By: Howard Goff
You decide to make an online purchase from a reputable Internet site, so you add the items to your virtual shopping cart and head to the checkout. You enter your billing address, your credit card number, your card's expiration date, even your card's 3-digit authorization number. Without even knowing it, you could have provided an identity thief all of the information he or she needs to rack up charges on your account if your computer is infested with a type of spyware known as keyloggers.
Keylogger software keeps track of every letter, number, or symbol you type. Then, the information is transferred from your computer to a third-party. While keyloggers are bad enough, they are only one of over a dozen types of spyware being used by hackers and identity thieves today. What's worse is that your computer could be infected at this moment, and you may not even realize it. In October 2004, America Online and the National Cyber-Security Alliance conducted a survey about spyware. Eighty percent of respondents found spyware on their computers and 89% of those individuals never knew it was there.1
While some spyware is relatively harmless, other examples can leave you vulnerable. For example, in August 2005 Sunbelt Software discovered a spyware scheme using a program known as CoolWebSearch which was allowing information from a user's computer to be sent to a central collection point without his or her knowledge. The type of information collected included Internet activity, credit card numbers, instant message conversations, travel plans, and more. Thousands of people were potential victims of identity theft thanks to this one program.
Now how do you stop yourself from being sucked into a spyware scam? There are two answers to that question.
First, you should install anti-spyware software on your computer. This type of software can detect spyware and can help you eliminate it from your system. However, you need to realize that even the best anti-spyware software is not full-proof because identity thieves and hackers are always revising their spyware so it won't be detected. Keeping your anti-spyware software up-to-date can help reduce this risk.
Second, you need to practice safer Internet behavior. For example, only download programs from trustworthy web sites and never agree to install anything on your computer unless you know specifically what it is. Keeping your Internet Explorer updated is also a good idea because security weaknesses in the browser are often used by spyware to gain access to your personal online activities.
The bad news is that spyware is only one method of stealing your identity. If you want to learn how to protect yourself from spyware and other methods or if you've been a victim of identity theft and need to know what steps to take now, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Has Someone Stolen Your Identity?
Here Are 8 Ways to Tell
By: Howard Goff
Right now, someone could be using your identity to start a new credit card, to get a loan, to drain your checking or savings account. In some cases, you might not find out about the theft for weeks, sometimes even months. Unfortunately, the longer it takes to discover the crime, the more damage will be done and the harder it will be to rectify that damage.
Thankfully, there are some ways for you to detect identity theft before the problems progress too far. Below are some of those methods.
1. Errors on your credit report – By checking your credit report yearly, you'll be able to determine if anyone is opening up accounts in your name without your permission. Otherwise, you may not learn there is a problem until you need to take out credit.
2. Mail problems – One of the least-technological ways to commit identity theft is stealing mail. If you aren't receiving mail or if you aren't getting items in the mail that you are expecting, such as credit card bills, then you may be a victim of identity theft.
3. Being rejected for credit you didn't request – As you may already know, if a creditor rejects your request for credit, he or she must send you a letter in the mail explaining the reason for the rejection. If you begin getting these letters, but you haven't been requesting credit, then that's a good sign someone is using your identity.
4. Being the victim of pretexting – Pretexting is a scheme involving the Internet or the telephone. Someone contacts you claiming to be a legitimate organization's representative, then they'll ask for your personal information, possibly a PIN number or a checking account number. If that has happened to you and you've given out that information, then there's a good chance you'll be a victim in the near future.
5. Changes in your credit balances or checking account amounts – Unexplained changes in any of your financial accounts should be a big signal to you that something is not right. That's why it's a good idea to check all of your balances weekly and compare them to your estimates. As soon as you spot a discrepancy, you need to follow up with your financial institution.
6. Being denied credit – Sadly, some people don't discover they have been identity theft victims until they go to buy a car, get a second mortgage, or open a new credit card. If you thought you had good credit but are getting denied, then it's a good time to check your credit reports, even if you've already done your yearly check.
7. Being contacted by debt collectors – When you start getting calls or letters about unpaid debts, which you don't recall having, you should never automatically pay them. Instead, send a written request for more information about the debt. By law, the creditor must supply you with this information.
8. Having some types of spyware on your computer – While not all spyware leads to identity theft, you need to realize that it can pose a serious threat to your privacy. Your passwords, credit card information, and online activities could have been monitored by unknown third parties, which leave you vulnerable to an attack.
