The protection of your identity this holiday season, and any holiday season for that matter, is very crucial to your financial security. Criminals will be prowling the stores, food courts, and the outlet malls looking for ways to make a quick buck or a “killing.” Not murder, but a lucrative heist on your financial future.

People and things to watch out for when trying to secure your identity

• pickpockets — make sure to keep your belongings safe by keeping them near you at all times. If at all possible, keep the purses and wallets at home. Take with you only what you need: ID card or drivers license and a credit card. Stick them in the front pocket of your pants. I don’t recommend having a large sum of cash on hand.
• shoulder surfers– these are the type of individuals who like to peek over your shoulder and take mental notes of things like:
  • your pin number
  • your credit card information
  • your checking account number information
• ATM scams — these are very hard to detect. You go to your local ATM and try to withdraw money. You stick your debit card into the ATM but no money’s coming out. After you key in your pin number numerous times, you try again. But, once again no success. You decide to give up and move on to another ATM. What you really don’t know is that a tech savvy criminal has just stolen your debit card information. He has the 16 digit number as well as your pin number. What you don’t know is that a device was placed within the frame of the card slot that collects the information for the identity thief.

How to counter these identity theft threats?

In order for you not to become a victim of any of these three threats I recommend doing only what is necessary.

For example, individuals with lavish purses and bulging back pockets filled with cash are more prone to theft than those who bring only the things that are truly necessary. Necessities like a drivers license and a credit card for holiday shopping should be kept in the safest place on you. In my experience, the front pocket of your pants is the best place. I highly recommend wearing jeans so that the contents of your pocket stay there securely.

If you have a shoulder surfer looking over your shoulder you should immediately hide your personal and financial information, or the item of interest, from the perpetrator’s view. Sometimes being bold and demanding can solve the problem. However, this could be a more dangerous technique which can have violent ramifications if you decide to confront the wrong person.

The thing with ATMs is a tricky one. Which ATM is really safe from tech-savvy identity thief? Well, to be honest, no ATM is really safe. If you have to take out cash, take it out from your bank’s ATM. Preferably, use the bank that you frequent the most. I don’t recommend taking money out from a third-party ATM, like those in malls and gas stations.

Secondly, there is something you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim, even if you have to take out money from a third-party ATM. You can make sure physically that there is nothing out of the ordinary before you insert your ATM card. Loose pieces, obscure attachments, and protruding wires should be the visible signs of a possible fraud operation. I recommend taking down the phone number that is associated with the ATM, then promptly leaving the location. After you find another safe ATM, finish your shopping, and wind down for miles and miles of walking, give that phone number a ring and report what you saw at the ATM.

I wish you a safe and a happy holiday season.

Halloween is one of the coolest events a child may experience, but Halloween may pose an identity theft threat, which can turn that smile up-side-down. The problem lies with the costumes and disguises that people wear. Majority of individuals do so to go trick-or-treating. Adults like to go to late night costume parties and enjoy the momentous occasion to let loose. But there is a dark side to October 31st.

There are those that use the special occasion to commit crimes. Robberies, burglaries, and thefts are very common. All of these felony crimes can contribute to theft of personal information. Often, the perpetrators use a disguise of some sort. The mask is a usual form of concealment for such criminals.

Their intention of crime is not readily recognized because a lot of people are wearing costumes and masks on Halloween. The criminals, knowing their devious intentions very well, seize the opportunity to rob and steal. If you come in contact with masked monsters, you might be surprised to find out that they might want more than candy. You should be very vigilant and avoid situations where you may feel vulnerable or become exposed. Let your intuition guide you.

Trick or treaters usually end their candy collection campaign shortly after 7 pm, and some may go slightly later. My general rule of thumb is to stop answering the door between 7 pm and 8 pm. I let the doorbell ring, and ring, and ring after that. I just don’t open it, period. I also try to stay away from the streets, or better known as going out. Crime is tremendously increased in certain areas on Oct. 31st, so you should be aware of that.

Oh and one more thing… HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I got an email from one of my blog readers. He just received an email scam with a very personal touch. Supposedly a “lawyer” was trying to contact him to tell him that an inheritance awaits him. As most emails with such claims should be rejected right away he stopped to take a second look. He told me to notice one crucial detail: his name being used in the content of the email. This is new on the part of identity thieves and I certainly know that this change will net more identity theft victims than ever before.

