David Bach The Automatic Millionaire TELLS YOU HOW TO STAY SAFE FROM IDENTITY THEFT!

Hmm... Who in blue blazes is
David Bach, "The Automatic Millionaire"...?!?


Well, anyway...

READ ON!

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How Identity Thieves Can Steal Your Life

by David Bach
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Posted on Monday, July 2, 2007, 12:00AM

Before I wrote "Six Ways to Avoid Identity Theft" last November, I was always careful to do the typical things you hear about to avoid becoming a victim. I bought a paper shredder, I didn't throw away my receipts, and so on.

After learning that there were 9 million cases of identity theft in 2006, which resulted in an average loss of $6,383 per victim, I realized that there was still a lot more I could do to protect myself. So I signed up for an identity protection program with myFICO, stopped using ATM machines located outside New York City delis, and stopped giving out my Social Security number as freely as I had been.

Five Ways to Stay Safe

What really got me thinking about the issue again, though, is a great new book by Frank Abagnale called "Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan."

You've already heard of Frank Abagnale if you saw the movie "Catch Me if You Can." Leonardo DiCaprio played Abagnale in that film, which is loosely based on the author's early life and shows how he got away with passing over $2 million in bad checks. Abagnale served five years in prison and has since turned his life around, dedicating the last two and a half decades to helping our government and thousands of corporations and consumers deal with the problem of white-collar crime.

Here are five of my favorite tips from his book:

1. As careful as you are, your personal information is out there.

What first blew me away in this book is how truly risky it is to give out your Social Security number. It wasn't that long ago that people wrote their number on their checks -- something you should never do.

In 2006, there were about 230 million Social Security numbers held by individuals. As Abagnale puts it, those are 230 million targets of opportunity for identity thieves. If someone gets their hands on your name, birth date, and Social Security number, that's all they need to become you.

In fact, right now anyone who knows your name can log on to various web sites and access your Social Security number in a matter of seconds. Don't believe me? Check out the NetDetective web site. For $29, an identity thief can use it to pull up not only your Social Security number and date of birth, but also your employer name, salary, and the name of your spouse! Chilling.

Abagnale identifies web sites like NetDetective and others for the sole purpose of education. While there's always a chance that you risk educating potential thieves by sharing such knowledge, people need to know that these sites exist. Because as careful as you might be, your information is out there and readily available -- and believe it or not, it's all perfectly legal. Which leads me to the next point.

2. Don't be so generous with your personal information.

As Abagnale points out, even though your information is readily available, you don't need to hand it over to thieves on a silver platter. Yet everyone seems to want your Social Security number, from the video store to the health club to the dentist.

Why do so many businesses and organizations request this private data? Simple -- because "it's on the form." But just because you're asked for the information doesn't mean you have to give it.

Who does have the right to it? Your employer, the DMV, welfare and tax departments, and institutions that handle transactions involving your taxes, like your bank. If you're unsure, the Social Security Administration recommends that you ask the following questions to anyone asking for your Social Security number:

• Why is my number needed?

• How will my number be used?

• What happens if I refuse to give my number?

• What law requires me to give the number?

For example, when my dentist's office asked for my Social Security number and I said "no," they still cleaned my teeth and took my credit card for payment.

3. Opt out wherever and whenever possible.

The fine print -- it'll get you every time. Whether you're completing an application for a new bank account, credit card, or sweepstakes, you need to read the fine print carefully to find out how to opt out, which means your personal information won't be shared.

Abagnale provides a wakeup call about sharing seemingly harmless personal information without getting a guarantee that it won't be sold or shared. When this happens, he explains, your information enters the public domain and becomes fodder for the ever-expanding information industry. And you have no way of knowing what's in these information files, which soon become permanent.

So try this. Log on to your bank's web site. Chances are that if you scroll all the way to the bottom you'll see a "Privacy" or "Privacy Statement" link. Click it and read what your bank's privacy policy is. It should provide instructions on how to choose not to have your personal information shared -- that is, to opt out. If so, protect your privacy and opt out today.

4. Monitor your credit automatically.

Anyone who's read up on identity theft knows that it's absolutely critical to check your credit report regularly. But Abagnale goes a step further by recommending that you subscribe to a credit monitoring service.

