Feb
20
Michelle Thiel asked:
In today’s current struggling economy, we should anticipate that an increased focus will be placed onto companies and persons that make bad decisions. When a company is in major financial trouble, the public may ask, ‘How did this happen,’ or ‘Didn’t they see this coming?’ The negative impact can seem obvious after the fact, but at the time the incorrect decision was actually made, one has to question if the necessary material was ever presented to make a well-informed decision.
Too many companies and leaders are finding themselves saying ‘I would have done things differently if I had known.’ Can you think of some executives or companies that have uttered these words recently? What about your own organization–how comfortable are you with the information you receive to make critical decisions?
The following are some essential tips relative to mitigating the risk of a fraud that all leaders and organizations should understand.
Due Diligence as a Competitive Advantage:
If you need an industry example of why due diligence could be a competitive advantage, look no further than to the real estate industry and the risk of real estate fraud. Consider for a moment how a lack of knowledge could impact a company’s bottom line and the types of fraud risks that could have been mitigated if increased levels of due diligence where procedurally in place.
Each organization should discuss methods of fraud exposure they feel they are susceptible to. These discussions should lead to the development of policies and procedures that can help mitigate fraud risk. There are four essential steps each company must take to help begin the process of mitigating risk:
1. Recognize the risk
2. Discuss consequences
3. Develop a tactical plan
4. Implement and monitor the tactical plan.
Recognize the Risk:
By sitting down as a leadership team, your company has taken the first step. Recognizing the risk is admitting your company is susceptible to fraud. When the economy is struggling, it is particularly important that the company is at full strength. Protecting the company from potential fraud is essentially to guarding your company’s health and future.
Discuss the Consequences:
What if fraud does occur? What would it mean financially? What would it mean to the public’s perception of your brand? How would you react? These are important questions to answer. By answering these questions you are also better equipped to discuss what type of tactical plan should be assembled, how fast it must be implemented, and how much you’re willing to pay to help mitigate fraud risk.
Develop a Tactical Plan:
Reaching this step is a turning point in the process. In this stage you’ll want to ensure you have drafted the appropriate policies and procedures with the appropriate team members responsible for monitoring and improving the process. Here you’ll want to consider how you educate the company about managing risk exposure and tools and services will be leveraged on a daily basis to respond to the signs of a potential fraud.
Do you fully know the persons and businesses with whom you conduct business? This is an area where accessing public records can help. As a part of your plan, it is essential to understand how to work with public records and, more importantly, how to find public records in a quick and efficient manner. You’ll be impressed that you no longer need a trip to city hall, or an individual courthouse to access such records.
What other types of risks could potentially occur inside your building? Your company will be impressed to learn about how the advancements in hardware and database software have allowed services such as id authentication to flourish.
When developing your tactical plan, remember to consider the risk and consequences and tailor the plan around your company’s sensitivities.
Implement and Monitor the Tactical Plan:
A plan is worthless without implementation. Implementation needs to involve all members of the organization, from management to support staff. Plan to update the necessary managers with alerts and discuss progress internally. Anecdotal stories of how a potential fraud was recognized, reported and avoided can boost the acceptance of the program among employees. Finally, review the plan regularly to ensure you are keeping up with a changing business environment.
The lesson in this article is transferable to all organizations. By recognizing the types of fraud that could hurt your organization, discussing the consequences and developing a plan that includes employee education and available tools, you can be assured that you are helping to better protect your organization against potential fraud.
CORY
In today’s current struggling economy, we should anticipate that an increased focus will be placed onto companies and persons that make bad decisions. When a company is in major financial trouble, the public may ask, ‘How did this happen,’ or ‘Didn’t they see this coming?’ The negative impact can seem obvious after the fact, but at the time the incorrect decision was actually made, one has to question if the necessary material was ever presented to make a well-informed decision.
Too many companies and leaders are finding themselves saying ‘I would have done things differently if I had known.’ Can you think of some executives or companies that have uttered these words recently? What about your own organization–how comfortable are you with the information you receive to make critical decisions?
The following are some essential tips relative to mitigating the risk of a fraud that all leaders and organizations should understand.
Due Diligence as a Competitive Advantage:
If you need an industry example of why due diligence could be a competitive advantage, look no further than to the real estate industry and the risk of real estate fraud. Consider for a moment how a lack of knowledge could impact a company’s bottom line and the types of fraud risks that could have been mitigated if increased levels of due diligence where procedurally in place.
