Some identity theft protection and information you cannot do without

People of all ages and status can be a victim of identity theft. Since you are
not an exception, you just have to educate yourself to be able to spot identity
theft when you see it coming:

How can you do this?

1. Identifying identity theft.

The most common scenario is that victims are not aware that they are victimized
unless they are given notices of unpaid bills and purchase charges. Whenever
someone is put into this kind of situation, there is always a tendency to be
mentally and emotionally affected.

You have to double and even triple your precautions when you know that you are
among those persons that have a good credit history. Identity thieves are
always on the lookout for persons having your kind of credit status. This makes
their actions quicker. Also, they know that they can do more damage to you if
your credit is good.

These thieves can take complete control over your existing credit. Not only
that, they can only open new ones put under your name. That does not stop
there. Your personal information can even be used to write counterfeit checks,
take and transfer money and achieve employment.

Using the conventional method of going over your thrash or by using someone in
your workplace, these thieves can get hold of bank statement, credit card
accounts and other vital information.

You will know that you are a victim when you find yourself denied credit or
even employment. You will also know this when you get calls or letters saying
that you have been approved or denied credit for which you never applied or
billings on purchases you never made or unusual credit card or utility bills.

Start being suspicious also if you notice that you are not receiving credit or
bank statements and other kinds of mailings that you usually get regularly. All
these things can only mean that you are the newest addition the number of
identity theft victims.

2. Taking countermeasures.

If you do not want to be one of the victims, you need to know what actions you
should take to prevent this from happening.

You should:

Not give out give personal data to just about anyone or anywhere. Do not give
out your information over the phone or on the Internet.

Check your statements. Identity thieves get away with their crime because most
people do not check their credit or bank statements regularly. Be sure that you
know your past statements too so you can compare them with the new ones.

Not take everything with you. Carrying cards, passport or social security card
in your wallet is very dangerous. It is also not advisable to throw receipts
anywhere.

Have a secure mailbox. Do not make it a habit to leave mails in your mailbox.
It is best if you have your own postal service mailbox. That way, your mails
will not fall into the wrong hands.

Tear up or shred anything that has your personal data in it. This is especially
important if you plan on throwing away these things. Make sure that the
information is not anymore visible once you decide to dispose of them.

3. Ask for assistance.

It can be noted that 60% of the identity theft victims surveyed did not inform
the police. But some were able to contact the police and was able to find out
what happened.

If you are certain that you have become an identity theft victim, do not think
twice. Report immediately to the proper authorities. Request a copy of your
credit report agency and dispute anything you think is fraudulent.

Make sure you inform your creditors if your credit cards were stolen, as well
as your bank checks. Ask for new credit cards, and close any existing bank
accounts and open new ones. If your debit card gets stolen, get a new one and
use a different password.

Be cautious when establishing new credit with a different Social Security number.
Having two might lead to confusion when trying to repair your credit report.

Preventing yourself from being an identity theft is within your capabilities.
Follow the information on identity theft protection mentioned above and you
will be able to fight the battle and come out successful.

Information on Identity Theft: What You Must Know About It

"Prevention is better than cure".

By having enough information about identity theft, you can avoid being a victim
of this crime.

Based on that statement above, knowing about identity theft is the best way to
protect yourself against this serious crime.

Now what is identity theft all about? Generally speaking, identity theft is a
crime where a criminal uses another person's identity and personal information
for their own gain, usually financial gains.

Identity theft is a very serious crime. People who steal personal information
of other people and use it for financial gains can produce very serious
consequences. Identity theft can be used to transfer funds from your bank
account, or use your personal information for criminal activities. Credit card
frauds are also a form of identity theft and so do check frauds.

If you somehow feel you are a victim of this crime, you must report it
immediately to the nearest justice department or law enforcement agency. The
concerned authorities can make the appropriate action in order to prevent the
situation from getting worse.

Sometimes, preventing the situation from getting worse is the only solution.
People who commit this serious crime are usually very hard to find and arrest.
Professional con artists use multiple identities that make it very hard for
authorities to trace. This is why you should know how to prevent this crime
from happening to you.

Based on the research the United States government did, almost 140 citizens are
being victimized by this crime every day and still growing. Today, authorities
are making new ways to stop this crime or at least minimize it.

Total financial loss can be experienced by the victims of this crime. Their
credit history can also be ruined. Therefore, this crime is a very serious
offense.

People who commit this criminal offense works by obtaining your personal
information, they do this by stealing your mails, hacking in your email
account, eavesdropping on your telephone calls and they also look over the
corner of their eyes when you are filling out documents that require personal
information.

They also commit this crime by using your personal information to apply for new
credit cards in your name. They will max out that credit card on purchases and
you will be the one who gets charged for the purchased goods.

Knowing about the methods used by the criminals to obtain your personal
information is very important. Most people do not know how their personal
information was obtained by criminals until it's too late. Here are some of the
ways criminals obtain your personal information and how to avoid it.

In public places, criminals may engage in shoulder watching. They will watch
you fill out documents that require public information. To avoid this, you
should fill out documents in private places, such as your home.

You might have personal information stored in your wallet. Criminals who steal
your wallet can use the information stored in it to commit identity theft. To
avoid this, you should never store items or documents containing your personal
information in your wallet. If it is possible, you should memorize your pin
numbers, Social Security number and other personal information a criminal can
use for their own financial gains.

You own home has all sorts of documents containing public information. If
someone enters your home unauthorized, they will steal things including
documents that contain your personal information. To avoid this from happening,
ask your neighbor to watch over your house if you and your family go out for
work or dinner. And, never leave your documents containing personal and
financial information lying around in your house. Look for a place to store it
where criminals would never usually look.

Your own telephone can also be the source of personal information. Criminals
can tap in to your phone by using surveillance equipments and listen as you
give out your personal information to a caller. Sometimes, criminals call you
and will pretend to be someone from the bank and will ask you about your
personal information. Do not give it away if you are not sure. Tell the caller
that you will call the bank first to confirm if there is indeed someone from
the bank requesting for your personal information.

Your trash is one great source of personal and financial information. Criminals
go dumpster diving to acquire documents containing your personal and financial
information. To prevent this from happening, dispose of your documents properly
by shredding them to pieces or burning them until it is impossible to put it
back together again.

Your computer is filled with files containing your public information.
Criminals can install spywares without you knowing it. So, it is important that
you take proper precautions while surfing the internet or downloading files. You
can install anti spyware programs to prevent spywares from entering your
computer.

Always remember that being cautious in public places and even in your own home
about your personal information is one of the best ways to prevent identity
theft from happening.

Not being one of those being listed in the history of identity theft crimes

Forget guns and violence. Being a criminal nowadays is a matter of getting the
right information without being found that and uses that to your advantage.
That is how the identity theft process work.

Identity theft is a crime wherein another person obtains and uses another
person's personal data for purposes of fraud or deception. But the main purpose
is for gaining money and finances to avail of goods or services.

Personal information being stolen borders from names, birth dates, social
security number and driver's license number. The more extreme and cruel cases
is when your financial identity like credit card, bank account and phone-card
numbers, are the ones being used.

It can be noted that your personal allows thieves to profit at your expense.
This is in contrast to your fingerprints that cannot be easily copied or
stolen. In many cases, victims are not even aware that their identity has been
stolen until maybe some months or years later.

The consequences of being an identity theft victim are also quite devastating.
You will be faced with the need to close bad credit accounts, trying to repair
them or open new ones.

In the process, you not only need time to get on with all these but also enough
money to try and pay up debits accumulated and new ones opened.

As long as you have not finished all the requirements and have not cleared you
name, you can be denied jobs, loans, education, housing, and transportation.
For worst case scenarios, you can even get arrested for the crime you did not
commit much less know about.

The trauma that can result from the experience is not easily forgotten too. The
experience of thousands of victims is that it often takes months, even years, to
recover.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, identity theft is the fastest
growing crime in the US alone. The fact that more and more people are reporting
cases of identity theft and how they have become victims can attest to
conclusion made by that department.

In the year 2002, 10 million people became victims of this crime. And an
estimated 27.3 million Americans have been reported to be victims of the
different forms of identity theft during the past 5 years.

Even financial and business institutions are not spared. Billions of dollars
worth of losses have also been noted which can be attributed to identity theft.

Identity theft is the number two most reported crime to the federal government.

These numbers are enough to make you consider identity theft as a serious crime
that is getting more and more rampant everyday. Ever since this kind of crime
had been noted in the early 1970's, counteractions are being done. But however
extreme are measure are, there is really no getting through the minds of these
thieves.

There are basically two forms of identity theft.

The first and most common is when someone uses your credit card information.
Your information have been gotten if it was lost or stolen. It can also be
because of careless handling by an employee of a company where you used the
credit card to make a purchase.

The second and more dangerous form of identity theft is when someone steals
your identity, and opens up credit card accounts, or cell phone accounts in
your name. They can also use your social security number when getting a job or
your driver's license to get a duplicate copy.

The advancing technology of today does not help any. Communications tools over
the Internet are allowing criminals to think up new schemes and strategies.
Besides that, identity theft can be planned and executed more easily online.

All these thieves have to do is pay a fee to an information broker to get an
individual's Social Security number. Online databases also have in them address
information, while an individual's mother's maiden name can be found in
obituaries or other public documents. Obviously, bills are sent to a different
address so they will not get to you and you will start panicking.

Understanding and having enough knowledge about identity theft can be your
prevention measure. Be alert and aware so you will not be among those who have
suffered the consequences of this crime.

Identity Theft: What You Need to Know about it

The use of your personal data such as your name, address, telephone number,
credit card, and mother's maiden name by other people is called identity theft,
which is also known to be an identity fraud. It is the illegal use of your
personality to commit crime or any illegal acts.

Usually, this crime is done to commit financial fraud or deception. Either it
is using your name to buy something or obtaining it thought the use of your
credit account and other personal security accounts.

By the use of your name, the identity theft gets a good service and all they
left for you is the bill that your name will be paying.

Sometimes, the well-established citizens are the ones victimized by identity
theft; it can also target some people who do not have that much account.

These identity thieves also use college students, the data and information
about these students are much better and much easier to obtain. They use their
names for application for credit cards and use it for criminal and illegal
purposes.

Most college students do not care about their financial account and do not
apply for these credit cards but will eventually receive credit card
application on their mailbox.

Large business groups are the main target of these identity thieves. They
usually find out before they apply for credits, they have history of
non-payment of bills, which is actually done by these identity thieves.

Small businesses will be surprised once they apply for loan and denied of
approval because of the pending loan that needs to be paid. This is every
critical problem where in these small businesses have to pay the loan they did
not purchase.

Almost everybody is possible to be victimized by these identity thieves. It is
because of the modern technology that exists in the world today.

Transactions are made without face-to-face contact, transactions that require
the name, address, contact number, security information and sometimes password.
Using malicious software that are downloaded through websites, thieves are able
to gets all these information.

This is how easy these thieves get the information they need. Once they got all
the information they need, they will have all the possibilities to commit
different financial and other related crimes.

These thieves use different identities to purchase something, gather different
services, obtain bank account, apply for credit card, apply for loans and other
government benefits and obtain money using the victims' identity.

The major problem with this kind of crime is that the victim will be forced to
clear all the transaction he or she has not made. In most cases, these thieves
usually pretend to be the victims' identity, obtaining all the necessary
information including the victim's security settings.

The funny thing, these transactions are from the knowledge of the owner but
will be surprised to receive many bills and loans to be paid. The more that
these thieves involve in these crimes the longer it is to repair the damage.

The damage done to the victim will bring difficulty in obtaining new jobs,
applying as an employer, applying for credit cards and renting apartments.

However, this major problem can be resolved. Many companies offer identity
theft insurance. Many people will have the privilege to obtain this insurance
as an option in their home insurance policy.

It is now possible to detect the people that uses the personal data if have
home insurance policy. By this means, the owner will have the knowledge on who
are the thieves that tries to use their personal data. Reports about the
present situation of the accounts are given to the owner in regular basis.
However, the owner may need to pay the service rendered.

The amount that is paid over to these identity theft insurance is huge. There
are many debates about it but people prefer to pay it to have peace of mind.

It is better to pay the huge prize than to be worried about the security of
your identity. These insurance will surely protect the account from the
identity thieves. You do not need to worry if the accounts are secured by it.

Finding the best identity theft insurance is the first thing you need to do.

Ways on Preventing Identity Theft

Identity theft has been one of the worst crimes happening all over the world.
People pose as other people to get something, usually the money of the people
they pose as.

If we think of the security measures being taken to hide our Social Security
numbers, credit card numbers, and other vital information, it is quite alarming
how people still obtain this information and uses them to steal a lot from us!

Here are some ways to prevent identity theft:

1)  Put a lock on your home mailbox

If the mailbox you keep is readily accessible by anyone, better buy a lock for
that. One root cause of identity theft is that strangers steal your mail,
gather as much information as they can on you, then pose as you when doing
transactions to get valuable things you own.

2)  Rent a PO Box from the Post Office

If you do not have a mailbox at home, and you are usually away on trips, rent a
PO Box from the local post office. Always have your mails addressed to your PO
Box address to prevent others from having access to your mail.

Deposit your outgoing mail to your PO Box. Also, request a vacation hold from
the Post Office for your mail if you will be away for more than 2 days.

3)  Don't give financial details over the phone

The usual strategy is when people pose as some charitable foundation or a
telemarketer for some online store or TV shop, and then they ask for your
credit card details. Give your details to them, and you can kiss your credit
line and history goodbye.

4)  Have a private phone number

It pays to have your own private number. You will be getting only calls from
the people you know, and from people who got your number directly from you.

Make sure that you give your number only to trustworthy people. This will
minimize telemarketers and other fraud artists from calling you and possibly
stealing your identity.

5)  Store your PINs in a safe place

It we know it is difficult to memorize the PINs of your ATM cards, credit
cards, and debit cards. It will save you a lot of trouble if you store your
PINs in a safe place that is away from your plastic cards.

If a thief steals your plastic card, he will not be able to use it after a few
unsuccessful attempts at your PIN as the system will lock your card. It may be
an inconvenience for you as well, but that will prevent your money from being
stolen.

6)  Photocopy both sides of your wallet's contents

Make sure that you have a photocopy of all contents of your wallet. If your
wallet is stolen, you can easily report it to the proper authorities.

Make sure you report the theft to the proper companies, (e.g. Social Security,
credit card company etc.) as soon as possible to prevent the thieves from using
your personals.

7)  Carefully choose your passwords

Thieves can easily determine your passwords, especially for your online
accounts. Make sure your password is very difficult to determine, usually a
combination of letters and numbers only you will remember, or something that
will not be associated with you.

8)  Always obtain a credit card report

It is always a good move to have a monthly report regarding your credit card.
You will never know what purchases may pop up on your bill. Call the following
major bureaus to have your monthly report:

Equifax: P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 
For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-525-6285 

Experian: P.O. Box 2002 Allen TX 75013 
For Fraud Alerts, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) 

Trans Union: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 
For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-680-7289

9)  Keep your records and personal papers in a safe place. Thieves can get into
your home, and if they find your personal papers like loan applications, birth
certificate etc., they will use these information to steal anything from you.

Make sure these are in a safety deposit box where only you know its location.
If not, place these in a safety deposit box in a bank.

10)  Have a good paper shredder

Make sure you have access to a powerful paper shredder, usually the crosscut
type. Pre -- filled charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance
forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards
that you're discarding, and mail credit offers should be immediately shredded,
NOT TORN TO PIECES, when they will be discarded.

11)  Proper Use of Credit Cards

Do not sign at the back of your credit card. If possible, always have a photo
laminated into your credit card so that a thief cannot use it.

Also, do not use your credit card in establishments like restaurants, where
your card will be out of your sight. Do not give out any details regarding your
credit card.

12)  Be Smart Online

Use encrypted or secure servers whenever you go online. Do not transact
business with unknown websites. Do not open files sent to you by strangers.
Make sure your virus database is regularly updated. Use firewall programs to
block spyware and malicious advertisements from pop -- ups in certain websites.

Being an identity theft victim is not easy

According to studies, there are around 10 million American victims of identity
theft in the year 2003 alone. That was 3 years ago. You can expect the number
to have risen over the years.

Persons who find themselves victim to this kind of crime has a lot to suffer
for. Not only have they been taken advantage of, they also have to endure long
hours of trying to clear up their name once again.

Since this crime does not show any signs of being stopped soon, early detection
is the only other solution that should be best done. You would not want someone
tampering with the credit rating you have worked so hard for, now would you?

How these "thieves" got your personal information is easy enough. It can be as
innocent as someone scanning through your thrash, someone watching you punch in
your pin numbers over your shoulders at an ATM machine and sending emails that
look as if it is a legitimate business.

Once they get all your personal information, these thieves will change your
billing address. You will not be aware of this unless you know that you always
get your bills in the mail, is keeping track of your charges and constantly
checking credit reports.

Below are sure signs that you are an identity theft victim.

1. Upon checking your credit reports, you found that there are some new charge
cards from companies you do not know anything about. You might not pay
attention to this yet because you think that your bank just made some mistakes
in your billing.

2. You are receiving bills for new credit card accounts that you did not open.

3. You notice some changes in your credit card statement that you did not even
authorize.

4. You are receiving calls from business owners regarding items that they said
you bought but actually do not have any idea about.

5. Debts are starting to show on your reports and you find yourself being
denied your credits.

If you are beginning to notice these things, you need not panic first. Just
think that there might be some logical explanation for this. But do not forget
to follow up and report these things immediately.

You may not know it yet but you might be an identity theft victim already.

In order to avoid being an unknowing victim of this crime, you have to make
sure that:

You are keeping a close watch on your credit card activities. Your physical
card is not important to make purchases toward your account. Take note that by
simply getting hold of the number on your card, any person can make charges
against your credit by making online or telephone purchases.

It is a fact that majority of the people are not scrutinizing their billing
statement each month. This makes it possible for identity thieves to get away
with hundreds or even thousands worth of merchandise.

Try also to monitor your credit report. Once your credit report starts showing
signs of having poor credit ratings when you always pay your bills on time, it
is time to focus your attention to it.

Identity thieves may be spending all you money to buy items and merchandise.
And you are the ones being obliged to pay the bills. Not only are they getting
the money you have worked so hard for, but they are also destroying the credit
ratings you have tried so hard to maintain.

Another step to take so you will not become an identity theft victim is to make
payments in safe places. With thieves, you can never tell. They might appear
like bystanders minding their own business but is actually looking out for you
when you start writing out personal details.

Be one step ahead of them by thinking what other strategies they can use in
stealing your identity. Be wary of persons you are next to when shopping and
when paying bills. You might be taken advantage right there and then.

Avoiding being an identity theft victim is only a matter of being wary and
smart of suspicious people around you.

Although trusting other people is a must, you just have to choose the persons
who will give your trust to.

Avoid becoming another Hopeless Victim of Bank Identity Theft

Ever wonder how identity theft occurs? It is actually quite fascinating, if it
is not a very malicious and dangerous crime.

Identity theft occurs once a thief assumes another person's identity by using
confidential information supposed to be known exclusively by that person. The
thief will commit fraud using the person's name and important confidential
information without the victim ever knowing about such transactions.

When the person or victim finally finds out about the crime committed, the
thief is long gone in excruciating anonymity. They leave behind a ruined
reputation, and a paper trail of ruined credit, debts and collectors.

