Identity-Theft-Solution.org

In the United States it is often recommended that parents get a social security number for their newborn children. You can apply for your child’s SSN when you submit an application for their birth certificate. You need  to have this number in order to claim your child as a dependent on your tax return. This number is also necessary if you wish to apply for government services for your child and open a bank account in their name. Unfortunately, obtaining a SSN for your child can also attract identity thieves.

Consumers are becoming more aware of the risk of identity theft so are taking more precautions. This has caused would be thieves to investigate other supplies of identities to pilfer. Children’s SSNs have provided this new source for them. Children are ideal victims because they have a clean credit history and no criminal record.

So consider this: You give birth to your child and register them for a SSN. Your child will probably not need that number for a good many years, at least not until they are old enough to drive or get a job. This gives the identity thieves at least a decade to use that SSN if they get their hands on it. Ten years of using that number for a false identity to get money or commit a crime in your child’s name. At least ten years of the crime going undetected.

So what can you do to stop this happening? Follow the same safety precautions you would if you were guarding your own SSN.

1. Never give out your child’s SSN unless absolutely necessary. Always ask why the number is needed if it is requested.

2. Keep the number hidden safely at home.

3. Obtain a free credit report in your child’s name. If you child is not working they should not have a credit report in their name. If there is one, undoubtedly your child’s identity has been stolen.

Unfortunately, children’s SSNs have opened the door to a new type of identity thief – parents. A small number of parents are using their child’s SSN number to set up credit accounts and spend in their children’s name. The child will not find out about this practice for years. And by the time they do find out, there will be black marks against their names in terms of credit reliability. Parents put their children in impossible situations doing this as the child will then have to prove their accounts were opened fraudulently – by their parents. Some children are not willing to do this. The ‘bad credit’ notes on their files will remain there for seven years giving them low credit scores. This will make obtaining credit, gaining future employment and applying for housing loans very difficult.

Credit issuers may not always ask for proof of age when opening new accounts, which is how identity thieves (be it parents or others) get away with using children’s SSNs. Guard your child’s SSN. You don’t want an identity thief getting hold of it.
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Identity theft is a crime Under Federal Law. Identity theft is said to have happened when someone “knowingly transfers, possesses or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, or in connection with, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law.” Many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have roles in investigating and prosecuting identity theft. However, the majority of identity theft crimes fall within the responsibility of local police departments.

Identity theft is looked upon as a “nontraditional” crime; for this reason some police departments may be unaware of the importance of taking reports of identity theft or initiating investigations. Some departments have a guide to help law enforcement professionals determine what they can do to prevent identity theft and help victims in their jurisdictions. These guides may describe the problem of identity theft and list factors that increase the risks of it. Some of these guides will give police officers a series of questions to help them analyze the problem within their area.

You have a right to file a report at your local police station or with the police in the community where the violation of your identity took place. You should do this immediately you realize the identity theft has occurred. Give the police as much information as you can about how you think the thief obtained your personal information. Was your wallet stolen? Was your house broken into and personal information is now missing? Even if you don’t know how your identity was stolen, make sure you contact the police anyway. Tkae care that the police report lists the accounts that have been tampered with.

The police may be reluctant to take your report. If so, ask to file a ‘miscellaneous incidents’ report. As the police may not be able to provide much assistance in the matter, make sure you get a copy of the police report. This report is called an ‘identity theft report’. This provides you with proof of the theft and will help you when you contact other organizations to assist you with regaining your identity.

To help the police you may wish to type up your own report if you become a victim of this crime. You can report the crime in your own words and ensure all pertinent details are included. Provide the police with a copy of this report.

Law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed with victims of identity theft. Their response to reporting the crime might not be what you expect, but as long as there is a record of the crime, you can begin the job of tracking down the criminal. You can carry out initial investigations. The police may need to pass on information to other law enforcement agencies once evidence has been uncovered and your identity thief has been found.