To that end, he's behind the development of a program called PrivacyGuard that provides unlimited copies of your entire credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. This service notifies you within 24 hours whenever someone applies for credit in your name. There's a monthly fee of $12, but like insurance, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind and protection.

When I subscribed to the identity theft protection service at myFICO, I didn't give much consideration to the fact that it only monitors one of the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion), or that its email fraud alerts can take as long as a full week to be sent. (In fact, when I recently applied for a new credit card, I didn't receive an email alert at all. Granted, it may have been caught by my spam filter -- something to be aware of.)

Take Frank Abagnale's advice and make sure your credit monitoring service looks at all three credit bureaus and sends fraud alerts within 24 hours.

5. Write your congressperson.

There's a bill called the Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act that, if passed, would prohibit the sale and display of Social Security numbers and limit their use by government agencies and businesses without the consent of the individual.

The bill would prevent the government from posting Social Security numbers in public records on the Internet. It would also restrict a business's ability to require that customers provide their Social Security numbers, and would prevent them from requiring the number when consumers purchase goods and services.

Finally, it would authorize the Social Security Administration to issue penalties of up to $5,000 against anyone who misuses a Social Security number, and a thief who uses someone's number to assume their identity could get up to five years in prison.

Let your voice be heard. Find out who your state representative is and how to contact him or her in order to let them know you want this bill passed.



The Automatic Millionaire is the registered trademark of David Bach and FinishRich Media, LLC.

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AHH - NOW A FELLOW L.P. TELLS US HOW TO REALLY STAY SAFE FROM IDENTITY THEFT...!

NOW THIS GUY IS NOT HOKEY LIKE THE "AUTOMATIC MILLIONAIRE" OVER THERE, EH!? SURE ISN'T!


READ ON...


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Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
by Lomit Patel
Friday, April 13, 2007provided byTrustedID

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. More than 100 million United States residents have had personal information stolen since early 2005, according to a Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) survey.

While not all data breaches result in identity theft, approximately ten million people fall victim to identity thieves every year. In 2007, identity theft will continue to grow unless consumers become more aware and proactive.

The good news is that there are many things you can do protect your identity in the New Year. Making and keeping our recommended resolutions will help ensure that 2007 will be a fraud-free year for you.


More from TrustedID.com:



• Top 5 Identity Theft Prevention Tips

• StolenID Search

• Latest Identity Theft News



Resolution #1: Educate Yourself

While most people know the basic rules for protecting their physical well-being and possessions, too many do not know the basics of protecting their identity.

Identity theft occurs when a criminal uses your personal information-such as your name, Social Security number, bank account number-to commit fraud. With stolen information, identity thieves can obtain credit cards, utilities services, loans, medical services, and even jobs.

Identity thieves use many methods, including:

• dumpster diving
• stealing wallets
• posing as legitimate companies in e-mails and on phone calls to entice you into sharing sensitive data
• hacking into corporate databases

A thief can steal your identity with as little information as your name and social security number. Once you've been victimized, it can take years to restore your credit and name.

However, if you know what to look for and how it happens, you can detect identity theft before it happens, minimizing losses.

To find out if your personal information has been compromised, conduct a search on StolenID Search, a free service that scans more than two million pieces of compromised personal information. Your search results will tell you if your credit card, driver's license, Social Security, or bank account numbers have been used inappropriately.

Resolution #2: Check Your Credit

Checking your credit report regularly is the best way to detect new, unauthorized account activity. Resolve to keep an up-to-date watch on your credit throughout the year and report any suspicious activity as soon as you see it.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months.

Since your credit report impacts everything from loans to job offers, take advantage of this opportunity to make sure your report is accurate.

Resolution #3: Exercise Your Right to Opt-Out

A significant amount of stolen personal information comes from "pre-approved" credit and insurance offers. Thieves often steal these applications to apply for credit in your name.

Exercise your right to "opt-out" of receiving these offers by calling (888) 5-OPT-OUT or opting out online at www.optoutprescreen.com.

Resolution #4: Transact Safely

Identity theft is often associated with online buying and unsecured Web sites that compromise your personal information. Even if shopping sites are secure, Web sites often leave personal information and financial data on a computer's hard drive after a purchase is made.

