Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

By Gary Jacobsen

Americans tend to be easy "marks" for those who wish to steal their identity. Usually the reason for this is inattention or sheer carelessness on the part of the victim. The result is always the same: depleted checking and savings accounts and ruined credit. But there are steps that everyone can take to protect their identities and their finances.

First, everyone must know how identity thieves operate. Only then can the person implement countermeasures. An identity thief needs at least two items to go after your money: a photo-ID and your account number at the bank. Women are easy victims because they usually carry both of these items in a purse, which they casually place under or on the back of a chair at a restaurant. When a woman leaves the table to return to the salad bar (or go to the bathroom, or whatever) the thief snatches the purse and is out the door in seconds. Then the culprit gives the woman's ID card and checkbook to a female accomplice who writes out a check payable to "cash" and puts on a disguise (wig, glasses, etc.) so that she appears somewhat like the victim. She then cashes the check and makes off with the money.

If the disguise is reasonably good, the thief can then proceed to open credit accounts at local businesses, buy goods to the credit limit, and then depart. The bill for the goods will be delivered to the victim in 30 days or so. If the person refuses to pay, the merchant will report the nonpayment to the three credit bureaus.

Men who lose a billfold to a pickpocket can also become victims of identity theft, but usually not to the extent that women are victimized. The reason: men rarely carry checkbooks because they are too bulky; thus the thief cannot easily determine bank account numbers. A photo-ID can, however, be used to open credit accounts if the thief and the victim are similar in appearance.

To stay ahead of identity thieves, men and women must do the following:

~ Don't carry a checkbook in a purse or along with your wallet. Checks are useful at home when paying bills that arrive in the mail, but they are a clumsy substitute for cash, a debit card, or a credit card when paying for everyday purchases.

~ Women should not "assume" their purses are safe when they are at a restaurant or social gathering with friends. The identity thief may be an innocent-looking waitress, a bus boy, or a stranger who easily blends in with the group. The purse can be snatched and whisked away in mere seconds.

~ Both women and men should keep credit account numbers and phone numbers of credit card issuers in a notebook that is kept safely in the house. That way, if a card is lost or stolen the person can phone the card issuer and easily cancel the account. Question to ponder: do you know, offhand, what number you should call if your credit card is stolen?

The author has a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

He was a career U. S. Marine officer for 20+ years, and then the CEO of a successful corporation in northern Virginia until 1997. From then until 2004 he was an adjunct professor of management at both 2-year and 4-year universities in Virginia. He has written on a variety of topics for The Washington Post and The Potomac News.

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What to Do If You Suspect Identity Theft

By Phil Reusch

Identity theft is a very serious crime that can take quite a bit of money away from you or ruin your credit. If you suspect that this might be happening to you, you need to act immediately to prevent further damage. Find out what you might consider doing if this is something that is happening to you.

First of all, report the crime. This shows that you felt something was going on that was suspicious. Many forget to do this which can complicate interactions with debt collectors. If you show that you thought a crime was happening, it shows that any money borrowed is likely the criminal and not you.

Monitor your credit reports. You can get one free report each year that you can look at. Keep in touch with what is going on with your credit. This will help you find out when identify theft is happening and when you need to do something about it. The sooner you catch this the better off you will be. Waiting too long will make things worse and harder to get cleared up.

Contact bank and tell them about your fears. Your bank will be able to point you in the right direction so that you can find out what you need to do to stop certain loans or credit issues that have already happened.

Change your account and credit card numbers when you notice suspicious activity going on with certain accounts. If you do this, it can help limit losses. These are the same steps you take if you feel someone stole your wallet. The amount you can be responsible for is normally set by the credit card company. Even so, its your responsibility to tell them as soon as possible.

Put out fraud alerts on your credit report. This will notify lenders that they might not want to give out new loans because there is fraud on the account. This will make everything more secure for you.

If you get a debt collector wanting payment for some loan that you never actually agreed to, be sure that you get the name, address, phone number, and any other information that was given to them. This is something that you can do that will help law enforcement catch the criminal.

Identity theft is a serious crime that causes quiet a few problems. Find out what you need to do if you think that this is happening to you to help protect yourself.

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Instant Messaging Yourself Into Identity Theft

By Rebecca Frost

Did you know that identity thieves are now shifting the focus of their attacks to instant messaging because it is seen as a largely unprotected channel of communication? Instant messaging operates on various peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and spawns an irresistible temptation for identity thieves to maliciously steal your identity.

People who use instant messaging as a constant form of communication may tend to share files and personal information without discretion. In addition, anti-virus software does not incorporate protection for instant messaging services which makes it that much more enticing for identity thieves to use this forum to commit identity theft. As a result, like sharks in a feeding frenzy, these fraudsters will instant message you to lure you into divulging personal information or send you a Trojan virus or worm that will gather your personal and account information.

Here are some tips to safe guarding your identity when you instant message:

1. Never open pictures, download files, or click links in instant messages from people you don't know.

2. Be cautious when creating a screen name. Your screen name should not provide or allude to personal information about yourself. For instance, use a screen name such as FootballFan instead of SmithSally.

3. Create a barrier against unwanted instant messaging. Do not freely list your screen name or e-mail address in social forums.

4. Never ever provide sensitive information such as your credit card numbers or passwords in an IM conversation.

5. Block unwanted messages. Most IM programs allow you to build a contact list (aka as a "buddy list"), which is similar to the address book in your e-mail program.

6. Don't send personal information through instant messages - such as the location of where you work at or where you live to people you don't know well. If a fraudster is on the other end, these pieces of information are enough for a fraudster to commit identity theft against you.

7. If you use a public computer, do not log on automatically. If you do, an identity thief can potentially us the computer after you and have access to your screen name and log-on.

ProtectMyID.com is a full-service provider of identity theft detection, protection and fraud resolution. The company provides consumers with products and direction on how to avoid ID theft and how to address it when it happens.

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Identity Theft and College Campuses - What Students Should Do to Protect Their Identity

By Rebecca Frost

As parents send their children off to college, they may be advising them to stay out of dark corners, to lock their doors at night, and to travel in groups. While these measures might help them from staying out of dangerous situations, it cannot protect them from one of the worst kinds of danger, having their identity stolen.

If your children plan on staying at a dorm or going to college in another state, chances are they will be taking their personal belongings with them. These personal belongings may also include their driver's license, personal documents, and Social Security card.

While most colleges are relatively safe, burglaries can and do happen on campus. Documents or personal information left lying around can quickly be copied or stolen by a professional thief or a roommate in need of some extra cash procured by selling others' personal information.

As a parent, it's in your children's best interest to teach them the importance of protecting themselves from identity theft. So here are some tips to share about how they can hide their personal information from prying eyes on campus.

1. Invest in a lockbox or safe to store private documents.

2. Never leave your wallet in plain sight.

3. Don't clutter your desk with documents that have your personal information on it.

4. Keep your credit cards and bank account statements locked in a safe place.

5. Don't let roommates see where you store your wallet or important documents.

6. Always keep your front door and/or dorm room locked, even if you expect company.

7. Choose your company wisely.

In the end, your children will thank you for sharing this information with them because when college students think about complications at school, identity theft is usually the last thing on their mind.

ProtectMyID.com is a full-service provider of identity theft detection, protection and fraud resolution. The company provides consumers with products and direction on how to avoid ID theft and how to address it when it happens.

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