You see, most of the time a scam artist sends you an email requesting your personal information. This email is often impersonal and direct. Your name is not used throughout and you are less confused about the ultimate fate of that particular email. However, incorporation of personal information such as first and last name literarily became a new fad in the identity theft world. This process in time consuming for the perpetrators as more effort is needed to put these names in each email. Don’t worry. Most likely it’s all automated, so you don’t have to feel bad for them.

The names are easy to obtain as they are part of every email address. No, they don’t log in to your account (although your email may be hijacked). They simply keep the chain letters like these:

• Forward this to 10 friends and your wish will come true, or
• Microsoft will give you a cruise vacation if you forward this email to 25 people, or
• Send this to as many people as you can so we can lower our gas prices

You get the idea. Participation in such emails can leave you exposed to identity theft. The criminals just wait for their turn to get that email, and by then it is loaded with thousands of email addresses. They simply extract the names and email addresses from the email and apply it to their own database. From there, they use a program to input your name in crucial spots of the content and Presto! An email scam is ready for launch.

By now you probably know what I have to say about email scams. Delete them, spam filter them, burn them, whatever you need to do to get rid of them, DO IT! If you get a more personal email requesting for contact or personal information you must understand that it is most likely a scam which can cost you your identity, hard earned credit score, and your sanity. So, don’t kid yourself this email is really going to make you rich. And, if you are not sure, consult with someone more knowledgeable to avoid any negative consequences.

Free identity theft check. Isn’t that what is expected in the 21st century. It sure is, and I have a way for you to check for identity theft, FREE! You may not believe how many paid services are there to check identity theft. Well, there aren’t many, and the ones that do exist will funnel your hard earned dollars to do what you should be doing yourself to begin with.

With the advent of artificial intelligence, the Internet, and avaricious entrepreneurs you may find yourself offered a panacea. The solution to all worldly troubles won’t save you from identity theft, even if you have a monitoring or checking service instituted.

The free identity theft check is done in a following manner:

1. Check your bills, bank statements, and even junk mail for inconsistencies. Too busy? Hire someone to do that for you. But that could be an id theft risk in itself.
2. Check you online accounts for signs of tampering. This includes your credit card and bank accounts, as well as your email, MySpace or FaceBook accounts, and etc.
3. Check your credit report for free at least 3 times a year. Look for inconsistencies in your personal information, derogatory reports, and open accounts (even with good standing). If you do this online you have an opportunity to contest false reports and correct any infractions. All this from the comforts of your home.
4. Go to your local county building to access county records. You can do so via the Internet as well. You will be surprised how much information you can find as it pertains to identity theft. A neighbor of mine found out that someone that stole his identity had warrants issued for his arrest. So if my neighbor was pulled over for a minor speeding infraction, for example, he would go to jail and face charges that didn’t really pertain to him. He thanked me just for this tip alone after reporting identity theft to the police, credit bureaus, and financial institutions he did business with.
5. Check your computer for viruses, spyware, and other malicious code that can heavily contribute to fraud and identity theft. Anti virus and other software can help prevent identity theft.
6. Repeat when done. Add more items on your checklist as you learn to do these six crucial steps to check for fraud and identity theft.

In the end, there may be a service that can check for some identity theft situations, but majority of them are controlled by you; not a machine or another person. I check for identity theft as often as I can and I highly recommend you do the same.

Plenty of banks are now closing or are being bought out. The most important question may be that which relates to your personal information. Is your identity safe?

The answer for the most part is: YES, but…

There may be banking institutions that may contribute to the rising statistics of identity theft. These financial establishments may put you at risk during their closing or merging process. As most of the information about customers is stored on computer servers it is viable that this same data may leak out due to negligence or employee retribution.

With the economy the way it is, people are struggling to provide certain necessities for their families. Imagine if you were to work for one of these failing financial institutions and then find out without suitable prior notice that your job is no more. You are fired, let go off, and without financial means. Certain employees may feel angry, opportunistic, or maybe both. With this mix of emotions their priorities and law-abiding stature may change. These same people who may have never thought of running a red light at an intersection are not considering to be white collar criminals.

