Identity Theft

Identity thieves have gotten quite sophisticated over the years. As reported by IBM's X-Force Trend and Risk Report fraudulent emails rerouting consumers to a bogus site also known as phishing is rising. It does not stop there however. There has been a surge in online server break ins. Not surprisingly the same is true for mobile phones given that many people have gotten rid of the traditional land line and are now using their cell exclusively.

Whichever sort of phone someone uses identity thieves have a scam for it. And it's not like they have to break into it either. Speaking with you directly often produces the best results simply because it works on a number of emotions not to mention the immediacy of the issue. Some of these are

1. You Owe The Internal Revenue Service

Very few things can scare you like getting a call from the Internal Revenue Service. The scammer states that something was wrong with your tax information from this year or previous ones. In order to stop an audit, a severe fiscal fine or even going to prison it is critical that you cooperate with this fake representative.

They take the gamble that after giving you this spiel that you will be to shook up to do anything else. So you begin to provide the maximum amount of private information as is possible.

2. Jury Duty

A bench warrant has been issued for your arrest. You had jury duty on whatever day and failed to appear. Saying you never got a summons of any sort doesn't work. The sheriff's office is on the way. they ask to verify some information. After doing that they state that they will verify everything is correct and get back to you.

3. The Process Servers

This could be by means of a subpoena or an alleged debt. Like the IRS and jury duty scam, the thief can be quite demanding. This notice has to be delivered to you immediately so they need to check the home address and ensure you will be there. To your temporary relief the home address doesn't match what's on their records and so they decide to verify the social security number.

4. Congratulations You Won

It's an ancient con however it can still get the job done. Especially on senior citizens considered to be one of the segments most targeted by identity thieves. You have won a sweepstakes of some kind. The award will be sent to you right away but first the "agent" will need you to provide answers to the following questions.

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In the past, an eloquently written obituary published in the local newspaper was the accepted norm. The obituary contained details of the life of the deceased, relatives, hobbies and the upcoming funeral services. In most cases, the information contained in the obituary would be read only by the subscribers of the local newspaper.

Fast forward to the present day digital age. While the obituary is still the format used for announcing the death of a loved one, the methods and speed of publishing have increased dramatically. Newspapers continue to print obituary notices; however, the information contained in the obituary notice is no longer limited to its subscribers who pick up the newspaper on their doorstep. Most newspapers now have an edition on the internet, allowing for additional access to personal information that can be seen by a multitude of individuals.

Unfortunately, this acceleration of the number of people that can access the obituary of the deceased carries with it the danger of unscrupulous people trying to scam the grieving survivors or an attempt at identity theft. The standard information contained in an obituary notice can be used by devious individuals to cause further suffering to those who have just lost a loved one. Such scams that may be attempted include being contacted directly or by phone by criminals who may;

Pose as banking, insurance, or government officials and try to obtain information about the deceased such as Social Security number, credit card number, date of birth, driver license numbers and mother's maiden name for the purpose of identity theft.
Demand payment of bills allegedly owed by the deceased along with the threat of a lawsuit if payment is not received promptly.
Send or attempt to deliver an item such as a book or piece of jewelry that is engraved with the name of the surviving spouse or child. The recipient is told that the item was ordered by the deceased before he or she passed away. Of course, there is always the matter of the "outstanding payment" due on the gift.
Break in and burglarize the survivors' home while they are at the funeral services.
Use information in the death notice to open credit cards.
Fortunately, there are simple steps that can be taken in writing an obituary which will drastically reduce the chances of being targeted by criminals.
Reduce the information offered in the death notice. To limit exposure to identity theft, list only the year of the deceased's birth and do not include the maiden name of his or her mother.
To avoid the onslaught of solicitations and to reduce the risk of a break-in to a home while the occupants are at the funeral services, do not include any addresses in the obituary.
Close accounts and credit cards of the deceased. Notify credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) that the individual is deceased. Once the agencies have updated this information, if an individual attempts to open a credit card using the information of the deceased, the fraud will be detected.

Taking the above steps will help minimize identity theft and scams. After the death of a loved one, all bills should be carefully scrutinized and a skeptical attitude taken toward any phone or in person solicitations. In this electronic age, taking such safeguards will help ensure that the bereaved are not victims of additional grief.

Monica Phillips is a contributing writer for Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts, an online retailer of sympathy and memorial gifts of comfort and remembrance.

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What should you do if you are a victim of cramming? With whom should you file a complaint?

When you become a victim of any type of fraud, it could be costly and nerve-racking to get resolved. Experience, awareness and knowledge however, will help you to make informed decisions to get favorable results if you or someone you know faces such victimization. If you are a victim of cramming there are some actions you can take:

1. Immediately contact the company responsible for putting these charges on your bill and ask them to explain these charges to you. If these charges show any sign of discrepancy, then ask them to remove them from your bill.
2. Next, contact your telephone or wireless company and explain the situation to you if you are not satisfied by your result. Have the company explain the procedure for having these charges removed from your bill.

