Veteran falls victim to identity theft Video Rating: 0 . . . → Read More: Veteran falls victim to identity theft]]>

Veteran falls victim to identity theft
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Now she claims that her bank account was frozen due to “identity theft.” This identity . . . → Read More: Do banks freeze your account if you’re an ID theft victim?]]>
by Don Hankins

Question by halobender: Do banks freeze your account if you’re an ID theft victim?
My roommate hasn’t paid any of her bills for over a month, and didn’t bother to tell me until I got the overdue bill notices.

Now she claims that her bank account was frozen due to “identity theft.” This identity theft claim has been going on for several months, starting with a bounced rent check a couple months ago (that she eventually paid off, albeit very late). She says that things are so involved that she has a lawyer.

Just wondering if it’s typical for banks to freeze an account this long due to ID theft, or if it’s more likely something else going on (i.e. debtors going after her).

Best answer:

Answer by Mrs. Miranda
I don’t want to accuse your roomate of anything…but I think she’s lying to you.

My husband had his identity stolen a few years ago. They didn’t freeze his accounts. All they did was change over all his account numbers and flagged them. She really wouldn’t have to be too worried about her bank accounts…more likely her credit reports would be her concern.

I would call her bank and just ask them what happens when someone gets their identity stolen. That way you can figure out for sure whether or not she’s lying and you can confront her with the info.

Good Luck!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

1. Financial Identity Theft – Ask any gathering of Americans how many have been victims of idt resulting in financial information or services being compromised and usually more than half will raise their hands.  Consequences from financial idt include:

Damaged creditCredit and debit card . . . → Read More: 6 Different Types of Identity Theft – Don’t Be the Next Victim!]]>
by sfualumnioffice

6 Different Types of Identity Theft – Don’t Be the Next Victim!

1. Financial Identity Theft – Ask any gathering of Americans how many have been victims of idt resulting in financial information or services being compromised and usually more than half will raise their hands.  Consequences from financial idt include:

Damaged credit
Credit and debit card fraud
Checking and savings account fraud
Investment account fraud
Mortgage and other loan fraud
Tax fraud
Unfortunately, financial idt is so common in the United States, most businesses and consumers consider idt resulting in financial fraud a cost of doing business.  Many businesses incorporate financial losses resulting from idt into the bottom line rather than combat the crime in a meaningful way. 

2. Medical Identity Theft – Medical Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing forms of idt in the United States today. Medical identity thieves can leave you with medical bills for thousands of dollars of medical treatment while also altering your medical records in a way that could jeopardize your life. But in the meantime, because medical idt has received scant attention compared to other forms of identity crimes, it can be the most difficult form of idt to prevent or detect.

3. Criminal Identity Theft – Criminal Identity Theft is everyone’s worst nightmare. Criminal identity thieves commit crimes while using your identity. Because law enforcement officials believe you are the actual criminal, you could be arrested and jailed for a crime you know nothing about. Criminal idt is the use of any form of identification to deceive a law enforcement officer or agency into assigning a criminal act to the name of an idt victim.  Once the name of an innocent idt victim is assigned to the criminal act of the true perpetrator, it can be very difficult for the idt victim to convince law enforcement authorities that they are not the individual who committed the crime.

4. Children & Identity Theft – There is a growing trend of identity thieves stealing the identities of children – even infants.  In particular, the Social Security numbers of children are considered very valuable by identity thieves as parents are unlikely to check the credit reports of their children.  After all, very few children are going to be involved in any type of credit transaction until sometime between the age of fourteen and eighteen at the earliest. Often, the first time a child or parent becomes aware that the child’s Social Security number has been used to steal the identity of the child is when the child attempts their first credit transaction such as applying for financial aid, purchasing a cell phone, buying a car, or applying for a job that requires a credit check or background investigation.

