identity theft protection: 6 More Places to Put Your Identity on Lock Down
- 08/15/19 06:05 AM
If you have been thinking about a credit freeze, you probably should know that the process is designed so that a creditor cannot see your credit report unless you specifically allow it. This process blocks any potential creditors from viewing or pulling your file, which makes it much more difficult for an identity thief to apply for new credit using your name or information. For links to freeze your credit at the 3 major bureaus go to How to Freeze My Credit. However, there have been reports of people complaining of having accounts opened in their name while having credit freezes. … (7 comments)
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identity theft protection: How to be a Grandma Identity Thief Murderer
- 10/30/18 05:47 AM
Lois Riess is a woman from Minnesota who police say shot her husband, went on the run, and then killed a woman in order to take on her identity. Here are some shocking facts about her:
Riess Looked Like her Victim
The woman Lois Riess killed, Pamela Hutchinson, looked like her. This is why Pamela lost her life. When the body was found, police said her ID, credit cards, cash, and car was gone. Police put out an arrest warrant for Riess, and then started hunting for her. Police say the women did not know each other.
Lois Riess Allegedly Killed Her Husband, Too
Pamela … (0 comments)
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identity theft protection: 17 ways to prevent identity theft when traveling
- 11/19/15 09:45 PM
There should be more TV commercials for preventing identity theft—it’s nearly epidemic. But also epidemic is the lack of identity security that people have when traveling. Here are some ways to avoid having your identity stolen while traveling:
Prior to leaving for your trip, clean out your purse and wallet. Figure out what you really need for the trip, then bring only those items. Contact the post office to put your mail on vacation hold. Get a home-screen-locking password for your smartphone. Equip your computer devices with encryption software. Your smartphone should have lock/locate/wipe software. Bring your driver’s license with … (5 comments)
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identity theft protection: Identity Theft Protection 101
- 04/14/15 11:10 PM
What’s it called if, for example, someone runs up your credit card line without your permission? Identity theft. ID theft isn’t necessarily someone going around impersonating you. But it is considered someone taking over your accounts.
Account takeover is also someone hacking into your computer and getting the password for your PayPal account, then sucking it dry. ID theft is an extremely common occurrence. The damage incurred by ID theft runs along a continuum, from light to heavy. At its worst it can:
Cost thousands of dollars to repair the fallout Take months to fix this Destroy reputation Cause difficulty finding employment … (2 comments)
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identity theft protection: Medical Identity Theft Protection And Prevention
- 05/18/14 10:52 PM
Identity theft can be fatal to the victim — if it’s of the medical kind. Medical ID theft can result in getting the wrong blood type during a transfusion, the wrong diagnosis or the wrong prescription — all because the thief’s medical history gets integrated with the victim’s.
I hope you’re scared, because that’s my goal.
Up to 43 percent of ID theft is medical, says the Identity Theft Resource Center. The nonfatal fallout of medical identity theft can be quite dastardly, like the crook using your private data to commit other forms of ID theft.
Prevent Medical ID Theft
Always … (5 comments)
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identity theft protection: 10 unbelievable Identity Theft Cases
- 04/29/14 10:44 PM
Here’s a countdown to the most incredible identity theft cases recorded, compiled by guyism.com.
Dr. Gerald Barnes
Gerald Barnbaum lost his pharmacist license after committing Medicaid fraud. He stole the identity of Dr. Gerald Barnes and practiced medicine under his name. A type 1 diabetic died under his care. “Dr. Barnes” even worked as a staff physician for a center that gave exams to FBI agents. He’s currently serving hard time.
Mark Tufano
Mark Tufano got his joy ride by impersonating famed actors like Gary Oldman, in which he sent a video of himself as Gary Oldman portraying Andy Kaufman; it fooled … (4 comments)
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identity theft protection: Guarantee your Customers’ Identity Protection
- 02/02/14 08:42 PM
The AllClear Guarantee is designed to protect a business owner’s customers from identity theft. Your customers are assured:
Six months of automatic protection once they complete their transaction. Each new purchase means extended coverage with any merchant who displays the Guarantee. Protection wherever customers go. Customers are protected by the Guarantee beyond your site, no matter where they go or how ID theft happens. If a customer’s ID is stolen, AllClear will fix everything: restoration of credit report, recovery of financial losses, etc. Zero cost to customers. Participating merchants pay for the Guarantee. These points are extremely important to the … (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: Does Identity Theft Protection Really Work?