Surely, the information is protected and there may be levels of protection that are present within a bank. However, with mass confusion and resentment the opportunities for identity theft which were never explored may in the end be executed.

In reality the information of customers and clients may never be safe. It is a fact that not all people can be trusted and this statement applies for computers also. It isn’t my objective to have you resent the human race, but it is my contention that an “eye opening” is overdue.

In reality there is not much you can do with regards to identity theft and bank closings. Even if you take out the money from your accounts, there is a trail of personal data that stays in the bank’s system. My advice is to hope and be positive. Chances of something like that happening are very small, but then who really knows?

Identity theft victims are created by millions world wide each day, and since identity theft is a crime of opportunity, most don’t find out until it’s too late.

If you have become a victim please don’t hesitate to report identity theft. Trust me, every second counts.

The victims of identity theft will not be named here, but anyone can become one without trying too hard. Kids and adults alike are subject to this white collar crime. Small and big corporations are swindled from millions of dollars resulting from identity fraud. Poor and rich people fall prey and the number of identity theft victims rises and rises each year.

Types of identity theft victims

Many victims of identity theft contribute to their own demise by being reckless with their personal information, but most people fall victim because they were deliberately, or not so deliberately, targeted.

A person that can be deliberately targeted is one that is usually known to the perpetrator, and as common sense would have it, the other type of targeting revolves around the unlucky individuals who left their personal info in their trash, for example. Those individuals don’t have to have a relationship with the assailant. They are just a random hit.

Common mistakes an identity theft victim can make

The most common mistakes of people who fall victim to identity theft are often associated with the sheer comprehension of what identity theft really is. Even though this form of crime is vigorously publicized in the media, the overall understanding of id theft is very low. On the other side, the level of ignorance is tremendously high, this includes those who know a little but rely on the concept of luck to protect them from identity theft. Unfortunately this is a short-lived approach that can turn disastrous.

Shredders can prevent identity theft, however very few people utilize them even though they have become very affordable in the recent years. Surely, tearing up documents by hand is an alternative, but this method is very easily reverse-engineered by identity thieves and other criminals. Don’t take the chance of becoming a victim.

So, start learning about the ramifications identity theft can have on your life and your family, especially your children. Child identity theft has become one of the easiest crimes to perpetrate, as criminals have found a criminal platform that most likely won’t be discovered for years to come. Think about it, it is much easier to hide behind a child’s identity with a clean credit record, fresh social security number, and virtually no protection initiatives directed at protecting kids from identity theft.

Well, there are things you can do to alleviate these common problems. One is to read this blog more often and utilize the “you may also like” suggestions below the individual posts. Another is to seek information at other venues. Last one is easy. Well, it is for some. Please utilize your own common sense and I promise you that chances of becoming just another victim statistic are going to tremendously decrease.

The most common question I get is: What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a white collar crime that is able to touch everyone. This nondiscriminatory crime creates millions of victims annually. These id theft casualties compose of young adults, seasoned retirees, and even children. Identity theft protection is highly recommended when your personal info is vulnerable, but identity theft prevention can alleviate the stresses associated with personal information theft. If it is too late, you might have to report identity theft and make sure that all negative entries are cleaned from your credit record.

These vague statements are true, but how are you to do all these things? What is identity theft protection? How can I prevent identity theft? Where do I report identity theft? And, how do I clear my credit record from personal identity theft?

These questions are not easy to answer. The main purpose of My Identity Theft Blog is to provide you with in-depth analysis of id theft and fraud, provide you with prevention techniques, help you choose the right identity theft protection services, and assist you with the often lengthy clean up process if you have fallen victim to identity thieves. Each id theft question and topic deserves its own explanation. Thus, it can’t be answered in one session. Subscribe to this identity theft blog to get up-to-date information.

Identity theft scams are rampant both in the real world and online. Bank fraud, credit card theft, and the misuse of social security numbers is often a result of identity theft fraud. Identity theft and identity theft fraud are essentially the same concepts but they are somewhat different. When someone commits identity theft it is usually to steal someone’s information. However, when that someone uses this information for illicit purposes it then becomes fraud. The accepted notion that someone is a victim of identity theft actually means that the criminals have perpetrated illegal transactions using the victims identity, essentially committing fraud.