5. Seniors & Identity Theft – As long as there have been identity thieves, they have always targeted senior citizens.   In fact, many identity crimes, crimes of deception and financial crimes are traditionally aimed at our senior population as criminals believe seniors may be more susceptible to crimes of deception and the amount of money that can be stolen from a senior may exceed that of other segments of the population. Additionally, many seniors do not check their credit reports on a regular basis, if at all, as they are at a point in life where they are more stable in their financial transactions and less likely to be opening new lines of credit.  Identity thieves know that the Social Security number of a senior may afford the thief an opportunity to steal the senior’s identity with a lower probability of detection.

6. SSN/Social Security Number Identity Theft – Every day, millions of Americans’ stolen identities are used by identity thieves to commit crimes involving some form of identity fraud.  The common denominator in most types of identity crimes is the theft and misuse of Social Security numbers by identity thieves.  With a stolen Social Security number, an identity thief can easily commit crimes and financial fraud in your good name or create a different identity. With a stolen Social Security number, an identity thief can either assume your identity by using your actual name and biographical information or use your Social Security number in combination with a different name and biographical information in order to create an entirely different identity.  This latter form of idt involving a social security number combined with a different name is often referred to as synthetic idt.

Because it is almost a given you will be a victim of idt at least once during your lifetime, it is important to take steps to protect yourself, your family and your business.  While there is not a single method or product that will completely protect you from financial idt, there are methods and products that can assist you in protecting your financial identity to the highest degree possible.

The Prepaid Legal Idt Shield plan includes:

A Credit Report – An up-to-date Experian credit report, including your personal credit score calculated and analyzed by an independent service. You should know: A credit report and your credit score (a statistical analysis of your credit history) is reviewed by many types of companies, from mobile phone service providers and home loan lenders to potential employers.

• Continuous monitoring of your credit file at all three credit repositories means you will be alerted about new activity. You should know: Credit monitoring is essential to discovering if your credit file has been accessed to open new accounts, if late payment notations are added, or collection notices have been filed. In many cases, changes of address and other public records are reflected in your credit file as well. If not initiated by you, any of these actions can indicate a potential idt.

The Prepaid Legal Identity Theft Shield plan also includes Identity Restoration. Identity restoration means that licensed investigators will work to correct damages caused by idt. This includes working with affected public agencies, like the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Postal Service and law enforcement personnel. In addition, fraud alerts will be sent on your behalf to all three credit repositories and affected companies and agencies. Finally, proactive searches of applicable local and national databases will be made on your behalf (to look for information you may not be aware of).

You should know: If someone steals your identity and no action is taken you can have serious problems when you try to get a loan, apply for a credit card or during other types of financial transactions. Creditors may also use collection agencies to harass you to demand payments, even if it’s not your debt. This crime can disrupt all aspects of your life. NOTE: Your IDT membership covers you and everyone in your household.

Would You Know What to Do If It Happened to You?
Don’t wait until it happens-enroll and get peace of mind today!
Click on the link below to enroll:

http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/cetrisity

More Identity Theft Articles

All spam emails we receive every day in tens or hundreds are annoying and disgusting. But the worst of them are scams, hoaxes, and illegal schemes aimed at defrauding you of your money, private information, and even your life. Being aware of how the spam scams . . . → Read More: How Not To Be A Victim With Spam Scams]]>
by ona1a

How Not To Be A Victim With Spam Scams

All spam emails we receive every day in tens or hundreds are annoying and disgusting. But the worst of them are scams, hoaxes, and illegal schemes aimed at defrauding you of your money, private information, and even your life. Being aware of how the spam scams work you will be able to protect yourself against the spammers-fraudsters and not to become a victim of their fraudulent schemes.

A lot of spam scams arrive in the form of a great investment offer. It usually works as a Pyramid scheme. Spammers ask you to pay money for a membership, goods, or simply to “invest” promising you much money as revenue. Your revenue will come from those people who will invest after you. Your investment is distributed to those who joined before you. At some point the pyramid ruins because there are not enough new investors to keep the money flowing. The spammer is at the top of the pyramid and he is the only one who benefits. The scan may not always look like an investment offer. The spammers can ask you to distribute some advertising letters to a list of email addresses, for remuneration. Although they will tell you that the list contains only opt-in email addresses, it’s not true, and you will be sending spam directly from your computer.

