Cheating Spouse: Is Spying an Invasion of Privacy?
My, how the cheating spouse cries foul when he/she discovers you are spying.
Outrage can be intense: How dare you! I never thought you would stoop to that! How could you! How can there be trust in this relationship if you do that? This is none of your business; I don’t spy and go behind your back! Now you know why I want to pull away from you. How could I love anyone that would do something like that to me?” On and on.
Cheating husbands and cheating wives usually will not admit the duplicity of their clandestine behavior. But you are made out to be the villain if you use detective work to discover the truth. It doesn’t make sense, but then again not much about infidelity borders close to sanity.
Are you a morally corrupt duplicitous character hell bent on destroying the integrity of a relationship through spying? No, of course not. The integrity of the relationship has been destroyed through the extramarital affair. The affair shattered the promises and mocked the vows that the two of you made.
You saw clearly the signs of a cheating spouse. The affair invaded the domain of your marriage and crumbled its protective boundaries. The marital infidelity broke the contract of the marriage; it was the act of betrayal. Spying does not damage the marriage. It is an attempt to seek the truth and resolve the pain and deception.
Spying is often used to grasp the reality of the situation. It’s intent is to find the truth. Only the truth can provide a foundation from which to begin resolving the hurt, pain and forging a direction for the marriage and enable each person in the marriage to attain health and sanity.
Published by: admin on October 27th, 2009 | Filed under Divorce
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Why Do I Need A Will?
A will is a formal legal document detailing the disbursement of your assets. It is crucial to the success of an estate plan that your will be properly in accordnace with state law. The laws governing the drawing up of wills vary considerably from state to state.
For example, holographic wills (those written in a person`s own hand) are considered legal in certain states but illegal in others. States such as California, have recognized the average person`s need for simplified universal wills, which are prepared forms written by the legislature that can be used in lieu of a formal will. In complicated estate cases do-it-yourself wills fail to satisfactory substitute for a formal will.
What if I Die without a Will?
If you die without a will, you forfeit the right to direct the dealings of your estate. This will likely result in needless legal disputes, damage to personal relationships, and sometimes, financial tragedy. A will is an opportunity for you to designate your own executor, guardians for minor children, and other fiduciaries, rather than relying on the probate court to appoint them for you. Trustees for minor children or other beneficiaries of your estate can be designated in a will, and their powers can be tailored to the anticipated needs of those beneficiaries.
Even if you have neither a spouse nor children a will is the best means of fulfilling your wishes as relating to your estate. Courts are unlikely to award portions of an estate to non-relatives or charities when blood relations (no matter how distant) can be found.
This point is critical people who were adopted into a family unrelated to their natural family; in such a case, dying without a will (intestate) can result in needlessly complex legal work and expenses to clarify disputes between adopted and blood relations.
A will is also critical if you have made personal and emotional commitments to another person without being married and would like them to receive some part of your estate.
If I Have a Trust, Do I Still Need a Will?
Even those who have shifted the majority of their assets into trusts designed to bypass the probate process, or who use joint ownership, should draw up a will. Most property owners inevitably leave behind an estate simply because the estate planning tools are not designed to shift all assets away from the probate process. Properties and assets will still be held in the sole control of their owner for convenience and management reasons.
Plus, there is no guarantee that the designated heir(s) will survive, so with a will you can designate secondary beneficiaries. Estate planning is more than just tax planning, it is planning for the future of your heirs and beneficiaries.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Wills
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Beware Of The Hurricane Katrina E-Mail Identity Theft Charity Scam
Just how low will people go. It seems there are a handful of dishonest people sending out E-Mails Requesting Donations to help the Hurricane Katrina Disaster victims. Not only will these Low Down Belly Crawling Pond Scum Steal your donation, they will steal your credit card or bank account information and often your identity.
The best way to protect yourself is never click on a link in an E-mail requesting a donation. Never send a Credit number in response to request for a donation from an E_mail. If you want to donate money to a charity to help the Hurricane Katrina Disaster relief victims do so by typing there address directly into your browser. CNN has a list of trustworthy charities that you can feel safe about donating to online (go to cnn.com/helpcenter and click on Donate & Volunteer).