Each organization should discuss methods of fraud exposure they feel they are susceptible to. These discussions should lead to the development of policies and procedures that can help mitigate fraud risk. There are four essential steps each company must take to help begin the process of mitigating risk:
1. Recognize the risk
2. Discuss consequences
3. Develop a tactical plan
4. Implement and monitor the tactical plan.
Recognize the Risk:
By sitting down as a leadership team, your company has taken the first step. Recognizing the risk is admitting your company is susceptible to fraud. When the economy is struggling, it is particularly important that the company is at full strength. Protecting the company from potential fraud is essentially to guarding your company’s health and future.
Discuss the Consequences:
What if fraud does occur? What would it mean financially? What would it mean to the public’s perception of your brand? How would you react? These are important questions to answer. By answering these questions you are also better equipped to discuss what type of tactical plan should be assembled, how fast it must be implemented, and how much you’re willing to pay to help mitigate fraud risk.
Develop a Tactical Plan:
Reaching this step is a turning point in the process. In this stage you’ll want to ensure you have drafted the appropriate policies and procedures with the appropriate team members responsible for monitoring and improving the process. Here you’ll want to consider how you educate the company about managing risk exposure and tools and services will be leveraged on a daily basis to respond to the signs of a potential fraud.
Do you fully know the persons and businesses with whom you conduct business? This is an area where accessing public records can help. As a part of your plan, it is essential to understand how to work with public records and, more importantly, how to find public records in a quick and efficient manner. You’ll be impressed that you no longer need a trip to city hall, or an individual courthouse to access such records.
What other types of risks could potentially occur inside your building? Your company will be impressed to learn about how the advancements in hardware and database software have allowed services such as id authentication to flourish.
When developing your tactical plan, remember to consider the risk and consequences and tailor the plan around your company’s sensitivities.
Implement and Monitor the Tactical Plan:
A plan is worthless without implementation. Implementation needs to involve all members of the organization, from management to support staff. Plan to update the necessary managers with alerts and discuss progress internally. Anecdotal stories of how a potential fraud was recognized, reported and avoided can boost the acceptance of the program among employees. Finally, review the plan regularly to ensure you are keeping up with a changing business environment.
The lesson in this article is transferable to all organizations. By recognizing the types of fraud that could hurt your organization, discussing the consequences and developing a plan that includes employee education and available tools, you can be assured that you are helping to better protect your organization against potential fraud.
CORY
Feb
3
Id Theft Prevention - Things to Do Right Now, Habits to Follow
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Jim G. George asked:
The bear in your campground analogy:
Perfect protection is unreachable but you can be better protected than most people with reasonable efforts. The “Bear in Your Campground” story applies here. When a bear comes into your campground, you can’t outrun the bear but you can outrun the other campers. The fact is that there is no way you can be sure to outrun the thieves either, but you can outrun the other potential victims - and that may be enough. I will try to help you make the trade-offs that work for you.
There are lots of people out there making it easy to steal their identities. You don’t want to be one of them. There is a lot you can do without major expenditures and major changes in your lifestyle. The point of this book is to teach you what you can do and let you make intelligent trade-offs yourself of security versus cost and inconvenience.
Things to do right away:
The point of this is to get you off to a fast start, positioned to better protect yourself. Some of the things you should do right away include:
Review your last bank and card statements.
Be sure all listed transactions were authorized by a family member, don’t assume. Also check to see that you are not missing the most recent statement, as that might be a sign of account takeover. List each account and card on the Account and Card Inventory Form provided in the back of this book. Include on your list your divers license and ID cards from your employer, insurers, that would have to be replaced if your wallet was lost or stolen. This form will be an important tool for detection as well as recovery.
Order a credit report.
One report from each agency per year is now free. Some people get one each four months, on a revolving basis, so that they never have to pay for a report. Some request all three or each more often. This is one of those trade-offs of protection versus expense and effort. To order, go to the Annual Credit Report Service at www.annualcreditreport.com, call them at 877-322-8228, or contact a specific credit agency:
* Equifax: 800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com
* Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
* Transunion: 800-888-4213 or www.transunion.com
Calendar the date when you want to order the next credit report. And note which agencies are next in rotation, if you are ordering one at a time.