If you want to learn more about how to detect and prevent identity theft or if you have been an identity theft victim, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
By: Howard Goff
Right now, someone could be using your identity to start a new credit card, to get a loan, to drain your checking or savings account. In some cases, you might not find out about the theft for weeks, sometimes even months. Unfortunately, the longer it takes to discover the crime, the more damage will be done and the harder it will be to rectify that damage.
Thankfully, there are some ways for you to detect identity theft before the problems progress too far. Below are some of those methods.
1. Errors on your credit report – By checking your credit report yearly, you'll be able to determine if anyone is opening up accounts in your name without your permission. Otherwise, you may not learn there is a problem until you need to take out credit.
2. Mail problems – One of the least-technological ways to commit identity theft is stealing mail. If you aren't receiving mail or if you aren't getting items in the mail that you are expecting, such as credit card bills, then you may be a victim of identity theft.
3. Being rejected for credit you didn't request – As you may already know, if a creditor rejects your request for credit, he or she must send you a letter in the mail explaining the reason for the rejection. If you begin getting these letters, but you haven't been requesting credit, then that's a good sign someone is using your identity.
4. Being the victim of pretexting – Pretexting is a scheme involving the Internet or the telephone. Someone contacts you claiming to be a legitimate organization's representative, then they'll ask for your personal information, possibly a PIN number or a checking account number. If that has happened to you and you've given out that information, then there's a good chance you'll be a victim in the near future.
5. Changes in your credit balances or checking account amounts – Unexplained changes in any of your financial accounts should be a big signal to you that something is not right. That's why it's a good idea to check all of your balances weekly and compare them to your estimates. As soon as you spot a discrepancy, you need to follow up with your financial institution.
6. Being denied credit – Sadly, some people don't discover they have been identity theft victims until they go to buy a car, get a second mortgage, or open a new credit card. If you thought you had good credit but are getting denied, then it's a good time to check your credit reports, even if you've already done your yearly check.
7. Being contacted by debt collectors – When you start getting calls or letters about unpaid debts, which you don't recall having, you should never automatically pay them. Instead, send a written request for more information about the debt. By law, the creditor must supply you with this information.
8. Having some types of spyware on your computer – While not all spyware leads to identity theft, you need to realize that it can pose a serious threat to your privacy. Your passwords, credit card information, and online activities could have been monitored by unknown third parties, which leave you vulnerable to an attack.
If you want to learn more about how to detect and prevent identity theft or if you have been an identity theft victim, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
How to Check Your Credit Report for Evidence of Identity Theft
How to Check Your Credit Report for Evidence of Identity Theft
By: Howard Goff
Imagine finding the home of your dreams. It's the perfect location, the perfect style, even the perfect price. Excitedly, you start the loan application process. You know this part of the process will be easy since you've always paid your bills on time and only have one credit card which you pay off every month in full. To your surprise, however, your application is refused because multiple credit cards have been taken out in your name, maxed out, and never paid. Your credit is ruined, and your dream home will never be a reality thanks to an identity thief.
This scenario may be hypothetical, but similar situations happen to people all over the country daily. Many people are victims of identity theft and don't even realize it until they need to use their credit for something, such as buying a car or a home. However, it doesn't have to be that way. If you check your credit reports yearly, you can make sure that no unauthorized activities are ruining your credit.
Now that you can receive a copy of your credit report free, the only possible excuse for not monitoring it is that you can't understand how to read it and that's what we're going to discuss now.
The credit report is divided into four parts. The first part contains your personal information, such as name, social security number, and employer. You may want to check over this part for mistakes, but if you're interested in catching identity theft activity you won't find the evidence here.
Instead, one of your focuses should be on the second part of the report. This is your credit history, which includes a list of all your creditors. For each account, you'll find the date the account opened, the type of account it is, the amount the account was originally for, the amount still owed, the amount of the payments, the status of the account, and your payment history. Go over each entry in this section of your report carefully. If you find any accounts which you do not remember opening, make note of them. If any information, such as amount owed, on the accounts does not match your expectations, then make a note of that also.
Once you've reviewed the credit history portion, you'll find the public records section. Again, this probably won't be of much use to you if you're tracking down identity theft evidence because it includes liens, bankruptcies, etc. However, do make sure the information in this section is accurate. Some lenders believe that almost 80% of all credit reports do contain some types of errors and since this section is important you want it to be accurate.
