking your account every couple of days online. In this way, you can detect any unauthorized transaction immediately. Moreover, you will want to check your credit reports regularly to make sure that no unauthorized accounts have been opened up in your name.



By: Bernard Pragides

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We have written this article for all the Teenagers, and your moms and dads. 

 

 

Millions upon millions of teenagers are using the Social Networking Sites to chat with friends and meet new friends.  The majority of people online are probably ok, but the law of averages demands that some are not.  Some people are, quite frankly, stalkers and identity thieves.  Those of you looking for a relationship may be the most vulnerable for a stalker.  The identity thief and the person who wants to do you physical harm intentionally hunts for people who are open, trusting and looking for a relationship.  They will put the time and effort into gaining your trust and finding out everything about your identity.  Protect your identity.  You must think before posting something on your blog. 

 

 

If you post photo’s that show adult content and text about engaging in mature conduct you may very well be inviting people who want to harm you and identity thieves.  Please be discreet and use good judgment.  If you wouldn’t want your mom or dad to see it, then don’t post it.  Never make your full name public and even your first name is may be a mistake.  Instead, you could use a nickname.  By doing this, no one will know who you really are, unless you want them to.  Identity thieves are also online when you are, looking for those who post their address, phone number, driver license number, Social Security number, student ID number, and date of birth and the town you live in. 

 

 

The identity thieves have the knowledge and skill to figure out a Social Security number when they have your year of birth and town you were born in.  It would be fine to post the year you were born or your age, but when the thief or stalker combines this info with where you were born, they have the ability to figure out your SSN.

 

When meeting new people online you must never give your personal information to anybody.  Just know that 15% of all identity theft is committed by a family member or real good friend who the victim thought they could trust.  As far as I can tell, most teenagers join the social sites so they can meet someone new.  Most of the time the new people you meet, are fun and decent.  But the problem is that the identity thieves and stalkers have joined the same site as you and they are hunting. 

 

 If you do decide to meet someone in person, meet them somewhere public, like a mall or a restaurant with good parking and lots of lighting.  A coffee shop is a good place to meet.  Why not ask one your friends to go with you so you’re not alone?  Protect your identity and don’t tell the new person where you live and meet somewhere that is at least ten miles from your home.  When it is time to leave, walk to your car by yourself because they may write down your license number or follow you home when they see the kind of car you drive.  Don’t go to their house until you really know them and when meeting someone new let your parents know where you are going and when you’re coming home. 

 

Don’t worry about hurting anybody’s feelings if you don’t want to meet, just politely tell them your not interested and remember that these identity thieves and stalkers are quite good at their trade and they know how to sound sincere.  If you are having a party please be careful about inviting new people.  Your new friend may be ok but he may bring friends who are creeps and they are coming over only to steal items or look around the house for items and entry points so they can break in later.  Always meet new people somewhere other than your place and trust your inner feelings (gut).



By: Randy Vezina

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Over nine million people each year report that they are the victim of some type of identity theft. As criminals continue to find new ways of committing fraud, we must also continue to remain diligent about protecting our personal information.

As more and more people use credit cards and debit cards to shop or pay bills, it’s getting easier for thieves to steal sensitive information as well as completely assuming someone’s identity. Here are four simple ways to protect your identity and your hard earned money.

1. Use common sense.

Never give out your debit card number over the telephone, especially if you weren’t the one who initiated the call, unless you are dealing with a trusted company that you are familiar and comfortable with.

Limit the amount of cards you carry with you, and keep all of your receipts in a safe place. Never throw any type of receipts in the trash near the ATM machine or a public trash container.

2. Sign up for online banking.

Enroll in your bank’s online banking program so that you have easy and immediate access to your accounts at all times. The sooner you’re able to report fraud to your financial institution, the quicker you’ll be able to put a freeze on your accounts and stop them from doing more damage with your debit card.

3. Use caution shopping online.

While there are thousands and thousands of reputable merchants doing business online, there’s still need for caution when using your debit card to shop on the internet. Of course, it’s just as important to be careful anytime you use your debit card, not just while shopping on the web.

Disreputable store owners and dishonest clerks have been known to use a device called a “skimmer” which reads the information stored on your debit card’s magnetic strip. Your account’s information is then downloaded to a computer while the thieves then create new accounts in your name and go shopping with your money.