Sometime the implications of identity theft usually cause the wrongful arrest
of the victim. Why so? Because, without the identity theft angle in the case,
it can be assumed that the victim was the one who committed the crimes because
it was done under his/her name.

It is an alarming occurrence and usually, the victims would suffer the
implications of the crime for years to come.

The past several years brought about an alarming wave of identity theft crimes
in different areas dealing with personal information and economic transactions.

One of the hardest hit by identity theft crimes are the banks. Bank identity
theft has been around long before there were credit card, social security,
internet, job banks, airline and medical community identity thefts.

Bank identity theft occurrences vary. Some cases involve a thief continuously
withdrawing huge amounts of cash from a bank account of another person until
there is none left. Another case may involve the identity thief assuming the
name and other personal information of another person then files for a bank
loan.

Armed with personal information of another person, an identity thief can obtain
a driver's license. He/she can open new lines of credit and bank accounts even
buy a car and get a mortgage. Bills and statements from these transactions are
diverted to the thief's temporary address.

They then bilk the victim's credit line for all it is worth in cash advances,
loans and credit card debt without intent to pay. All these occur with the
thief hidden in a shroud of anonymity.

Bank identity theft and other forms of identity theft is a nightmare for
millions of people who have become victims of such crime. Indeed, the figures
of those victimized have reached into millions already. Sadly, though state and
federal laws and stricter bank transactions have been imposed, the number of
victims continues to rise each year.

When the walls come crashing in, you are left holding the bag and the thief is
long gone. Financial recovery from identity theft can take years.

In United States and Canada, many people have reported unauthorized persons
taking out funds form their bank or financial accounts. There are even worst
cases when the victims report of an identity thief who has totally taken over
their identities. With it, the thief have run up huge debts and committed
crimes all under the name of the victim.

There was a notorious case of identity theft wherein the criminal, a convicted
felon incurred more than $100,000 of credit card debt. Aside from this, the
felon also obtained a federal home loan, bought homes, motorcycles, and
handguns using the victim's name.

With maniacal pride, he called his victim to taunt him. He declared that he
could continue posing as the victim for as long as he wanted. During that time,
identity theft was not yet a federal crime. Then, the thief filed for bankruptcy
still using the victim's name.

Very bitter was the fact that the criminal only served a brief sentence while
the victim and his wife spent more than four years to restore their reputation
and credit. They also spent more than $15,000 of their own money to win back
their credit. The criminal did not even made restitution for all the danger he
had caused.

The only positive thing that came out of this case and the others similar to
this is when the Congress created a new federal offense against identity theft
in 1998.

You can avoid being a victim of bank identity theft by identifying red flags
that may indicate

Here are several red flags that indicate you may be a victim of identity theft:

1. There are bills for a credit card account you did not open.

2. There are notice charges, which you did not authorize on your credit card
statement

3. No bills and credit card statements arrive on the days you expect them.

4. Unauthorized transfers or withdrawals on your bank statements show.

5. Notifications from collection agency about accounts you never opened.

6. Calls or notices from businesses about merchandise you did not buy.

7. Debts showing up on your credit reports that you did not file.

Is There a Way to Prevent Identity Theft?

Pretty woman walking down the street, pretty woman: then, a man suddenly seize
her handy bag. The woman shouted and begs for help, but the man runs as fast as
a horse until the woman does not even have a view with the man's shadow: .

Would you like this thing to happen? Of course, everybody wants to preserve
their property and their money because these are taken from the fruits of their
hard work. Stealing one's property is a violation according to the law, much
more with stealing with your personal identity already.

Sometimes, it is more acceptable although it is also a crime when somebody
stolen your property. The worse thing happens when it is already your privacy
or the personal information that you have being taken away from you by the
thieves.

Identity theft is a threat against your persona. It reveals everything about
you to another person, who is a thief. Thus, knowing all the information about
yourself will allow him to make transaction with other people using your
identity. You will not only loose the money in your wallet and your bag but the
entire property that you have in general.

However, do not worry too much about identity theft because there are several
ways for you to keep away yourself from being one of the victims of identity
theft. If only you will strictly follow these ways, you will be guaranteed with
the security of your identity. Check this out!

1.  Always keep your things in proper places and securely. -- This is the basic
thing that you should do. Never allow anybody to fix your wallet where your
identification cards, bank accounts and other personal information are placed.
Avoid trusting so mjuch even to the closest person to you. Study shows that
almost 26 percent of the cases in identity theft, the victims knew who the
perpetrators are.

2.  Burn all the receipts, personal applications, bank statement and any other
kind of forms before you discard them. This will help you to protect your
financial data and status.

3.  Never give personal information instantly over the phone. Make sure that
the person calling reveals to you his real purpose for calling. But it is not
still an assurance, it is better if you will see them personally before you
give out information about yourself to know the real purpose.

4.  Bring the ID that you needed most for a particular transaction. Leave it to
your house, if you do not need it at all. This is also one way of protecting
yourself from identity theft.

5.  Usually, when you make a bank transaction such as depositing or
withdrawing, you are to fill up a form. It is better if you only write the last
four4 digit of your bank account number. The teller already know the proper
thing that they are suppose to do.

6.  Surf in the net and know the latest information about online identity
theft. You also have a big concern about this since you are making transactions
through computers sometimes. Web spoofing is also stealing tone's identity of
the website identity. You don't know if somebody already knows your financial
account number by imitating the website where your e-mail account is located.

7.  Take some precautions when it comes to your credit and debit cards. Always
keep your credit cards in a secured place. When using it in paying the amount
of stuffs that you shop, make sure that you give it properly and get it
immediately to the cashier because you can be distracted by the person next to
you in line.

8.  Secure your ATM cards as well. When you withdraw with your ATM account,
secure the card properly. Prevent yourself from being a victim of skimming.
This is the process where the machine can be able to get the details of your
transaction.

Sad to say but everyday there are about thousands of people who became the
victim of identity theft. Sometimes, other people do not have any idea about
this knid of crime. It is high time that you should get yourself aware about
this before it will be too late.

What are the effects of identity theft on an organization?

If identity theft can cause so much trouble for an individual, it can also
cause the same kind of trouble to companies or organizations.

It seems that people have found a gold mine in stealing other peoples'
information to use for their own personal gain. And since there are a lot of
benefits gained from this, there is no stopping anyone from doing it more and
more.

The popularity of the Internet and computer databases has only become an
additional tool for thieves to steal information from. Just think of all the
genius minds wandering unnoticed everyday.

The economic and social effect of this crime is not something to be ignored. If
they can do these things to nameless individuals then the more they can do it
with big organizations that are known and may have some of its information up
for grabs.

Even if there is still no perfect solution, every organization should take
reasonable steps to reduce the risk and to know what to do if an identity theft
incident occurs there.

Identity theft in an organization can be attested to different factors:

Identity theft because of negligence and lenient standards.

Out of negligence, an organization can fail in checking the validity of persons
or companies they are selling their information into. They may not be aware that
some of this are identity thieves whose sole purpose is to get information about
the organization.

Another case of negligence would be putting information into portable, carry
around gadgets. Example of these are lap tops and notebooks. The potable things
are one of the most convenient ways of keeping important information.

Many of its owners do not protect or encrypt any information stored. The
result? Instant access to personal and organization-related information once
these things have gotten into the hands of wrongdoers.

There have been reports of data and information being lost in some bigger
organizations. There are many reasons why this thing can happen. One is that
the company may not have the potential to safely store big files. Another is
that, they do not have a way of knowing what the employees are doing and what
they can access to.

Identity theft using state-of-the-art attacks.

Some identity theft attacks occur through technical means, such as exploiting
weaknesses in computer hardware or software. Hackers make the most of the
problems in operating systems, firewalls, Internet browsers, or internal
processing software to gain unauthorized access to confidential data.

But these kinds of attack can be countered by:

Keeping up to date with security software updates. An unpatched system is
operating with known weaknesses. These weaknesses can act as invitations to
hackers. But applying patches takes time and resources. And it is up to senior
management to maintain that security updates be handled fast and effectively.

Knowing where essential customer data are stored. Every company should have
data flow mapping. This will provide an objective basis for company managers to
track information and understand who will have access to those data. The
strategy is to create a "path" so the data do not just thrive randomly in
different electronic nooks and corners of the company. This will prevent
employees, freelancer, contractors or hackers to gain access to the information
stored.

Collecting proof when an incident occurs. Failure to gather evidence in a
forensically sound manner can make it impossible to track criminal charges or
to look for civil compensation. Having qualified computer forensic resources
should be a part of every organization's plan.

Recognizing the dangers of wireless data communication. You may seen instances
where organizations do not properly secure wireless networks. The network may
not be protected and unauthorized network could be accessed from outside the
premises of the organization. Regular testing to make sure that no one is
running a scoundrel network, and that authorized wireless networks are well
protected, is very important.

The effects of identity theft in an organization is a problem that should not
be taken for granted. While there are no absolute solutions, there are many
well-documented methods to decrease the risks and handle incidents effectively.

The effects of identity theft vary from one organization to another. But with
preparation, planning, and the recognition that a wide range of expertise sets
are needed to stop this crime, any organization can keep up with the challenge.

Identity Theft: Ways to Prevent It

Identity theft is a very serious crime; if you're a victim of this crime it may
have serious consequences. It could mean difficulty in clearing your credit
records, getting into debt, losing a lot of money and even getting in trouble
with the law. You will also have difficulty obtaining new jobs or apartments.
This is because employers and landlords usually check the credit records of
their applicants.

This crime occurs when a thief gets information about your credit card numbers,
name, address, social security number, and other personal information that
should be kept confidential. After they obtained your personal information,
they will usually make purchases, open bank accounts, apply for loans, apply
for new credit cards, get government benefits, and forge checks in your name.

If you're a victim, there are ways to solve this problem; you can report the
crime to concerned authorities and you can apply for identity theft insurance.
Many companies are offering insurance for people to protect their personal
information. You can apply for this insurance as an option for homeowner's
insurance policy. However, having identity theft insurance does not prevent
identity theft; it will only help you recover if in any case you have been a
victim of this crime.

People who become victims of identity theft or identity fraud usually do not
figure out how their personal information was acquired by the thief. So, it is
wise that you should be careful about your personal information.

The best way to prevent this crime is to be careful with your personal
information. You first have to know how criminals obtain your personal
information.

Thieves obtain personal information in many simple ways. Here are some examples:

* By stealing your wallet containing credit cards, and other personal
information.

* By going through your garbage for items containing personal information.

* By providing personal information online through email or registration based
websites.

* By pretending to be a new creditor to obtain your credit report.

* By eavesdropping on your phone calls or looking over your shoulder as you use
your personal information.

* By promising prizes or awards by contacting you by email that would require
you to provide personal and financial information.

Here are some transactions that also create risk:

* Online banking
 
* Online purchases 

* Storing personal information in your computer 

* Using your social security information for identification purposes.

However, this does not necessarily mean that you should avoid these
transactions. It means that you should be careful when giving away your
personal and financial information.

Being conscious on how you use your personal and financial information can
prevent completion of identity theft.

Here are some tips for safeguarding your personal and financial information:

* Memorize your social security number

* Memorize your PIN numbers

* Don't use easy to guess passwords, like your birthday or your mother's maiden
name

* Secure your computer by using firewall software and always update your
computer security to safeguard your computer from spywares.

* Confirm if the website URL that is requesting your personal information is
authentic or legitimate.

* Beware of emails, especially with attachments, belonging to someone you don't
know. Emails like these contain viruses or spywares that can easily be installed
in your computer and can send your personal information stored in your computer
to thieves.

* Websites that ask for personal information should be secure. A secured
website usually has URL that starts with "https://" with the "s" meaning
secured.

* Beware of telephone inquiries asking you to give your personal information,
unless you contacted them.

* If you lost your credit card, report it immediately to concerned authorities.
It could have been stolen by identity thieves. 

* Get your mails as soon as it is delivered.

* Do not discard bank, credit card or any other transaction receipts in public
areas. Someone might obtain these information by dumpster diving.

These are some of the ways to safeguard your personal information. It is
important that you should be aware of what you do to items containing your
personal and financial information. Practicing these methods will surely
minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Perforate or shred important documents containing personal informations such as
old credit cards, used checks and identity cards. You'll never know when they
would fall into wrong hands.

If you suspect that something is wrong, report it immediately to authorities.
Be sure that you have a proof that you have reported such incident by keeping
it in black and white.

Secure Your Life with Identity Theft Reporting

Given the chance to live a simple life where the advent of technology do not
conquer humanity yet, some people will prefer to have that so.

With the recent advancement, everything is beyond the control of people.
Identity theft in the web world and in personal transactions is also increasing.

In spite of remarkable efforts, the problem continues to exist. This is how
situation is getting worse. United States initiated a collaborative endeavor
with the proper authority to solve the threat brought by identity theft.

Identity theft is indeed a menace in the United States society. The issue has
been plaguing the state for several times. It already affects millions of US
citizens. More and more victims' everyday are filing their complaints.

According to the Bureau of Investigation in the United States, the status of
identity theft is considered one of their most prevalent crimes. The statistic
shows that the ratio of the crime is 1:5. In other words, for every five
families residing in US, one of them is hooked by identity theft.

Why identity theft seems very intriguing? The crime is taking the personal
information of another person without due consent, from his name down to other
legal documents that a person possesses. In addition, after taking the personal
information, the thief tends to use it in deceitful transactions where they can
earn money.

United States present several preventive measures on how to stop further misuse
of your identity once you discover that someone has stolen it from you. This is
the identity theft reporting. It allows you to give prior notice to the
agencies and bureaus concerned.

Here is how identity theft reporting works for you.

1. Contact the fraud departments where you apply the fraud alert. Fraud alert
is place on your personal data when you have transaction to a particular
office. Once notice a stolen identity, it will be immediately reported to you.
However, fraud alert is one way to protect you from identity theft.

2. When you encounter identity theft, report the crime to the nearest local
police or sheriff department in your place. Identity reporting should also be
done immediately after you discover the crime. Do not let it pass for over 24
hours because you will give the thief a chance to manipulate his actions. This
is worse if it already involves your credit account.

3. After you have reported the crime, be sure that you request a police report.
Sometimes, this is referred to your personal statement about the scenario that
happened.

Be factual and honest as possible in your narration. This will serve as a basis
for the authority to make the necessary investigation.

4. Coordinate with your creditor banks and notify them about the crime. Let the
banks and utility companies freeze all your accounts. The police report that you
asked from the sheriff will also be asked from you by the bank.

Make sure that you are able to present one for them. You can be accountable for
a minimal amount for your account replacement. Some banks provide you with new
passbook or credit cards. Sometimes, they will also issue you new account
numbers.

5. Prior to your identity theft reporting, if you monitored that somebody
already made unauthorized withdrawal from your account, notify the bank right
away. By doing this, they will immediately make efforts to trace the person who
made the withdrawal.

6. You should i8nstyantly stop your payment to any existing accounts using your
previous identity. You can alert the check verification company, as well. This
will make them reject whoever will attempt to withdraw from your stolen account.

7. Aside from your account and credit account numbers, you should also make a
report to the SSS office for them to issue new SS card for you.

It is very important that you protect yourself from being one of the victims of
identity theft because if not you will suddenly notice that you almost loose
everything that you own; it can be both your reputation and your property. Do
not let these things to happen before you. Act now before it will be too late!

The Benefits of Identity Theft Insurance

One of the fastest rising crimes in the United States and United Kingdom is
Identity Theft. Considerably, identity theft is one of the most often reported
crimes. Identity theft is a horrible crime which occurs about thrice every
minute in America. In U.K an estimated one hundred thousand cases are committed
every year.

Regrettably, identity theft is not anymore an unusual happening particularly in
North America. Majority of people do not even give a thought of it. It does not
matter to them whether the crime is committed or not. They will only be
concerned about it if they will be victimized by the identity thief.

What is the meaning of Identity Theft? Identity Theft or Identity Fraud is the
deliberate assumption of the identity of another person, generally in order to
have free access of their finances or to use it in committing a terrible crime.
Identity theft is unlawful use of your personal name, date of birth, social
security number together with your financial and banking information. The
Identity Thief will utilize the information in applying for credit, opening
bank accounts and to the extent of find a job.

Identity theft is seldom used in terrorism, illegal immigration, espionage or
alters the identity of the person permanently. Identity theft can also be a way
of blackmailing a person by violating the privacy of the person. The illegal
activities of the thief while using the name of the victim will have serious
consequences such as the loss of job or the marriage.

The victims of identity theft are not solely the stable credit companies, but
also who does not have much credit life for example, the students from college.
They will be framed up by giving them fake credit accounts using their names.

The students are the common victims because their personal information
especially for schools that will post their grades by using their Social
Security Number. And sometimes students do not even bother to protect such
information. They do not check seriously their financial accounts. Mostly,
credit card applications are sent by mail.

Identity theft crimes come from snatching of the wallet to big time fraud
rings. Identity theft can happen when somebody gets your mail, your purse is
stolen, or your records in an institution are swiped. This can be easily
remedied if the thief is arrested early. The banks and creditors will only ask
you to pay the first $50 of deceptive charges.

However, those grave cases of deception will go on for so many years and more
resources to be resolved. In view of this, there is no denying that there
exists the danger of identity theft. Thus, everyone should do something so as
to give the necessary protection.

There are some preventive measures for the commission of the crime. It is
really not easy to keep your identity safe especially in our world wherein we
find strangers who are always smiling. You do not know whether they are sincere
or not. Hence, you should be aware of fraud and be very careful in sharing your
personal information. Every month, make it a habit to monitor carefully your
statement of accounts. You should strictly observe any unlawful activity about
your credit report.

In order that your personal information and pre-approved credit offers will not
be known by any unauthorized person, you should use the paper shredder.

The above mentioned measures will serve as precautions for everyone who will be
possible victims of identity theft. Now if you are really serious about your
identity and financial stability, then the best way to protect us from identity
theft is to get an identity theft insurance. Many companies are offering this
identity theft insurance which normally costs from $25 to $60 every year.

You should bear in mind that identity theft insurance is not a guarantee which
will prevent you from being a victim. Identity theft insurance will help you to
recover from your plenty of losses due to identity theft.

However, your direct monetary losses resulting from identity theft are not
covered by identity theft insurance. Identity theft insurance will provide the
coverage for the reclaiming of your financial identity like the expenses when
making a phone call, reproducing copies; documents are mailed, taking a leave
from office without pay and hiring your attorney.

There are to things to consider before you get an identity theft insurance. 

* Know what are the policy limits.

* Inquire if there is something deductible.

* Take note that identity theft insurance does not include direct monetary
losses.

* Make some verifications on what limits apply and what are the requirements to
cause the coverage, when the insurance policy covers the lost wages.

* If the insurance policy includes the legal fees, then verify what limits
apply and if there is a need for the insurer to approve the legal work.

The moral behind every identity theft stories

You may have been shocked at the stories of identity theft told by those who
have fallen victim into this kind of crime. With the way things are going
today, you can expect more to read and see more of these crimes being presented.

According to recent studies on identity theft, more than 7 million people have
become victims of this crime in the US alone. If you compute that on a daily
basis, it would result to around 19,000 identity cases a day.

Based on these numbers alone, you will realize that identity theft is really
something that should be given serious attention and focus on. With the
technology getting more and more advanced everyday, these identity theft
stories are not likely to end up soon.

What was presented above was just summaries. They are just if you compare them
with the real life stories of what the victims have been though, they will seem
insignificant. Many of the people who have experienced the crime have developed
traumas that are not easy to get over. Hearing about identity theft stories is
way different from being in the situation or having someone close to you relate
what had happened.