 A much better way is to protect yourself from identity theft in the first place, by using  a service like Lifelock. With Lifelock Identity Protection, no one can get credit by pretending to be you. If someone tries to use your credit, you get a warning call, BEFORE any damage is done. Your valuable credit is safe and you have control of your personal identity. Lifelock is well worth having for the peace of mind that it gives you. Stopping the identity thief before he steals your identity is much easier than trying to gain control once it has been done.

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 Spyware and Adware (sometimes called ‘malware’), are computer programs that are used to ‘spy’ on your computer movements. Both of these types of program are dangerous and need to be taken seriously when protecting your identity.

Spyware is used to capture your keystrokes and passwords which it then passes on to criminals. Any of your information can be ‘spied’ upon. Adware is a program that ‘pops up’ advertisements on your computer. They are programmed to start up whenever you turn on your computer, whether you want them there or not. But how do these types of programs get on your computer?

Most people download the Spyware and Adware software either unknowingly or thinking it will provide them with a more useful computer (e.g. faster browser). They are usually unaware that these programs are also used to gather information about the person using the computer. Spyware  is generally downloaded for free and users are not told of the information that will be gathered from their computer after they download the program. Once the program with the spyware is running, it will send information to the creator of the program. Depending on the program, different types of information is captured and sent on. All of which can be used to steal your identity

When you register for these programs, you will often be asked to provide personal information such as age, gender, nationality, profession, and level of education. While using the browser you may find several advertising hyperlinks pop up. If you follow these links, the spyware will send information to the creator and they will construct a profile of you on the information gathered.

Some spyware programs only send statistical data such as time of use. Others are chasing more information and the software has ways of uniquely identifying you by storing ‘cookies’ on your hardware when the software is installed. The data that a cookie (technical term for a file that contains data) might contain and send back to the creator could be your user name, computer specifications, and installation version. The cookie is this unique identifier.

Spyware takes up a lot of space on your memory and hard drive. Your system can become overloaded and crash. And that’s as well as stealing passwords and credit card information for identity thieves. So having spyware on your computer is not good news.

To help you protect your computer against Spyware and Adware programs you should follow these steps:

1. Install anti adware and spyware programs. These programs are relatively inexpensive and make it much harder for criminalsto steal your personal information

2. Make sure you have the latest security patches applied. Opperating systems such as microsofts windows regularly release security patches as new security issues arise. Keeping you system up to date can help in the fight against having your personal information stolen.

3. Keep your security settings on medium for the internet

4. Keep your antivirus software up-to-date. New viruses, adware and spyware are being produced all of the time so it is important that you update your anti-virus software regularly.

5. Install a firewall. A firewall will make it much more difficult for criminals to gain access to your personal information, and will warn you if anyone atempts to do so.

6. Investigate ‘free’ software to see what the catches are. Most will have some sort of spyware installed.

Your computer is at high risk from spyware and adware. It is not illegal for these programs to be on your computer. It is up to you be aware of their dangers and take safeguards against these programs that can lead to identity theft. Taking these precautions will help to protect you from identity theft.

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 So you’ve discovered you are a victim of identity theft now you must clear your name. You need to do it as quickly as possible to stop the thieves spending even more money fraudulently and to regain your good name.

The first thing you need to do is to contact the fraud unit of a credit bureau and tell them you have been a victim of identity theft. The bureau will automatically contact the other two bureaus and send out your credit report. Check them very carefully. If you find any fraudulent accounts or incorrect information you must immediately tell the credit bureaus. Once you have notified them of these errors or false accounts the bureaus are required to block that information from future reports, thus keeping your credit report as it should be. The credit bureau has to notify the creditors of the false account. Request the contact information of these creditors from the bureaus if it is not in the report. You must also write to the credit bureaus and instruct them to remove any inquiries that have been made due to the fraudulent access in your name.

Make sure that you report the crime to the police. They may not want to take the report but you can file it under a ‘miscellaneous incidents’ report. Provide the police with as much information as possible. Make sure you get a copy of the report (known as an ‘identity theft report’). The report will come in handy because credit card companies and banks may want to see it.