Here are some safeguards to keep in mind when it comes to charitable contributions. Charities will never send you unsolicited E-Mail requesting donations. If you get a request for money from a charity in an E-mail more then likely it is an attempt to steal your Identity.
Charities will never call your phone number requesting a donation. There is a whole industry of telemarketers that raise money for charity. The Problem is the companies doing the telemarketing keep up to 90% or more and only send a small amount to the charity, If you receive a call from a telemarketer ask him what percent of the money goes to charity, They will either say they don’t know or refer you to an 800 Number where your questions will be answered. You are far better off politely telling the telemarketer no and contacting the charity directly.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft, Internet Scams
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Anatomy of A PayPal Identity Theft Scam – The 7 Warning Signs
Paypal is becoming the online payment processor of choice for many users. Paypal allows virtually anyone to except credit card payments. Paypal is also a great way to send and receive electronic payments. Unfortunate fame has it’s price and in the case of Paypal that means scam artists preying on the Paypal members
The Most common Paypal Scam Involves E-Mail, You will receive an E-mail from Someone claiming to be Paypal requesting you Verify your Information. That is Warning Sign 1 Paypal will never send you an E-Mail Requesting Your Personal Information
Often this E_mail will be sent to an E-Mail Address that is not the same one that Paypal has on File. That is Warning Sign 2
The Third Warning Sign is forged Headers (From Address). This is often hard to detect without knowledge of the Internet. Many Spam filters are now setup to block E-mail that has forged headers. Ask your E-mail provider how you can block Forged Headers.
The Fourth Warning Sign is the Greeting says something like Dear Paypal user or Paypal Member. Paypal knows who you are they will use the name you registered with.
The Fifth Warning Sign is the threat. The E_mail will threaten to suspend your account if you don’t take immediate action.
The Sixth Warning Sign is a Non Secure Page. If you do click on the link in the E-Mail you will not be on a secure Page, No Https in the URL and no little Padlock in the lower left hand corner of your browser.
Bad Grammar or Misspelled words in the
If you receive an E-mail from Paypal with even 1 of these warning signs more likely then not it is a scam. Forward the E-Mail to Paypal and ask for assistance if you have any doubts.
Don’t let these modern day thieves keep you from go about your every day life. Life is a risk the key of course is to do all you can to protect yourself and still enjoy life.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft, Internet Scams
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8 Surefire Ways to Spot an EBAY Scam E-Mail and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Ebay is a great site and is used by many to buy and sell new and used Items. It truly is the worlds Largest Garage Sale Unfortunately when an online site becomes as big and popular as E-Bay the scam artists seem to just naturally follow. These Scam artists will often try to steal your Idenity and get your bank or credit card information in addition to your E-Bay Id and Password
A Typical Ebay Scam Artist will send you an e-mail requesting that you update your account. Often this request to update your account is made under some false pretence like it is suspended or has been suspected of Fraudulent use. Here is a Copy of a recent Ebay Scam E-mail I received http://ewguru.com/ebay-scam. You will notice the E-Bay Link on this page looks real. Don’t click it. You can however do a right click properties and notice that it is in fact a phony link.
E-bay has an excellent online Tutorial that teaches how to spot and protect yourself from spoof e-mails http://ewguru.com/spoof-emails
Here are 8 Surefire Ways to Spot an EBAY Scam E-Mail and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
1 – Wrong E-Mail Address
Any E-mail Sent to an E-mail Address that is Not Your Primary Ebay E-mail Account is more then likely a scam.
2 – Fake links.
While many emails have links included, just remember that these links can be forged too. After you click on the Link a Real E-Bay Address should appear. To determine if the Web address in your browser is a real eBay address, look for “.ebay.com” immediately before the first “/”.
3 – Requests Personal Information
Any E-mail that requests you enter personal information like User ID, password or bank account number either by clicking on a link in the E-mail or completing a form within the e-mail are a strong indication the e-mail is a SCAM
4 – Urgent Subject Lines
Subject likes * * * Please Verify & Update Your Account * * *
5 – Generic greetings.