If none of these measures work and you have a legitimate grievance, you can file a complaint through one of the following measures:

1. Through the FCC, file charges related to your telephone services that could be between states or globally.
2. Contact your state public service commission about telephone services within your state.
3. File a complaint with the FTC for non-related telephone services on your phone bill.

In your complaint, include the following information:

a) Your contact information (Name, address, telephone number, email address, etc.)
b) The account and telephone numbers that you are filing your complaint on
c) Contact information about the companies involved in your complaint
d) The amount of the charges you are disputing and any information related to these charges
e) Include details of your complaint and any other pertinent information that will help with this investigation.

Contact the Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, DC. Be sure to check the reporting guidelines and procedures with these agencies before submitting your complaint.

FCC Complaint Form http://www.fcc.gov/complaints
FTC Complaint Assistance https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Kym Gordon Moore is a marketing specialist, transformational speaker and professional content writer http://www.kymgmoore.com/ She is the author of "Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit," contributing author to "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom" and Co-Founder of Favorite Things for a CAUSE where you can download a FREE eBooklet, "Clean Up Your ACT!"

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The good news is identity theft over the past few years has decreased. But the fact of the matter is it still tops the list as the number one consumer complaint.

There's a lot of information going around when it comes to this criminal offense as well as a number of misconceptions which if you are not careful can have you moving in the wrong direction.

1. Safeguarding Your Social Security Number Is All You Have To Do

You will see this on the local and national news a lot. More than a few professionals may say this is all you have to do when it comes to guarding your identity. Regrettably that's not true. The reality is your identity can easily be stolen in a variety of ways without thieves even bothering your social security card. Among them is stealing your mail, shoulder surfing, setting up a skimming device at an ATM machine or just going through your trash also known as dumpster diving.

2. Any Fraudulent Charges Are Your Responsibility

Do not allow any company to force you into paying anything if you were the victim of identity theft. It is not your responsibility to pay any fraudulent charges thieves have put on your account. You will discover debt collectors do not care about that. They want the money and they want it now. No problem. As long as you remember you aren't the one doing the payback.

3. It Won't Happen To You

Famous last words. No doubt at one time or another many people who were victimized said the exact same thing. Identity theft spares no one. While it may be on the decline eight million people last year still had their identities stolen. Considering that the number usually hover around ten million as well as the alarming number of ways thieves can pilfer your information and there is little doubt identity theft can happen to you.

4. The Majority of People That Steal Your Identity Get Arrested

Since law enforcement and financial institutions have been more aggressive in dealing with identity theft you figure the arrest rate would be pretty good. Think again. According to studies done by the Gartner Group roughly 1 out of 700 people ever gets caught. No doubt you have seen news reports of law enforcement officials cracking a major fraud ring. This is true but day to day identity theft generally goes undetected let alone prosecuted.

5. Most Identity Theft Criminals Are Strangers To The Victim

Not true and this in many ways is what makes identity theft the epidemic that it is. Most thieves are someone the victim knows. A neighbor, friend, coworker, but mostly a family member. Which should give you a pretty good hint as to why many identity thieves never get thrown in jail. As bad as it is along with the damage done many people that have been victimized refuse to take the next step of preferring charges against their friends and/or loved ones.

To find out more on identity theft and fraud visit identity theft information

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Shoulder surfing is something that can be quite dangerous, particularly if you are doing something that requires privacy. Say that you are hitting the ATM, typing in an important password, or reading sensitive documents for your eyes only, and all the while someone is looking over your shoulder. Your personal information could fall into the wrong hands, and it is important to prevent that.

Shoulder surfing while it work is another thing to think about, especially if you like to take a break and check your online banking, long into your email account, or do anything that requires privacy. There is always that one co-worker that will constantly be looking over your shoulder while you are using your PC, and it is important that you do what you can to prevent shoulder surfing while you are using your PC.

So what can you do?
Use a privacy filter screen. These screens are basically thin sheets of plastic that make it impossible for anyone not sitting directly in front of your PC monitor to see what you are doing. Just slide this screen on, and you can enjoy complete privacy as you surf your PC without worrying about anyone walking by and seeing what you are doing.

Set up in a corner. If you have the choice of where you want your desk or PC to be set up, it's always best that you sit in a corner of the room. Few people walk by the room's corners, and thus you can guarantee yourself a good amount of privacy by sitting in a place where no one goes.

Use the right furniture. If you are working in a regular office where all the furniture has to be standard, it can be hard to avoid shoulder surfing. However, if you have the choice of tables and desks to use, it is always best to get one that has a frame around your PC. This frame will help to block the screen from the view of anyone not directly in front of it, thus helping you to be certain that only you can see what is going on.