Next you need to inform the Federal Trade Commission that you have been a victim of identity theft. Make sure that you give them your police report number.

Complete a Fraud Affidavit. Your creditors or banks will probably ask you to do this anyway. You also need to cancel all your accounts that may have been used by the identity thief. Ask that accounts be tagged “closed at account holder’s request”, so you cannot be blamed as having lost your credit card. Be vigilant and monitor all your new statements to ensure no further fraudulent activity has taken place. If it has don’t delay, report it immediately.

If you are being chased by debt collectors to pay the unpaid bills on fraudulent credit accounts, ask for the name of the company, the name of the person contacting you, phone number, and address. Inform the debt collector that you are a victim of fraud and are not responsible for the account. Once you contact the creditor ask them if they need you to complete their fraud affidavit form.

Put stops on all of your checking accounts if your checks are missing. Cancel your accounts and get new ones with passwords.

If all else fails and you are having trouble regaining your identity, get legal help. Unraveling the mess that an identity thief has made can take time. But the sooner you get on to reporting the crime, the sooner you’ll have your identity back.

A much better way is to protect yourself from identity theft by using  a service like Lifelock. With LifeLock Protection, no one can get credit by pretending to be you. If someone tries to use your credit, you get a warning call, BEFORE any damage is done. Your valuable credit is safe and you have control of your personal identity. Lifelock is well worth having for the peace of mind that it gives you. Stopping the identity thief before he steals your identity is much easier than trying to gain control once it has been done.

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 Placing an alert on your credit will not solve all your problems when you are fighting identity theft but it is a good start. If you have been a victim of identity theft make sure you call all the companies you have accounts with and close your accounts. Ensure that the statement on the closed account reads “account closed at customer’s request” and follow up your request in writing. This will protect you in case the credit issuer has a dispute with you.

Having done this you will  need to put a fraud alert on your credit report. This alert will be attached to your credit report so that when someone tries to use your personal details to use or open new accounts, the lender should contact you by phone to verify this action. If the lender can’t contact you, the account shouldn’t be opened. However, the creditor isn’t required by law to do this, so the fraud alert is not a failsafe system.

 Putting an alert on your credit, it is an easy process to set up. You just need to contact the fraud department of the credit bureaus in your country and ask them to flag your credit file. The alert will be activated on your credit file within 24 hours and your name will be taken off pre-approved insurance and credit offers for two years. Depending on the different credit bureaus, your alert will stay in place for 3 – 12 months. You can request an extension when the initial period has ended or you can apply for a seven-year victim statement. If you can provide proof you have been a victim of fraud through this statement, the alert will stay in place for seven years.

On your victim’s statement it is important to say something like this, “My credit card (ID, driver’s license, whatever) has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me on ph: 555 1234567 to verify all applications.” This statement provides a warning to all creditors that your identity has been compromised.

There are some drawbacks to activating an alert on your credit. You will not be able to instant credit on items that offer terms like “don’t pay anything for eighteen months”. You also need to be available by phone for credit agencies to check if you approve of opening a new account. If you are applying for a home loan you will need to notify your broker that you have a fraud alert in place. An alert can slow down some processes, but is valuable when trying to protect yourself against identity fraud. Remember that an alert will not cause any problems on current accounts. It is there for protection on new accounts.

If you decide you want to remove your alert you will need to do so in writing. In your removal request you will need to include your name, security numbers, date of birth, address and contact phone numbers. Send the request to the fraud department of your credit bureaus where you placed the alert initially.

 A much better way to protect your self from the fraud that result from identity theft is to use a  service like lifelock Identity Theft Protection System . With Debix Identity Protection, no one can get credit by pretending to be you. If someone tries to use your credit, you get a warning call, BEFORE any damage is done. Your valuable credit is safe and you have control of your personal identity. LifeLock is well worth having for the peace of mind that it gives you

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You might find it hard to believe that people could be going through your mail box, stealing your identity, but they could be. Your mail box is one of the easiest targets for these identity theives as most people aren’t aware it is happening. Don’t be a victim!There are steps you can take to stop this identity theft happening from right under your nose (or at your front gate).