- 10/04/13 09:08 AM
Do identity protection service really work? How effective are their scanning/monitoring methods? Can they truly protect consumers? The answers may vary. Identity theft protection is designed to protect you from new lines of credit being opened in your name—and along with the recovery/restoration component, it’s designed to clean up the mess.
It’s safe to say I’m an expert on identity theft protection. But honestly, sometimes I get confused by what different companies offer for identity theft protection. Sometimes their marketing copy is confusing and often misleading. There has always been a lack of transparency when it comes to identity theft protection.
Identity … (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: 1.5 Million Americans Have Been Victims of Medical Identity
- 04/16/10 06:46 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The Smartcard Alliance has released an in-depth report called “Medical Identity Theft in Healthcare.”
While identity theft is a global issue that garners much media attention, most do not realize that medical identity theft is a serious and growing threat. Many authorities consider medical identity theft one of the fastest growing crimes in America. With the digital age of healthcare upon us, the risks are expected to increase as electronic medical records become more prevalent and the exchange of this data over expanding networks becomes more pervasive. Heightened concern over personal data security and privacy … (0 comments)
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identity theft protection: April Foolery and Springtime Home Scams
- 04/08/10 03:33 PM
Spring is here! Thank heavens. I’ve had enough cold and rain to last 50 winters. In the Northeast millions of people are pumping out their basements due to record rainfalls. The Boston Globe reports police want you to know that so you don’t get hit twice from the recent rains: once when your property gets damaged, and again when a con artist comes calling at your door looking to rob you.
First, there is no such thing as the “Municipal Water Disaster Department.” But in drenched communities home scammers are posing as inspectors and gaining access to people’s homes.
… (2 comments)
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identity theft protection: April Foolery and Springtime Home Scams
- 04/08/10 03:30 PM
Spring is here! Thank heavens. I’ve had enough cold and rain to last 50 winters. In the Northeast millions of people are pumping out their basements due to record rainfalls. The Boston Globe reports police want you to know that so you don’t get hit twice from the recent rains: once when your property gets damaged, and again when a con artist comes calling at your door looking to rob you.
First, there is no such thing as the “Municipal Water Disaster Department.” But in drenched communities home scammers are posing as inspectors and gaining access to people’s homes.
… (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: Be careful Your PC Isn’t Held for Ransom
- 04/05/10 01:31 PM
Computerworld reported that a hacker threatened to expose health data and demanded $10 million from a government agency. The alleged ransom note posted on the Virginia DHP Prescription Monitoring Program site claimed that the hacker had backed up and encrypted more than 8 million patient records and 35 million prescriptions and then deleted the original data. “Unfortunately for Virginia, their backups seem to have gone missing, too.” “Uh oh,” posted the hacker.
Holding data hostage is sometimes done using “ransomware” Otherwise known as “ransom software.” The software gets on your PC as the result of you downloading an infected attachment … (24 comments)
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identity theft protection: Dumb Criminals – The Best Way to Get Caught? Call 911!
- 04/04/10 03:56 PM
In Daytona Beach, Florida, the dumb criminal capital of America, two Florida teenagers are facing charges after breaking into cars. Apparently one teen’s phone was programmed to call 911 and the phone was smarter than the teens and called (maybe accidentally) 911 to inform law enforcement of the crimes taking place.
Dispatchers from the police department listened in at the duo discussing the cars they were breaking into and the stuff that was worth taking. Seems some info was given that directed law enforcement to the parking lot of a local nightclub where the teens were apprehended. Karma man karma. … (0 comments)
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identity theft protection: Is That Portable Device a Data Hazard?
- 04/04/10 03:40 PM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
According to a survey of London and New York City taxi companies last year revealed that more than 12,500 devices, such as laptops, iPods and memory sticks, are forgotten in taxis every six months. Portable devices that may have troves of sensitive data.