Lot’s of emails begin with a Greeting, such as: “Dear Ebay member instead of the Name you used when you registered for your account
6 – Scare to Action
Many Fake emails try to trick you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don’t sign in and fix it NOW!
7 – HTML Website Fakes
Emails that appear to be websites. Some emails will look like a website in order to get you to enter personal information. Ebay never asks for personal information in an e-mail.
8. Misspellings and bad grammar
Fake emails may contain misspellings, incorrect grammar, missing words. Many Times these are used to trick the E-mail Filters
A quick review If you receive an E-mail with a Link requesting you to click on the link and sign in to your E-bay account, Don’t Do It!
If you receive an E-mail that looks like an Ebay Sign in Form, Don’t Sign in!
If you are unsure if the e-mail is Real or fake forward it to spoof@ebay.com and request assistance.
If you absolutely must login to your Ebay account then I would highly recommend you do the Following. Close all open Browser sessions. Run a Spyware check on your computer You can get a free Spyware program here (http://ewguru.com/sware) then type in http://www.ebay.com/ directly into your Browser window and Login from the E-bay Web Page. Never click on a Login Link from Any E-Mail
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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7 Ways To Squash Identity Theft
It is the scourge of our age: identity theft. Thieves learn an important part about your personal information, such as your credit card number, and they open accounts in your name and spend, spend, spend! Unfortunately, by the time you discover that you are a victim the damage is already done. Here are seven steps you can take to prevent identity theft.
1. Guard your social security number. Clerks, telephone sales people, etc. will sometimes ask for your social security number. Do not give this information out. Of course, certain government agencies require your social security number for identification purposes, but other than that no one has a ?need? for your number.
2. Get a shredder. Yes, ripping papers up into little pieces can help but these pieces can also be put back together by someone determined to get information from you. Thieves resort to ?dumpster diving? or ?trash can trolling? to find out important information about you. Once they have it you can count on your problems beginning.
3. Protect your mail. Thieves will make off with your mail if they think there is something of interest there. Purchase a locking mailbox if you live in an area prone to mail theft. Notify the post office if you suspect any problems. The United States Post Office has their own team of investigators who really, really hate mail fraud.
4. Get your free credit report. As of September 2005 all three major credit reporting agencies — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax ? must permit consumers to access a copy of their credit report for free on a yearly basis. To maximize the benefit of this law order a copy every four months from a different agency. Check your report carefully and take the proper steps necessary to correct any errors.
5. Review your monthly statements. Chances are you skim your credit card statements since it has gotten quite lengthy with all your gas, food, retail, and internet purchases. Thieves count on you doing just that! Pay closer attention to each item and question anything remotely suspicious. Follow the instructions of your credit card provider for contesting anything that is incorrect.
6. Do not call. Give telemarketers and all other phone solicitors the boot by getting yourself listed on ?do not call? registries. Screen calls with caller i.d. to filter out everyone else.
7. Protect your computer. Make sure that you are running the latest internet security programs, change your password regularly, and only purchase items through a secure site [those with an ?s? in their web address: https]
Should you suspect a problem, notify the three credit reporting agencies and request that a ?fraud alert? be placed in your file. Contact the fraud departments of the effected credit providing companies and follow up all that you do with statements in writing. In some cases your rights are only guaranteed if you send a letter, so be diligent to learn all that is required of you when you have been victimized.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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Identity Theft — 10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Good Name!
Identity Theft is one of the most serious problems facing Internet users. Identity Theft is exactly as the name states — someone steals your Identity and commits fraud in your name. It can result in untold financial and legal problems that may literally ruin your peace of mind and/or your life. Someone gaining control of your most personal details can reck havoc and result in dire consequences for you and your family.
You must do everything in your power to prevent Identity Theft. Actually, if you follow some simple ‘common sense’ procedures –you can reduce your risk significantly. Follow these simple steps and you may prevent yourself from becoming a victim of Identity Theft.
Please keep in mind, any computer connected to the Internet can be hacked! The only way to be 100% safe from Identity Theft is to not use a computer or the Internet. Even then, many banking institutions and government agencies may have your vital information in their hands and possibly online — so no one is really safe!