Another fraudulent scheme you may meet looks like a letter coming from a company that you do business with. Usually the spammer asks you to follow a link within the message supposedly to update your account. But actually this is done to worm you out your personal and financial information. If you click on that link, you will be brought to a page that will look like a company’s web site. While you are logging in or filling the form in, the program is recording your keystrokes and all your private information – account number, user name, password, social security number – is disclosed. Never click on the links included in such emails. Just open a company’s web site in a separate window and check your account details out.

Nigerian spam is one of the most dangerous email scams. The mechanism of the scam is simple. The spammer sends you a badly spelled letter on behalf of a government official, deposed ruler, or relative of a ruling family asking you for help. They have some goods, money, or jewels that they cannot access due to political reasons. They ask you to allow them transfer large sums of money into your bank account. They promise to remunerate you for your kindness, or even leave all money to you. Attractive offer, isn’t it? Don’t be a dolt, don’t believe them. They tempt you into a trap. Their object is to obtain your account number and bank transfer information. They also may ask you to send them a fee to bribe some corrupt government officials. Further you may receive additional officially looking letters where you will be asked to provide further documents, private information, and money. When they have “played” with you long enough, or believe that you may suspect to be led on, they will rob you and quite.

Take care! Don’t react upon any spam message whatever tempting offer it contains. Delete it at once, or let an anti-spam filter delete all spam before you download it into your inbox.

More Email Scams Articles

All spam emails we tend to receive every day in tens or hundreds are annoying and disgusting. However the worst of them are scams, hoaxes, and illegal schemes aimed at defrauding you of your money, non-public info, and even your life. Being alert to how the spam . . . → Read More: Spam Scams: How To not Become a Victim]]>
by billzegarski

Spam Scams: How To not Become a Victim

All spam emails we tend to receive every day in tens or hundreds are annoying and disgusting. However the worst of them are scams, hoaxes, and illegal schemes aimed at defrauding you of your money, non-public info, and even your life. Being alert to how the spam scams work you will be ready to protect yourself against the spammers-fraudsters and to not become a victim of their fraudulent schemes.

A ton of spam scams arrive in the form of a nice investment offer. It sometimes works as a Pyramid scheme. Spammers ask you to pay cash for a membership, product, or simply to “invest” promising you much cash as revenue. Your revenue can return from those folks who can invest when you. Your investment is distributed to those who joined before you. At some purpose the pyramid ruins because there are now not enough new investors to keep the cash flowing. The spammer is at the top of the pyramid and he is the sole one who benefits. The scan might not perpetually seem like an investment offer. The spammers will ask you to distribute some advertising letters to a listing of email addresses, for remuneration. Although they can tell you that the list contains only opt-in email addresses, it’s not true, and you may be sending spam directly from your computer.

Another fraudulent scheme you’ll meet looks like a letter returning from a corporation that you are doing business with. Typically the spammer asks you to follow a link within the message supposedly to update your account. However truly this is often done to worm you out your personal and monetary information. If you click on that link, you will be dropped at a page that can seem like an organization’s net site. Whereas you are logging in or filling the shape in, the program is recording your keystrokes and all your private data – account number, user name, password, social security range – is disclosed. Never click on the links included in such emails. Just open an organization’s internet website in a very separate window and check your account details out.

Nigerian spam is one in all the foremost dangerous email scams. The mechanism of the scam is simple. The spammer sends you a badly spelled letter on behalf of a government official, deposed ruler, or relative of a ruling family asking you for help. They need some goods, cash, or jewels that they can’t access because of political reasons. They raise you to allow them transfer giant sums of money into your bank account. They promise to remunerate you for your kindness, or maybe leave all cash to you. Engaging offer, isn’t it? Do not be a dolt, don’t believe them. They tempt you into a trap. Their object is to get your account number and bank transfer information. They additionally could raise you to send them a fee to bribe some corrupt government officials. Additional you may receive additional officially wanting letters where you’ll be asked to produce additional documents, personal information, and money. When they have “played” with you long enough, or believe that you’ll suspect to be led on, they can rob you and quite.