When I first did this I found a debt listed that had been run up by my former wife. I called the bank and got them to take it off of my credit report. As reviewing your credit report is an ongoing habit, we will discuss what to do when the report arrives in the next section.
Install a locking mailbox or get a Post Office Box.
Incoming mail can provide a thief with credit cards, applications, checks, and various identifying information. I put up the first locking mailbox in my neighborhood. It cost $60 and a little time. But when one neighbor had a box of checks stolen and another lost incoming pay and dividend checks, I wasn’t the only one for long.
When my wife went out to run in the mornings, at least once a week she noticed all the unlocked mailboxes were hanging open. One day in the park I found all of a certain neighbor’s junk mail. But not those credit card offers and nothing that resembled account statements, or other financial or government mail - those were too valuable for the thieves to toss. What was going on was that groups of teens were cruising the streets making quick grabs into unlocked boxes. They sell “interesting” items to a broker. The broker sorts out the items by type and sells groups of like items to transaction specialists. Certain thieves pass bad checks, others use deposit slips, still others specialize in cards-related frauds.
P.O. boxes may be safer, if less convenient and more expensive, another trade-off. The bear might tear into your locked mailbox, but if the other campers have open jars of honey out front, then why would he bother you?
Get gel ballpoint pens for writing checks.
A thief can take a check from your outgoing mail, remove regular ballpoint pen ink with nail polish remover (protecting the signature, of course), and have a signed blank check - on your account.
The cheapest investment you can make is to buy a gel ballpoint pen and keep it clipped to your checkbook. Gel is a newer kind of ink which cannot be removed by washing. The point is to look for the word “GEL” on the pen, buy it, and use it for all your checks.
Get a shredder.
A crosscut or confetti style is best, as strips can be reconstructed. Anything with your social security number on it or containing personal data is fair game to the thieves when it hits your garbage bag or can. “Dumpster diving” is a profitable profession.
Things you don’t want fished from your trash include bank and card statements, old taxes, voided or old checks, deposit slips, credit applications you don’t want to complete, credit offers, and those checks the credit card companies send you to initiate low interest rate loans and balance transfers.
Change poor PINs and passwords.
They should be at least six numbers and/or characters. They should not be easy to guess or based on information which might be in your wallet. The first numbers a purse or wallet thief would try are parts of your birth date, phone number, SSN, and any other key number they find in you wallet. Realize that your SSN can be accessed by a large number of people. A thief might obtain it and try different parts of it in guessing your PIN even if they don’t find it in your wallet.
There are trade-offs here too.
* Multiples - If you always use the same password it is easy to remember but people at each site have access to it. So you also might want to use a unique password on banking sites. If you use the same ID and password on many sites you are exposing them to key employees of multiple companies.
* Complexity - Complex passwords may be hard to recall and tempt you to write them down in a handy spot.
* Real or made-up - To be extra careful, you might create and use an imaginary “mother’s maiden name”, as the real one could be researched. It is on your birth certificate, for example.
Set up a password on each bank and card account.
Use your Account and Card Inventory Form as a guide to contact each bank. Once set up, the password can be used by the bank to determine it is really calling them with a transaction such as an address change or funds transfer. If the only way they can identify you is by asking for personal data, your account is exposed to any thief who has obtained your data.
Remove any PINs or passwords written in your wallet / purse.
They could be a goldmine for a thief.
Secure any PIN and password list within your home.
Don’t leave them out, in a well labelled file in an unlocked file cabinet, on your computer in an easy to find file, or on a notebook PC that could be stolen.
Protect Social Security Numbers (SSN).
Remove them from your checks, driver’s license, resume, or other documents where it is not required. My employer forced their insurance companies to take our SSNs off of our group insurance cards.
Remove unneeded IDs from your wallet, purse, and car.
This will reduce the potential damage from theft and reduce the work you will have to do if theft does occur.
Protect your PC’s
Get and run anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and firewalls. Be sure to use the encryption option on wireless networks.
Protect Yourself - Avoidance Habits to Develop and Keep
Even as you complete the initial protection steps described in the prior chapter, you also need to start practicing on-going protective habits.
Review this list from time to time.
The first habit is to learn and repeat each of the others. Put “review the good habits list” on your calendar, as a reminder, until you regularly practice each of these good habits.
Protect your outgoing mail.