Viruses and spyware -- software that covertly gathers your information over the Internet connection without your knowledge -- can be used to steal passwords and account numbers from your computer.

Safeguard your online transactions by following these simple tips:

• Protect your computer with essential security software, including a software firewall and antivirus protection.

• Enable your browser's privacy settings.

• Never give out your personal information in response to an e-mail, a Web site you've come to through an external link, or a pop-up screen.

• Don't get pressured into providing personal information. Online scams often use scare tactics, and may threaten to disable an account until you update your account information. Be sure to contact the organization directly to confirm the authenticity of their request.

Resolution #5: Invest in Proactive Protection

The best way to avoid identity theft is to stop it before it happens. Adding a "Credit Freeze" or "Fraud Alert" on your credit report at the three major credit bureaus can help you avoid identity theft.

This stops identity thieves in their tracks by locking your credit down and preventing lenders from offering new credit in your name unless they verify your identity via phone or e-mail.

By knowing the basics of identity theft, you can go a long way towards fighting fraud. However, no matter how good your knowledge, maximum benefits will only be achieved if you make prevention a life-long habit.

Copyrighted, Trusted ID. All Rights Reserved.



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MORE FACTS - FROM OUR FRIEND LOMIT!

(No jokes about them making you want to vomit now - please!)


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Seniors Beware of Identity Thieves
by Lomit Patel
Friday, April 13, 2007provided byTrustedID

James Tansor didn't think twice about locking his briefcase in the trunk of his rental car while he ran into a Kinko's.

Tansor, 65, had traveled to Hawaii on business countless times, and felt as comfortable there as he did at home in Washington, D.C. But when he returned, Tansor's briefcase, which contained his Sears credit card, personal checkbook, and an expense account statement, was gone.

A mere twenty minutes later, someone went to the Aiea, Hawaii, Sears with his credit card. An hour after that, someone wired more than $2,000 from Tansor's D.C. checking account to a Western Union office located just blocks from where Tansor's briefcase was stolen. The thieves were just getting started.


More from TrustedID.com:



• Top 5 Identity Theft Prevention Tips

• StolenID Search

• Latest Identity Theft News



"It's amazing what they were able to do," said Tansor, 65, whom detectives believe was a victim of an identity theft ring operating on Honolulu, HI. "These guys could eek money from the smallest piece of information."

The more than $30,000 spending spree -- including a $10,000 Sears bill, an $11,500 hotel bill, and numerous wire transfers from his checking account -- was not unexpected. What surprises him still was the thieves' ability to not only get new credit in his name, but to change his address with his bank.

According to his bank, Tansor, who's lived and worked in Washington, D.C., for decades, had moved to Hawaii. His statements were going to Honolulu.

Last year, thieves stole the identities of 8.9 million Americans, according to a report co-released by the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy & Research. The thefts cost victims $56.6 million, averaging $6,383 per person.

People over the age of 50 make up more than 20 percent of those victims, according to the Federal Trade Commission's most recent statistics.

The threat of identity theft is a hot issue at the AARP, AARP attorney Sally Hurme said. The nonprofit organization, open to people age 50 and older, looks for "every opportunity and every venue" to educate its more than 35 million members about the crime, Hurme said.

The AARP is also aggressively working to pass 'credit freeze' laws nationwide, in an effort to protect its members -- and others -- from this crime.

Like Tansor, some older victims are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, increasingly savvy criminals have good reason to target older consumers:

Households run by someone 50 years of age or older control more than 75 percent of the nation's privately-held wealth, according to the Federal Reserve Board's 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances. That amounts to some $16 trillion dollars.

In addition to healthy bank accounts, older consumers have well-established credit, making them attractive targets, said Jay Foley, Director of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego, CA.

What may make many older Americans easy targets as well is their tendency to carry Medicare cards, which list the beneficiary's social security number. Once a thief has that number, he has a key to your life.

For that reason, Foley's group and the California-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, both have one identity theft prevention tip aimed specifically at seniors: Don't carry your Medicare card.

"We're constantly suggesting that seniors make a photocopy of their card, front and back, and cut out -- not black out -- the last four digits of their social security number," Folely said. Doctors and hospitals won't deny emergency or lifesaving medical care because the last four digits are missing from that card, Folely said.