1. Don’t leave your letters in your mailbox ready to be mailed. Always post them in an official Post Box.

2. make sure that your mailbox has a lock and use it!

3. If you are concerned about identity thieves getting access to your mail, invest in a post office box at your local post office.

4. When you go on vacation either get someone you trust to collect your mail or get the post office to put a hold on it for the dates you are away.

5. If you move house, make sure you get your mail re-directed immediately. Don’t leave your mail hanging around for the new tenants or worse still, accumulating at a house that is untenanted.

6. Take you name off pre-approved credit offers and marketing lists. Contact the credit bureaus and Direct Marketing Association to carry out the necessary opt-out procedures. If you keep the amount of this type of mail to a minimum, you will have less chance of your identity being stolen. This is because these ‘marketing offers’ tend to have a lot of personal information in them. An identity thief can steal this type of mail and find out a lot about you and use it to carry out criminal activities.

7. Don’t have new check books and credit cards posted to you. Arrange to collect them from the bank or credit agency. If you are awaiting a card or check book’s arrival in the mail and it doesn’t show up, report it immediately. It may have been intercepted by an identity thief.

8. If your bank or credit statements are missing from your regular mail contact the bank immediately. An identity thief may have intercepted the mail so you can’t check your statements and find your credit cards or accounts have been used fraudulently.

If your mail stops arriving altogether you could be in big trouble. An identity thief may have stolen your identity and changed your address so all mail is going elsewhere. Contact your account holders and the relevant authorities immediately and begin retrieving your identity as soon as possible.

If you are concerned about your identity being stolen, there are services that can help. LifeLock Identity Theft System is probably one of the best services on the market for helping you to prevent the theft of your identity. Register with them and rest assured that your identity is safe.

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 It has been estimated that $2.5 billion dollars are stolen through ATM fraud globally every year. While companies are looking into how they can slow this problem, there are a few simple rules that you can follow if you use cards at an automatic teller machine (ATM) for withdrawals, deposits or transferring funds.

1. Don’t share your PIN (personal identification number) with anyone, even representatives from your bank or credit company. They should never request it or need it for any reason. If someone claiming to be from your bank or credit card company asks for your PIN, do not give it to them.

2. Don’t write your PIN anywhere on your card or carry it on your person. Make sure that you memorize it.

3. Choose a PIN that is different from your other security numbers and has no resemblance to your birth date, driver’s license or social security identification. think of a number that cannot be easily associated with you.

4. Keep track of all your ATM receipts and take them home with you. Never throw them away in a public trash can. Shred your receipts once you no longer need them as some may have identifying information printed on them. Shredding paperwork is probably the simplest and most effective identity theft solution.

When using the ATM be aware that ‘shoulder surfers’ could be nearby. Shoulder surfers are identity thieves trying to gain information about you by monitoring your movements at the machine. Be safe when using an ATM. if someone is standing to close to you when using the machine ask them to move back. If they will not, do not continue with your transaction.

Be aware that equipment may be placed strategically to video your keystrokes. This equipment is placed above or near the card reader. The thieves may be hiding nearby watching you through a video camera as the equipment records your movements over the keypad. To foil this activity, place your hand over the keypad while you do your banking. Make sure you punch in your PIN in a covert manner. Shield your actions with your body to stop anyone lurking behind observing what you are doing.

Remember your identity can be stolen from ATMs at retails stores, where some employees use skimming devices to record information off the magnetic stripe. Make sure you keep a vigilant eye on your card as you hand it over to be ‘swiped’. The employee should keep your card visible at all times. If not, ask them to stop the transaction immediately and if you suspect they may have committed an identity theft, cancel you card at once.