The last section – the Inquiry section – should also be evaluated carefully. You see, each time you or a potential creditor checks your credit report, a note of that inquiry is made in this section. Victims of identity theft are likely to see a number of inquiries, which he or she cannot account for. Now do keep in mind that there are two types of inquiries reported in this section. The “soft” inquiries, as they are called, refer to inquiries made by potential creditors that you did not request. For example, a credit card company may check your credit history before sending you an offer for a gold card. The “hard” inquiries are the ones you need to be interested in because these are the inquires that you supposedly requested. If there's anything on that report you don't agree with, then make a note of it.
Once you have checked your report, contact the credit bureau and the creditors about any mistakes or discrepancies you notice. If you think you've been a victim of identity theft and need to know what steps to take next or if you want more suggestions on how not to become a victim, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
By: Howard Goff
Imagine finding the home of your dreams. It's the perfect location, the perfect style, even the perfect price. Excitedly, you start the loan application process. You know this part of the process will be easy since you've always paid your bills on time and only have one credit card which you pay off every month in full. To your surprise, however, your application is refused because multiple credit cards have been taken out in your name, maxed out, and never paid. Your credit is ruined, and your dream home will never be a reality thanks to an identity thief.
This scenario may be hypothetical, but similar situations happen to people all over the country daily. Many people are victims of identity theft and don't even realize it until they need to use their credit for something, such as buying a car or a home. However, it doesn't have to be that way. If you check your credit reports yearly, you can make sure that no unauthorized activities are ruining your credit.
Now that you can receive a copy of your credit report free, the only possible excuse for not monitoring it is that you can't understand how to read it and that's what we're going to discuss now.
The credit report is divided into four parts. The first part contains your personal information, such as name, social security number, and employer. You may want to check over this part for mistakes, but if you're interested in catching identity theft activity you won't find the evidence here.
Instead, one of your focuses should be on the second part of the report. This is your credit history, which includes a list of all your creditors. For each account, you'll find the date the account opened, the type of account it is, the amount the account was originally for, the amount still owed, the amount of the payments, the status of the account, and your payment history. Go over each entry in this section of your report carefully. If you find any accounts which you do not remember opening, make note of them. If any information, such as amount owed, on the accounts does not match your expectations, then make a note of that also.
Once you've reviewed the credit history portion, you'll find the public records section. Again, this probably won't be of much use to you if you're tracking down identity theft evidence because it includes liens, bankruptcies, etc. However, do make sure the information in this section is accurate. Some lenders believe that almost 80% of all credit reports do contain some types of errors and since this section is important you want it to be accurate.
The last section – the Inquiry section – should also be evaluated carefully. You see, each time you or a potential creditor checks your credit report, a note of that inquiry is made in this section. Victims of identity theft are likely to see a number of inquiries, which he or she cannot account for. Now do keep in mind that there are two types of inquiries reported in this section. The “soft” inquiries, as they are called, refer to inquiries made by potential creditors that you did not request. For example, a credit card company may check your credit history before sending you an offer for a gold card. The “hard” inquiries are the ones you need to be interested in because these are the inquires that you supposedly requested. If there's anything on that report you don't agree with, then make a note of it.
Once you have checked your report, contact the credit bureau and the creditors about any mistakes or discrepancies you notice. If you think you've been a victim of identity theft and need to know what steps to take next or if you want more suggestions on how not to become a victim, you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
Identity Theft's Young Victims:
How to Protect Your Children's Identities
By Howard Goff
When we think of identity theft, children are probably not the first victims we might imagine. Unfortunately, more and more kids are being targeted for this crime, and the culprits may not be who you think. Right now, approximately 4% of all identity theft cases involve children, which means roughly 400,000 kids a year are having their futures ruined without their knowledge.
In an article on MSNBC.com, a 24-year old man explained that by the age of 10, his identity had been used to accumulate almost $250,000 in debt and to commit a felony. Another victim, a 9-year old boy, received a collection notice for a $2,000 debt.
Unlike most identity theft victims, however, these two individuals know exactly who was responsible for committing this crime: their fathers. According to the article, almost two-thirds of all child-related identity theft cases are committed by family members.
A child becomes a victim, in most cases, because someone else uses their social security number and name to open a credit card or to have utilities turned on. While the information can be used in other ways, those are two of the most common. And, because children aren't interested in their credit history until they turn 18 or older, most never even realize the crime has been committed until years after the theft started.