Taking outgoing mail can be lucrative for the thief in many ways.
* Applications - Applications for cards or loans can be “edited” by thieves so that they get the payoff and you get the collection calls.
* Checks - A check in the outgoing mail can be as good as gold to them. Even if you used a gel pen to prevent alteration of that check, the data on your check can be used to produce (or even order) perfectly valid looking checks that can be written by the thief that will clear and post against your checking account.
* Deposits - An outgoing deposit-by-mail is a double gift to the thief. Not only can they “edit” the checks to their specifications but they can use the deposit slip too. That scam goes like this: They go into your bank (probably a remotely located branch so they aren’t recognized) and hand the teller the deposit slip along with some bogus checks they printed up on their PC or have from a nearly zero balance account out of state. Then they ask for some cash back from the deposited funds. They are usually handed the cash, since it is less that the funds already available on your account. When the deposited checks bounce back against your account, the thief has been gone for two or three days.
* Data sources - Various other sorts of mail (like car registrations, tax forms) can help the thief build a file on you which will later be used to open accounts in your name. You can count on him running up overdrafts and bad debts in your good name.
For all of these reasons, place outgoing mail only in secure mail boxes, not the office OUT box and not your personal mailbox. The big blue USPS boxes are pretty well bear-proof.
Be wary at ATMs and points of purchase
The ideal situation for a thief is to have both your card and your PIN. They will go to quite a bit of trouble to get them. If they can copy the data from the magnetic stripe on the back of the card they can create an exact copy of your card. Even with only plain white card stock they can use the magnetic stripe data to create a “white card” that will work perfectly well on an ATM, gas pump or other unmanned locations.
* Getting your PIN - Watch out for “shoulder surfing”. Be aware of anyone watching you enter your PIN at an ATM or point of purchase terminal. Some thieves even use a video camera to record your entry from a short distance or hide a camera to record and transmit your finger movements on the keypad.
* Getting your data - Your card’s magnetic stripe data can be read by one of three types of small skimmer devices.
* One is a portable device that can be taped to a waiter’s arm. They go to a private space, roll up their sleeve, swipe the card, then go about their normal business.
* Another kind is mounted under the counter. You won’t see the card swiped but it will disappear from view momentarily.
* Some thieves go so far as to install a skimmer on a bank’s ATM. These look like part of the machine but they are unauthorized “add-ons” that read the magnetic stripe on the card before passing it on to the real ATM card reader.
* Getting your card - Some thieves us a device known as a “Lebanese loop” to steal your card at the ATM. The loop is a strip of plastic they stick into the cred reader slot. Your card is caught by it and jams. After you leave in frustration the thief uses a tool to pull out the loop and your card with it.
Use safer ways to make payments.
It is safer to use credit over debit cards, as they provide better protection against fraudulent charges and their spending limit is most likely below the amount than can be taken from your deposit (checking or savings) account. Once money has been taken from your deposit account, it may take some time to resolve the issue with the bank. In the mean time you may not have access to all of your funds. A credit card balance, on the other hand, you can simply not pay if you have lodged a legitimate complaint in the right manner.
Checks are relatively easy to manipulate. Even if gel ink is used the check can be scanned, the image manipulated, then printed (including the signature). It is remarkably easy for people to order checks on your account and have them sent to an address supplied by the thief. They just say they are you and have recently moved. Many check printers do nothing to verify the identity of the person placing the order, On-line bill paying is available from most banks and is far safer. Once you get used to it you will probably find it more convenient as well. Just be careful with your on-line ID and password.
Now obviously there are other kinds of risks in the world that need to be considered. Over use of credit cards, without regular full payments of the balance, can be a problem. To address this, some families use one card for debt and another for routine purchases. They look for a low-interest card for the first purpose and pay off the other each month, without exception.
Close old accounts.
An amazing number of accounts are sitting around the country in an inactive status. These are prime targets for the thief. If they send in or call in a change of address for the account they are set to strike. They can then run up a card balance, get checks printed and overdraft a deposit account, and set up new accounts related to the original.
After you try to close an account, note it on your Account and Card Inventory Form but don’t remove it until you see a credit report listing it as closed. It once took me five trys to get a card issues to actually cancel my card account.
Establish good habits for new accounts.