Despite this grime prospect, there are many things you can personally do to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Stop would-be thieves in their tracks and make it really hard for anyone to misuse your well earned good name and reputation.
Try these relatively simple steps:
1. If you do a lot of surfing on the web — set your own security standards!
Most browsers will let you set the security level of your connections. If you’re using Internet Explorer, click on Tools in the task bar, go to Internet Options and set your level of security. Try to set this to as high a standard as you can.
2. Place a firewall on your computer or network. A firewall is a system or gateway that prevents unauthorized access to your computer or private network. It is usually the first line of defense in protecting your private information or data. A good firewall will help protect you from malicious attacks of spyware, adware, malware, worms, trojans, and hackers. There is no reason not to have a firewall in place, you can download a free firewall from www.zonealarm.com for personal use.
3. Get a good anti-virus software program that will help protect your computer against spyware, adware, malware and so on. Purchasing such a program that is updated regularly will save you money in the long run and will add an extra layer of protection for your PC.
4. Don’t store your vital information (credit card numbers, family information, passwords, etc.) on your personal computer, instead store it on CDs or floppy disks or on a computer that is not connected to the Internet.
5. If you use passwords, make sure they are hard-to-guess passwords. You should have passwords that are at least eight characters long — consisting of a mixture of numbers, upper case and lower case letters. Many security experts suggest changing your passwords regularly.
6. Never open emails from people you don’t know. Especially, don’t open any attachments until they are properly scanned for viruses and spyware.
7. Be aware of phishing — this is where you get an official looking (though fake) email from companies that you may be doing business with — never use a link in these emails to provide personal information. Always open a new browser window and type in your ‘own’ links you have for these companies or sites. Most secure connections will start with “https://”
8. Regularly check your operating system and download any updates that may contain security patches and fixes for your PC.
9. Use an encryption service if you can. This will help in protecting your vital data from prying eyes.
10. Always shut down your computer when its not in use — especially if you have a cable Internet connection. And make sure you know who is using your computer. Keep track of family members or friends who have access to your computer.
No doubt there are many more ways to protect yourself against Identity Theft but following and implementing the above steps will give you added protection and peace of mind. In the same light, don’t let your guard down — always be aware of your surfing habits and the information or programs on your computer. Keep a close eye on your PC; any slow down or unorthodox operations should be checked out immediately. Scan your machine regularly, check out any unauthorized attempts to access your computer and keep your machine safe.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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40 Million People Hacked – YOU as Identity Theft Victim
Saturday, MasterCard blamed a vendor of ALL credit card providers called CardSystems Solutions, Inc., a third-party processor of payment card data, as the source of loss of 40 million consumers credit card information.
As is pointed out by several newspaper and web articles over the last few weeks, each recapping long lists of financial information data breaches, something’s gotta give before we entirely lose trust in financial institutions, data brokers and credit bureaus. How much privacy loss can we take without acting?
These types of data loss were very likely common and have very probably been going on for a very long time. The difference is that now, THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO DISCLOSE THOSE LOSSES – not just in California, but in many states. National disclosure laws on data security breaches are being considered in Congress.
I suggest that these breaches of data security all came to light due to the California law requiring disclosure from companies suffering hacking loss or leaks or social engineering or crooked employees or organized crime rings posing as “legitimate” customers. All of the above have been given as reasons for security lapses or poor security policies.
About three years ago, a friend told me his paycheck deposit to Bank of America went missing from account records after he took his check to the bank on Friday. By Monday, Bank of America was in the news claiming a computer glitch had disappeared the entire day’s deposits. I mumbled to myself, “I’ll bet that was a hack and that hacker just made a huge offshore banking deposit with B of A depositors’ money.”
But we didn’t find out why it happened in that particular case because there was no disclosure law in place at the time. Now we have disclosure laws that mandate notice of security breaches. Now suddenly – huge financial services hacks and devious criminal social engineering outfits posing as legitimate customers and apparently “innocent” losses by transport companies of backup tapes begin to come to light.
This spate of data loss incidents is proof of the need for corporate “sunshine laws” that make public notice mandatory of those data losses that threaten customer information.