There are some ways to protect your child against potential identity theft:
· Keep their social security number locked up in a secure location – If criminals don't have access to your child's social security number, they can't steal it. Never carry their card in your purse or wallet where it could easily be lost or stolen. Never share the number with another family member or anyone else who does not have a professional need to know.
· Ask to not have their SSN listed on insurance cards – Many insurance companies list social security numbers on their cards. If yours does, then contact them and ask to use a different number.
· Do not allow your child to know his or her SSN until its necessary – Young children have no reason to know their social security numbers or to have access to their SSN card. Keep those documents safe and private until your child needs them. Children are often tempted to reveal more than they should to friends, family members, even strangers.
· Check their credit report – While a yearly check of their report may not be necessary unless you suspect a problem, it's a good idea to periodically check your child's credit reports for activity. Your child shouldn't have anything listed at all, but if anything does show up contact the credit bureau and the listed creditors immediately.
Additionally, if you are a parent you should NEVER use your child's social security number fraudulently. Not only are you committing a crime, but you are also making your child's life more difficult. Furthermore, if you know or suspect that someone is wrongly using their child's personal information, then you should contact the authorities. Don't sit idly by while they ruin that child's future.
If you want more information on preventing, detecting, or rectifying identity theft problems for children and adults, then you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
By Howard Goff
When we think of identity theft, children are probably not the first victims we might imagine. Unfortunately, more and more kids are being targeted for this crime, and the culprits may not be who you think. Right now, approximately 4% of all identity theft cases involve children, which means roughly 400,000 kids a year are having their futures ruined without their knowledge.
In an article on MSNBC.com, a 24-year old man explained that by the age of 10, his identity had been used to accumulate almost $250,000 in debt and to commit a felony. Another victim, a 9-year old boy, received a collection notice for a $2,000 debt.
Unlike most identity theft victims, however, these two individuals know exactly who was responsible for committing this crime: their fathers. According to the article, almost two-thirds of all child-related identity theft cases are committed by family members.
A child becomes a victim, in most cases, because someone else uses their social security number and name to open a credit card or to have utilities turned on. While the information can be used in other ways, those are two of the most common. And, because children aren't interested in their credit history until they turn 18 or older, most never even realize the crime has been committed until years after the theft started.
There are some ways to protect your child against potential identity theft:
· Keep their social security number locked up in a secure location – If criminals don't have access to your child's social security number, they can't steal it. Never carry their card in your purse or wallet where it could easily be lost or stolen. Never share the number with another family member or anyone else who does not have a professional need to know.
· Ask to not have their SSN listed on insurance cards – Many insurance companies list social security numbers on their cards. If yours does, then contact them and ask to use a different number.
· Do not allow your child to know his or her SSN until its necessary – Young children have no reason to know their social security numbers or to have access to their SSN card. Keep those documents safe and private until your child needs them. Children are often tempted to reveal more than they should to friends, family members, even strangers.
· Check their credit report – While a yearly check of their report may not be necessary unless you suspect a problem, it's a good idea to periodically check your child's credit reports for activity. Your child shouldn't have anything listed at all, but if anything does show up contact the credit bureau and the listed creditors immediately.
Additionally, if you are a parent you should NEVER use your child's social security number fraudulently. Not only are you committing a crime, but you are also making your child's life more difficult. Furthermore, if you know or suspect that someone is wrongly using their child's personal information, then you should contact the authorities. Don't sit idly by while they ruin that child's future.
If you want more information on preventing, detecting, or rectifying identity theft problems for children and adults, then you need to read Identity Theft: A Resource Guide from PCSecurityNews.com. The ebook is available at http://www.PCSecurityNews.com.
Don't Be Betrayed By Your Cellphone
Hello, I saw this today and it touches everyone so I have to get the word out. If you own a cellphone,blackberry,etc. you really need to read this report
Cellphone Betrayal
Cellphone Betrayal
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Inrenet banking Issues
Hello,
I sae a really interesting piece on the news on how banks were fighting Id Theft overseas. I think we should follow their lead and upgrade. Also on the page below there is an icon on cyber crime on the left side of the page with lots of good info.
Fighting Cyber Crime
I sae a really interesting piece on the news on how banks were fighting Id Theft overseas. I think we should follow their lead and upgrade. Also on the page below there is an icon on cyber crime on the left side of the page with lots of good info.
Fighting Cyber Crime
Monday, August 14, 2006
Welcome To The Personal Finance Carnival
I hope everyone will find my blog helpful and informative. Please feel free to comment.
Welcome Carnivals
Welcome Carnivals
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