4. Check your credit report yearly.

Under federal law you are entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the three credit bureaus, which are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you suspect your identity has been compromised as the result of your debit or credit cards being stolen, your credit report is very helpful as it will show detailed information including accounts that weren’t opened by you, or charges and inquiries that you never authorized.

Checking your credit report regularly make it easier for you to take care of any potential problems and watch for fraudulent activity. And subscribe to helpful blogs that focus on identity theft news so that you can keep up with the latest alerts and news to be safe and stay safe.

Help others you know online as well. Share helpful articles and send links to helpful sites and blogs. Help each other be on the alert and watch each other’s backs. Be safe and stay safe. It’s all about identity theft protection.



By: Bernard Pragides

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If you think that identity theft can never happen to you, think again. Just take a look at statistics concerning identity theft, and you can see that the crime of identity theft is closer to you than you may realize.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft affects as many as 10 million Americans each year. Nearly 5% of the people living in the US will become an identity theft victim and the numbers are increasing each year. The FTC even reported that they currently received nearly 40% more identity theft complaints than the previous year. What is more alarming is that identity theft costs businesses and financial institutions nearly $53 billion annually.

The most common types of identity theft are credit card frauds, communications service fraud, bank fraud and loan fraud. Credit card fraud is when someone else uses your credit or uses your personal data to apply for a credit card. Meanwhile, communications service fraud deals with someone opening a cell phone or utility services account using your information without your knowledge. For bank fraud, a common scam is the thief opens up a checking account using your identity and then proceeds to write bogus checks.

For years, identity thieves get valuable personal information through stealing mail, snatching purses, or searching garbage for discarded bank statements or credit card receipts. With rapid technological advancement, most identity thieves now employ phishing. Statistics reveal phishing to be the most dangerous of all identity thefts as it uses both social engineering and technical subterfuge.

Phishing is when the victim receives an email that appears to be from a bank or other financial institution. The victim is then told to click a link and verify his/her account information or supply personal identity data. The victim believes the link to be a legitimate site when in fact the identity thief now uses the victim’s data to gain access to account information and empty the bank account. Phishers can also take out credit cards in the victim’s name, and steal ISP account information.

According to the latest findings of the research group Gartner, close to 60 million Americans reported receiving a phishing email, and about 1.7 million people have been victims, costing banks and credit card companies approximately $1.2 billion in losses.

All these figures and information about identity theft are definitely alarming. To avoid being the next identity theft statistic, it’s better to take measures to protect yourself against identity theft like keeping your personal information private, subscribing to an identity theft service, and many more. These are just simple steps that take only a few moments of your time. These few moments are indeed worth the while considering you can either spend countless hours trying to manage the damage done by identity theft.



By: Bernard Pragides

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Protect your kids from the risks associated with identity theft. Children often fall prey to identity fraud, and the numbers of young victims grows every year, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). There are several simple tips you can use to protect kids from identity theft.

Why Kids Are Targeted by Identity Thieves

Kids are easy targets for identity thieves. By law, children can’t apply for credit cards, loans or other lines of credit until they are 18. That gives identity thieves many opportunities to steal a child’s identity and use it freely to open lines of credit. In addition to random strangers stealing a child’s identity, unfortunately, unscrupulous family members also often target them.

Children Feel Effects of Identity Theft When They Venture Out in the World

Children who are identity theft victims feel the pain inflicted by the crime when they try to establish a credit history. Applying for a loan or a credit card, children and their families are often shocked to learn that their child has a poor credit history, even though they’ve never had a line of credit. A poor credit score can prevent kids from getting the jobs they want, obtaining credit cards, loans and more. Although justice is on their side, it can take years to clean up a lifetime of identity theft.

Protect Your Kids from Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

Adults can protect kids from identity theft by taking a few safety precautions. Shredding paperwork from doctors and other entities that list a child’s Social Security number or date of birth can help protect children from identity fraud. Credit card and loan offers that arrive in the mail addressed to children should be addressed with the company sending the offer, so they know that they are sending items to minor children. Social Security cards and other personal information about children should be safely stored to avoid the risk of identity fraud.

Children Identity Fraud Repair: What to Do if the Worst Should Happen

If a child becomes a victim of identity fraud, there are a few things you can do to help them repair their credit history and regain their identity. Their Social Security number should be changed and a police report should be filed immediately. Credit card companies, lenders and collections agencies associated with the phony identity should be notified immediately about the identity theft.