Safeguard your identity by:

• Forgoing paper statements and checks to bank and pay bills online. Without Tansor's checkbook and expense account statement, thieves couldn't have accessed his bank balance, or used the credit card number listed on his statement.

• Using a locked mailbox, or a mail slot in your front door. Mail theft is often the first step in hijacking your identity.

• Shredding personal information.

• Reviewing credit reports regularly.

• Carrying a photocopy of your Medicare card with the last four digits of your social security number removed.

• Adding a "Credit Freeze" or "Fraud Alert" on your credit report at the three major credit bureaus.

Copyrighted, Trusted ID. All Rights Reserved.


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Now THIS will make you wanna vomit your heart out, I'm sure...


Sorry, Lomit...!


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Social Networking Sites: A Haven for Identity Thieves

by Lomit Patel
Friday, April 13, 2007provided byTrustedID

Social networking sites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com encourage members to meet new people, share pictures and information, and interact with others in online communities.

However, while social networking sites present many opportunities for members to connect with others on both a personal and business level, they also expose users to people who may have bad intentions, including identity thieves and other cybercriminals.

Bernadette Auert, a 34-year-old administrative assistant, says that she would never open links from spam e-mails or respond to offers in pop-up windows. She uses smart passwords and takes every precaution to protect her financial information when shopping and banking online.


More from TrustedID.com:



• Top 5 Identity Theft Prevention Tips

• StolenID Search

• Latest Identity Theft News



But, like millions of other social networking users, she admits that she lets her guard down when she logs into MySpace.com.

Most people exercise great caution when it comes to revealing personal information in a public place or when surfing online, but don't think twice before posting all kinds of intimate information on social networking sites.

Research conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) reveals that a whopping 74 percent of social networking users divulge personal information, such as their e-mail address, name and birthday.

Not only do they reveal this potentially harmful information, but they also engage in other risky behaviors, such as downloading files and responding to unsolicited e-mails from fellow members.

NCSA research shows that 83 percent download unknown files from other people's profiles -- an action that could lead to identity theft, computer spyware, viruses and other risks.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are counting on this lack of caution, as they target the millions of users that frequent social networking sites. Because people reveal personal information on these sites, it is easy for cybercriminals to look at user profiles and use the information they find to customize their attacks.

These targeted phishing attacks are known as "spear phishing", and social networking sites present unprecedented opportunities for these scams. For example, a spear phisher may pose as one of your social networking contacts or friends to create phony messages designed to trick you into revealing more personal data, such as your credit card or phone number.

Auert experienced such an attack when a phisher, posing as one of her friends, sent her a link to a photo. Without hesitation, she clicked on the link and was directed to a site that asked for her logon information and email address.

Fortunately, she noticed that the address bar did not read "MySpace.com" and closed it immediately. If she had provided this information, the phisher could have gained access to all kinds of information from her MySpace.com account.

According to Ron Texeria, executive director of NCSA, social networking users need to understand that sharing personal data may make them targets for online attacks. If a malicious person obtains your social security number, name and birthday, he or she may have enough information to hack into your financial records and compromise your personal information.

Using information that you offer about your home, hobbies, interests, and friends, a cybercriminal could impersonate a trusted friend or convince you that they have the authority to request personal or financial data.

Fortunately, you can minimize their risks of becoming victim by understanding the potential dangers of these sites. Here are a few simple rules to follow when socializing online:

• Beware of scammers. Criminals scan social networking sites to find potential victims for customized scams, from phony lotteries to illegitimate business opportunities to fake high school reunions. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people and setting your profile to private to prevent uninvited members from viewing your personal information.

• Exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading files. Scam artists often post links to infected ad banners in their profiles. Avoid opening links or downloads from strangers, and never enter your password or account number unless you've verified the site's authenticity. When in doubt, always call the site owner to confirm.

• Protect your personal information. Identity thieves can easily find enough photos and personal information on social networking sites to steal your identity. Avoid posting your full name, financial data, social security number, street address, birth date, and phone number.

• Be proactive in your efforts to thwart identity thieves. Adding a "Credit Freeze" or "Fraud Alert" on your credit report at the three major credit bureaus can help you avoid identity theft. This stops identity thieves in their tracks by locking your credit down and preventing lenders from offering new credit in your name unless they verify your identity via phone or e-mail. You can also conduct a free search on StolenID Search to see if your data has been compromised.