Although there is no stopping you from becoming a victim of identity theft,
there are a lot of steps to take to prevent this from happening. All in all, it
all boils down to maintaining a constant watch over your credit or payments. You
just need your common sense to tell you if something suspicious has taken place.

By taking these things into consideration, you are making it harder for these
thieves to get past the walls that you have erected. Not only that, you will
not be among those who have suffered, are suffering and will suffer.

Take note that identity thieves are no different from any other thieves. They
too do not like to work hard to get something. If you try and make it quite
hard for them to consider you a potential victim, they would probably just let
you off and go find another with a more lenient protection around themselves.

Take the case of phishing for example.

Phishing is simply an email you receive that seem to be coming from one of your
banks. The message is telling you to get in your online account and confirm some
of the details needed. Normally there would be a link included in the mail for
convenient purposes.

The instant you clicked on the link, identity thieves will record your ID and
password. Once they have this information, it will be easy for them to get into
your account. They would probably wipe your account clean in a matter of
minutes. You have just lost all your hard earned money.

How will you make use of common sense in this kind of situation?

The very first thing you have to realize is that your banks already have all
your personal data saved. If they did not have all these, they will not be able
to process your account. So why are they asking for these things again?

The best thing to do is to not give that message another thought. Better yet,
thrash them because it is a scam. If that is legitimate, your bank will try to
contact you again over other means of communication.

But if you are having second thoughts on the legitimacy of the message, the
best thing to do is confirm it. If you have the number of your bank, try and
call them. Ask them if they did send the email and why are they doing so.

If they are not the ones who sent you the email, they will probably have the
same reaction as you when you received the message.

Moral of this identity theft story? Do not ever try to get into your account
via the link sent to you by email. If you have been doing your business online
for quite some time, you should know that there is a specified page in where
you do your business.

The next option would be to go into the bank's homepage and log in there if you
want to access your account.

Put an End to Criminal Identity Theft

Being mistaken for someone else can be very hazardous. It can actually get you
punished for something you never did. A couple of situations have already
cropped up when someone else in a course of a criminal act uses another persons
identity.

Many criminals have had the ability to get crucial and vital information, such
as social security number, addresses, credit card numbers, bank accounts, birth
certificates and etcetera to commit crimes.

The imposter uses someone else's identification. Not only that, most of the
imposter uses fraudulent information or in this case, true personal information
but not their own. The fake identification can lead the crime to someone else.
As a result, the innocent person will suffer from all of the consequences of
the crime commited.

In a traffic scenario, criminal identity theft can also happen. Traffic
imposter that violates the traffic rules can use a fraudulent driver's license
with another persons name. By doing this, they can escape the traffic fine or
escape from appearing in court as the law requires. The fine goes to another
persons record.

The judge will surely issue a warrant of arrest for traffic violation.
Unfortunately, the license card is in the name of the victim. Because of this,
the imposter will never appear in any court hearing. The worst thing is that,
the victim is normally arrested upon a routine traffic stop.

Criminal identity theft is more complicated compared to financial identity
theft. Fortunately, unlike other theft cases, criminal identity theft is very
rare. In this case the imposter has a rigid form of identify complex.
Especially if the suspect uses a different fraud identity, the police
department will surely have a hard time looking for the perpetrator.

At the present situation, police are very much more cautious when it comes to
criminal identity theft. This offense is considered to be an extreme personal
crime. Moreover, records are not easily cleared which could cause several
problems with transactions a person may undertake. For example, a criminal
record, albeit false, can mar a clean record causing a person some problems
with say his credit or a job opportunity.

Not only that, criminal identity imposter can also tamper with some bank
account charges of the victim. It can also make some bank account withdrawals
and social security tampering. Unrelated crimes can also be committed by the
imposter for whom the victim may be held responsible.

Criminal identity theft can also affect the victim in obtaining a job. The
imposter can simply use the other personal documents in some events. An
impostor can steal from a company and the assumed identity may get the bum wrap
for the act done.

The real trouble in identity theft is that the burden of proof relies on the
victim's evidences. The victim must have enough information and data in order
to clear up the issues. Not only that, if the imposter had committed a serious
offense, the trial can take years. It can even cost the victim thousands of
dollars to clear his or her name. These are more conveniences on the part of
the victim.

In most cases, the victim is required to have a set of circumstances. The
victim must render enough time and evidences to clear the issue on his or her
criminal records. A good lawyer should also be retained, the sooner you clear
your name and your records the better it will be for you.

If you ever found out that someone is using your identity, don't wait for the
authorities to pick you up, do actions already to minimize the potential damage
it may cause.

What are things that an individual should do when criminal identity theft
happened?

* The very first thing that he must do is to report the incident. The local law
enforcement agency must know the misidentification issue.

* Proper impersonation report must be filled officially. The victim must not
take all things for granted. He must act as soon as possible to prevent serious
troubles.

* Having enough information about the particular laws of the state is
important. The victim must know the proper proceedings when it comes to
identity theft. Here is where a good and knowledgeably lawyer will be very
handy.

This kind of criminal offense happens more often than what everybody thinks. It
has already destroyed countless lives of innocent people. Do not let somebody
damage your reputation. Take the essential precautions to protect yourself from
criminal identification theft.

How to Avoid Identity Theft: Keeping your Financial Records Safe

Picture this, you are browsing through your mail, you get your bills and you
didn't count on seeing your credit card bill with a five-figure charge. Its bad
enough that you get charged for purchases you didn't do, you also get slapped
with a bad credit rating that will certainly jack up all your credit rates.

Aside from that, the legitimate card holder can also suffer from different
consequences. The credit account can be transferred to fraudulent individuals
or corporations and the savings data will leak permanently. Important
information like credit card password and numbers are also stolen. Client's
confidentiality can also be changed by the impersonator. Worse, the social
security of a person may be used for different criminal acts.

In most part of the globe, the issue on identity theft is a rapid growing
offense. In United States, a study was conducted last 2004 revealing how
serious the situation of the crime is. The Federal Trade Commission recently
concluded that almost 9.1 million individuals are victims of identity theft
crimes.

Aside from that, in a United Kingdom based study done last 2003, 20 percent of
the entire consumer groups have also fell victim to identity theft crisis. On
the other hand, the Home Office in United Kingdom does not assemble the
information for identity theft. Instead, they make some alternatives on how to
avoid this kind of situations. This only goes to show that identity theft is
prevalent in both sides of the globe.

How to prevent credit card identity theft from happening

In order to prevent this kind of scenario, here are some important insights and
safety tips about identity theft.

* Leaving the receipt or pay slip on any ATM station or gas pumps is not a good
habit. Be observant with details. Always make sure to lock and sort out files
for bills, and bank account receipts. Before throwing those things away make
sure to shred them first. Bits and pieces of information can be used by a
seasoned identity thief.

* In a current investigation done by the FBI, 30 percent of the victims
admitted that they had been a victim of identity theft by a co-worker or a
friend. In this case, be very wary of the people around you. Don't just trust
any bank documents to anyone else. Most of the suspects know the pattern and
lifestyles of their victims

* Do not forget to get a copy of credit reports and statements. Get it from a
reliable source like credit banking and bureaus.

* Choose out of the mailing list. The bank mailing list must come from the
contacts of credit bureaus. As much as possible, call the bank registry office.
This office can give an idea which mailing list is safe from identity theft.

* Never write down the security card number on the check. Many individuals can
read it and can use it against the account. Do not also put the security card
number in the wallet. It must be kept on a secured area for privacy.

* Another thing is, never print the bank account number on any documents, like
for example a driver's license.

* Delete any spam email messages that requires an account number. It can be a
fraud strategy top get vital information from you. And also, stop other credit
card offers from the internet. There are some hackers that can corrupt the bank
notifications. Installing firewall and anti spyware software can also help.
These softwares can protect the password of the computer and other personal
data sheets.

* When getting a new batch of checks, it is important to get first the initial
printed name instead of the whole name. It is also important to get the check
from designated bank purchaser office.

* The password account must be private. The pin number must not be carried
inside the wallet. Any personal information should not be given over the phone.

As an advice, if an individual feels that he is a victim of an identity theft,
it is appropriate to contact the nearest Justice Department. If not, a bank
office can also help in that particular situation. Remember, in every action,
taking extra care and getting help from the appropriate agencies is the safest
thing to do.

Protect your Credit with Identity Theft Shield

We live in a world where information technology is highly oriented in the
society. The advancement of technology have allowed us to make business
transactions easily in just a short time.

But even with the enhancement of technology, we could never believe that it
gave rise to a crime which is known as the identity theft.

As a matter of fact, the Federal Trade Commission have released a news which
stated that in the year 2003, there had been at least 27 million Americans that
have fallen to the identity thieves which started way back in 1999.

Every year, the number of identity theft cases has outnumbered. In 2003, there
had been almost 10 million people in the United States, who have claimed that
they had been victims of identity theft.

So what does this imply? Has some stranger stolen your credit card? Who will be
the one to help you with that case? Your credit card company may be the one to
help you with that problem.

According to the FTC, there had been almost 60% of the identity theft issues,
did not relate to the credit card accounts. To avoid this from happening, the
only solution is to be aware of the identity theft shield.

This case occurs when the new lines of credit is being opened which is in your
name through the credit cards or through bank loans. This also include the
utility/phone fraud or even some of the employment related fraud. Because we
most of us have access to these technology related innovations, we can all be
victims.

To avoid this from happening, the application of identity theft shield can be
applicable. It is important to feel safe about our personal belongings
properties.

You may ask what can we possibly do if we have been into the situation. You may
think that clearing your name will be the ultimate solution but it wont matter.
You don't have to do that because the Pre-Paid Legal Services have helped so
much in the improvement of the legal services industry.

For over thirty years, Kroll company has helped a lot of companies especially
the government agencies and common people to have their credit cards and other
personal information safe. They helped reduce the risk of identity theft
through Identity Theft Shield.

What really is an Identity theft Shield and how can it help you?

Identity theft shield has been developed b y Kroll to help the companies to
come up with a solution to resolve identity theft.

In fact, this service is available to the Pre-Paid Legal members of the society
with the use of the Identity Theft Shield.

How does the Identity Theft Shield benefit the users?

With the Identity Theft Shield, the members can have easy access to their
possessions. It gives them credit ratings to fight back and make reactions if
an identity thief plans to threaten the financial standing.

This benefit is perfectly designed to give you a warning if things go wrong and
if you are suspicious that someone is interested in your account. If an activity
is not doing good, you can restore the damage done to your credit history with
the use of the Identity Theft Shield.

So in order to avoid this, the experts have recommended that people who possess
credit cards should report regularly.

With the help of the identity theft shield, you can make reports easily. The
members are given up-to-date credit report with no additional charge.

So if you have an identity theft shield membership, your credit lines and
information will be monitored regularly and daily to prevent fraud and other
transactions. Your credit will be given attention and no one can steal anything
from you.

You do not even have to make announcements because the identity theft shield
can figure out if your credit is in danger. This will free you from all the
worries from the people who are interested in your credit.

Now if you feel like your credit is in danger, it is the right time to have an
identity theft shield to make sure that your credit is safe and protected or
else, you can never do anything about it.

Fifteen Easy Solutions to Avoid Being a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft usually happens when a certain person unlawfully gets you
personal data like your Social Security Number, Credit card Accounts, Driver's
License Number and other information about you.

The person who obtains your personal information utilizes it to his or her loan
or credit card application, which is under your name. The thief also uses it to
do unlawful purchases or to use any of your active financial accounts.

Identity is very rampant today, but there are significant guidelines you can
consider which will help you lessen the potential of becoming one of the
identity thieves.

1. Do not give any of your personal details such as your birth date, social
security number and accounts numbers on the telephone especially when someone
asks you for it.

In addition, do not give it through email except if you are the one who started
the contact and if you know the person who will receive your information.

2. Tear into pieces the papers that have your personal data before disposing
them. This papers includes credit card bills, checking accounts and bank
accounts

3. Have correct and present records of all your cards and put the person to
contact with when they are missing or stolen. If possible, make copies of your
credit cards and put your service number on the copies.

If you are not using your credits card now, make sure to store them in a safe
place and have it locked.

It is also nice to store your unused checks, social security card and bank
statement in a safe place.

4. You should also ensure to make credit card receipt copies when buying
something. Moreover, confirm if your credit card was returned to you.

5. It is necessary to monitor your credit report every year. There are three
main credit card reporting offices, which can help you do it, possible.

These three reporting office allows you to have a free credit report annually.
If you want, you can visit their websites and ask for a free report.

6. You should also ensure that when you are withdrawing from any ATM machines
or stores, there is no one at your back who could freely see your PIN number.

Also, be sure that no one hears you when you are giving your credit card number
or other personal data about you to someone on the telephone.

7. When buying something online, ensure that the website is safe.

8. When using your personal computer, be able to use firewalls or any virus
protections. You can also make use of your password that consist of not purely
letters, purely numbers and purely symbols.

It should be a combination of at least letters and numbers, letters and symbol,
symbols and number or else a combination of the three.

Remember not to use passwords that are obviously come from your birth date,
anniversaries or phone numbers. If necessary, memorize your passwords. Never
write it down somewhere.

9. Do not reply to any emails that requests for your information update.
Contact the credit card office or the bank directly to update your personal
information.

Keep in mind that bank and other financial or non-financial institutions do not
ask for information update through email. So, beware of those frauds that ask it
from you.

10. If you notice many pre-approved credit offers in your emails, call the
credit card company and request to have your name out of the promotional lists
they advertise.

11. Place all your mails at the post office than put and leave it in your
mailbox. You are giving the identity thief a chance of stealing personal
information from you, through this way.

12. Make sure that you picked you new issued check personally from the back. Do
not permit it to be sent to you by mail.

13. Put passwords in all your accounts for your safety. Again, use the
combination of letters, numbers or symbols when making password.

14. You can always apply for an identification theft insurance policy.

15. You can also register to any credit watch offices. This type of office
makes checking of all your credit report simpler by automatically informing
when something has changed in your report.

In this way, it will be possible for you to know if someone attempt to make
credit under your name.

By simply following the solutions below, you are surely avoiding yourself from
any identity theft.

Identity Theft Video: Great Way To Catch An Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the worst problems occurring today. It can happen
almost anywhere, in small towns and even cities. Identity theft is defined by
the law as the use of another person's identity or identification to steal or
commit crime. An identity thief often uses another person's identity to rob
your money. They usually use your credit card or credit card information to
purchase whatever they want and you will be billed for it.

One of the best ways to know about identity theft is by buying a video
demonstrating how the crime works and also how to prevent it. This video will
tell you how to keep yourself secured from thieves and show you how identity
thieves work.

It will show you useful information on how identity theft occurs. If you 
obtained a copy of an identity theft video, it is recommended that you share it 
with your family and friends to warn them about the hazards of identity theft.

It will demonstrate on how a thief gets hold of your personal information and
use it to get money from you.

Here are some examples:

* Dumpster diving -- Thieves can often obtain your personal information by
rummaging through garbage. This is why it is important for you to dispose of
your documents or items containing your personal and financial information
carefully. You should first burn it or shred it to pieces to the point that it
cannot be restored.

* Stealing wallets and purses -- This is one of the most common ways thieves
commit identity thefts. What seems like a simple case of snatching will
immediately turn to identity theft. It is wise that you should be aware of your
belongings in public places. Remember, your wallet or purse contains personal
and financial information and if ever it gets lost, you should report it
immediately to the police, credit card companies and your bank.

* Online scam -- From time to time, you will receive emails offering prizes and
other attractive offers. These emails will ask you to provide your personal
information, such as your name, address, credit card number and other personal
information in order to obtain the offer they are presenting. Do not give them
your personal and financial information. Most of these emails are scams.

* Mails -- Thieves can obtain your personal information and your family's by
stealing your mails. It is wise that you should immediately get your mails
after the postman puts it in your mailbox.

* Your home -- Thieves can break in to your house and steal items including
your documents and financial information. You should have a secure lock in your
house and also get your neighbors to look after your house when you and your
family are going out.

* Filling out documents -- When you are filling out documents, thieves usually
looks over their shoulder and take note of what you are writing. It is wise
that you should not fill out sensitive documents in public places. Look for a
more private spot to write down your personal and financial information.

The identity theft video will also include on how thieves use the obtained
personal information. Here are some of the things identity thieves do to your
personal information:

* They will open a new credit card account in your name .

* Thieves will also purchase vehicles by applying automobile loan in your name.

* If they get arrested on any violation, they will give your name to the police
instead of theirs. If they get released but didn't show up in court for their
trial, the police will make an arrest warrant in your name.

* They will open new bank accounts in your name and write bad checks to
purchase items in your name.

* They will call your credit card company or issuer and will use your name to
change the mailing address of your credit card statement.

These are some of the things thieves do to your personal and financial
information.

The video will also show you ways to prevent identity theft crime to happen to
you. Many people are becoming a victim of this crime. Do not let this happen to
you.Be updated on the modus operandi being employed by identity thefts . The
identity theft video will surely make you aware of them.

Minimizing Your Risk from Identity Theft

Identity thief is a very serious crime since it involves the stealing of
someone else's identity and using the said robbed identity in committing fraud
crimes or other related crimes. The problem with identity theft is that you can
never really be sure when it will hit you.

You might wake up one day with police running after you for some crimes that
you have not committed. Or worst you might lose everything that you have worked
hard for because somebody else posing as you has sold or withdrawn all of your
money in the bank.

Being a victim of identity theft is one of the worst things that could ever
happen to someone. However there are certain steps that you can take in order
to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and here are some
of them:

1. If you suspect that someone is using your identity to commit fraud crimes
you must contact as soon as possible the fraud departments of the consumer
reporting companies in order for them to place a fraud alert on your credit
report.

The fraud alert will warn creditors to contact you whenever an account is
opened using your name or if ever there are some changes that are to be made on
your accounts. There are actually two types of fraud alerts---these are your
initial alert and your extended alert.

The difference between these two fraud alerts is in terms of their duration.
The initial alert usually last for ninety days on your credit report while the
extended fraud alert stays much longer and last for as long as seven years. You
can choose between these two frauds alerts the best one that you think will
provide you with a better protection. Plus you only have to contact only one of
the consumers reporting companies since it will simply relay to the other two
the fraud alert.

2. It will also help if you close the accounts that have been tampered with or
fraudulently opened in your name. You can use the ID Theft Affidavit when you
want to question new unauthorized accounts that are opened in your name.

3. Don't forget to file a report or complain with the local police in your
community where the identity theft occurs. And always try to obtain a copy of
the report which you are to provide your creditors and others that might be in
need of any proof of the crime.

4. Similarly don't forget to file a complaint with the Federal Trade
Commission. The commission keeps a database of all identity theft cases used
and filed by law enforcement agencies for investigations. By filing a complaint
to the proper authority will help you to understand better all issues regarding
identity theft.

Likewise, you will also know the problems that most victims faced and you will
also be guided on the proper steps on how to avoid becoming a victim of
identity theft. So always be extra careful especially when divulging personal
information especially when using online services since this is where most
identity thieves get their information.

No one is safe from identity theft. Anyone can be a victim so be sure to be
extra careful especially in divulging information about yourself. The internet
is one of the means by which identity thieves get hold of other people's
personal information so be very careful in transacting business online. Make
sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and in filling up some
online forms be sure to divulge only information that is required of you.
Refrain from giving extra information about yourself.