Be sure! Don’t react upon any spam message no matter tempting offer it contains. Delete it directly, or let an anti-spam filter delete all spam before you download it into your inbox.

Related Email Scams Articles

Some very alarming statistics are showing that credit card fraud cases are on the rise. No matter which part of the country you are living in you could easily become victimized by credit card thieves. Prevention is obviously worth a pound of cure and . . . → Read More: Learn How To Not Become A Victim Of Credit Card Fraud]]>
by nosha

Learn How To Not Become A Victim Of Credit Card Fraud

Some very alarming statistics are showing that credit card fraud cases are on the rise. No matter which part of the country you are living in you could easily become victimized by credit card thieves. Prevention is obviously worth a pound of cure and considering that credit card fraud costs billions of dollars to those who issue credit cards; it is about time that everyone did their bit to prevent this from happening to them.

Crafty Ways

Credit card thieves operate in very crafty ways and will use all of their ingenuity as well as creativeness to dupe unsuspecting credit card holders. The most common instance of credit card fraud is credit card identity theft in which credit card accounts are opened in the names of the credit card fraud victims.

However, you can prevent credit card fraud if you take a few timely steps. First of all, you need to record all your account numbers and their dates of expiry as well as phone numbers as too the addresses of all companies and keep this information in a safe and secure place.

Another simple way of preventing credit card fraud is to ensure that you do not carry your credit card in your wallet; it is advisable instead to use a business card holder, small pouches or even in compartments that can be zipped up to ensure that your credit card is carried in a secure and safe manner.

Even when transacting business it is wise to keep a close eye on your credit card and to also get the credit card back as soon as it has been processed in order to prevent someone from noting down your credit card information and then using that information to defraud you. When you receive bills, these should be opened promptly and reconciled as soon as possible and if certain charges seem dubious you should immediately take up the matter with the credit card company.

Other tips that will help prevent credit card fraud include signing the credit card on the reverse side and notifying the credit card company about changes in address. Obviously, you would be inviting trouble and certain credit card fraud if you make the mistake of lending your credit card to someone. Also, it is just as foolish to give your account number on the phone, unless you are the one making the call.

Following these simple tips can help ensure that you don’t become a victim of credit card fraud, and in addition, you should also make it a point to avail of the services of companies offering credit protection; especially, as it will help prevent identity theft. Finally, you can also visit some of the better and better known credit card companies to learn about other useful means by which to prevent credit card fraud.

Are you searching for a new job right now? In these tough economic times, identity thieves are taking advantage of vulnerable job seekers like never before with job identity theft scams. Whether they’re using job search sites like Monster.com to “hook” an unemployed person with . . . → Read More: Don’t Be a Victim of Job Identity Theft Scams]]>
by Charles Nouÿrit

Don’t Be a Victim of Job Identity Theft Scams

Are you searching for a new job right now? In these tough economic times, identity thieves are taking advantage of vulnerable job seekers like never before with job identity theft scams. Whether they’re using job search sites like Monster.com to “hook” an unemployed person with a job offer that may be too good to be true, then sending emails requesting bank account information and Social Security numbers, or even creating fake Web sites that don’t match the job description on a jobsite, scammers are relentlessly trying to steal your identity. Fortunately, by paying attention to ID theft warning signs and using tips to prevent ID theft, you can avoid the scammers and land a great job this year.