Always be alert when using ATMs. If you think the machine has been tampered with in any way, don’t use it. If there is an overly helpful person hanging around the machine, go and find another one. They maybe a shoulder surfer and you don’t want to give them any of your personal information.

If you are concerned about your identity being stolen, there are services that can help. LifelockIdentity Theft Protection System is probably one of the best services on the market for helping you to prevent the theft of your identity. Register with them and rest assured that your identity is safe.

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 Has your identity been stolen or is it safe? You’re not sure? Well there are some signs to look out for. If you notice any of these signs, your identity may well be in danger.

1. Your bank and credit card statements show charges you don’t remember making or you didn’t authorize.  Make sure you use every card at least once a month so you receive regular statements. Keep your card receipts for every purhase and check your statement against them. Keep a tab on your spending and checking your statements on a regular basis is a very simple identity theft solution.

2. Checks are missing from your check book. This could be a sign that someone has unauthorised access to your bank acount. Always keep your check book in a safe place and inform your bank if you find anything suspicious like missing checks.

3. Your new check book hasn’t arrived in the mail. If you are waiting for a new check book and it hasn’t arrived in a reasonable time, inform you bank. It could be that an identity theft crime has been committed and some one has managed to intercept your mail.

4. A debt collection agency is chasing you for a debt you have no recollection of incurring.

5. You have accounts on your credit report that you did not authorize. Register with Lifelock and the chances of this happeningwill be elliminated.

6. Your billing statements do not arrive on time, or worse still do not arrive at all.

7. You are no longer receiving any mail! Identity thieves often change people’s address to re-route mail. If you are not receiving any mail, this may have happened to you.

8. You apply for credit and your application is turned down. When you investigate why, you find your financial position is not what you thought it to be.

9. Your wallet goes missing. You may get it back with everything seemingly intact (sometimes no money has been taken) but an identity thief may have stolen information from your credit and debit cards and be using that information fraudulently. If your wallet goes missing, inform your bank or credit card company immediately and get new cards issued.

10. You have a feeling someone is going through your trash at night. Dumpster divers could be cruising your streets at night, going through your garbage, trying to locate personal information that you have carelessly thrown away without destroying properly. Shredding your information is an easy solution to this problem.

The worst thing about identity theft, apart from the loss of time trying to get your identity back, is the fact that many thieves are well-known to the victim. Yes, your identity could be in danger from a close friend or relative.

People who know you may have access to your personal information, your financial details, your computer passwords and your PIN numbers. They know your patterns of movement, know personal information about you (such as your mother’s maiden name) and may even be your house sitter when you go on vacation. You may be putting your identity at risk trusting those you are best acquainted with. That’s a scary thought and perhaps one you don’t want to investigate. However if you follow these simple steps, you can safeguard yourself from unscrupulous people who you know.

* Lock up your files at work when you are not using them

* Install passwords on your computer

* Don’t share your PIN or passwords with anyone

* Make sure you trust the person you ask to housesit or collect your mail

Keeping yourself safe from identity theft means keeping vigilant, at home and at work. Watch out for the signs that could indicate you are at risk and keep all personal information to yourself.

If you are concerned about your identity being stolen, there are services that can help. Lifelock Identity Theft System is probably one of the best services on the market for helping you to prevent the theft of your identity. Register with them and rest assured that your identity is safe.

LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Solution backed by a one-million dollar guarantee!Click here to get a 10% discount.

It is extremely important to take immediate action if you discover that someone has stolen your identity, after all you don’t want the thief spending all your hard earned money and putting you further in to debt!

You should call your bank as soon as you suspect a theft has occurred. If you do not report the fraud quickly you may become liable for funds spent in your name.

You only have sixty days from when you receive your bank statement or credit card statement to contest any discrepancies you find so act immediately. If you leave it longer than the sixty day time period, you are probably going to be held liable for the charges. But sixty days is too long to wait. You want to take action as soon as possible.