Ask what the statement date will be. Establish passwords when you set up the account, as described in Chapter 2. Add new accounts to the Account and Card Inventory Form as soon as you get them. Watch for the first statement and review it carefully.
Avoid common mistakes
Doing the things described above is important. But it is equally important that you avoid common mistakes.
* Don’t give out data - Incoming-phone calls or e-mail can be a source of data to the thief. They can later use that data to pretend to be you while on the phone to a bank, check printer, or loan company. Once they are accepted as you, they can run any number of scams:
* Take over your account by changing the address of record. They can then transact without your finding out about the activity.
* Set up a new account, card, or loan and link it to the existing accounts. They then are positioned to make transfers as well as play on your good credit.
Another form of thief’s data request is “phishing” e-mails. These can seem to be from your bank, card company, brokerage, or other trusted financial institution. They send you to an apparently valid web site that asks for your ID and PIN data. They can be very realistic, with your bank’s logo, the look and feel of their web site and even seem to have taken you to the familiar site.
Don’t ever provide ID or PIN’s as a response to e-mails or calls. Call the bank and report the e-mail. Go to your bank’s Web site only in your usual manner, by typing in their URL or clicking from your browser’s Favorites or Bookmarks list.
* Don’t leave data around - Don’t leave the customer copy of a charge slip on the table after paying for a meal or making a store purchase. Although the law now requires that only the last digits of your card number appear on the slip, some older systems are still out there which have the whole card number. This applies also to carbon copies and the carbon sheets themselves.
*Don’t write your PIN or password on anything that isn’t very secure. This includes your house or unsecured PC file.
* Don’t use your SSN unnecessarily - Don’t put your SSN on your checks, driver’s license, resumes or anything else, if you can avoid it. Don’t give it out unless absolutely necessary. It is legally required in relation to any taxable income source. Merchants may not choose to grant you credit if you do not reveal it, it’s your choice (and theirs) in that case. Some people make up a number. This ploy has risks that the number will be found to be invalid or, worse, that the number belongs to someone else. The other person may not have good credit or may even be wanted by law enforcement. You don’t want to appear to be an ID thief yourself.
*Don’t ignore early signs - A common mistake is to take lightly the early signs of identity theft. The quicker it is caught, the sooner it will be resolved and at the least cost in effort and dollars. That is the subject of the next chapter.
This article is from a larger workbook available at www.yourIDsite.com
Copyright Jim G. George
ALVIN
The bear in your campground analogy:
Perfect protection is unreachable but you can be better protected than most people with reasonable efforts. The “Bear in Your Campground” story applies here. When a bear comes into your campground, you can’t outrun the bear but you can outrun the other campers. The fact is that there is no way you can be sure to outrun the thieves either, but you can outrun the other potential victims - and that may be enough. I will try to help you make the trade-offs that work for you.
There are lots of people out there making it easy to steal their identities. You don’t want to be one of them. There is a lot you can do without major expenditures and major changes in your lifestyle. The point of this book is to teach you what you can do and let you make intelligent trade-offs yourself of security versus cost and inconvenience.
Things to do right away:
The point of this is to get you off to a fast start, positioned to better protect yourself. Some of the things you should do right away include:
Review your last bank and card statements.
Be sure all listed transactions were authorized by a family member, don’t assume. Also check to see that you are not missing the most recent statement, as that might be a sign of account takeover. List each account and card on the Account and Card Inventory Form provided in the back of this book. Include on your list your divers license and ID cards from your employer, insurers, that would have to be replaced if your wallet was lost or stolen. This form will be an important tool for detection as well as recovery.
Order a credit report.
One report from each agency per year is now free. Some people get one each four months, on a revolving basis, so that they never have to pay for a report. Some request all three or each more often. This is one of those trade-offs of protection versus expense and effort. To order, go to the Annual Credit Report Service at www.annualcreditreport.com, call them at 877-322-8228, or contact a specific credit agency:
* Equifax: 800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com
* Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
* Transunion: 800-888-4213 or www.transunion.com
Calendar the date when you want to order the next credit report. And note which agencies are next in rotation, if you are ordering one at a time.
When I first did this I found a debt listed that had been run up by my former wife. I called the bank and got them to take it off of my credit report. As reviewing your credit report is an ongoing habit, we will discuss what to do when the report arrives in the next section.
Install a locking mailbox or get a Post Office Box.