Likewise, refrain from answering unsolicited emails that ask for your
information since most identity thieves also disguises themselves as
representatives of some legitimate business online in order to lure you into
giving them your personal information.

Don't be deceived by those lottery emails saying that you have won something
and would require you to fill up some forms asking for personal information.
Don't be carried away by the promised price, it would be better for you to
confirm with the company whether they have sent you an email or not. And if
ever they deny it then make sure that report the fraudulent email that you
receive to the Federal Trade Commission so that they can give out warnings to
other consumers of the circulating fraudulent email.

Protection from Identity Fraud: Your Business, Your Life

Have you ever had a huge credit card bill without even purchasing the things
listed in the credit card statement?

Have you ever been arrested for outstanding parking tickets even if you know
that you didn't even commit any traffic violations?

Then you might be a victim of identity theft crime.

This kind of crime can be very damaging and frustrating for its victims. Not
only that it the person committing this crime can steal your money, but the
criminal can also ruin your reputation. Financial fraud, such as credit card
fraud, bank account fraud and computer fraud are examples of identity theft.
Another type of identity theft involves criminal activities committed in your
name. Imagine yourself being investigated for a crime that you didn't commit.
This can be frustrating or upsetting for anyone who becomes a victim of
identity theft or identity fraud.

Crimes like these can be very devastating for the victims and also for the
victim's family. It can result on you being convicted for tax evasion or even
fraud. There are many forms that identity theft can occur, it can simply be as
simple as a lost or forgotten credit card or submitting your personal
information in emails to people you don't know.

This is why you should know how to protect yourself from identity theft. It is
important that you should be cautious on whom you give your personal
information to and also you should be aware with all your credit cards and
other things that can provide personal and financial information about you.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from identity theft:

* If someone calls you and tells you that they are from the credit card company
or other financial institutions, and would be asking you about your personal
information, do not give it to them. Hang up the phone and call the credit card
company or financial institution the caller said he or she is from.

* If you need to give out your personal information to a company, be sure that
the company you're dealing with will protect the information you give them. Ask
on how secure their files are.

* It is wise that you should keep track of all the credit card purchases you
made and withdrawals you made in your bank and check the billing statement and
withdrawal statement carefully and thoroughly. Criminals who commit identity
fraud are usually careful, purchasing only one item at a time in the duration
of the credit card billing mails. If you find something irregular in your
credit card billing statement, report it immediately to concerned authorities.

* Criminals who commit identity theft usually go dumpster diving. This means
that they go look in garbage to obtain any discarded documents containing
personal and financial information. You should be careful when you dispose of
your documents containing personal and financial information. If it is
possible, burn them or shred them to the point that it cannot be put back
together.

* Do not carry any unnecessary documents or cards in your wallet or purse
containing your personal information. A simple crime like stealing your wallet
or purse can immediately turn to identity crime. This is one of the most common
ways a thief uses to obtain personal information.

* It is wise to make photo copies of your credit cards, passports and other
sensitive documents to easily cancel it if ever it was stolen.

* Your deposit slips is one of the easiest ways a thief can acquire your
personal information. Be careful with it. Keep it in a safe place in your home
and also try to be aware of it in public areas. Deposit slips can provide the
thief to access your bank account.

* Your account in emails and other websites also provide personal and financial
information. Be sure that you have a very secure password. Do not use easy to
guess passwords such as, your birthday, or your mothers maiden name.

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, you should contact the
concerned authorities, such as the police and fraud offices the moment you
suspect it. Close your bank accounts immediately and get your credit card
reissued with a different account number. Tell your bank about your suspicion
by calling and stating it in writing.

Always be on the lookout for identity theft fraud

Nothing will prevent you from being an identity theft fraud victim. These
criminals can easily commit identity because of the careless
information-handling processes in the workplace, lenient credit industry
practices, and the effortlessness of getting SSNs.

However, you can lessen your risk of fraud by following some simple steps.
Consider them so you will not find yourself in the middle of an identity theft
fraud.

On credit and debit reports.

1. Do not make it a habit of carrying all your credit and debit cards in your
wallet at all times. It is also not advisable to use debit cards because they
are more prone to losses to your checking account.

But you can have at least one or two credit cards and your ATM with you. If you
are used to using debit cards, make the most of online access to your bank
account to check your account activity regularly. It is best to report early
signs of fraud to your financial bank or institution the earliest possible time.

2. When using your cards in public establishments, be wary of how they are
being handled. Pay attention on how these cards are swiped by the clerk or
waiter.

There are some employees who are using non-detectable skimmers to swipe the
card and get the account number data from a personal computer later on. They
can use the information achieved to purchase online or to make counterfeit
cards.

3. It is not a good idea to use debit cards when you are shopping over the
Internet. Instead of these cards, use a credit card instead. Yu are better
protected if you use these kind of cards whenever you do some purchase online.

4. Maintain a list of copy of all your cards. You should also have a separate
list for the account numbers, dates of expiration and phone numbers of customer
service and fraud establishments.

It is best to keep them with you at all times. Put them in a safe pocket of
what you are wearing so you will have immediate access to them whenever the
need arises.

5. Do not give out any of your personal information over the phone, Internet or
by mail. You can do this if you have enough trust on the person who will be
receiving them.

One of the strategy that identity thieves use is calling out to their potential
victims and telling them that they have won some contest. They will then tell
you that you need to give out some personal data so you can get your prize.

6. Do not dispose your receipts anywhere. Always try and bring them along with
you. If ever you want to throw them away, tear them first and find a safe place
to thrash it in.

It is not wise to put receipts on shopping bags when you go shopping. Put them
in your wallet or purse to avoid having someone getting hold of them.

7. Do not have your credit card number written your checks. Besides being
exposed to dishonest persons, this is also in violation to some of the law in
many states.

Take note that by doing this, you are more prone to being a victim of fraud.

8.Check the mail always especially if you are waiting for one of your cards to
arrive. You never know who might be watching out for them and try to steal them
when you are not looking.

If the card does not arrive at the anticipated date and time, contact the card
company or the issuer to make sure that it have not fallen into the wrong hands
already.

9. Request for a credit report at least once a year. The law gives you the
right to one free credit report each year from the three credit bureaus.

Your credit report will show drastic signs and changes if ever you are a victim
of identity theft. You might find in them inquiries not made by you, along with
new accounts that you did not request or open.

The sooner you notice that an identity fraud is taking place, the easier and
quicker it will be to clean up your credit files and get back your financial
capabilities.

Learn How to Prevent Identity Theft

No one wants to be a victim of identity theft, as it is so difficult to clear
all the transaction made by these thieves. If you do not have enough knowledge
about it, you will not be prevented from being a victim of it.

All you need to do is to prevent yourself from being the victim. However, how
are you going to do that?

Read this article and find out how you can prevent being victimized by these
thieves.

The best way to protect you from being a victim of identity theft is to protect
your information. You should know all the possibilities that your information
can be obtained. You must be of good control over your information to avoid it
from being stolen.

You should be aware of the means to obtain your information. There are in fact
many ways to get it. These are the following means:

* Purchasing goods and services over the net

* Online banking

* Throwing away your previous credit cards without destroying it

* Storing personal data and information in your computer

* Cellular phone use

* Wireless phone use

* Using your passwords and numbers for identification

You need to safeguard your personal information using the following techniques.
You should be conscious about it, as it will give you proper education on what
to do and what to learn in terms of handling your account. Follow these simple
guidelines to protect yourself from the harm of identity theft:

* It is safer to memorize your security codes and numbers other than writing it
down. Never print these numbers on your checks.

* Give your files protection from making passwords. These can only be opened if
your personal security code or password is entered. Never use your birth date or
your name as a password; it can be an easy guess to the people.

* Require your credit bureaus to give you regular reports on the review of your
credit accounts.

* Install software in your computer to avoid malicious software to enter your
computer. Software such as firewall will minimize the chances of downloading
bad software such as spyware, adware, and keyloggers.

This software will unnoticeably enter your computer to spy on all the operation
made in your computer. With the use of firewalls, you are sure to get rid of
this malicious software in real time.

* Do not include your personal information on the email inquiry. You should
also avoid sending information over email.

If you are sure that the reputable website sent you a business transaction, go
to the particular official website of the sender to reply. Never use the link
indicated on the email sent.

* Never open mail attachments if you are not sure about who sent it to you.
These attachments may contain software that can enter your computer system
unnoticeably. This problem can be solved by using software that gets rid of
them. Choose software that updated continuously. * Do not provide personal
information when you are filling up forms online. Do not provide your personal
data and most special your financial information online.

* During a telephone call, never give your personal data and information on the
one you are talking to.

You can give your financial information and other data if you are the one to
initiate the conversation.

* Never mind the mails that tell you to complete your application on credit
cards especially online.

* Never discard any previously used credit card before destroying it. Shred it
tears it and torn it into pieces to secure that these credit cards will not be
used again.

* If you lose your credit cards of other important cards report about it
immediately to authorized personnel. You should temporarily close your account
until the card has been captured.

* Destroy all the documents that contain your personal data and information.
Burning them can be more preferable.

* Never discard bank receipts, credit card receipts and transaction receipt in
public areas. Some people may obtain this information and use it against you.

These are the guidelines to protect you from experiencing the wrath of identity
theft. Make sure to follow these guidelines well for the protection of you
accounts.

Making a Report of the Identity Theft Crime

Identity theft is the act of stealing ones identity including the name, address
telephone number, credit cards and mother maiden name.

In most cases, it is not only the identity stolen. Identity thieves also steel
properties secured over the accounts of the owner. This is serious case and is
recognized as a fraud.

You can be a victim of this crime as there are no particular requirements for
identity theft. Even small companies including college students are also
victimized by this crime. However, you need to do the proper intervention once
you are victimized.

It is important for you to know who stole your important personal information
in your computer. You need to identify the thief who opened your new account
without your permission.

It is very important for you to know the thief of your account as quickly as
possible to avoid more problems to come.

The law has been changed allowing anyone to review all their account or credit
report annually without requiring payment for such. The law was established in
year 2005. You will have a free credit report when your previous credit is
denied within 60 days.

With this monthly review, you will have the chance of identifying whether there
is a huge unauthorized use of your accounts. You will identify them more quickly
and you will find an early intervention as well. There many small services that
offers monitoring your accounts and business periodically but are affordable.

What happened if your identity has already been stolen? You may need to do a
report about this matter. However, you will undergo different systematic steps
before you can report this particular crime.

Police do not have an active role or cannot give the proper thing to do in an
instance. You may need to do much paperwork to complete and send it to all the
companies and agencies that are responsible.

Where are you going to report the crime? Do you have the knowledge that you
need to fill out some forms for this kind of report? Where are you going to
send them?

You may report it to the police. However, you will not receive that advance
action to the crime. There are special agencies that entertain crime like this.
It will be discussed on the later part of the article.

You have to undergo many stages in order for you to clear your name. It can be
the most difficult part, as you will be clearing the mess you did not do. It
will take time for you to clear name and battle up with bureaucratic red tape.

There are many numbers of federal and state agencies that have jurisdiction,
depending upon the type of crime committed. Federal Trade Commission has
different agencies that can treat cases like identity theft issues, but you
will still need to contact these agencies.

It will take time to clear out all the errors made to your name, that is why
you need to start with the process as soon as you figure out the crime that was
done in your identity. Start reporting the crime to the different agencies,
companies, credit bureaus and investigators to process the clearing out or
correcting the errors.

You should keep all the relevant files of all the contact and record all the
relevant conversations and written correspondence. For you to have an easy and
understood noting of these relevant data, you may need to make a chart of all
of these including the date, agency, contact person, company and summary of all
the information discussed.

Original copies and the send out copies must be kept carefully. It will be
relevant in the investigation of the crime. You can also send them thru
certified mail, return receipt requested. By this way, you will have the record
of the date when the letters were received.

It may take time to clear out your name but you will get over it. You will
start a new life full of confidence that you will never encounter crimes like
this anymore.

Remember that patience and determination is the key to the resolution of this
crime.

Crime: Identity Theft Using Credit Card

It's a typical weekend. You drove to your friend's house, asked your friend to
hang out at the mall and buy something. You and your friends then went to the
bar to have a couple of drinks and talk about what happened during the past
week and you paid with your credit card. After a great night you both went home
and slept.

The next morning, you checked for your mail and found your credit card billing
statement.As you looked at it, you were shocked to see that you are being
charged on your credit card things that you never even bought. You called the
bank about this and wondered how these happened.

If you have experienced this you have been a victim of a crime. This crime is
called identity theft or identity fraud. Identity theft is a crime where
someone obtained and used your personal data, such as your name, credit card
number, address, social security number, without you knowing about it. Some
people who obtained your personal information used it to commit crime, usually
using it for financial fraud or deception.

Criminals commit identity theft by buying something using your credit card
information, obtaining money from your account, or getting a new credit card in
your name. The criminal who commits identity theft usually make use of your
personal information to buy goods or services in your name without you knowing
it and end up you paying for the goods and services the criminal purchased.

You might wonder why these criminals get away with it. This is because, in
today's society, many transactions usually occur without any actual contact
with the buyer and the seller. Transactions like these are often used in
telephones and the internet where no one can identify the criminal. They can
easily buy goods and services by just using your credit card number online and
giving a specified address where the goods should be delivered.

Unfortunately ,if you are a victim of this crime you would only find this out
upon receiving your credit card billing statement. Identity thieves usually buy
as much goods as possible in usually one to two days. They usually end up
saturating your credit limit and even sometimes they would exceed.

In some cases they can transfer money from your bank account to another, and
sometimes, these thieves may actually pretend to be you. They will use your
personal information to get money or apply for a large loan and worst of all,
you will not know that someone is using your personal information until you get
billing statements or visited by collectors.

Identity theft can cause you a bad credit history, making it difficult for you
to obtain new jobs or renting apartments. This is because employers and
landlords often take a look at credit records of new applicants.

If you think that you're a victim of identity theft it is wise that you should
follow these steps to stop it or in some cases catch the thief:

* File a police report. Be sure to reproduce the police report. You can show
these copies of the police report to the parties involved and any other
creditors such as the bank and other entities which may require evidence of the
crime.

* File a complaint in your postal service. This can help you locate where the
goods were delivered and prevent the crime from happening again.

* File a complaint to credit bureaus. Filing a complaint to at least one of the
major credit bureaus can result in getting free copies of your credit report.
This will also require creditors to call or contact to confirm if you really
are opening a new account or applying for a new credit card.

* Send a report of the crime to check verification companies. If you know that
someone has been using stolen checks from your account, inform check
verification companies about this so that they will not honor the fake or
stolen checks issued by the criminal and is also a good way to catch the thief.

Identity theft is a very serious crime. If you ever suspect that you are a
victim of identity theft, it is wise that you should act immediately by
reporting the crime to all authorities concerned.

Identity theft can be very time consuming, expensive, and difficult to repair
the damage done to your credit history. It can also get you in trouble with the
law. It is very important that you be able to change your identity numbers that
have been stolen from you as soon as you have discovered the crime.

What identity theft resource centers can teach you

Identity theft is one of the crimes that people are always talking about.

Media is one of the most effective identity theft resource centers. You can
find all related stories, new techniques and solutions for this crime through
media. It is also because of them that people have gotten all the needed
information to fight the spread of identity theft.

Even though there are a lot of identity theft resource centers that are
focusing on the problem at hand, it seems that this crime is continuously
growing in numbers. Can all this be attributed to the fact that these thieves
are getting wiser everyday?

Not really. There are other factors that may be contributing to the spread of
identity theft.

Personal data storage.

One of the reasons for its growth is the improper up keeping and discarding of
individual's critical data and financial information. This may be because of
the misconception that identity theft is only limited to trading and consumer
based areas.

But then, all kinds of business are at risk. Although the most vulnerable would
be and banking and lending institutions, real estate and facilities management
and other related fields.

That is why, these businesses must maintain a close watch on what how their
systems are working. They should check and update regularly all their files to
see if anything is out of order.

Federal laws and legislations.

It can be noted that the government are also not taking these crimes sitting
down. There have been laws and legislations set up to punish those whoa re
caught stealing information and taking advantage of them.

More and more laws have been made against identity theft to hopefully reduce
the growing number.

Other means of prevention.

New and different measures can be seen in the way credit and other financial
transactions are done. One example is the so-called security freeze. This
allows individuals to thwart off access to their credit report for the purpose
of granting credit except if the individual approves. When someone is applying
for credit, the freeze can be lifted off for a certain time so that application
can be processed.

The advance technology of today is also helping people and businesses protect
and store information. With the portability of computers and the speed of
Internet connections, people are shifting to using electronic images more and
more.

The higher cost of having electronic storage data made is only reasonable when
you compare it with the cheaper ones that are not really working effectively
for your business. Besides, the benefits you will be getting out of this
electronic deals are enough to make up for the cost you paid initially.

You probably will get more customers because they are assured of the security
measures that you can give them. Electronic documents and files are easily and
securely stored on floppy disks, CD ROMS or put directly on a removable
computer hard drive that is disconnected from the Internet and from hackers.

Each format is made safe and access can be encrypted or can be protected by a
password. Electronically storing critical information gives another barrier
between important information and dishonest individuals who are constantly
looking for ways of taking advantage of anything that is available.

Documents and files stored this way also allows for trouble-free search and
recovery of data or information.

A lot of pages can be saved on a single CD ROM. Thus abolishing file cabinets
and the potential risk of identity thieves finding vital information in back
room storage areas. Disaster recovery is also made easy when information is
archived electronically and stored in a secure off site location by a service
provider.

You do not have to think twice about what identity resource centers are telling
you. There should be no doubt in your mind that this crime is rising and it can
get to you when you least expect it. By adding important features to business
establishments, its owners and customers will have a peace of mind that they
will not become victims of fraud.

You can check some more identity theft resource center to find out what is
being developed to help prevent this crime from getting to you and going out of
hand.

General Identity Theft Statistics Revealed

The number of identity theft cases has been increasing to this day. In fact,
according to the identity theft statistics, the Federal Trade Commission
reported that for 4 continuous years, identity theft has been on the top of the
list of the consumer complains.

It has been assumed that identity theft mounted to over 42 percent of the
complaints that has lodged in the FTC Consumer Database in the year 2004 and
has increased for about 40 percent in the year 2002.

According to the FTC Identity theft statistics, there are approximately 10
million consumers, mostly American have discovered that their personal
information have been intentionally used to open up a fraudulent bank account,
utility accounts and credit card.

The worst is that their personal information have been wrongfully used to
commit serious crimes with their names.In the FTC identity theft statistics,
there had been more than 50 percent of the theft victims of accounts such as
credit cards and other fraud accounts.

Mostly, new credit cards have been used for fraud activities. This happens when
a thief opens up new accounts using other people's names. Identity theft
statistics have estimated that this have victimized over 3.23 million people in
the world. this big number is continuously increasing in number.

Identity theft statistics have shown that it has cost nearly $53 billion for
both existing and new accounts. This large number of identity theft includes
individual and business victims in a year. No wonder why this big number
increases every year and is very hard to cease.

To be specific, identity theft statistics have shown that 47.5 billion people
have been victims of identity theft. The individual victims are counted to have
$500 per victim in a year.

According to identity theft statistics, most Americans have spent about 300
million hours in resolving the arising issue which is related to identity theft
cases. It has been estimated that in every 30 -- 60 hours a victim handles
various matters, which are related to cases of identity theft which includes
creating an account or using existing accounts.