Who is going to lose here – the public, the corporations, the criminals, or the government? I’d prefer that the bad guys get the shaft and take down crooked company insiders that either facilitate data loss by underfunding security and encryption or participate in data theft or loss in any form – even if that participation is security negligence.
Financial companies and data brokers have been covering up the losses and keeping quiet about hacks so as not to worry or frighten their customers. But that practice is essentially ended now that they must notify the public and disclose those losses instead of hushing them up.
Keeping the breaches hidden from public view is bad practice as it maintains the status quo. Disclosure will facilitate internal corporate lockdowns on the data and all access to it. Disclosure will educate the public to the lack of security and danger to the sensitive information we all provide rather casually and routinely to businesses.
As the following link to a silicon.com story suggests, we cannot take much more of this lack of regard to privacy and must lock down financially sensitive data securely and must begin to hold data brokers, bureaus and handlers VERY accountable.
Insist to your elected representatives that your financial data be locked down, encrypted and guarded by those entrusted with storing, transporting and using it. Since our financial, medical and legal lives are increasingly being housed in digital form and transmitted between data centers of multiple handlers – we need to know it is secure. We also need to know when that security has been breached and our data compromised or lost.
Thieves are becoming more aware of the ease with which they can find and access financial data. Hacking is not the source of the greatest losses.
Organized crime has easily found their way into our financial records by simply paying for it by posing as “legitimate” business customers of information brokers such as ChoicePoint and Lexis/Nexis. Any business can buy financial and credit information from those information bureaus and credit reporting agencies by meeting rather lax requirements for “need to know” that data.
As long as it is possible to purchase our sensitive data from brokers and bureaus, organized crime will “legitimately” buy it from those sources, then ruin our credit by selling that information at a higher price in identity theft schemes.
Since disclosure laws have come into effect, those breaches have been made public, credit cards cancelled before losses can occur and credit reports monitored to watch for suspicious activity. The bad guys activities are squelched because we are made aware of the possibility our information has been compromised.
Not all blame can go to financial institutions and data brokers. Protect your own private data by protecting your computer records at home, in the office, on your laptop and in your PDA by using basic keyword security and locking down files. Use built in encryption on your operating system and your home network to keep data secure. Then be certain to clear that sensitive data off the computer when you sell it or throw it away.
Data security is something we all need to take seriously and the corporate breaches are dramatic illustrations of how important it has become to build digital fortresses around our critical financial, legal and medical information.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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Identity Theft Article – A Phisher Is Trying To Steal Your Identity!
Sooner or later everyone with an email account will receive a phishing attempt from some internet scammer. What is phishing? How can you protect yourself? These are some of the questions this identity theft article will provide, along with some free resources and practical advice on how to protect your online identity.
The Anti-Phishing Working Group estimates that 75 million to 150 million phishing emails are sent every day on the internet. Phishing (pronounced fishing), is online identity theft that uses spoof emails, fraudulent websites and crimeware to trick unsuspecting internet users into providing financial data, credit card numbers, social security numbers, account logins and passwords, etc.
A spoofed email looks like it is from a legitimate company, usually banks, credit card companies, paypal, ebay, etc. These fraudulent emails look like they are from the “real” company, and generally try to get you to log into your account through the links in the email. The spoof email may state that there is a problem with your account and if you do not log in and update your information your account may be suspended, restricted, closed, etc. Generally these emails try to convey a sense of urgency; if you don’t correct this problem your account will be suspended.
Trojans are increasingly being used as a phishing technique according to Sophos, a security firm. The Brizilian police recently arrested a phishing gang of 18 people who stole $37M from online banking accounts. This phishing gang would send out emails that included Trojans. Once a Trojan infects your computer, all internet activity can be monitored and transferred to the phisher. This is a serious threat as you probably won?t know that you are infected with a Trojan.
According to David Jevans, Chairman of APWG, ?Attacks can, and are, coming in a variety of other flavors. Instant Messaging, exploited websites, P2P networks, and search engines are all being used to download and run key logging malcode and/or be directed to websites which may contain malcode or be fraudulent. Attackers are also not just interested in username and password access to bank accounts. Social security numbers, credit cards and other identity information are also being stolen.?