How to Spot Job Identity Theft Scams:

How can you be sure job postings are legitimate and not job identity theft scams? Ask yourself these questions before you apply:

Does the company have a Web site?: If not, or if the information doesn’t match the company’s description on the jobsite, you should be extremely cautious. Although not all companies have Web sites, most do, and you can get a feeling for the company by visiting the site. Does it look professional? Does it have contact information? Another simple research tool is simply to use Google to see what search results reveal for the company (if they exist!)
Does the company ask for money to submit an application?: If you’re asked to pay anything before you can get information on the job, it’s probably one of the many job identity theft scams. This is especially prevalent in work-at-home jobs. Just remember that legitimate employers will never charge to hire you.
Does the company have references?: They work both ways. If you’re unsure whether an employer is legitimate, ask for references. Most companies will be happy to provide you with them.
Does the company make financial promises?: This is another favorite tactic of job identity theft scams. If a job listing guarantees financial success in a short period of time, you can bet they’re trying to drain your bank account in a short period of time.

Another easy way to spot job identity theft scams is to contact the Better Business Bureau to see whether the company has a high or low rating, and whether any suspicious activity has been reported.

How to Avoid Job Identity Theft Scams:

Job identity theft scams are rampant online, so you have to be vigilant. Use common sense and follow these tips to prevent your identity from being stolen by unscrupulous identity thieves posing as employers:

Social Security number: A common job identity theft scam is asking you to provide your Social Security number before you’ve even had a face-to-face interview. Don’t fall for it. A scammer will ask for your SSN under the guise of needing to perform a background check, but a legitimate employer can’t legally do a background check until after the interview.
Financial information: Never provide any financial information, such as your bank account, until you’ve been hired. These types of job identity theft scams are made under the pretenses that the employer needs your financial information to perform a credit check. Not true. A legitimate employer can do a credit check with just your name, address, and Social Security number.
Online forms: Be very careful when completing forms for online job applications. These forms make capturing sensitive information easy for job identity theft scams. If you’re completing an application online, make sure the Web site is both legitimate and secure before providing personal information such as your Social Security number or driver’s license number.
Email: When communicating with an employer, always ensure the emails originate from the company’s email address, not a personal address. Legitimate companies will always send official communications through their company email address. Many job identity theft scams involve identity thieves using personal email addresses to impersonate representatives from a legitimate employer.

Want to learn more about preventing ID theft and avoiding job identity theft scams? Contact The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or via email at info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit us online at www.theidentityadvocate.com.

Find More Identity Theft Articles

So far I thought it sounded good, this was before I did heavy . . . → Read More: I have been the victim of the infamous “check scam”?]]>
by MikeBlogs

Question by anonymous: I have been the victim of the infamous “check scam”?
So I have been looking for a job over the past months on craigslist and recently got a job offer where I cash checks for a fake insurance company.

So far I thought it sounded good, this was before I did heavy research on the scam and thought to go ahead and give the guy my information. About 2-3 days later I received a check in the mail for $ 3100 and got an email from the guy saying to deposit it and wait for it to clear. So i waited and my online bank screen showed that it had indeed “cleared” so I followed his further instructions and said to transfer $ 2600 to him in North Carolina and to keep $ 500 for my trouble. So I did all this and about a couple days later my online bank account information showed that the check came back as “returned”. So I tried to contact the guy who send me the check by email and phone, and to my surprise, no answer.

I knew that I had gotten scammed so I did some research on it and found out about this age old scam. The problem is, Ive told the bank everything and I know for a fact that I will have to pay back the money (my fault entirely) but the thing is Ive been keeping this from my parents this entire time. I don’t want them to get involved and I want to pay off that entire amount for myself. What should I say or do to stall them? Or should I just come clean, $ 2600 is a ton of money and I will definitely get major yelled at if I make them pay it off.

Best answer:

Answer by Flicker
omg.. this EXACT same thing happened to me.. seriously… it was HORRIBLE… I had to pay all the money and I got sooooo screwed…

please email me, it would be cool if we could talk about this so I can have someone else to talk to about it!

What do you think? Answer below!