Stay aware of your surroundings. If you suspect that people are trying to shoulder surf as you are on your PC, keep an eye on what is going on around you. See if there are lots of people walking by, people that may not have a real reason to come over where you are. Try and spot people that are obviously out of place, as well as anyone that is trying to see over your shoulder.

Know who the shoulder surfers are. There is always that guy or girl in the office that loves to shoulder surf, so learn who these people are in order to be wary when they are around. Some people are more obvious about it, while others try to hide it. Learn who the shoulder surfers are and keep an eye on them.

Mandy H. Smith is an IT security auditor and had performed a number of PCI DSS compliance audits for major corporations. When she's not making sure that companies are PCI compliant she is biking and reading books.

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For easy portability, people tend to keep important things in their wallet. While it is an efficient way, it is nevertheless very risky. If supposed you are becoming the victim of theft, your wallet will be an easy pass for the thief to access all your personal data and wealth. Here are 6 valuables you'd better leave at home.

1. A generous amount of money

Carrying a huge amount of money will hurt when they get stolen. It is fine to bring a little extra money, however you are suggested to bring an amount that suits a day expense.

2. Personal Identification Numbers and Passwords

Some people can forget the PIN or passwords to their ATM, e-mail account, home alarm, or any passworded personal belongings. Writing (or listing) the passwords on a piece a paper and keeping them in the wallet or purse is the worst thing you could ever do. You will give the thief total access to your personal belongings. For better security measure, write them down digitally in your cell phone and protect it with password (hope you can remember this one).

3. A huge collection of credit card

Besides carrying a lot of money, people also tend to bring along all their credit cards inside the wallet. When they all get stolen, it will take some time to cancel all of them and get the replacements. Bring one or a couple of credit cards for daily transaction and leave the others safely at your home; that will be wiser.

4. USB devices

Sometimes people store confidential data or important presentation in USB devices and keep them in the wallet. Either meant for primary data or mere backup, losing them is a great pain. Irresponsible thieves may misuse the data and use them for your inconvenience.

5. Social Security card

The digits in your Social Security can mean a lot to you or the thief. With the identification number on the card, other people can apply for a loan, buy luxury items, or open a credit card. While they enjoy the items, it will be your loss to pay for their shopping spree.

6. Passport

When you are traveling abroad, it is a must to bring along your passport. However, carrying it around everywhere you go is not a safe thing to do; you'd better keep it inside the hotel safe instead. For your identification, bring the photocopy of the passport and your driving license inside your wallet. This is a better way to prevent identity theft.

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What's that famous line in all the spy movies where the CIA agent reminds another character as events occur and conflicts arise; "Trust No One!" Well, my friends judging by how social networking is shaping up, I'd say the Internet is also on that list. Why you ask? Because there are people, humans, and you know, there are folks everywhere behind the scenes making it work and deciding which way it has to evolve. There is a lot of money and value in information and big data, it is big business - it means power and control of over every individual, country, and yes, even the world - seriously. Okay, let's discuss this one shall we?

According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) in a Wall Street Journal article on March 27, 2012 titled; "Regulators Urge Web Privacy Rules" by Julia Angwin; "Simply put, your computer is your property. No one has the right to put anything on [your computer] that you don't want."

Okay thanks for that clarification, but please answer another question for me if you will; if the advertisers and marketers cannot track you, does that mean that only the government can?

Now then, you might say to me, "Lance, give it a rest and stop listening to Conspiracy Theory Talk Shows like Coast-to-Coast AM every night," and yes, I get that debating point, truly I do, still, just because the American People aren't paranoid doesn't mean they aren't looking at everything you are doing. It's almost as if Big Data and Big Brother are working together to replace the "Spirit in The Sky" when you die or so Norman Greenbaum says.

Next, in case you aren't on the EFF Electronic Freedom Foundation email list, why not read this article posted on March 30, 2012 in the New York Times titled; "Conflict Over How Open 'Do Not Track' Talks Will Be," by Edward Wyatt and Tanzina Vega which stated; "Technology companies want to talk with the government about protecting privacy on the Internet. They just want those talks to be private."

Fine, more private government meetings, this after President Obama allots some $200 million in his budget for "Big Data" and more government "clouds" and data centers, along with the proverbial national security issues and anti-cyber warfare campaign. So, it's readily obvious to me, and realize I am on the side of the "good guys" but it is still obvious to me that we are going to track everyone, and keep all the data in a giant data center storage in Utah somewhere from the reports I've been reading, no not on Art Bell's Coast-to-Coast Website.

Personally, I've been observing humans in their natural habitat some four and a half centuries, and seriously, I'm not sure if I can trust one of them, well, except myself. And when it comes to groups of humans involved in making money, politics, Machiavellian rule, or crony capitalism - hmm? Doubtful. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Controversial Internet Issues. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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