Social networking sites provide great opportunities for people to meet and share experiences. But with this freedom comes a level of risk and the need to exercise caution. By using your best judgment and following these safety tips, you'll enjoy the benefits of social networking and avoid the costly risks.

Copyrighted, Trusted ID. All Rights Reserved.

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Identity Theft Resource Center

Top 5 Identity Theft Prevention Tips

There are some important proactive steps that every consumer can take to safeguard their identity. We like to recommend these top five things everyone should do, or at least know about, to protect themselves and their family from becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. Buy a shredder: Shredding all your personal information before tossing it in the trash will prevent dumpster divers from fishing out your pre-approved credit card offers. Shredders that cut lengthwise and crosswise are ideal as it minimizes the chances that potential thieves can tape your documents back together.

2. Change your passwords monthly: Do you bank online? Or store personal information on your laptop? If so, it would be wise to change your password at least once a month and try to select passwords that will not be obvious to potential hackers (birthday, anniversary, pet name, etc.).

3. Freeze your credit: If your data has been breached (electronically or via dumpster divers), there is not much an identity thief can do if your credit has been frozen... there is no way someone can open a line of credit (credit cards, house/car loans, etc) without access to your credit information, and you can say good-bye to those pesky and potentially dangerous pre-approved credit card offers.

All TrustedID customers have had their credit freeze implemented, as part of their IDFreeze subscription. There are several ways a person can go about freezing their credit, but Suze Orman recommends IDFreeze as the easiest and least time consuming way to do it. Click here to learn more about IDFreeze.

4. Beware of phishing scams: Scam artists "phish" for victims by pretending to be banks, stores or government agencies. They do this over the phone, in emails and in the regular mail. Don't give out your personal information, unless you made the contact. Don't respond to a request to verify your account number or password. Legitimate companies do not request this kind of information in this way.

5. Protect your computer from spyware and viruses: Spyware programs can collect many different types of personal information about you like passwords and credit card numbers. Always use firewall, virus and spyware protection software that you update regularly like Norton Internet Security 2006. Only download free software from sites you know and trust.



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Identity Theft and the Holidays - 'Tis the Season for Protection


The holiday season is the season for giving, but this is not always the case. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also peak stealing season for identity thieves, con artists, and grinches of all sorts. These criminals are out in full force during the biggest shopping season of the year, just waiting for the right opportunity to take advantage of stressed and distracted shoppers.

With the excitement of the holiday season, Erica Smith, a 32-year-old nurse, ignored the red flags of identity theft that came last December. When she received a letter from an unfamiliar bank regarding a credit card application, she assumed it was a mistake and tossed it in the trash. The holidays came and went without incident, but the warning signs soon popped up in the form of phone calls from stores and car dealerships, following up on recent credit applications in Smith's name. She realized that she was a victim of one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States - identity theft.

Unfortunately, it was too late to prevent the damage from being done. An unknown identity thief had already run up large bills with two different cell phone companies and a cable company totaling $2,300. She informed the police but there have been no arrests so far. And after several months, she has yet to fully clear her name and credit report. The fraudulent accounts are closed but the black marks on her credit remain.

This nightmare, unfortunately, is a common one. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identity theft affects ten million American victims each year, costing individuals and businesses $52 billion. And that number is expected to increase as identity thieves become more sophisticated and as the technique is further embraced by large criminal organizations.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep identity thieves from stealing your credit card information and other personal data - especially if you understand what they do and how they do it. TrustedID offers the following simple yet effective guidelines to help you reduce your risk of identity theft this holiday season.

Online Shopping

* Use only authenticated Web sites to conduct business online. Before submitting personal or financial information through a Web site, check for the locked padlock image - - on your browser's status bar or look for "https://" (rather than http://) in your browser window. If you have any concerns about the authenticity of a Web page, call the site's owner to confirm the URL.
* Before buying anything online, make sure the site is secure. According to the Better Business Bureau, secure sites will have "https" instead of "http" in the Web address of the purchasing information page.
* Be careful with your passwords. Use "strong" passwords that contain both letters and numbers and change these passwords frequently.
* Be aware of phishing and pharming scams. In these scams, criminals use fake emails and Web sites to impersonate legitimate organizations. Exercise caution when opening emails and instant messages from unknown sources.
* Exercise your right to block unapproved access to your credit files. This is one of the best ways to prevent your information from being misused.