Identity theft statistics have proven that the people who have been victimized
by identity theft know the thieves who have stolen their precious and unique
names and identity. To avoid this from happening, you should not share
important information so that other people cannot access your accounts in any
way. Make sure that the people you share important information with can be
trusted.

People whom you think cannot do the identity theft to you are the ones who have
the strong will to do it. Make sure that they will not have any idea on how to
restore such important information. Someone very close to you can be a suspect.
Anyone around you can be suspect and they choose no one so you need to be very
careful.

Identity theft statistics have shown that it starts in the workplace. You might
not know it but they could be your officemates, co-worker, employee that you are
patronizing.

Most identities of employees have been stolen because of their connections to
companies that are not handled carefully. Sometimes, your boss can even be the
suspect. He can have access to the personal information, which he can retrieve
upon application.

Identity theft statistics have shown that in the year 2004, the complaints have
been up for about 15 percent which was from the year 2003.

In the last five years, it has been reported by the Identity Theft Statistics
that more than 25 million people have been victims of the case. It is no wonder
that until now, the number of cases is still extremely high and rising. Most
Americans have experienced identity theft.

Identity theft was on the top of the complaints in the year 2004 and is still
getting higher. The identity theft victims naturally spend 175 hours to use for
their personal time and about $800 just to clear their names and restore their
credit history.

The Federal Trade Commission have estimated that a victim will spend 14-16
months of clearing their names in cases of identity theft. So it is important
that you keep your accounts safe because if you are a victim, you cannot fix
your credit easily and it will take too long.

Preserve your Wealth and Identity -- Act against Identity Theft Scam

"One significant thing that I can be proud about myself is none other than my
identity. I was born unique over all other people. I was given name by my proud
parents, I struggle hard for my bank accounts, I'll be expecting a lot of
benefits with my SSS when I arrive at my retirement period.

So, what do you think will my life be if someone steals all of my wealth, my
identity? I will feel so much disgusted. Identity theft is my greatest fear in
life."

"I do not want to grow old without anything left to me. Let us all join hands
in fighting against identity theft because the thieves do not deserve a place
in our society!"

Did you hear the enlightening statement? US citizens demand for the security of
their identity. The main reason behind is the continuous existence of identity
theft.

This crime is a grave threat to the personal data and property of the
citizenry. They want possible actions that will combat the crime.

As much as possible, every precaution should be done to protect your identity.
Once you have settled your identity, you can ensure that you will be out of
risk from the identity thieves.

If only there is a way to trace the origin or the person who discovered the
tricks of identity fraud, the entire US citizen will surely condemn that person
because of bringing so much suffering to them.

From an individual to a group of persons who promoted identity theft, the idea
that was later handed to other people.

Starting on that point, identity theft fraud spread out. Until now, the Bureau
of Investigation finds it quite hard to eradicate the problem.

The thieves use several unpredictable strategies to operate the crime. This
make hard for the investigators to identify the thieves.

Aside from personal business transactions, identity theft fraud is also
flourishing on the web. You need to be meticulous about the websites that are
usually selling highly demand items.

Most of the items such as the iPods and the high-tech cellular phones are sold
in minimal prices. Sometimes, the site also bargains the product for almost
free to the subscribers.

What kind of operation does the identity theft fraud carry on over the Web? Be
careful and listen to the trick properly before you will be the next in line to
become the victim of the fraud.

Oftentimes, majority of the previous victims are advice to pay nothing not
unless they already receive the item that they are going to purchase.

Afterwards, the person who is behind the scam will use the name of the victim
and an account number of another person will also be utilize to pay for the
original prize of the item to the legitimate website.

In other words, the moment that the customer will already pay for the item, the
money will directly go to scammer. The scammer can now present to you a valid
receipt coming from the legitimate website who receives the actual payment from
the account of another person.

On the other hand, there is also identity theft fraud that happens using your
e-mail. Listen, this is being addressed to those end-users who dedicate much of
their time in surfing the Net.

Somebody who claims to be from your credit company can send you messages in
various forms. The scammer will ask to give all the personal data regarding
your account as they site you different reasons.

One can be by having them note all the information about your account because
their database may crash anytime. The scammer can also reason out that they are
doing this to protect your account.

After you are convinced to give all your personal information, the scammer will
grab the chance. He can already use it for fraudulent transactions. He can also
make withdrawal from your account with your consent.

See. This is how identity theft fraud works. It can bring you so much
destruction, even more crucial than what you think.

What are you waiting for?

Before you fall victim to their trick, make initial precautions as early as
possible so that you will have no regrets.

Combating Online Identity Theft

It is quite disquieting for you to know that aside from the irritating viruses
that plague your computers before, there is another problem arising in the web
world.

Yes, it is true, whether you will like the news or not, you have to be aware
about it.

Identity theft is considered as fast-growing crime nowadays. It ruins several
forms of personal transactions already.

How does it happen? What are the effects of identity theft? Are there ways to
prevent identity theft?

Most of them are the questions that you need to learn about identity theft.

In United States, identity theft is not an unusual issue anymore. In fact,
several bureaus are already making immediate actions in order to eradicate the
problem although they find it somehow difficult.

Identity theft has many aspects to consider. It also concerns several fields of
thefts. Almost in every day of your living or in every corner of the street, you
can be a victim of identity theft

Don't you know that identity theft has also reached the web world with their
wide web of deceit? This is whet you call online identity theft. It does not
make any differences with other forms of identity theft, only that it happens
online through your computer systems.

Identity theft happens when your personal information including name, bank
accounts and other posted information in the Internet are stolen by someone and
used these information to commit a fraudulent act or other forms of crime.

By checking your bank account information, you will eventually notice that you
are already bankrupt because identity thieves assumed your identity to steal
your money from you.

At present, with our electronic environment, there is an easiest way to execute
identity theft. Online identity theft is executed through a process known as web
spoofing.

It reproduces exactly the same domain name of a particular website primarily
controlled by the identity thief f. In other words, he has the authority to
manipulate all the forms of business transaction that will pass through a
certain website.

How does the web spoofing works? Three basic components make the thief
manipulate online identity theft. He/she has the sole right of maneuvering all
the transactions in the website.

1. Domain name- This serves as the primary identity of the website. Usually,
domain names can be bought from several online sources for a minimal amount.

A domain name consists of characters such as letter, dash and numbers. It will
represent the name of the site.

2. Actual content- This is the second main component in order to publish a
site. The very important factor to consider here is the HTML and the streaming
media.

3. Web Hosting- After manipulating all his plans with the online identity
theft, this is now the last step the thief is going to do. On this part, the
thief will not only claim the website but also the company's principals and
employees.

Online identity theft is a big menace to the website owners. All of the profit
that will suppose to go in their company can be stolen instantly.

Even the potential clients subscribing in their sites can also be fooled with
the thieves that will reproduce exactly the same website as yours.

In some of the identity theft, there is a way to prevent it. Moreover, in
online identity theft, the website conp0anbty also think of the best possible
means to protect their sites from being inflicted by the online identity
thieves.

First, it is better if you can purchase for the best anti-virus programs. One
of the strategies of the thief for stealing your online identity is through
certain viruses.

If you will keep your computers protected from the said virus, there is a
lesser chance for your computer to be conquered by evildoers.

Second, it is also important that you use secure servers with the ability to be
transmitted over your web. Be sure that you are also well informed about the
company that you are dealing business with particularly when you start to give
your online information to them.

Always get your websites protected from online identity theft!

Identity Theft in the World of Internet

Many films have been made to picture how powerful the internet is. Most of this
tackles on how a hacker steals files from certain document files.

But did you know that identity theft can also take place inside the net?

In the present situation, the world of Internet has become an interesting arena
for imposters and criminals. Most of the criminals can gain access to passwords,
personal data and identifying information that they can use to acquire the
assets of the victim.

Most of the information of the victim can be acquired from several forms of
spam email. Another way is, there are also some people who subscribe from
solicitation websites that promise them some profits. By doing this
unknowingly, the criminals had gotten some requests for identifying data. Later
on, this data will be used against the credibility of the victim.

In some cases, there are some web imposters that use computer technology to get
hold of large amounts of personal data. The personal data will give them an idea
about the victim's lifestyle and enables them to spy more.

But, how is the internet basically used to perform identity theft?

The cookie places an important role. It is a piece of text identity in which
the web server can be able to restore on a certain part of user's hard disks.
Cookies can have information about the users' lifestyle and some personal
preferences. It can also carry some information about the sites which the user
has been visited, the sent email, or even the advertisement that has been
clicked on.

The criminal uses the cookie as tracking devices. Not only that, it also
provide the criminals with precious personal data. A cookie can also serve as
the personal preference in which a criminal uses for the scam.

Most of the internet "thieves" have software to conduct an official and
prohibited access to public data records. By getting an access to the public
data records, the criminal can get information about the victim. Normally,
criminals access the date of birth, surname, maiden name, address, security
number and many more.

Aside from the public data base, most of the thieves use the web linkages. The
criminals just type in some sort of Social Security Numbers. The net will
connect them into several search engines. According to investigations done,
there are almost 95 identity sites pop ups. Basically the criminal simply click
on a certain person's file. After that, the criminal can view all of the
possible identification.

There are also some criminals that create fake websites. If viewer subscribe on
that particular websites, his personal data will be easily transferred into the
database of the criminals.

Take note, that any machine in a public conveyance is distributed to multiple
users. With online purchasing, the merchandise will leave a track cookie on the
machine. If somebody found it in the internet, he could later try to acquire
something from the stores using the original account.

On the other hand, there are also some web hackers that use encryption
software. This software is applicable in mixing card numbers when doing their
operation. The criminal will easily figure out the victim's number.

Keep in mind that sending a card pin number over an internet online store is
not completely safe. Encryption happens only when the viewer finds a shopping
site. The site will show a padlock icon in the lower corner of the web browser.

Most of the internet identity theft criminals wants to maneuver someone's
personal account. Most of them have the intention to start spending money and
take the identity with some new purchasing options.

For instance, many of the criminals have lost credits and do not have the
capacity to take out the loan. Because of this, they will get some one else's
account to use in an internet transaction.

With the beginning of the internet fraudulence, identity theft already has
become a proficient beneficial industry. Criminals, hackers and perpetrators
have easier and quicker access to classified data around the globe.

In order to prevent this incident from happening, each computer user must be
very careful in transacting business in the web. Aside from that, accessing the
websites using a high-speed broadband is helpful. This service will make the
computer flexible against the hackers.

Protecting Your Identity over Thieves

Recently, there had been plenty of news and stories circulated all over the
country regarding Identity Theft. Many shared their real experiences on
unauthorized usage of their credit accounts, bank accounts and other services
which involve money. At least 5 out of 100 people experience this kind of
unwanted fraudulent activity.

Thieves will never be after your identity if they will not get any benefit from
it. They need your name, birth date, address, etc. to open your financial
accounts. One must bear in mind that these personal identification entries are
important to validate an account. Thieves will do whatever way they can just to
steal your identity and your money.

Your protection depends on you. In this kind of crime, nobody can help you
immediately except yourself. The prevention and protection on Identity thieves
depends on how wise you are in handling all important information about
yourself.

Here are some things one must take heed in order to protect himself from
Identity Theft:

1) One must keep a photocopy of all his credit cards, bank account numbers and
other important information in a safe place. In short, one must make a back-up
record of all his personal information and personal numbers. Making back-up
copies will help you trace and cancel your stolen or lost cards or whatsoever.
One must also not forget that even a simple identification card or a driver's
license is very important and can also be a source of information that can be
stolen.

2) Dispose your credit card receipts properly. Do not throw your receipts
anywhere or it could be taken by thieves. Receipts contain information about
yourself and your account. This information may help thieves to possible steal
your identity. Shredding your bills and receipts may not be practical at all.
When a bill is shredded the paper are the only thing destroyed but the contents
are not. It can be retrieved by pasting all shredded paper together. Instead of
shredding the bills, on best way to totally destroy your bills is by putting it
to fire. There is no way one can retrieve information in the ashes.

3) Keep in touch with your credit institution. When applying for a credit card
and does not arrive immediately to you, contact your credit institution and
relay the problem. By doing so, you can prevent any fraudulent activity that
may happen.

4) Create a good combination of numbers for your PIN or passwords. Make sure
that you choose difficult to guess PIN. Birth dates, mother's maiden name,
pet's name, usual or famous number combinations, etc should not be used for
your PIN or passwords.

5) Regard all personal information personal. Do not give your personal
information to anyone who sends you an email and a snail mail. Never give
personal information over the phone. Adds on your email offering good promos
must be ignored. Do not be tempted by their flowery offerings which only
intention is to steal personal information on you.

6) Secure the area surrounding the ATM before using it. Make sure that nobody
is around you watching while making transaction on the ATM. Make sure that
there are no unusual equipment illegally attached to the ATM. There had been
reports about electronic devices illegally attached to the card slot in the
ATM. It has cameras on it which can record your PIN as you type it in.

7) Bills must be checked every month. All entries in the bill must be made
under your permission. If there are charges included in the bill which you do
not know, immediately report it to your credit institution and ask for an
investigation.

8) Active and cancelled checks must be stored properly. There are banks that
offer service like this.

9) Keep all important documents in your car properly. Do not put any thing
which may contain information about you in sight inside your car. You may use
the glove box as safety keep for your important things. Never leave it unlocked.

10) Secure all your personal information in your mobile phone and laptop with a
password. Remember that laptops and mobile phones are personal gadgets that are
to be used solely by you. So keep it personal.

What one takes is a sense of responsibility toward his belongings, personal
properties and identity to totally prevent these illegal activities. The value
of your identity is equivalent to the value of your life.

Be Informed and Up-to-Date! Read Articles Concerning Identity Theft

Are you aware of identity theft and the danger it can bring to your life if you
become one of its victims? Perhaps not yet. Do not think that your innocence
regarding identity thefts subtle workings is a protection from being violated.

Identity theft is a malicious and vicious crime wave nowadays. It is but
necessary that you be properly informed of its machinations and implication.
You also need to be kept up to date of recent events and cases pertaining to
such crime. Being informed and up to date is a step to prevent being attacked
or being a victim of this crime.

There are many websites through out the Internet developed to give you needed
information, data and updates regarding identity theft. These websites will
tell you everything you have to know about identity thieves, how they operate,
when and where they attack and what they usually do to carry out their
malicious plan.

The information they share to the masses of internet users, who are usually the
first target of this crime, are through articles concerning identity theft. In
these articles, they explain the subtle machinations of identity thieves just
to obtain strictly personal and confidential information about people.

Articles concerning identity thefts also give an account on how to prevent
being victimized by identity thieves. There are also articles about the laws
being passed against identity theft. There are also in-depth explanations of
various identity theft cases already tried in court.

According to articles concerning identity thefts, the term identity theft is
the co-option of another person's personal and confidential information.
Identity thieves go to great lengths to discover a person's whole name, social
security number, credit card number, passport and ATM card information. The
persons whose personal information and identity they stole are usually clueless
of this fraudulent activity until after a crime has been committed and they are
deep in trouble because they are the assumed culprits.

Identity theft is a crime being committed by malicious and ingenious criminals.
This crime takes on plenty of forms. It can also be conducted in many varying
ways on different avenues. Though it uses different schemes, they are
identified because of the wrongful acquisition of another person's personal
data through fraud or deception and typically for economic gain.

The Websites with articles concerning identity thefts explain why people need
to take precautions against identity theft.

Unlike fingerprints, which are solely yours and cannot be stolen by others, for
their own gains, your personal data like Social Security number, bank account or
credit card number, telephone number, and other valuable identifying data can
really be stolen and used for the criminal's own ends. If valuable data of
yours fall into wrong hands, you can become a victim of persons who would like
to profit at your expense.

Some articles concerning identity theft also share particular tactics being
employed by identity thieves just to get hold and access other person's
personal information. There are also news accounts on the incidents wherein
identity theft may occur.

An example is the articles on credit reports containing serious errors that
might cause consumers to be denied car loans, credit, credit cards and even
mortgages. Another example is a recent article concerning identity theft
warning consumers of the possibility of "huge victimization" within the next
two years.

These reports all bear serious warnings to be extra careful in monitoring all
financial transactions for unexplained account activity, withdrawals, or fund
transfers.

There are also ample information about the nature and extent of identity theft
activities as reported by victims.

There are also articles about good news on the fight against identity thefts.
There is the article account about the Fair Credit Report Act. According to the
article regarding this matter, the FCA requires credit-reporting agencies to fix
credit card mistakes.

There are also legal websites that will give access to users legal articles
concerning identity theft cases. They give brisk analysis and specific data
about trying identity theft cases in formal legal proceedings.

Here are other areas where identity theft can occur:

- medical transactions 
- bank transactions 
- mails and e-mails 
- credit card transactions 
- internet transactions

Many articles concentrate on the particular areas where there are risks of
identity thefts. There are also articles concerning investigations and
statistics of identity theft. Steps in proper prevention and warning about
identity theft are also shared in most articles.

It is but wise for Internet users to read up and start feeding yourself with
important stuff about identity theft.

Federal Law on Identity Theft: The Department of Justice's Case against
Identity Theft

Are you aware of the present notorious crime in the United States of America
and Canada? Until the present time, no other crime can be carried out with
maniacal cruelty and audacity than identity theft.

It is now the fastest growing crime in America. In 2002, the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) reports that 43% of all fraud complaints they received are
actually identity theft. By 2003, identity theft cases and incidents have
already reached 9.9 million.

In the United States, for every five families, one fall victim to the notoriety
and insidiousness of the identity thieves. It is quite truly hard to prevent
becoming a victim of identity theft. Even with taking every precaution in the
book, in order to safeguard your personal information, the identity thieves
seem to be one-step ahead.

The truth is you can never be sure if the known measure you do to prevent
falling victim to identity theft are effective. There is still a prevalent
insecurity every time you use your credit card, write a check, sign up for
magazines, order something over the phone or internet or use your PIN number.

Always, the possibility lurks that the information you are using will find its
way exists that that information may get into the identity thieves. Just being
aware of that fact and cautious about who you give your personal information to
will put you far above the rest of the pack.

These crimes are estimated to have taken the average victim $500 and 30 hours
to resolve. Some of the case starts from simple stolen credit cards to total
identity kidnapping. These ugly and prevalent crimes are hard to prevent. There
is also a difficulty to correct such cases.

More often, especially on felons convicted before identity theft became a
federal law case, there are no recriminations felt.

Identity theft is one of the most insidious forms of white-collar crime. In a
traditional fraud scheme, prospective victims are contacted directly by
criminals who use lies and deception to persuade the victims to part with their
money.

The crime does not require direct interaction between the criminal and the
victim. Identity theft is not a crime committed for its own sake. Criminals
engage in identity theft to further and facilitate many other types of criminal
offenses, including fraud.

The recent federal prosecutions show some of the many ways in which people can
commit identity theft crime. The powerful criminal statute, identity theft
offense (18 U.S.C. § 1028(a) (7)), and other federal criminal offenses.

The federal law against identity theft has not been possible until 1998 when
exemplary cases of identity theft made it clear that the crime deserve a
heavier sentence.

Now, there are a number of federal laws applicable to identity theft. Some of
these are used for prosecution of identity theft offenses. Some are there to
assist victims in repairing recouping their credit record and reputation.

The primary identity theft statute is 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a) (7) enacted on
October 30, 1998. It became part of the Identity Theft and Assumption
Deterrence Act (Identity Theft Act). This was a solid support to strengthen the
criminal offense of identity theft acts since the 18 U.S.C. § 1028 previously
addressed only the fraudulent creation, use, or transfer of identification
documents, and not the theft or criminal use of the underlying personal
information.