Protecting yourself against phishing scams.
Do not give out personal or financial information through an email request.
Always log on to your sensitive accounts by opening a new browser and typing the actual URL directly into the address bar. For example, if you receive a suspected phishing email from ebay, open a new browser and type www.ebay.com in the browser bar.
Do not click on any link in a suspected phishing email.
Only use a secure website to submit sensitive data. A secure sites? address will begin with https:// instead of http://
Check the activity of your online accounts regularly.
Make sure your browser is up to date and all security patches are installed.
Report phishing and spoof email to: reportphishing@antiphishing.com , spam@uce.gov, and forward the email to the company that is being spoofed.
Keep your pc protected with updated anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall.
You may also want to install anti-phishing software.
o Earthlink ScamBlocker is a free browser toolbar that alerts you to known phishing sites. It’s free and can be downloaded at www.earthlink.net/earthlinktoolbar.
o Webroot has a beta version of PhishNet which you can download at www.webroot.com/products/phishnet/
o PC Tools Spyware Doctor offers protection against known phishing sites, spyware and blocks popups.
With the consequences being identity theft, it is imperative that you learn to protect your pc and your identity by exercising caution and installing the proper tools. Hopefully, this identity theft article has given you the information you need to avoid being the next phishing victim. Remember, legitimate companies don’t ask for personal or financial information in an email so don’t give it to them!
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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The Identity Theft Epidemic : What The Experts Aren’t Telling You
Picture yourself walking down the street, all alone. It’s late at night. It’s a bit brisk, and the wind is blowing through the tall buildings on both sides of you. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, someone runs by you, knocks you over, grabs your wallet, and takes off.
It sounds like a scene from a movie, and there may come a time in the future where this type of person-to-person crime is only found in movies. Why would anyone rob a bank, or rob an individual, when they could simply use a person’s information to obtain employment, credit cards, and lines of credit?
By now, everyone knows what Identity Theft is. Identity Theft has been showing up in the news for several years, and there has been a large public awareness campaign since the FTC Report in September 2003.
In their report, the FTC shared that the average Identity Theft victim spends over $1,400.00, and more than 200 hours, just to clear their good name. Reports now are saying that victims can end up spending much, much more in terms of time, money, and frustration.
Other people may be willing to spend that kind of time and money, but if you don’t have an extra $1400 or 200 hours, read on!
What is Identity Theft?
Identity Theft couldn’t happen to me, right?
What can I do to protect myself?
There is good news.
Identity Theft Insurance?
What is Identity Theft?
ID Theft happens when someone takes any piece of your personal information, and fraudulently uses it to obtain access to your credit, bank accounts, or to obtain employment.
How can it happen?
There are literally thousands of ways your information can be stolen, and, as Harris County district attorney Chuck Rosenthal knows, if it can happen to him, it is proof that identity theft and fraud can happen to anyone. “Rosenthal said nearly $8,000 was stolen from his account before it was discovered [?] He said that he still has problems because of the crime — his check was refused when he tried to buy supplies for his daughter.”
There are thousands of stories like this one, which you have already been hearing about in your local or national news.
What can you do to protect yourself?
To be proactive, here are what the “experts” are telling you to do. Read this list carefully, and while you do, think about what it would mean in added time and frustration for your life:
Avoid giving out your Social Security number?Shred or destroy bank and/or credit card information?Shred or destroy any credit card or other direct mail offers?Create passwords containing numbers and letters?Avoid buying or making donations via the phone?Buy goods online only from a reputable Web site?Install a computer firewall at home? Read the privacy statements for all your accounts and your bank’s liability clauses?Check your credit report more frequently? Use only one credit card for purchases? Avoid shopping online? Update your computer virus protection daily? Install Spyware software on your computer to be sure that you’re not accidentally having your keystrokes recorded? Drop your mail in the blue post boxes, not in your mailbox? Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends… While you’re at it, sign up for a locked mailbox, because you can’t trust that your mail will stay in your mailbox? The list goes on…and on…and on…
The “experts” are telling you to rearrange your entire life to proactively defend yourself against Identity Theft. However, what no one is telling you is this:
There is no 100% guarantee that your information won’t be used. No matter what you do, you are as likely a target for Identity Theft as any other person you know.