Shopping at the Mall

* Be aware of people standing nearby when you are making purchases. Always look over your shoulder - identity thefts have been known to copy credit card information or even take pictures of cards on their cell phone cameras.
* Shopping malls are especially crowded during the holidays, so carry your wallet or purse securely. Leave your social security card and checkbook at home.
* Write "Check Photo ID" in permanent ink on your credit card, near your signature. This is an effective way to remind cashiers to check your identity before processing your card.
* After the holidays are over, you may not want to see your credit card statements. But it is important to check your bills carefully for unfamiliar purchases. Save your holiday shopping receipts in one place so you can easily validate that your billing statement is accurate.



You can never be too safe when it comes to your personal information. By understanding the risks and taking extra precautions, you can give yourself the best holiday gift of all: peace of mind that your identity is safe.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season this year, consider enrolling in a consumer protection service, such as IDFreeze, a suite of services designed to eliminate your exposure to identity theft and credit fraud. Visit TrustedID.com for more information on how you can proactively protect access to your credit and stay safe for seasons to come.


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College Identity Theft

Frank Skretch was counting the days before his July 2005 wedding when someone suggested he check his credit - just in case he needed a car after he said 'I do.'

"I was just out of college," said Skretch, now 25. "I didn't even know what a credit report was."

He learned fast. The credit bureaus believed the Maryland man had lived in places he'd never been, and owed almost $3,000 for cellular and telephone accounts he'd never opened. In his naïveté, Skretch still didn't realize his identity had been stolen. "I thought it was a mix-up," he said.

It clicked only after his mother remembered that someone had stolen Skretch's wallet in the summer of 2002, just before he began his senior year at the University of Maryland. His social security card had been tucked inside. At the time, Skretch was unconcerned. He had no idea that he'd become just one of many college students victimized by identity theft each year.

Last year, 8.9 million Americans' identities were stolen, according to a report co-released by the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy & Research. The report put the cost at a staggering $56.6 million, averaging $6,383 per person.

College students fall squarely within the group the Federal Trade Commission's most recent statistics show are most often victimized: those between the ages of 18 and 29. Like Skretch, students generally don't monitor their credit, or safeguard personal information. Add to that the innumerable ways schools use students' social security numbers (SSNs), and identity thefts are inevitable.

Universities must keep some SSNs, but students' numbers are overused, said Walter Bayer, Director of Audits for the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General in Philadelphia. Among other things, SSNs are tied to student numbers, used to report grades, and listed on class rosters, according to recent reports by the SSA's Offices of the Inspector General.

Skretch carried his social security card because he needed his number on campus, and couldn't remember it.

When Heather Malde's purse was stolen this May, her social security card was inside it because she'd needed her card to register for classes at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale. Within weeks, her bank had closed her checking account because someone using her social security card as an ID had bounced $5,000 in checks.

With millions of SSNs stored in a labyrinth of campus computers, it's no surprise that approximately a third of more than 300 data breaches reported since February 2005 were at colleges and universities. The breaches put more than 2.6 million people at risk for identity theft, according to data compiled by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer organization based in California.

Schools are slowly changing how they use SSNs, Bayer said. But that won't protect students from themselves.

"Students aren't careful," said Rohe Mascharak, an 18-year-old University of Florida sophomore. If students don't lose their wallets partying, they throw their information out, she said. "No one shreds."

Malde, now at UF, still tosses bank statements. Kristian Hoysradt, an American University sophomore, even threw away inactivated credit cards this summer. Their trash is gold in thieves' hands, said Richard Elias, a detective with the University of California Los Angeles police. Many of Elias' identity theft cases begin - and end - with mail theft.

Late last year, UCLA police arrested a woman the day after she tried intercepting an American Express card outside one of UCLA's off-campus apartments. In her car were lists naming current and former UCLA students, including some who'd filed identity theft reports with Elias earlier.

"I get calls from former students who can't get mortgages because someone put them $30,000 in debt while they were at UCLA," Elias said.