To criminalize the fraud in connection with the unlawful theft and misuse of
personal identifying information, the Identity Theft Act also added §1028(a)
(7). Now, regardless of whether the information appears or is used in documents
this additional provision states that it is already unlawful for anyone who
consciously transfer or use, without lawful authority the identification of
another person.

The Identity Theft Act also made way for the review and amendment of Sentencing
Guidelines and penalties imposed for each offense under Section 1028 by the
United States Sentencing Commission.

These major steps and many others, by the Federal government demonstrate that
now, the whole US regards identity theft as a serious crime problem. Further,
it is also an indication that the Federal government, together with the States
is already requiring a comprehensive and coordinated approach to fighting
identity theft.

Since minute data shows that identity theft does not choose specific victims,
even people who handle their personal data carefully are prone to become
victims, federal prosecutors are now actively doing all means to combat it
effectively.
Throughout the country, the federal government assures that it will be a
continuing campaign with close coordination with the FTC and other agencies.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft?

Identity theft simply putting it is a case of someone else assuming another
person's identity with the intention of committing fraud which usually results
to trails of ruined credit, debts and collectors. And in most cases identity
theft can lead to wrongful arrest.

The worst thing about identity theft is that most victim will only know that
their identity have been robbed after everything that they have worked hard for
is taken from them and the sad part is that most of the offenders usually gets
away with it.

The case of identity theft is increasing in an alarming rate every year and to
the great number of people who have become a victim of this crime the
experience is comparable to a terrifying nightmare that has made them to live a
life of fear and uncertainty. In what manner can your identity be robbed? There
are actually so many ways on how an identity thief can acquire information
about you like from your driver's license, bank accounts, credit card accounts
and others.

After the thief gathered all your information he or she will then direct all
the bills and statements of his or her transactions to a temporary address.
This is now where he or she waste all of your credit line for all its worth in
cash advances, loans and credit card debt without the least intention of
paying. After you are financially drained that is the only time that the thief
will stop using your identity.

However, there are also some cases wherein an identity thief assumes somebody
else's identity not with the purpose of financially robbing the person but just
to destroy the reputation of the person. This is usually where wrongful arrest
occurs.

High Technology Provides a Great Venue for Identity Thieves

With today's advanced technology it is no longer surprising that even identity
thieves have also utilized the up-to-date resources especially in terms of the
internet. Most of the identity thieves make use of the information provided by
customers during online transactions. So if you are one of those avid consumers
of online products and services you are a potential victim of identity theft.

The Federal Trade Commission suggests ways on how you can avoid becoming a
victim of identity theft and here are some of them:

* Never give more than the information that is required of you especially in
shopping online or in joining online services. Likewise, refrain from answering
unsolicited emails since most thieves' poses as representatives of legitimate
businesses and often times would require for you to supply some additional
personal information about yourself.

In cases such as this it would be wise if you would contact the company and ask
them about the email and why they are asking for some very personal information.
If the company denied the email then you better report the person that has sent
you the email to FTC (Federal Trade Commission) or you can send a fraud alert
to consumer reporting companies so that they can keep track of the thief.

* For your additional protection try also to place passwords on your bank
accounts, credit card accounts as well as your other lines of credit. Make use
of other numbers other than your social security number to guard against
identity theft.

* Always keep your social security card in a safe place. If you want you can
place it on a safety box or if you have a home safe you can also place your
social security card there together with some of your other important
documents. And for those who are fond of putting their social security number
on their wallet just be careful not to lose your wallet or else you might just
wake one day with somebody else walking around town posing as you.

* As much as possible keep refrain from giving out your social security number
unless of course you are to obtain a credit report, loan or some other
legitimate transactions. If ever you are to conduct other transactions that are
entirely different from the above stated and is required to give your social
security number be sure to ask why your social security number is needed and
always try to find out the legitimacy of your transaction before giving away
such important information.

* If you are an avid web user make sure to refrain from giving any personal
information to web sites that are not employing Secure Sockets Layer especially
in transferring information. Look for web sites that make use of https and
encrypt all information between your computer and the site. Likewise, always
read the privacy policy of the web site in order to gain insight on how they
process and secure information their gathered information.

Stop Being a Victim of Online Identity Theft!

The Internet is a very useful tool for people. It helps us communicate with our
loved ones who are at the other side of the nation or overseas. It helps us find
a lot of information regarding something.

It allows us to listen to radio stations from all over the world, or even watch
movies. It also helps us purchase things without ever having to leave our homes.

The Internet is also a very useful tool for identity thieves. Many have fallen
prey to numerous baits left by identity thieves and lost their identities.

As we know, knowledge is the best weapon against this. Know how to stop being a
victim of online identity theft, and follow some simple tips that we will give
you:

1) Use secure servers

When surfing the Internet, make sure you are on a secure or encrypted server.
That way, when a hacker or ID thief tries to find you and your computer's
location, they cannot locate you as your ISP and URL are encrypted, or coded as
unreadable characters, by your server. Secure servers will filter fraud websites
and spam mails before you can access them.

2) Don't reply to spoofed emails

Spoofed mails are emails sent to you by certain email accounts, asking
for your details, or telling you to reply to their email to do something
like verify the details of your credit card account, online account, etc.

These email accounts pose as banks, credit card companies, retailing
websites like eBay, PayPal etc., and send you emails telling you to give them
your information to get or verify something.

NEVER REPLY TO SPOOF EMAILS! Banks, credit card companies, and other
companies never ask their client to send their details over the Internet just
for verification or claiming a prize or confirming your entry into a raffle
draw you have never joined.

3) Don't open files sent by unknown sources

If someone you have never known sends you a file over the Internet, usually
through an instant messenger, or as an attachment in an email, DO NOT OPEN
IT!

The file may contain viruses and spying software that will steal your personal
information that is in your computer. Besides, opening the file may cause
serious damage to your computer!

4) Properly log into your sensitive accounts

Always log on to your sensitive accounts by opening a new browser and typing
the actual URL directly into the address bar. This will help you verify if the
URL of the sender of an email is really the website it claims to be.

5) Use disposable email accounts

Whenever you want to join a newsgroup, subscribe to mailing lists, or make
online purchases, always use a disposable, free email account.

That way, you can always delete that account if you suspect ID theft. Always
keep your business account for business and personal communications.

6) Disguise your online ID

Never use domain names and identities that will give out who you are. For
example, if you are Brian Gadzuric, do not use brgadzuric@mail.com or briangadz
as your email address and username respectively, especially when dealing with
people you do not know.

7) Use leveled and strong passwords

Always have different passwords for your accounts. A password should be
different for your personal account, business account, and disposable account.

Never use sequential passwords like password1, password2, password3 etc. that
will easily allow others to access your accounts.

Make sure your passwords will be very difficult to guess. Use a combo of
letters, numbers, and characters that only you can remember. Never write down a
copy of your password. If you must, make sure you keep it in a safe place.

8) Regularly change passwords

Always change your passwords after a short period, let us say, one month.
Regularly changing passwords makes if very difficult to access your accounts.
It also helps stimulate your memory and creative side.

9) Use credit cards for online purchases Credit cards are more secure than
debit cards due to the security system being used by credit card companies.
Besides, disputing fraudulent chargers is easier than recovering funds already
spent. Also, use ONLY ONE CREDIT CARD for online purchases.

10) Always check a company's privacy policy Whenever you are going to transact
business with a company, make sure to check its privacy policy.

Also, make sure to click the logos of the consumer groups posted on their
website to make sure that the safety authentication is authentic. Make sure you
also know the real online consumer welfare groups before transacting with
companies.

11) Always use a secure site when submitting data

Make sure the URL of the site has https:// at the beginning, or has a padlock
icon at the address bar before submitting sensitive data.

12) Security Software for your PC

Always make sure that you get the latest security patches for your operating
system and internet browser.

Also, update your virus databases, and install advertisement and pop -- up
blockers that will disallow pop -- ups from certain websites from appearing on
your screen.

Defining the Insidious Crime of Identity Theft

It was already late at night and you were walking down the street alone. The
wind is blowing briskly through the tall buildings you are passing by. Then, a
person appears, out of nowhere. He/she proceeded to run by you and knocking you
over, made a grab for your wallet and disappeared through a corner.

It could be a scene from a movie, only it happened! However, this type of
stealing, person-to-person, may well exists in movies exclusively for the next
years to come.

Why, you may ask.

Nowadays, thieves no longer care to rob a person, bank or any other
establishment because they just use an individual's information to obtain
employment, credit and bank accounts and other means of obtaining money or
credit

Such activity that has now alarmingly reached millions of victims in United
States and Canada is known as Identity theft. It has shown up in news reports
for the past several years. Campaigns and laws have been passed all to combat
it and build up public awareness.

Last September 2003, the FTC reported that identity theft victims suffer
terribly from the said crime. They spend more than $1,400.00, and 200 hours to
clear up their personal and financial reputation.

Once identity theft crime becomes more flagrant, victims may have to spend more
than this, and not only in terms of time and money. They may end up spending
more in terms of frustration.

If you do not have money to spend, or rather, waste just to pay for being a
victim of identity theft, then you must know the exact definitions of identity
theft, how it works and how you can become a victim. By knowing and defining
identity theft to other people, too, they will come up with more ways to combat
against it.

Identity theft or ID theft this insidious crime of obtaining and using another
individual's personal data. By personal data it means, the name, address,
telephone number, phone card or credit card and Social security number. This
act is done without the knowledge of the victim and is usually followed by a
criminal act.

The criminal acts of an identity thief may range from committing financial
fraud using the personal information. Indeed, identity theft is done by
someone, pretending to be another and purchases products using that person's
credit account, obtaining money from bank accounts and ordering goods and
services using another's credit name.

The victim of identity theft is usually left with the bill for the
purchased/ordered goods and services. Sometimes, victims are surprised when
they find out that they are application for loans were denied because without
their knowledge, they have accumulated too many loans because of the handiwork
of an identity thief.

Stealing people's identity is a serious crime. The frauds and deceptions being
done using another individual's identity is another unlawful act. Once identity
thieves steal other people's identity they usually do the following:

- make purchases or order goods without the intention to pay 
- apply for credit
- open bank accounts 
- apply for loans 
- apply for government benefits 
- obtain cable or utility services using the another person's (victim) name 
- forge checks or bank drafts 
- use victim's accounts to obtain money through wire transfers using the victim's 
  accounts 
- and other similar acts of fraud.

Individuals are not the only targets of identity theft. They also target
business establishments, especially those medium and small limited businesses.
Businesses can also be the targets of identity theft.

Corporate identity theft happens when an individual applies for credit or buys
goods under the pretense of being a company director of a certain company.
Beforehand, they con the government agencies concerned with registering
business companies. They file for change of names and address.

They use the said address to direct suppliers of goods they bought, when the
bill arrives, they have long disappeared. The company, then suffer the brunt of
such criminal acts.

Aside from people with good and well-established credit reports, identity theft
also victimizes those without much credit. Sometimes they stead college
students' identities to set up fake credit accounts.

Presently, many efforts are being done in order that people be aware of
identity theft. There are also federal laws passed that already define identity
theft as a serious criminal act instead of just a fraudulent activity. This is a
big step in the fight against rampant identity theft.

Individuals must be proactive so as not to become a victim of identity theft.
We must be doubly sure that all our personal documents and information are
protected and are not passed on into wrong hands.

Avoid being a victim of identity theft, beware and be cautious!

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act: Basic Provisions you need to Know

Terry Rogan was seized five times for allegedly committing robbery and murder
that he did not commit. His problem began in 1982 when a certain convict named
McKandes break out from the Alabama State Prison. Unfortunately, this man
happened to have a copy of Terry Rogan's birth certificate. Eventually,
McKandes was able to obtain a driver's license and other identifying documents
in Rogan's name.

He was still using Rogan's identity when he committed a robbery and a murder on
the same year. An arrest warrant was issued for Rogan's arrest and information
pertaining to him was placed into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
A national criminal information database alerts all police department in the
United States on outstanding warrants.

Eventually, Rogan was seized in Michigan for the crime of robbery and murder
committed by McKandes in California.

However, upon discovering that Rogan's fingerprints and other physical features
did not match those records in NCIC, he was released. His name was also cleared
of any criminal act.

However, the problem does not end there. He was still arrested four more times
from 1983 to 1984 for another criminal act he allegedly committed. After
finding out that it was not him, he was released and the issue was finally
resolved.

It was a clear indication that Terry Rogan is a victim of identity theft. The
perpetrator obtained a copy of his birth certificate, which contains the vital
important information about him. The perpetrator secured a driver's license in
the name of his victim.

Identity theft is a crime, which everybody is frightened about. Who will ever
think that someone can portray himself as you?

He can acquire important personal information about you by any means -- mails,
credit statements, and even in the Internet, particularly if you have a
personal website.

According to state and federal prosecutors, identity theft will be the hottest
crime committed merely because of the advancement in technology. Moreover, it
is also the cause of financial losses in the business and social security
industry.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 93 percent of the arrests made
by the United States Secret Service-Financial Crimes Division in the year 1995
are all involved identity theft and caused individual and institutional losses
of $442 million.

Its number is still increasing to 94 percent and losses netting to $450 million
in the year 1996. Although the percentage of identity theft is still the same in
the year 1997, the net loss related to identity theft crime almost doubled to
nearly $745 million.

To control the damage done by identity theft crime, the United States Congress
passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act and later on signed by
then President William Jefferson Clinton into a law on October 30, 1998.

It made the identity theft a federal crime to "knowingly transfer or use,
without legal authority; a means of using the identification of another
individual with the intention of committing or aiding any unlawful activity
that constitutes a violation of Federal state law."

First important change made by this Act is making the actual theft or use of a
person's information a federal crime.

Before this Act, federal law only defines the deceptive creation and the use or
transfer of identifying documents and not the actual theft or the criminal use
of an individual's personal information.

Since it is the criminal use of the victim's identity causes majority of
his/her problems, the Act clearly defined it as a new federal crime. The
development is much welcomed because information age is still developing where
all types of personal identification can be obtained from the Internet.

Second is the definition of punishment for this newly created crime. Here is
the major information stated under this provision:

* If the act involves the transfer or use of one or more personal information
of another person and the offense enables the perpetrator to obtain anything of
value amounting to $1,000 or more during any one year period, the convicted
criminal will be fined or imprisoned for not more than three years.

* If the act involves unauthorized use of another person's birth certificate,
driver's license, and other identifying documents issued under the authority of
the United States, the convicted criminal will be fined or imprisoned for not
more than fifteen years.

* If the above-mentioned offenses are committed to facilitate a drug
trafficking crime or terrorist activities, the perpetrator will be fined or
imprisoned up to 20 and 25 years, respectively.

Last is the aid to individual victims of identity theft. The Act created a
centralize complaint and consumer education service for the victims and
directed development and maintenance of such service to the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC).

Complaints are entered into the Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, a database
designed to aid law enforcement agencies in combating identity theft.

The FTC is also ask to assist identity theft victims in resolving credit
problems arise from the illegal use of their credit funds by perpetrators.

By the enactment of Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, all of us are
now provided with additional protection to avoid identity theft. In case you are
still unsatisfied, you may opt to get a lawyer to explain further to you other
provisions of this Act.

Working together: identity theft laws and the people

You might have felt pity when you heard the accounts of identity theft victims.
If you were in the same situation one in your life, you would know how it feels
like being in their shoes. That is why identity theft laws have been made and
passed to stop this ongoing threat to people, companies and the whole country
for that matter.

The awareness on identity theft among consumers has reached its peak in the
past years. This is principally due to the media coverage it is getting.
Because of this, consumers are becoming more wary when disclosing personal
information and having it given out without their consent, especially on the
Internet.

These outcries by members of the public have resulted in some legislative
attention brought to the issue, both on the federal level and in the states.

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (18 USC 1028) was signed in
1998. This law made identity theft a federal felony. That is, when someone
deliberately uses the identification of another person with the purpose of
committin any unlawful activity under federal and state law.

For those who have violated this law, they will be put under close
investigation by federal agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, the Social
Security Administration, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Such
crimes are prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

This law also allows for reimbursement for victims. It established an identity
theft clearinghouse within the Federal Trade Commission.

In the following years, 40 states have criminalized identity theft. Most of
them have also made it a felony. In 2000, Senate Bill 2328 was signed by
Senators Feinstein, Kyl, and Grassley. This bill is called the "Identity Theft
Prevention Act of 2000." This law emphasizes more on the prevention that should
be taken or where they should belong.

The latest addition to these laws is the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
(ITPEA) signed by President George Bush.

What are the provisions of this identity theft law?

The theft found to have made done a felony through the identity theft is given
a mandatory two-year prison sentence.

If the identity theft is directly related to any terrorist activity, the
penalty is an additional five-year prison sentence. This law also orders the
U.S. Sentencing Commission to strengthen the penalties to be given if the theft
is found to be in the course of employment when the act is committed.

Lastly, it gives the more lax judges to give out soft punishments like
probation and community for the offenders. A lot of people are more than happy
that this crime has been criminalized by the laws created. But it can be noted
that in order to put a hold on identity theft, drastic changes have to made in
the credit industry.

But it is also important that these laws address what the identity theft
victims have gone through. There should be a way for them to know that they
have a wrongful criminal record.

Some of the bills that have been passed include a provision making it possible
for individuals to get hold of the content of information about them that is
compiled by an information broker, employment background check service, or
individual reference service.

If wrongful information is reported in any background check for employment or
other purposes, it is vital that the persons on these investigations know the
precise information that has been made and the source from which those
information came from.

For those persons who have wrongful criminal records, they must be able to
clear their records through an expedited process involving the law enforcement
agency that made the arrest, the court system where the warrant was issued, and
the official criminal Presently, there is no such procedure available for
victims of criminal records identity theft.

Identity theft laws should not be the only answer to this ongoing problem. It
is also vital that credit card companies and reporting industries should make
an effort to assist consumers in stopping fraud altogether. They should also be
the ones that should help victims recover from identity theft.

No matter how many identity theft laws are created and passed, this crime will
still continue if additional efforts are not added. It is important
that the people and the government should work together to stop identity
thieves in their tracks.

Comprehensive Steps on Preventing Identity Theft

Have you constantly been hearing reports about identity theft crimes? Do you
have any idea about what identity theft is?

What is Identity Theft?

It is the stealing of your personal data like your social security number,
licenses number, credit card and bank account numbers, and even your other's
maiden name. You do not like your identity be stole from you, do you?

Being ready, only for instance some takes your identity is necessary. It might
be difficult on your part, not unless you want to go shopping one day and
decide to use your credit card, only to know that the department store
rejecting your credit card and discover that someone has been using your
identity to buy something.

For this, you have to make significant actions to avoid your identity being
taken from you. It will take years to clear this issue up if you experience
this, so prevention is the best thing that you can do.

How will you prevent yourself from identity theft?

At Home:

* If you are having roommates, use outside assistance, or finish your work in
your home, ensure that your personal data is pleasurably presented to them.

* Place your outgoing mail in the post office collection box or else mail it at
the nearest post office, than putting it is an unsafe mailboxes. Remove your
mail from your mailbox on time. If you have sudden business trip and will not
be able to get your mail, call the postal office to ask for a holiday hold of
all your mails.

* Destroy all your bill receipts, duplicates of credit requests, insurance
applications, doctor's prescriptions, and other important mails about you that
you got from your mailbox.