Imagine this scenario. You get home from the mall and realize your credit card is missing. You call the retailer where you used the card last and see if they have it there – they do! Fantastic you don’t have to worry about canceling your card and you tell them you will pick the card up tomorrow. But you should be worried. The retailer or one of their staff may be an identity thief and in the 24 hours you take to collect your card, they will not only have gathered all the information they need to spend up big in your name, but also to find out other personal information, enabling them to create false ID cards etc. You will not find out about their spending spree until you get your next statement and by that time there may be another ‘you’ in full circulation. Can’t find your credit card? Cancel it immediately.

If you realize your credit card has been stolen, you must contact the creditor and close the account as soon as possible. The same goes for your check book if it is missing. If you act quickly, at most you will only be liable for the first $50 of the funds spent illegally in your name. The quicker you act, the more likely you are to stop the theft from escalating.

Contacting the credit bureaus to flag your account as one that has been a victim of identity theft will put a stop to anyone trying to open a new account in your name. This is just as important as putting a stop on your existing accounts. The alert will be activated within 24 hours on your credit file and your name will be taken off pre-approved insurance and credit offers for two years.

Taking action to regain your identity immediately goes a long way in supporting your claim that you are a legitimate victim, not just someone who is trying to get out of paying their bills.

If you are concerned about your identity being stolen, there are services that can help. LifeLock Identity Protection Theft System is probably one of the best services on the market for helping you to prevent the theft of your identity. Register with them and rest assured that your identity is safe.

LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Solution backed by a one-million dollar guarantee!Click here to get a 10% discount.

You’re just an average sort of person, with small savings and a regular wage. You couldn’t be a target of identity theft could you? Who would want to steal your identity? Surely it wouldn’t be worth their while, would it?

The fact is millions of people each year are falling victim to the crime of identity theft. All over the world average people, just like you, are becoming targets. Identities are bought and sold worldwide, where criminals use fraudulent information to steal money or commit other crimes using these stolen identities (e.g.: terrorism, violent crimes). Everyone is at risk. Billions of dollars will be lost to these thieves.

Identity theft is when someone gives another person’s details as their own. These details might be your driver’s license, Social Security number, date of birth or credit card information. The identity thief may have fraudulent documents showing your identity to be theirs, for example your birth certificate, a counterfeit license or ID card. They will then use the information gained illegally to assume this person’s identity and do one of two things - spend as much money as possible before being caught or commit a crime using that identity (armed robbery, drug trafficking, money laundering – you name it, it’s been done). The most common forms of identity theft are:

1. Using a credit card illegally, opening cell phone or utility accounts fraudulently. This is known as Account Takeover. You tend to find out about this type of theft when you receive your monthly statements (if you check them). There will be a number of purchases on there you don’t remember making.

2. Opening new bank accounts in someone else’s name or passing bad checks or getting loans in another person’s name is known as Application Fraud. You may not find out about this crime for quite a while, because the monthly account statements are mailed to an address used by the thief.

Another type of common identity fraud is working under another person’s name.

Criminal identity theft can also be difficult to find out about. You may be unaware until you go to open a new bank account, apply for a job or get a phone call asking you why you didn’t turn up in court to face your drunk driving charge. Unraveling the loss of your identity can be a time-consuming, difficult and emotional task. Anyone can be a victim. Although internet fraud is on the rise, most commonly your identity will be stolen through other means.

Anyone can steal an identity. There are ‘rings’ who work in the black market buying and selling people’s identities, even yours. No one is safe, but you can follow steps to safeguard against having your identity stolen.

Your identity and personal information are valuable. Keep them yours and don’t fall victim to the fastest growing white-collar crime in the twenty-first century.

If you are concerned about your identity being stolen, there are services that can help. LifeLock Identity Theft Protection System is probably one of the best services on the market for helping you to prevent the theft of your identity. register with them and rest assured that your identity is safe.

LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Solution backed by a one-million dollar guarantee!Click here to get a 10% discount.