Skretch hasn't tried buying a house. But despite his continuing efforts to clear his credit, he couldn't get a car loan. The theft is always in the back of his mind.

To ensure your identity remains yours alone, forego paper statements to bank online, shred personal information, and review credit reports regularly. Finally, padlock your credit with IDFreeze, a suite of tools that empowers you to proactively control your credit. For more on identity theft and IDFreeze visit TrustedID, Inc. at www.trustedid.com.


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Identity Theft Information

According to the FBI, identity theft is one of the fastest-growing U.S. crimes. Studies show that about one in five families has been a victim.

Identity theft can occur in a variety of ways. Thieves can steal your Social Security or credit card numbers, then change the address on your bills. They then use your information to impersonate you, buying or renting products or using your personal information to commit criminal acts.

Most damaging of all, you often don't know you're a victim of this federal crime until months later, when you are unexpectedly turned down for a loan or get a call from a collection agency about an account you never opened. You might even get a call from the police about a crime you didn't commit.

And once identity theft happens to you, it can take many months and thousands of dollars to restore your credit.

Isn't it time to take steps to protect yourself against this devastating crime? The truth is identity thieves are extremely smart and know how to act quickly in damaging your identity and credit.

How Do Identity Thieves Do It?

First, they steal your personal information by :

* Going through your mail or trash, looking for bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, and tax information.
* Stealing personal information from your wallet or purse such as identification, credit, or bank cards.
* Completing change-of-address forms to redirect your mail.
* Acquiring personal information you share on unsecured sites on the Internet.
* Buying personal information about you from an inside source -- for example, a store employee that gets your information from a credit application or by "skimming" your credit card information when you make a purchase.
* Getting your personnel records at work.

Then they use your personal information by :

* Opening new credit card accounts using your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquency maybe reported on your credit report.
* Establishing phone or cellular service in your name.
* Opening a bank account in your name and writing bad checks on the account.
* Counterfeiting checks or debit cards, and draining your bank account.
* Buying cars by taking out auto loans in your name.
* Calling your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, changing the address on the account. Bills get sent to the new address, so you may not realize there's a problem until you check your credit report.
* Filing for bankruptcy using your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name.

IDFreeze is the only complete solution for protecting your identity and credit. This differs from "credit monitoring" services which only help notify individuals after they have already become the victims of identity theft. Click here to learn more about IDFreeze and get the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have taken the right steps to protect your identity and credit.



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Identity Theft Victim's Guide

Identity theft can all start in strange ways: a credit card you've never applied for shows up in your mail box. Perhaps a debt collector calls about a credit card you've never had in your wallet. And so begins the painful experience of discovering your identity has been stolen. The key to limiting the damage of identity theft is acting fast. The key to keeping your sanity is being thorough and patient.

Signing up for IDFreeze is the best way to proactively protect you from becoming an identity theft victim. IDFreeze is the only complete solution for protecting your identity.

Here are the four key steps to immediately take if you think your identity has been stolen:

1. Prevent New Damage: The first step is to stop the risk that new credit will get issued in your name. You need to contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion directly, asking that they either place a "fraud flag" on your credit report or they "lock" your credit report. Locking a credit report is only available in a limited number of US states. A fraud flag is available to any US resident. You also need to get a copy of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, so you can identify any accounts fraudulently opened in your name. IDFreeze offers Identity Theft Restoration Services that would take care of all these details for their customers.

2. Contact Law Enforcement Authorities: Report identity theft crime to your local law enforcement office right away. If the crime occurred somewhere other than where you live, report the crime there too. Get a police report detailing the crime and ensure that the report lists the fraudulent accounts. You will need to show this report to creditors, and may need to provide the name and contact information of the investigator who wrote the report.

3. Contact Creditors - New Credit: If you learn from your credit reports that new credit accounts have been opened in your name, you need to immediately contact the appropriate creditors by telephone and in writing. It is important to know your rights: under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, (§623(6)(B)) businesses cannot report any fraudulently opened accounts to the credit bureaus. As a result, your credit score should return to normal, once you have reported the fraud and completed the necessary paperwork detailing the fraud.