* If there is really a need for this, give your social security number and
request to use other forms of identifiers. Do not permit to use one account
number for your social security, driver's license and insurances.

At Work:

* Inquire about data safety guidelines in your office or at any businesses,
physician's clinic or other establishments that ask for your personal
identification data. Try to know who has the access to all your personal data
and confirm it is hold safety.

On the Internet:

* If you are making business transactions online, read thoroughly about the
confidentiality and safety announcements. If possible, try to know the people
who know about your personal information. Make sure that your personal data is
handled properly. If for example you are hearing negative feedbacks about the
company, do not do business with them again.

* You can use your Pay Pal. You can move a restricted number of finances into
your pay pal account and utilize it to purchase goods online rather than using
your credit card.

* Avoid giving your personal data over the telephone, via email, or online
except you have started, the contact or you already know the person with whom
you are having business.

* Before you give any of your personal data, verify that you a having business
with a legal party. You can always check for their website on the internet. Be
alert when answering to promotions. Identity stealer may generate promotional
offers on the telephone to make you give them your personal data.

Are there identity theft insurance? Will you purchase one for you?

There are companies that provide insurance that state about the safety it will
give you against identity theft case. Be alert that most creditors will only
transact with you to determine the problem, meaning the insurance company are
not capable to lessen the trouble.

As for other services, make sure that you know what is being offered before you
avail of it. If you want to purchase identity theft insurance, investigate the
company through the Better Business Bureau and other legal agencies to find out
if they are reliable and have no complaints on record.

As a conclusion, always be alert and clever. If someone asks for your personal
information, may it be a friend, acquaintance, business, ask for the reason why
they want it from you.

Know why they want your information, what are they going to do with your
personal identification, how will it be kept stored, who the person to know it
are, and how will it be secured.

If the person answered it undoubtedly and you are contented with the answer,
then he or she is worth of your trust. You can provide them with your
information.

Identity theft commercials are really happening

You may have laughed off at the absurdity that is shown in identity theft
commercials. But they should be not something to laugh about.

Some commercials may have even touched or scared you. But the most effective
identity commercials are those that make people wary whenever they go out or
use their credit cards.

What you see on television is actually a example of what might happen in
reality. No matter how funny or violent these identity theft commercials maybe,
they are nothing compared to what can happen in real life.

You can actually benefit and learn from watching commercials about identity
theft. Try to listen to the accounts of identity theft victims talking about
all the things the thief was able to purchase and what they have accomplished
using your identity.

Identity theft is not just what you see in your tube. They are real and actual
problems that still have no solutions. On the contrary, it is getting worse and
worse as time goes by.

The more conservative methods used by identity thieves consist of stealing
records or information while on the job and stealing your mail, such as bank
and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks and tax information.

Mail can be stolen while it is to and from your mailbox. A thief can fill out a
"change of address' form and have your mail brought to a different address. They
can also gain access to your information by going through your trash or the
trash of businesses or public trash dumps.

To get a credit report, identity thieves may pretend to be a landlord, an
employer or someone else who may have legal right to admission to your personal
information.

Even if you think your own personal information is well protected, you may not
be aware of some of the high-tech, and highly clever methods that thieves today
are using to get your personal data.

Some of the most popular commercials show some skimming and phishing strategies
that identity thieves are doing.

In skimming, identity thieves obtain credit or debit card numbers by putting
the information in a data storage device they have put to an ATM or automated
teller machine.

On the same note, shoulder surfing is when an identity thief uses a camera
phone or positions near a person who is using the ATM or is typing in his or
her credit card number into a phone.

The most recent trend in this crime involves fraudulent emails. This is quickly
becoming one of the frequent cases.

According to results of a survey done by a financial transaction company,
around 43 percent of users have received phishing contracts in their emails. In
this strategy, identity thieves pose as banks, credit card companies or other
institutions to get you to give out information such as passwords or account
numbers.

In the more sophisticated strategy also known as pharming, users that are
trying to get into a certain site is mislead to fake sites that have the same
address.

Now that you already know some of the identity theft cases, you maybe wondering
if you can use the measures you have seen on identity theft commercials.
Although some of them may be reality-based and can actually work, it is
important that you also know some of important things not seen in those
commercials.

Consumers can avoid being an identity theft victim by using only ATMs that they
are familiar with, checking out the machine to be certain that nothing looks out
of the ordinary and covering up the pin number you are using.

You should continue maintaining your monthly checks and statements for at least
one year in case you need to disagree over a particular check transaction made.

Finally, when you throw out papers that have personal information, such as ATM
, bank checks, etc. try to shred them first before dumping. It is also a good
idea to keep a file of all credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates and
credit card customer service phone numbers in a safe place in case your cards
are stolen or lost.

You can never be too careful these days. Anyone can be a victim of identity
theft, commercial or no commercial.

Steps to Avoid Identity Theft with your Stolen Checks

The simplest way for fraud to get access to your bank statement is by the use
of your own checks. Well, how could other people get your checks? It is so
simple! They just snatch your checkbook when you are about to pay for your
purchases or they can just pick it from your pockets or bags.

Checks are usually susceptible to thieves especially if you are not attending
to it that much. The thief may get one piece of your check or worse, he or she
might take your whole check book.

Once you realize that your check book is missing or stolen, you should stop
payments for it and have them cancelled. It is wise that you should inform your
bank immediately after you realize your check is missing. It is also necessary
to request for any check verification service from the bank to know if your
missing or stolen checks have already been used

However, if you are a check user and afraid of being a victim of identity
theft, here are steps which you can use to protect yourself from having your
financial identity, through your stolen checks, used by a thief on his/her
shopping spree:

1. Request for an annual credit report from the three major credit agencies to
verify all your account transactions. This is to make sure that there are no
strange activities in your credit report.

2. Make sure to report all your stolen checks. In addition, it is also good to
have a copy of your checking account number. Notify your bank once your check
is missing or stolen.

3. Do not put your checkbook in a purse or bag together with your valid ids or
passports.

4. Make sure not to put any checking account statements in your mailbox.

5. Request for privacy procedures and information application from your bank.
Know the situation once your bank gives your checking account information to
someone.

6. Keep all your checking accounts statements to know if you issued each check
appropriately.

7. When requesting for a new checkbook, be sure to claim it at your bank
personally. Do not permit your bank to just mail it to you since most thieves
acquire your personal and financial information by stealing your mails.

8. Do not put your Social Security number on your checks. Do not write/print
any of your financial credit information outside an envelope.

9. Review all your check statement and cashed checks using your periodic bank
statements to know if there are any unofficial transaction and charges.

10. When applying for a checking account, it is wise to ask the bank how they
dispose of your application. Once you have received a confirmation about your
checking account application, be sure to shred it to pieces.

11. When writing on your check, use a permanent marker with fine point and
write a line before your write the amount. In this way you are already avoiding
someone to write an additional "something" on your check.

12. Once you notice that one of your checks is missing, immediately contact
your bank about it. You can also file a report to the nearest police station
and have a copy of the police report to present to the bank if ever they ask
for it.

By having a correct and complete account records, you are preventing identity
theft happening to you.

Just follow the steps given, and you will be sure of the safety of your checks
and your personal protection therefore, avoiding identity theft.

If you cannot stop identity theft online, prevent them

Online, identity theft is quite common already. It seems that everybody is
getting their businesses and transactions done online. That is why, online
identity thieves are always on the lookout for their next victims.

How do online savvy protect themselves from the online identity thieves that
are rampant nowadays?

1. Passwords.

Know that those little pop ups that is asking you if you would like to remember
your user name and password is not helping you any. Most of these passwords are
stored in system file and every half brained hackers know about this. If you
are not making use of firewalls, it is pretty easy for just about anyone to get
hold of your password and use that anytime in your expense.

Be wary of these things. A prevention measure is to have a lengthy password
complete with different kinds of characters.

As much as possible, do not input all your information in your computer or when
something asks for it. The internet is definitely not a safe place to store your
data and information.

2. Phishing.

What is phishing?

Phishing is one of the strategies being used to fool people into giving out
their passwords and other personal information by pretending that they come
from a genuine source.

Examples are emails sent by someone staring that you have won on some online
raffle. And that you need to give out some information for verification. Out of
hope or ignorance, you probably will end up giving them what they want. This is
what phishing is all about. Phishing scammers are very much skilled in
imitating other styles and language of communications. They use lists of
millions of email addresses to send their notes out to, in the hope of getting
even a small number of victim.

If you find it hard to distinguish which emails you are receiving are scams,
try to verify the source of the message. Better yet, ask some sort of proof
first to find out they are really legitimate or not.

3. Firewalls.

In the past, firewalls were a luxury. But now, they have become a necessity.

There are already an increasing number of Internet hackers that are making use
of free programs that can compromise your system.

Take note that there are around 60,000 points of entry to your computer. So you
may want to at least filter out some of the entries that can cause trouble.

4. A secure connection.

Before sending out any personal information, make sure that you make it a point
to check out the browser address bar. Why is this?

Because you may want to be assured that you are sending them on a secure
connection. A secure connection is an address that begins with http. If you do
not see this in the address browser, then you can guarantee that that link is
not secured. They can be breached easily. There goes your details.

5. Always confirm.

Before you click on that send button, think hard first. Are you willing to give
out vital information away? Do you trust the receiver of this?

Today, every bit of information can be built into a solid profile. You can
actually get a lot of information about someone just by knowing his or her
birthday. This is the online world. Apparently, identity thieves also know
about this.

Be prepared for the consequences that your actions will bring. You cannot blame
anyone but yourself when you find yourself a victim of identity theft online.

6. Account checking.

If you are one of those banking online, be sure to go back and check in after a
few days to review the transactions you have made. Not all of these online
financial institutions have the ability to filter out fake transactions.

If ever you find something suspicious in your transaction, contact your bank
immediately so they can take the necessary steps and stop further unknown
negotiations to happen. In many of these cases, you will not be made liable for
the expenses or charges that may incur. That is why, you have to report the
soonest possible time.

Online identity theft is not likely to go away for sometime. So you need to be
aware of them in order to prevent them from getting the most out of you.

Ways to Protect Yourself from Computer Identity Theft

Identity theft is considered as a huge problem in our society. Since everyday,
there is an increase in the number of user of internet and most people consider
computer as a big part
of their lives, there is also an increase of cases of identity theft.

Individuals who are new in using the internet sometimes become to victim to
computer identity theft systems. In most cases, the person involved in the
identity theft systems uses your credit cards to buy supplies and merchandise
for themselves.

While others will get an application for credit card, make bank account and
destroy your good credit score. In addition, making some correction about such
subjects includes more time, effort and is stressful, so here are ten useful
ways that you can use to avoid yourself from being an identity theft prey.

* Make a disposable email address

Make sure that you have an email address that you can only use for businesses
and other personal communication. If for instance, you want to buy something
online, or you want to join a newsgroup, it is better than you use a disposable
email address.

Yahoo and hotmail are some of the free accounts where you can make you own
disposable email. Both of these are able to interface with other famous email
clientele such as the outlook and the outlook express. You can use one of the
two for your purchasing transactions.

* Cover up your internet identity

If your name is Chris Brown try to not to use it in making your email accounts
especially when having business with people you are not familiar with and
deceitful-looking.

Perhaps if your birth date is April 3, 1980, do not make an account that
contains both your name and birth date.

* Use a unique password

You can use one password for your private data, and then use a different one
for your dealing account and another one for your disposable email addresses
you made. If possible, do not use passwords that appear in order like password3
for your private account, password4 for you business transactions and password4
for disposable email addresses.

* Use "tough" passwords

Avoid using birthdates, anniversaries, or your children's birthdates when
making passwords. Do not use passwords that are purely letters or numbers.

In addition, to not to use passwords consist true words. Make passwords made of
phases like "I drink 1 glass of milk everyday". Get the first letter of every
word in the phrase and it will result to "id1gome".

* Change your passwords

You must change you passwords at least every 6 months or if you want, you can
have it changed every year. If you think your passwords have been exposed,
change them for your protection.

* It is important that you only use one credit card for every online
transaction that you make

If you have more than three credit cards, stick to the one that you know will
best work for online transactions. This is to monitor the transactions made
with each of your credit cards. Therefore, if your other credit cards have an
online transactions you are certain that those are fake.

* Make use of a credit card rather than a debit card

Though many debit cards have online purchase safety steps, it is easier to
fight fake charges than to refund debit card finances already used.

* When you make online transactions ensure that it is safe

If you are making your first transaction on the internet, make sure that the
company you are dealing with is someone familiar or referred to you by a
trusted one.

* Check for the company's privacy guidelines

When doing the first purchasing online, ensure to check the privacy guidelines,
search for logos from purchasers groups and try to find out if they are a member
of the better business bureau. If possible, click the logos to confirm that they
are genuine.

* Do not open or sign up email inviting you to update your email account or
credit card information through email.

These are only fraudulent. Some people do them attempt and secure your personal
data. Most of them increasingly improve their modus operandi and go to great
lengths to appear genuine like the company websites using their own logos.

Following the above guidelines, you are surely keeping yourself away from this
computer identity theft.

Tips for Identity Theft Prevention

Is it really possible to prevent identity theft? The answer is both yes and no.
Let us make a comparison between identity theft and somebody who attempts to
break into your house. Can you stop somebody who will break into your house? Of
course, you will do everything to make it difficult for him. You will be
installing alarms, locks and cameras for security purpose. You hire the
services of armed guards and some experts in security.

With the above mentioned preparations, is there any possibility that somebody
will be able still to house break? Certainly, if that somebody is full of
determination, armed with sophisticated weapons and outnumbering your guards.
This has been shown many times in the movies.

It is really the same thing with identity theft prevention. You will do
something to make it more complicated to somebody, yet there is no guarantee
that you will not be the next victim but at least you will minimize the risk.
Just be cautious in managing your personal information and with total
awareness, you will be able to be on guard against identity theft. What is
important is to be prepared always and be clever always and on your guard.

There is really a need to be aware of the increasing number of cases on
identity theft. It is due maybe to the comparatively low risk, high reward
stake given to criminals. All they will have to do is to get your Social
Security Number and some pieces of data which are taken easily. Then, they will
assume your identity and commit credit deception. It's a pity for the victims
because they will spend so much money time draining ordeal which will create
financial and emotional distress.

Below are the tips for identity theft prevention.

1. Always give protection to your Social Security Number. Do not place your
Social Security Number in your wallet or to be printed on your checks. It is
the main object of criminals.

2. Be aware of shoulder-surfers. Make sure nobody is looking over your shoulder
when you enter a pin number or a credit card number to an ATM machine, or in a
phone book.

3. Everything must be shred. You should keep your identity from being thrown
into the garbage can.

4. Instead of signing the backs of your credit cards, just write "See Photo ID".

5. Be sure to destroy all digital data.

6. You should be diligent in checking statements. Bills and bank statements
must be checked properly.

7. Go to the post office in paying your bills. Do not leave your paid bills in
the mailbox to be sent out. They will be stolen and to be washed with chemicals.

8. It is better to limit information in your checks.

9. You should analyze your credit report every year. It has your Social
Security Number, present and prior employers, the list of all your account
numbers, including those you have closed and your general credit score.

10. Your computer must be free from viruses and spies.

11. If you are going to shop online, be sure to check first the website before
entering your credit card number or any personal information.

12. Always monitor your credit history.

13. Do not hesitate to ask questions whenever you are asked about personal
information which is not connected to the transaction.

14. You should not be influenced by pre-approved credit offers.

15. Do not bring with you additional credit cards or other important personal
identity documents unless necessary.

16. Ask for your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement every year so
as to check for deception.

17. You should examine first the charges on your credit card statements before
you pay.

18. All unused credit card accounts must be cancelled immediately.

19. Don't ever give your credit card number or any personal information when
using the phone except when you trust that business or you started the phone
conversation.

20. Make a subscription to a credit report monitoring service so that you will
be notified in case somebody applies for credit using your name.

21. Do not be afraid to question the identity of the people and companies which
will initiate contact with you, through the email, mail, telephone or even in
person.

22. Don't leave your wallet or purse unattended most especially in the church,
place of work, restaurants, parties or on trolleys for shopping.

Notify immediately the bank, if you did not receive any statement.

Check Credit Report Regularly and Beware of Identity Theft

All of us know the importance of credit report in our lives. Our credit report
show our personal information such as your legal name, alias names, addresses,
current and previous employers, and date of birth.

We also have that credit report summary showing the following:

- Current and past credit status 
- Total number of open and closed accounts 
- If the balances of our accounts are current or delinquent 
- Public record information such as federal bankruptcy records local government 
  court records, liens, judgments, and child support records (information that 
  can stay in your record for up to 10 years) 
- Credit inquires that we use when applying for a credit card or loan 
- Detailed account history -- very up to date information about your loan 
  payments 
- Credit card debt and payment history 
- Credit score.

Your credit score is a number ranging from 330 to 830. The higher the number
assigned to you, the better your credit is. It increases the chance of you
obtaining a loan or credit account.

The Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are major credit bureaus collect,
maintain, and distribute our credit information.

Our credit report does not also end with our financial matters. We also use our
credit report for a variety of purposes not related with mortgage and other loan
applications.

Auto insurance companies often request us for copies of our credit reports as
part of the process in applying for auto insurance. Our employers may also
request for our credit reports as basis in deciding whom to hire for a specific
position. Our credit report may also be the important link for us to know if we
have become victim of identity theft!

Identity theft is a criminal act wherein our personal financial information,
supposed to be confidential, are obtained through illegal means and used for
unauthorized purchases and transactions.

The most common forms of identity theft are the credit card fraud, bank fraud,
communications services, and fraudulent loans.

The audacity of an identity thief is shown in his/her use your personal
information, which could be result to a financial disaster and a damage of
reputation on your part. Falling victim to this harmful activity could impugn
your financial reputation for many years to come.

There are a lot of thing you can do to minimize the risk of becoming a victim
of identity theft. This article focuses on obtaining and reviewing your credit
report, quite similar to what we do when we perform network security
assessments.

The information from our credit report reflect our credit and consumer habits.
Unless you make efforts to obtain necessary credit reports, you may never know
how credit worthy you is or not. Obtaining credit reports is also a way to
check if you have fallen into the insidious identity theft crime.

Verifying and frequently checking your credit report is a good means to make
sure no one has obtained your identity. You may think that it may not happen to
you, but there is nothing wrong by being doubly sure. If ever there are
evidences pointing to the fact you are being robbed of your identity, then you
can quickly act upon it. Avoid major damage to your personal and financial
reputation that took you so many years to establish.

Here are ways to check your credit and see if there are evidences of your
credit account being used by identity theft:

1. Carefully examine your credit report copy upon receipt. Look into the
section dealing with inquiries against the report. If you do not know about
this yet, well, every time you apply for a loan or credit card there is an
inquiry initiated against your credit report.

You will recognize the inquiries against the report if you are the one who have
applied for a loan using your credit account. However, if you notice certain
entries you do not recognize, immediately notify the credit-reporting agency.

2. If you notice errors, such as a bill paid off but still show as outstanding
on the report, then notify the agency and request for it to be removed. You
must follow up personally on these corrections and make sure that your specific
request has been acted upon.

Be alert always and take the issue of identity theft as a serious threat to our
good name. Make sure that your personal and financial information never get into
the wrong hands. It is for the good future of your family, too.

Are you Safe from Identity Theft?