Recent reports of identity data including names, addresses, Social Security numbers on 3.3 million people with student loans was the largest-ever breach of such information and could affect as many as 5% of all federal student-loan borrowed. A company spokesperson said the stolen information was on a portable media device. “It was simple, … (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: Is Your Facebook Friend a Fed, or Sex Offender?
- 03/31/10 09:18 PM
When you think about it, Facebook is weird. Where else in the world do you call people who you don’t know your friends? I probably have about 10-15 friends. Most are acquaintances and the others 400 are total strangers.
There’s a lot of excessive trust in the Facebook world. People have entirely dropped their sense of cynicism when logged on. They have no reason to distrust. People who are your “Friends” are generally those who you “know, like and trust.” In this world, your guard is as down as it will ever be. You are in the safety of your … (41 comments)
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identity theft protection: National Identity Card Focuses on US Workers & Immigrants
- 03/25/10 09:51 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The Wall Street Journal reports under the potentially controversial plan still taking shape in the Senate, all legal U.S. workers, including citizens and immigrants, would be issued an ID card with embedded information, such as fingerprints, to tie the card to the worker.
There are too many forms of identification floating around right now that lack standards and overall security. The Social Security card is currently our national identification card that’s not supposed to be used for identification. From a NY Times article from 1998 it states: WASHINGTON— FOR many years, Social Security cards carried an … (0 comments)
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identity theft protection: The $10,000 Fake ID
- 03/08/10 04:58 AM
When I was 17 my friend “Baldo” as he was known by all was the Fake ID Master. He also fixed TV’s and still does today. But he didn’t actually create “fake ID’s”, he altered real ones. The technology he used back then is still used today. It’s called Crayola Crayons. He would take a Massachusetts ID and heat the laminate over the stove and peel it back. Then he’d dab a premixed batch of liquid aqua green/blue crayon on the left side of an 8 and make it a 3. He’d’ bust out his heating iron and some wax paper … (0 comments)
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identity theft protection: The $6.75 Million Dollar Laptop
- 02/22/10 12:34 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Dan Yost Chief Technology Officer of MyLaptopGPS brought attention to the Ponemon Institute, with sponsorship from PGP, has released their “Fifth Annual U.S. Cost of Data Breach Study.” As usual, the report is a treasure trove of great data (just like most people’s laptops are).
The average cost per breached data record rose $2 in 2009, to $204. That’s actually not too bad. The average cost of a breach was $6.75 million, compared to $6.65 million in 2008.
PC World has a good article to summarize, and thanks to lyger at DataLossDB for the pointer.
Not … (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: Is Chip and PIN the Future?
- 02/21/10 06:06 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Chip and PIN is the name of a government-backed initiative in the United Kingdom to implement the EMV standard for secure payments.
There have been rumblings from Europe over the past year about American based credit cards that solely rely on the magnetic strip not being accepted in the future due to security issues. Australia recently stated they were getting rid of all magnetic strip based cards and going Chip and PIN within the next few years.
Meanwhile ZDNet reports “Researchers at Cambridge University have found a fundamental flaw in the EMV — Europay, MasterCard, Visa … (1 comments)
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identity theft protection: The State of Information Security Sucks
- 02/20/10 04:21 AM
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
The sheer volume of potential targets coupled with the vast amounts of money to be made has captured the attention of the global criminal hacking community.
Enterprise networks are becoming hardened and they are still vulnerable. Some are being penetrated directly while others are accessed through 3rd parities such as their clients or end users. Unprotected networks are being sniffed out and data breaches continue.
The organizations that track these breaches are bored, frustrated, hate the industry and offer no good news. Innovation isn’t happening fast enough and new laws and regulations aren’t effective in solving … (1 comments)
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If you have been thinking about a credit freeze, you probably should know that the process is designed so that a creditor cannot see your credit report unless you specifically allow it. This process blocks any potential creditors from viewing or pulling your file, which makes it much more difficult for an identity thief to apply for new credit using your name or information. For links to freeze your credit at the 3 major bureaus go to How to Freeze My Credit. However, there have been reports of people complaining of having accounts opened in their name while having credit freezes. … (7 comments)
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