4. Contact Creditors - Existing Credit: If your existing credit accounts have been used fraudulently, immediately contact the financial institution by phone and in writing. Request replacement cards with new account numbers. In addition to calling the credit grantor regarding the identity theft fraud, you will need to follow up in writing and will likely be asked to provide a fraud affidavit or a dispute form. Send the letter to the address given for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending payments. Carefully monitor your mail and bills for evidence of new fraudulent identity theft activity.

For additional details on what to do if you are a victim of ID theft, you can also refer to information available from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization. All IDFreeze customers would not need to be stressed out, as TrustedID would take care of all of these steps to help protect and restore your identity after it has been stolen.


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Locking your Credit Report

Now you can "lock" your credit reports to protect against the most damaging type of identity theft. Known as "new account" identity theft, this type of fraud occurs when someone steals information about you, such as your social security number, and uses it to open a new account in your name. Chances are you won't even know about the fraudulent account for months, or years.

By then, your credit report and credit score can be a mess if the thief has run up unpaid charges on the fraudulent credit account. Since the account is officially in your name, it's your financial reputation that is ruined.

Now, a growing number of states let you lock your credit reports, and completely eliminate the risk of "new account" identity theft.

The good news is that a credit lock can protect you from this type of identity theft.

When you put a credit lock on your accounts with the three major credit bureaus, no new credit can be issued in your name. It's the credit equivalent of putting your account in a safe-deposit box to which only you have access. Your credit report is off limits to potential lenders, insurers, cell phone companies, etc. When they can't see your credit report they aren't going to issue new credit, or open a new account, in your name. It's that simple.

A credit lock has no time limit. It will stay in effect until you chose to unlock it. You can remove it either temporarily or permanently, whenever you want. For example, when you want to apply for a new credit card, a mortgage, or a loan, you can lift the credit lock for a specific period of time. After the lender or business has checked your credit report, it is immediately frozen again.

Unfortunately, credit report locking is not available to everyone - only the following states (CA, CO, CT, FL, KY, LA, ME, MN, NV, NC, NJ, VT) have passed legislation that lets all residents have this protection. But more are on the way, and Congress is considering a new law to extend the right nationwide.

If you are in a state that allows you to place a credit lock on your data, you will need to pay a fee to each of the credit bureaus every time you want to lock or unlock your credit reports. The prices vary in each state, but generally it costs about $10.00 to both lock and unlock - at each of the bureaus.

CreditLock™ will also help you lock your credit reports - if you live in one of the states that allow credit locking. The CreditLock™ feature of IDFreeze can be activated at no additional cost.

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Outlawing Identity Theft

Lawmakers are proposing amending the draft bill to allow only victims of identity theft to lock their credit reports. This federal law would pre-empt, or over-ride, state laws in California, Minnesota, Vermont, Louisiana, North Carolina, Nevada, Illinois, Connecticut, Maine, Colorado, New Jersey, Kentucky, Florida, Delaware, New York, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and Hawaii that already allow any resident to lock their credit reports. It would also pre-empt any laws soon-to-be passed in the more than 20 states that are considering giving their residents the right to lock their credit reports.

Why would the federal government take away rights that state laws have already granted? Lawmakers may be concerned that giving individuals the ability to lock and unlock their credit reports would affect how the US economy runs, making the process of applying for new credit more lengthy. Various industry groups support this position, including those from financial services, retailers and auto dealers.

Others counter that giving consumers the right to lock their credit data is the only certain way to eliminate the three million cases of new account identity theft that, according to the Federal Trade Commission, cost the US economy nearly twenty five billion dollars per year. With new technologies, allowing consumers the ability to lock and unlock their credit report should be no more difficult than logging into a secure web site to give their permissions.

While the House of Representatives debates their bill, the Senate is also considering legislation that addresses the credit locking issue. A bill from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (S. 1408) is stalled, while the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will likely propose a new draft bill later this year. It is too early to know now whether this bill will build on, or take away from, the existing state laws on credit locking.

If you care about these rights and your ability to protect yourself against identity theft, contact your federal representatives today in the House or the Senate to make your concerns heard.

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If you truly, truly want some of the protective / safety products mentioned in any of the above articles - click here


And if you want the latest news about ID Theft (as if the stuff on the CNN ticker wasn't depressing and distressing enough...) - well then click here



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