Exactly one week ago I wrote about an identity protection program by Visa for online shoppers. Now, I stumbled upon MaserCard SecureCode which is also aimed at protecting your identity in a similar fashion the Verified by Visa program protects from fraud.

With the Master Card Secure Code you pick a code only known to you. This code is associated with your credit or debit card that features the MC logo.

The cool thing is that the program is free and allows you to shop online safely, or safer as some might say, at select merchants. Why select merchants? The problem with both the Visa and Master Card services is that it hasn’t been accepted by all online retailers. This is often because the online stores are not aware of the programs. Also, preexisting feuds with the credit card conglomerates may have led online companies to opt-out from participating.

What you can do to protect yourself online is to shop at the Internet stores that use Secure Code. If you found a better deal at a business that doesn’t carry the Master Card Secure Code logo you are still okay to shop, as MasterCard already has protection functions built in the credit card. For more info on that contact your credit card company.

The more you know about identity theft, fraud, and your credit card, the better. I wish you a great day.

Social Security number identity theft is a growing problem in the United States. If you are new to this you may wonder how identity theft and social security tie into the mix. Your social security card is a document which is most susceptible to identity theft and should be kept in a safe place, not your wallet.

What is Social Security Identity Theft?

Social Security identity theft is when someone knowingly or unknowingly has your social security number for the purpose of credit card fraud, potentially malicious impersonation, loan fraud, and obtaining a job legally within the U.S. borders. These are only a few uses, but they constitute the majority of crimes related to social security numbers and identity theft.

The Identity Theft Problem

I think one of the biggest problems out there is the use of social security numbers for immigration purposes. It is often the illegal immigrants who possess a fake social security number. This may be known or unknown to them as many new comers don’t understand out system; what a social security number is and how it is obtained. It is those same gullible, or not, immigrants that get the right papers to start a new life in America.

This would pose no problem only if people who own the real rights to the social security number were not victimized. Nationally, hundreds of thousands of people find out that on an average their social security number has been shared 30 times on the black market. In turn the people who also have these social security numbers can find employment using legal means of getting in the door: yes using your social security number.

By all means, I am not against immigration and equal employment to all. In fact, I am an immigrant myself, and knowing the history of the U.S., nearly everyone is a descendant from alien countries and continents; maybe not in their lifetime, but through their parents, grandparents, and grand-grandparents.

The sheer problem is that social security number theft creates problems for those that were not aware. Victims are often left with immense credit problems, financial burdens, and a feeling of being violated. I know that some of you reading this may even know someone that is illegally within the United States and most likely they are using someone else’s social security number.

The Misconceptions Associated With Social Security ID Theft

You may have been told that these social security numbers belong to deceased people. Hence, the most pragmatic social solution is to say that “these people won’t need them anyway.” Wrong! Firstly, the Social Security Administration cycles the numbers years after and attaches them to newborns and immigrants. Secondly, the concept of stealing someone’s identity, even if they are dead, is still wrong and immoral as the opportunity for fraud is much higher. Finally, immigrants who may possess fake papers may often be criminals hiding from the authorities in their native country. These individuals have the ability to create a path of destruction without being held accountable.

For the most part, identity theft is a faceless crime and its victims may seem like they are so far away. However, the damage of this crime is very real, painful, and expensive to clear.

If you like this post about Social Security Number Identity Theft please share it with others, and as always, feel free to comment.

With the rise of identity theft reporting the crime has become the next logical step. However reporting identity theft in certain municipalities may make you wish you never became a victim in the first place.

The problem lies in reporting identity theft to the authorities. Some police departments are not yet identity theft victim friendly. That means that for a person that reports identity theft at the wrong police station a new barrier in the recovery process may emerge.

Certain police departments have either never handled such cases, most likely because victims of id theft never stepped forward, or because they are just overwhelmed with the influx of identity fraud. Of course, proper training in taking identity theft reports is something left to be desired.

By no means do all law enforcement departments experience these hindrances, but there is a gap in cognition of the crime amongst those entities.

A lot of people think that identity theft reporting is something they should forget about especially if they are victims of identity theft via the Internet. Reporting Internet fraud should be taken with the same seriousness as reporting credit card theft, identity theft fraud, and other crimes.

If you are looking for more information on the process of identity theft reporting take a look at Report Identity Theft, a post I wrote a while back that will help you understand the process.