Reduce the risk of identity theft with credit monitoring . Credit monitoring provides an added layer of protection against identity fraud with up to date information about credit scores and details of unusual activities on a credit report.



By: Lisa Nichols

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If you have ever received a call from a collection agent claiming you owe money for a loan you don’t recall applying for, you very well could be a victim of identity fraud. All someone needs is your name, social security number, date of birth and account numbers to ruin you financially.

This information is easier to obtain that you think, and before you realize it, you are a victim of identity fraud.

There are several common ways identity fraud is carried out. Online identity theft, considered to be the most popular form of identify fraud, is only one. Another method has been nicknamed “dumpster diving,” which involves stealing mail by rummaging through someone’s garbage for identifying documents.

These often include discarded receipts and paid bills, which all have identifying information on them that thieves find useful. One method used to fight identity theft is quite simple and effective: Consumers can reduce the risk of becoming the victims of identity fraud by buying and using a paper shredder. That way, no information of potential importance leaves the house intact.

Have you ever received an email from some stranger overseas claiming that you have inherited millions of dollars but have to send them your account number so they can wire it to you? Have you ever gotten a message from your bank asking for information about you, but you know they already have all that information?

If you can answer yes to either of these questions, you may have been singled out as a potential victim of online identity theft. This identity fraud tactic is known as “phishing.” There is no trick to fighting identity fraud like this, save using common sense. If you aren’t expecting an email from a trusted source or if you don’t know the sender, it is safer to just delete the email.

Of course, the biggest way identity theft gets perpetrated is the most recognizable. Hackers take a more direct approach to fraud. They break into computers and steal the information they need. Again, there’s a good way to fight identity theft of this type: Purchase good virus protection and firewall software to block unwanted intruders from your computer.

A series of three-year surveys that ended in 2006 show that, while there has been a decrease in the number of victims of identity fraud, the cost rose to $56 billion dollars last year. More statistics show that:

The average time a victim takes to fight identity theft is 600 hours. 3/4 of victims who responded to the survey said that the crime involved someone getting their hands on a credit card. The impact of online identity theft and identity fraud is similar to that of violent crimes for the victims.

The problem of identity fraud isn’t just in the United States. In Europe, the British have crunched some numbers, reporting that identity fraud has cost their economy a shocking 1.7 billion pounds.



By: MIKE SELVON

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With the continue growth of the Internet as a marketplace for buying and selling merchandise, conducting banking and credit card transactions and more, a nefarious underworld has popped up in the form of identity thieves. Since the problem has grown to such a problem that government agencies cannot effectively protect us, private industry has stepped in. Identity Theft Prevention Programs offer consumers piece of mind by monitoring your credit report and stopping identity theft in its tracks.

In the course of our daily commerce, we unwittingly give out much of our sensitive personal data. We write checks for bill paying, we rent a hotel room using a credit card, we apply for jobs and list our social security number, we use our cell phones to call friends and generally we act as if no one has access to these avenues of communication. Each time we communicate with others, we put ourselves at risk. Not protecting your personal information is like leaving the front door open and putting up a sign welcoming thieves inside to take what they want.

Thieves will use your credit card number to charge merchandise and you will not know about it until you have a great many charges rung up. Thieves will use your social security number to take out a car loan and then make off with the car. You won’t know about this until the loan payment statements start arriving in your mailbox. All of this creates major headaches for you unless you have an identity theft prevention service in place. These thefts may still occur but you will be notified about them much earlier thus keeping the damage to a minimum. Diligence in checking your monthly statements is still needed though. Some identity theft prevention services are set up to call you when any suspicious activity occurs in your accounts, be it large purchases or purchases made from a different location from your home area.

These services will prevent collection agencies from calling you repeatedly and will keep your credit rating at the level where it is supposed to be. Law enforcement agencies are helped greatly by these services because they are more easily able to zero in on the thieves before the trail grows cold.

Identity thieves have been known to purchase cell phone service with stolen information and ring up thousands of dollars in calls. They have also given stolen information when arrested for a crime and then not show up in court. The authorities then issue an arrest warrant for you.

The pricetag for identity theft services range from $100 to $150 depending on the coverage criteria. Many people are so busy, careless or just plain stuplid that they inappropriatly handle their sensitive data. Besides safeguarding your own information, these identity theft prevention agencies are the best way to guard against theft.



By: Chad Kiser

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