Approximately 2,500 Washington County (Maryland) Board of Education employees discovered this when their Social Security numbers, names, birth dates and other private information were accidentally posted on the school system’s web site for up to 45 days during 2004.
Consumer Reports states, “It is an equal-opportunity crime, affecting victims of all races, incomes, and ages. Overall, more than 33 million Americans, about 1 in 6 adults, say they have had their identities used by someone else sometime since 1990.”
There is good news
If you become a victim of Identity Theft, you basically have two choices. You can try to handle it on your own, or you can let a professional help you.
If you try to handle it on your own, you might try to contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB). A visit to the BBB’s web site reveals this statement:
“If your complaint is against the identity thief, it is unlikely that the BBB can assist you. We urge you to report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
So you visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) web site, where you read the statement: “The FTC serves as the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of Identity Theft. While the FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint helps us investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action.”
In other words, the BBB and FTC will give you information on how to spend 200 hours and $1400, and will let you report information to them which can “lead to law enforcement action.”
Beyond that, you’re on your own, because they will not work to restore your individual credit. But they will send you a 25 page book with some very helpful information. Good luck.
This is not to fault the BBB or FTC. It’s only to say that they do not have the resources to, on a daily basis, help over 27,000 people restore their good name and credit. Clearly, Americans need a different kind of help to resolve this issue.
Identity Theft Insurance?
Several companies, including Citibank and the three credit repositories, are offering different kinds of credit monitoring services. You have probably seen the very funny Citibank ads, promoting the protection of your information from thieves, and as a result of the ID Theft epidemic, Citibank now offers protection for their credit cards. This is an excellent idea, but credit card fraud only accounts for approximately 40% of Identity Theft cases.
What about the other 60% of identity theft cases? Well, most often, they happen when someone is using your name to obtain credit or employment. The three credit bureaus have stepped in to offer you credit monitoring services, which will let you track what is going on with your credit on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This way, if your information is being used by someone you don’t know, you will know about it the day it happens and, ideally, you’ll be able to do something about it. The cost ranges from $4.95/month to $19.95/month. With these services, you’re generally still on your own to get the issue resolved, but hopefully the early detection will help you be able to resolve the issue in less than 200 hours, and with less than $1,400.00.
Another company has stepped in, because they have seen this trend, and the need that consumers have for protection from identity theft. Kroll Worldwide is the world’s foremost risk consulting company. They’ve been responsible for things like:
Tracking Saddam Hussein’s money after the first Gulf War, creating an evacuation plan for the Sears Tower and many of the world’s tallest buildings, and handling high profile cases such as the Enron debacle.
Kroll has created a product which not only monitors credit on a daily basis, and (like the credit repositories) gives you credit reports in a way that you can understand them, but they also assign a personal licensed investigator to you, who will do the work along side of you, to get your credit and identity restored and to track down the thief who committed the crime. This saves you time and money
Identity Theft shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, many state and federal law enforcement agencies are predicting that the problem will get worse before it gets better. Other companies are sure to follow the lead of Kroll in providing Identity Theft solutions. Probably no other company will be able to match the background and experience of a company like Kroll, but they will create similar products to help consumers, and within the next 3-5 years, Identity Theft protection will become an important part of the insurance-type products we use to protect ourselves on a daily basis.
In short, what the experts aren’t telling you is this:
There is no guaranteed way to protect your information,
In an advanced age of rapid and electronic banking and communication, your information is publicly available to anyone who wants to find it,
If you’ve been a victim before, you’re more likely to become a victim again, and
Identity Theft, as a crime, is here to stay.
Changing the way that you do things reduces the likelihood that you will become a victim, but you have no way of being sure that your information will stay your information.
The real state of affairs today is that you are walking down that dark street on a windy night, and someone robs you, but you don’t know it, or feel it, for days, weeks, or months.
Having Identity Theft protection with highly qualified companies like Kroll is like walking down that street, knowing that you have a highly trained personal bodyguard watching your back and walking by your side.
Published by: admin on October 24th, 2009 | Filed under Identinty Theft
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