The holidays bring joy and a sense of well-being for most people.  With the numerous parties, activities, family get-togethers, and holiday shopping, you may find that you are very busy and may not pay attention to potential scams and rip-offs.  Here are some tips that will keep you . . . → Read More: How Not To Fall Victim Holiday Thieves And Scams]]> How Not To Fall Victim Holiday Thieves And Scams

The holidays bring joy and a sense of well-being for most people.  With the numerous parties, activities, family get-togethers, and holiday shopping, you may find that you are very busy and may not pay attention to potential scams and rip-offs.  Here are some tips that will keep you and your money safe during the holidays:

Pickpocketing

While shopping for the many gifts you intend to give this year, pay careful attention to the presence of pickpockets.  Keep you money in a front pocket rather than in your back pocket.  If you carry a purse, make sure you hold it close to your body rather than holding it by the strap and letting it swing as you walk.  Crafty pickpockets who often work as a team steal millions of dollars each year.  One will distract the victim while the other slips in and take the victim’s money.  Protect yourself and your wallet at all times.  Do not be fooled into thinking that since you are shopping at an upscale, safe location that you will not become the victim of a pickpocket.  

Online Shopping Scams

Beware of online scams.  During the holidays there are many web sites that offer incredible deals on various merchandise, travel specials, and a number of other seemingly ‘perfect’ opportunities.  Be very careful about what you purchase online and from whom you make purchases.  If you are careless in your online shopping habits, you may find that your merchandise never arrives as promised, the deal you thought you were purchasing is non-existent, or that not only does your order arrive after the holidays are over, but when it does arrive the merchandise only vaguely resembles that pictured on the web site, if there is any similarity at all.

Credit Card Companies

Beware of credit card companies that increase your spending limit immediately before the holiday shopping season begins.  Each purchase you make will accrue interest, increasing the overall amounts you will spend the items you buy.  Also do not make the mistake of accepting offers from your credit card company to skip your payment until after the New Year.  The interest you owe will still accrue and you will end up owing more than you did initially.  Also, be very cautious about making online purchases during the holiday season.  While most merchants are reputable, there are some that will put up a web site with the express intent of obtaining credit card and debit card numbers for fraudulent purposes.

Telemarketing Scams

Telemarketing scams seem to increase during the holidays.  Never give your personal information or credit card number to an unsolicited caller.  Millions are stolen each year during the holidays due to telemarketing scams that entice consumers to make purchases immediately.  If a telemarketer tells you that the incredible offer they are giving you will only be available for the next 10 minutes, hang up immediately.  You should also be very careful when making purchases from door-to-door salesmen.  Not only could you have your personal information used in a fraudulent manner, you could risk your safety by allowing strangers into your home.

Charity Scams

Beware of mail and calls from charities that you have never heard of.  Many people have fallen victim to a charity scam that solicits money form unsuspecting consumers.  The charity promises that your tax-deductible gift will go to help the underprivileged, starving children, victims of natural disasters, etc.  Most charities are reputable, but stay away from any charity solicitation that is from an organization you have never seen before.

Wrapping Paper Station Scam

Also, beware of wrapping paper station scams.  Wrapping paper stations can seem like a great idea, but in reality you can purchase and wrap everything you need for significantly less money. However, if you do decide to use a wrapping paper station make sure you’re present at all times while your gift is being wrapped. Do not leave your gifts at the station and come back later to pick them up. The time you may save is not worth the extra expense and you may find out later that the gifts you bought were not the gifts you paid to have wrapped.

More Charity Scams Articles

From the US Treasury Dept. Explains the steps you should take if you become a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your . . . → Read More: Identity Theft Prevention | What to Do if You’re a Victim]]>

From the US Treasury Dept. Explains the steps you should take if you become a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name. Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information. ■ Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. ■ Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier. ■ Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. ■ Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information. ■ Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. ■ Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it. ■ Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and …
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Social Security Numbers have become our national ID. You dont need to give out your SSN to everyone who asks. www.IDTheftSecurity.com