How will you feel if you will be arrested for a crime that you have now
committed? How will you feel if you will be receiving a call from one of your
creditors and telling you to pay your credit amounting to a particular amount,
whereas you do not even use your credit card yet for that particular month?

Maybe you will answer those questions when you become a victim of identity
theft.

Identity theft is said to be a "perfect crime". Everybody can be a victim.
Learning about the crime is the best thing that you can do right now. Remember,
there are millions of victims every year.

If you have not become a victim of identity theft, then do not take any risk.
Keep in mind the fact that it is nearly impossible to reinstate your life once
a thief takes over your identity.

Identity theft refers to a type of crime, which someone portrays himself as
another person by using the latter's identifying information for various
reasons. It may be for the purpose of a criminal activity or a financial gain.

The data that may be used includes the victim's complete name, date of birth,
and an array of closely related information like social security number,
passport, license number, and credit card number.

The thief can use any of the stolen information to take over the financial
accounts of his victim (bank and credit accounts), apply for loans, and
purchase important items and services.

He can also avail medical benefits, education assistance, and personal pensions
by creating or forging birth certificates or immigration documents, which can be
presented to the agency who gives such assistance.

Perpetrators engage in this crime wants to either mislead law enforcers as to
whom the real perpetrator is, or hide from the pursuit of the authorities.
Others want to have control over publicly financed benefits to which they would
not be entitled if they signed up under their original name. Some uses identity
theft to facilitate large crimes like human trafficking and terrorism acts.

Victims almost extend across all ages. According to Federal Trade Commission
(FTC), 29 percent of identity theft complaints are from individuals of age
18-29, 25 percent from individuals of age 30-39, 21 percent from individuals of
age 40-49, 13 percent from individuals of age 50-59, and the remaining 10
percent from individuals of age 60 and above. Usual targets of thieves are
average-incoming individuals and those having a good credit rating.

Corporations, small enterprises, and financial institutions can also be
potential victims of identity. Thieves can disguised themselves as top
executives of their target company then making some huge withdrawal of funds,
which can result to financial loss, damage to reputation and credibility, and
possible closure of operation.

Modern identity theft is committed by means of gaining access to electronic
data systems, forging identification documents of the victim (birth certificate
or citizenship documents), getting new credit accounts, and charging existing
accounts improperly.

The advancement of technology also enables perpetrators with computer hacking
skills to infiltrate low-restricted public database and possibly cracking vital
government database system.

Protecting yourself from identity theft is the best way to avoid the possible
aftermaths you may experience. Remember that perpetrators do not select
victims. Celebrities, business executives, politicians, and ordinary citizens
in varying ages can be a potential victim.

You cannot totally protect yourself from these thieves, but you can take
measures by making yourself less attractive as a potential victim and hiding
all the possible sources of your personal information. Here are some things
that you can keep in mind:

* When making transactions, always indicate your identification numbers such as
social security number, make sure that it is required. Do not give it unless it
is necessary.

* Destroy unwanted previous credit card or bank statements. You can either burn
it or have yourself a mail shredder. Shred any sensitive documents first before
throwing it to the garbage can.

* Do not place any other information beside your name and address in your
checks.

* Carry personal cards that are only necessary and will be used for
transactions for a particular day. Once lost, it can be possibly found by
others and use it to steal your identity.

* Review your credit reports regularly. Make sure that you know all the
transactions that you have made and look for any possible unauthorized
transactions made to your creditors.

* Never divulge personal information on the phone. One typical modus operandi
of thieves is through disguising themselves as a representative of a financial
institution. He will then offer that you can update your records with them.

It is possible that they are recording your conversation and eventually get all
the personal information from you.

* Always clear your mailbox. If you are on a trip, ask your neighbor to clear
your mailbox for you.

The threat is there. All you have to do is to have knowledge about this crime
and protect yourself against it. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Regarding Commercial Identity Theft: Who has Stolen your Good Identity?

You wake up one lovely morning and you tell yourself that it is going to be a
great day. As you walk towards the kitchen to cook a luscious breakfast, the
phone rang.

With a smile pasted on your face, you said one of the sweetest hello you have
ever uttered your whole life, only to find out from an alert employee whom you
are speaking with on the other line that you are near insolvency.

You stand there frozen -- unable to make the information sink in instantly.
Afterwards, the smiled faded into a wry. Now you know your identity is in great
trouble.

Somebody has stolen your name, address, social-security number, bank and credit
account numbers and phone numbers. Somebody has stolen your IDENTITY.

That somebody has been using your identifying information and accounts to
purchase properties and enrich. You are greatly indebted and your bank accounts
are emptied. Without you knowing it, you are nearing your doom days.

What is identity theft? Identity theft happens when somebody has taken your
name, address, Social Security number (SSN), identifying information and credit
card account or bank accounts in order to commit crimes and other fraudulent
machinations.

If you are faced in this situation, fury and loathe will be an understatement.
That is for sure. It takes years to build who you are and what you have now. No
one has the right to take it away from you. If they do, they have to pay for it.

Your identity is as precious as your life. Your finances are valuable as your
living. You have worked hard for it. Hence, it is just but right to protect
them from the widespread identity theft commercial.

Perpetrators can easily steal identities. They roam around and watch you
closely and the next thing you found out is that you have fallen victim of
identity theft commercial. Do not let this happen to you. Try to device
something helpful.

Moreover, you have to be extra cautious about your personal information
especially those that involves your finances.

You have to make an effective identity theft commercial prevention plan. To do
it efficiently, here are some of the things that you must do:

1. You have to check your credit report from the three bureaus at least once
every year. Check whether it is accurate. If it contains error, dispute it
right away. This is to protect you from fraud and inconsistencies.

2. Another way to prevent identity theft commercial is not to leave your Social
Security card in your wallet when you carry the same in public places. Leave it
at home or anywhere safe and away from intruders.

3. Keep your social security number, bank account pin numbers and credit report
access number private. Do not write your ATM pin number at the back of the ATM
card. Another, since identity theft commercial has invaded the net, use
security software. Firewall is a good choice.

4. Avoid Internet frauds. Bear in mind that no reputable and legal business
will ask you to confirm your personal identification information through
e-mail. This is an example of a hoax leading to identity theft commercial.

5. Be careful in telling others your credit card number via phone. This is
especially true with telemarketers.

6. When you are about to have an airline or hotel reservation, it is preferable
that you use a regular corded phone rather than a cell phone or cordless phone.
This will minimize the chance of identity theft commercial.

7. You can also have a membership program from a company that helps victims of
identity theft to recover from said crime. Said membership provides security,
convenience and financial assistance. In addition, it also offers reimbursement
of benefits covered.

8. If you happen to find a credit card, report it immediately. This is to stop
a possible chain of identity theft commercial.

9. If you have queries regarding identity theft commercial, you are free to
visit the Federal Trade Commission site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. You can
also call its Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

More often than not, the perpetrator's goal is just to get your name, address
and credit card number -- that's it. Moreover, you have to be careful in giving
away these pieces of information.

Though these tips may not guaranty a 100% identity theft-proof still this will
keep you more protected that the rest who do not exercise these precautions.

Fight against Identity Theft with Fraud Alert

One thing you can be proud of always is your self-identity -- your individual
difference among other persons. It reflects your whole being and your
personality in general. It also shows your uniqueness with other people. It is
something that cannot be stolen from you.

However, don't you know that nowadays other people can steal your personal
identity already?

Yes. You should be alarm with this fact. Maybe due to the continuous search of
men for wealth, they happen to commit this kind of calcification to the point
that they are already intervening in one's privacy, the personal identity of
others.

This is how worse the situation is in the world today. Imagine having your
identity stolen by others and used for criminal acts. Isn't it a grave offense
and a deep insult in your person? Identity theft evolved when there is numerous
numbers of people already practicing this form of violation.

Identity theft is indeed a crime of a different kind of dye. In simple term, it
is the stealing of your personal identity. It can be comprise of your
identification information. It will include your SSS number, licenses data,
bank accounts, your full name and other details that reveal your identity.

Are these people gaining benefit from you? Precisely yes. Those people who are
stealing one's identity can profit a lot. Just take it as an example, if
another person knows your bank account number and your full name, he can make
transaction with the bank. In other words, he will be given the privilege to
withdraw from your money.

There are many ways on how you can prevent yourself from being one of the
victims' of identity theft. Aside from the personal means that you can do it by
yourself, you can also engage in the so-called fraud alert. Try to know more
about it.

However, you are not yet aware about identity theft, it is necessary that you
apply your credit file with fraud alert. This is one way to protect your
account from being stolen by other
people especially if they are attempting to do so.

Fraud alert refers to something attached to your credit report. This is usually
done by most of the major credit bureaus where you are connected. This fraud
alert works simple. If there is someone, who is going to make transaction
concerning your account the credit bureau will make an immediate call after you.

This will be a prior notification for you. If in case the call cannot reach
you, it only means one thing that, your account should not be opened. This will
somehow inform the credit company that the person is not really given the
authority to make transaction on his account.

It is easy to set up your fraud alert. All you need to do is to coordinate with
the fraud alert department op the credit bureau that you are engaging.
Afterwards, you can simply notify them to top flag your credit file for fraud.
To secure this, you will be asked to record your voice in an automated voice
response system because this will be utilized when they are calling you.

If it there comes a time when you already want to remove the fraud alert not
flagged in your credit file, you can immediately inform them requesting for a
removal through writing. It is necessary that you should place your full name,
SSS number, your current and previous addresses, the date of your birth, and
your contact number. You have to send it on the fraud alert department of the
credit bureaus where you apply your fraud alert.

Fraud alert is a big help for the security of your account. However, you should
also beware that sometimes fraud alter is disregarded by some creditors. If you
are a previous victim of identity theft or you know that somebody is planning
against your account, fraud alert can help. Nevertheless, you also need to
check on your credit report if it is still updated.

Securing your identity is the most important thing that you should always put
into consideration. Do not let these thefts conquer your privacy. They do not
deserve a wealthy living with their kind of act!

Making Yourself Aware of Identity Theft and Fraud

Any form of theft is a violation to the law. It causes infringement to the
right of an individual, an organization or even a group of companies. Moreover,
for every violation there is a corresponding sanction.

Majority of the people are aware about it. However, only few can understand
regarding this matter. There is a necessity for clarification because it can
bring so much impact to several aspects of both the business and the group of
individuals concerned.

Are you aware that there is also the so-called identity theft and fraud that
happens in the web world? With the advent of technology, where everything
almost functions through computer technology, there is a lot of falsification
that can happen.

Identity theft on its strictest sense refers to stealing of your personal data.
These data are usually found in your typical identification card. The data will
constitute your SSS number, license number, credit card and also your bank
account number as well as your mother's maiden name. In other words, if all of
this necessary information will be stolen from you, they can also perform
transactions using your identity.

Identity theft and fraud indeed ruins your personal privacy. This is something
serious because it can bring risk to your life also. You do not even know if
someone is planning against you or your property.

The worse thing is that, traditional identification card is not in the line
anymore. Almost all the transactions already pass through the computers and
even the identification cards. It is easier to steal your identity through
computer access because of its being accessible to the public.

You should secure yourself at all times. Be sure that you are always ready if
somebody will take your identity. It is a fact that it is quite difficult to do
this primarily because everything is out of your control.

Bear in mind that you are responsible of making significant actions in order to
prevent your identity from being taken away from you by other users. Do not let
them benefit from the fruits of your labor.

You should always beware of the people that are expert in terms of identity
theft and fraud. They know all of the tactics and strategies in stealing your
identity. Some of these people even study all the tricks that they can do for
them to execute the crime clean.

Yes, the identity theft and fraud can be both considered crime. Fraud usually
happens after somebody steals your identity, because it allows him to
manipulate and execute with his illegal actions using your personal information.

Your personal identity can be a greatest tool also for deceiving other people.
This will particularly happen if the business transaction will happen computer
to computer. So many people are becoming wealthy with this fraudulent act.

You should not loose hope because there are still possible means that you can
do to prevent yourself from being a victim of these identity theft and fraud.
It will also vary depending on the place where you are.

If you are at boarding, do not trust too much with your roommates. Make sure
that you keep all your personal data properly. It is not good if you will be
exposing your entire personal identity o your roommates. Better if you will be
sending or getting your letters in the nearest post office in your place than
leave it into the mailbox at your gates. You can also crumple and destroy all
the unnecessary forms that will include your personal data immediately so that
others will not have an access to this anymore.

If you are at work, you can refer to some agencies that can guarantee you for
the security of your personal data. Do not forget to confirm if your personal
data is held safely. Make sure that when making business transactions, avoid
trusting other people especially those that ask your personal information via
phone. You can verify if it concerns business matters or any legal operation.

Likewise, in your computers avoid posting too much information regarding your
personal identity. Exposing yourself too much to the public is not
advantageous. Do not cause a menace to your life.

Stop Pretenses! Secure your Company from Corporate Identity Theft

The maniacal cruelty and audacity of identity theft criminals have now reached
into the corporate world of business companies. In November 2005, the corporate
identity theft crime wave reached the UK businesses.

According to brief reports last November, the corporate identity theft cost UK
businesses up to £50M a year. Why? What is the modus operandi of these
corporate identity thieves? Actually, it has been going on for years now.

Believe it or not, there are criminals posing as company directors on certain
companies! Each year, as they see how gullible some people could be, there has
been increasing number of them. They order goods that they never pay for and
then sell those products for profits thus ripping off suppliers.

As a smokescreen to make them seem legitimate, they register through government
agency handling company registrations, change company records and run up credit
using company's name.

Indeed, there are rouges that claim/pretend to be the manager or other
illustrious title of a company and check that company's credit rating. When
he/she see that it's good, he starts his game. By forging and filing forms at
the government agency where companies are registered, he notifies the
appointment of a fictitious new director. He then implies that there's a new
registered office address for the company.

Since the Registrar of Companies cannot check the validity of the documents,
and is not obliged by law to check them, they proceed to register them.
Afterwards, the thief orders high value goods and services on credit. He/she
may use false IDs and then pretend to be a company director.

To countercheck, the supplier may search at Companies House. Since the accuracy
of the thief's claim has been established there already, the supplier will not
see anything amiss. However, once the goods are delivered, the fictitious
company directory disappears, without paying. The company he represented then
suffers the set back.

As of now, according to reports many companies are suffering from this kind of
corporate identity theft. It has become a present problem since even smaller
companies are as vulnerable as large ones.

A company who has become victim of a corporate identity theft may even find out
long after the rouge has taken off. Once they need a loan, they may be surprised
of being denied credit and learn that they cannot obtain credit because they
already have significant financial obligations. Until they can clear up that
these are made by somebody else has accumulated these debts using the company's
name, their business may suffer terribly.

Beware, for this may happen in your company. You must know that it's the medium
sized and smaller businesses being targeted.

Security and trust are very important aspects in corporate ethics code.
Corporate identity theft seems to have broken the barriers of these ethical
bounds.

Whether your business is in UK or in any other part of the globe, avoid falling
victim to corporate identity theft. There are simple precautions that you can
make sure to make sure corporate identity theft does not taint your company's
good name.

Here are protective measures recommended for companies to prevent other people
from pretending to be you.

First, make sure that the thief has not targeted your business. You need to
frequently check with the government agency handling company registrations to
see if your company's registered office is accurate. You can do it online by
finding out the website of the government agency mentioned.

You can also sign up proof service in order to pre-empt the thief. If your
business is in UK, you can file online for PROOF service.

Filing for proof service means that certain changes in the information about
your company should only be filed electronically. This must include the changes
of company director's name and your business address.

Once you file for proof service, filing through paper forms will be rejected.
There are user name, password and authentication codes used in these electronic
forms wherein your documents will be protected and no one else who does not know
these codes can access them.

Do not let the tentacles of corporate identity theft get into your company.
Stop pretensions of thieves and fight back. Aside from the preventive measures
given, companies can find other means of preventing and eventually, stopping
the insidious attacks of this crime.

On Identity Theft Court Cases: Become More Aware of Identity Theft

There was a time in the world history when people were contented with
typewriters. Sure, there were reports of robberies and hold-ups, but there were
few reports of identity theft frauds, which is totally a different kind of
mettle. It is more malicious and notorious type of crime. Identity theft is
more like an operation of a cruel maniac, bent on destruction under a cloud of
anonymity.

Now, there are thousands -- actually, millions of reports each year about
identity theft cases. As modern technology further enhances, what with the
Internet and all the other electronic devices for commercial and financial
processing, identity thieves found it easier to get hold of confidential
information.

There are also other sources introduced by modern technology that encourage the
criminals more to the lure of identity theft. This is sad, but true.

The more pensive we will be when we find out that the true victims of identity
theft crime are the ones who pay for the criminal activities of others. We are
likely pay repeatedly, too. Once we have encouraged the identity thief to add
blackmail into their list of crimes, the more we are likely to suffer in terms
of time, money and frustration.

Once the identity thief strikes, we are all victims. It is like the
implications of gas price hikes. When gas prices increases, all other products,
services and goods also increase.

Are you asking about motive? Well none other than greed, self-centered
illusions, ill-minded world. Usually, compared to sane people, people with
mental illnesses are much better. Patients with mental illness s are not that
dangerous as compared to those with the ability to plot, manipulate and carry
out a criminal activity.

In several identity theft court cases, the felons are also accused of having
antisocial behaviors. Psychological studies used as evidences in court
deliberation found out that many studies indicate that the thieves have
behavioral patterns leading to Antisocial Personality Types.

As the days go by, identity theft continues to become a growing problem,
instead of a reducing problem in the Unite States. Not only does it occur in
small towns, said criminal activity also happen in large cities.

In 1998, due to the many unsuccessful identity theft court cases, the federal
law passed the bill establishing identity theft as a simply fraudulent
activity, but a blatant criminal offense with heavy charges to the convicted.

If you are asking how often the crime of identity theft occurs, there are
reports released by the Identity Theft Resource Center regarding this. It shows
that from 2003, there were 7 million people who became victims of identity theft
within a twelve-month period. If you will compute them and convert them into
time, well, approximately 13.3 people per minute who become victims of identity
theft. This means that identity theft occurrences happen every minute of
everyday.

There are ways in order for identity theft to be investigated and eventually,
prosecuted. However, it is quite labor intensive. Investigating identity theft
court cases individually are requiring many men. Usually, federal prosecution
seems to think that it is too small for that agency to handle.

Due to the continued allegations and cases filed, the federal prosecution took
the hint and gave it more attention. Consequently, the Departments of Justice
and Treasury and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have taken active interest
in the matter and pursued effective means of prevention, and prosecution of
identity thieves.

Today, the federal prosecution acknowledges that identity theft has become the
fastest-growing financial crime in America. Aside from this, it may well be the
fastest-growing crime in our society. What makes it more infuriating is that
offenders of identity theft are seldom held accountable.

Identity theft court cases that involve a group or a large numbers of victims
are quite a unique challenge. Since it is quite important to communicate with
victims, then the means of communications used by identity thieves become
necessary tool as fundamental investigative information. Even loss and
restitution information are also needed.

Meanwhile there are also complex identity theft court cases. In these types of
cases, an interpreter may be needed to devise a system of communication to the
incarcerated victims.

Even as you can file for identity theft court cases when you become a victim,
it is still best to prevent being a victim first.

However, if you do become a victim of identity theft, there are two choices for
you to do, first you can try to handle it on your own, or you can let a
professional help you.

Experts also continuously encourage people to be proactive and instruct them
about what things you need to do to prevent being a victim of identity theft.
Remember, prevention is better than cure and an identity theft court case may
take months to become resolved.

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