Incoming mail can provide a thief with credit cards, applications, checks, and various identifying information. I put up the first locking mailbox in my neighborhood. It cost $60 and a little time. But when one neighbor had a box of checks stolen and another lost incoming pay and dividend checks, I wasn’t the only one for long.
When my wife went out to run in the mornings, at least once a week she noticed all the unlocked mailboxes were hanging open. One day in the park I found all of a certain neighbor’s junk mail. But not those credit card offers and nothing that resembled account statements, or other financial or government mail - those were too valuable for the thieves to toss. What was going on was that groups of teens were cruising the streets making quick grabs into unlocked boxes. They sell “interesting” items to a broker. The broker sorts out the items by type and sells groups of like items to transaction specialists. Certain thieves pass bad checks, others use deposit slips, still others specialize in cards-related frauds.
P.O. boxes may be safer, if less convenient and more expensive, another trade-off. The bear might tear into your locked mailbox, but if the other campers have open jars of honey out front, then why would he bother you?
Get gel ballpoint pens for writing checks.
A thief can take a check from your outgoing mail, remove regular ballpoint pen ink with nail polish remover (protecting the signature, of course), and have a signed blank check - on your account.
The cheapest investment you can make is to buy a gel ballpoint pen and keep it clipped to your checkbook. Gel is a newer kind of ink which cannot be removed by washing. The point is to look for the word “GEL” on the pen, buy it, and use it for all your checks.
Get a shredder.
A crosscut or confetti style is best, as strips can be reconstructed. Anything with your social security number on it or containing personal data is fair game to the thieves when it hits your garbage bag or can. “Dumpster diving” is a profitable profession.
Things you don’t want fished from your trash include bank and card statements, old taxes, voided or old checks, deposit slips, credit applications you don’t want to complete, credit offers, and those checks the credit card companies send you to initiate low interest rate loans and balance transfers.
Change poor PINs and passwords.
They should be at least six numbers and/or characters. They should not be easy to guess or based on information which might be in your wallet. The first numbers a purse or wallet thief would try are parts of your birth date, phone number, SSN, and any other key number they find in you wallet. Realize that your SSN can be accessed by a large number of people. A thief might obtain it and try different parts of it in guessing your PIN even if they don’t find it in your wallet.
There are trade-offs here too.
* Multiples - If you always use the same password it is easy to remember but people at each site have access to it. So you also might want to use a unique password on banking sites. If you use the same ID and password on many sites you are exposing them to key employees of multiple companies.
* Complexity - Complex passwords may be hard to recall and tempt you to write them down in a handy spot.
* Real or made-up - To be extra careful, you might create and use an imaginary “mother’s maiden name”, as the real one could be researched. It is on your birth certificate, for example.
Set up a password on each bank and card account.
Use your Account and Card Inventory Form as a guide to contact each bank. Once set up, the password can be used by the bank to determine it is really calling them with a transaction such as an address change or funds transfer. If the only way they can identify you is by asking for personal data, your account is exposed to any thief who has obtained your data.
Remove any PINs or passwords written in your wallet / purse.
They could be a goldmine for a thief.
Secure any PIN and password list within your home.
Don’t leave them out, in a well labelled file in an unlocked file cabinet, on your computer in an easy to find file, or on a notebook PC that could be stolen.
Protect Social Security Numbers (SSN).
Remove them from your checks, driver’s license, resume, or other documents where it is not required. My employer forced their insurance companies to take our SSNs off of our group insurance cards.
Remove unneeded IDs from your wallet, purse, and car.
This will reduce the potential damage from theft and reduce the work you will have to do if theft does occur.
Protect your PC’s
Get and run anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and firewalls. Be sure to use the encryption option on wireless networks.
Protect Yourself - Avoidance Habits to Develop and Keep
Even as you complete the initial protection steps described in the prior chapter, you also need to start practicing on-going protective habits.
Review this list from time to time.
The first habit is to learn and repeat each of the others. Put “review the good habits list” on your calendar, as a reminder, until you regularly practice each of these good habits.
Protect your outgoing mail.
Taking outgoing mail can be lucrative for the thief in many ways.
* Applications - Applications for cards or loans can be “edited” by thieves so that they get the payoff and you get the collection calls.
* Checks - A check in the outgoing mail can be as good as gold to them. Even if you used a gel pen to prevent alteration of that check, the data on your check can be used to produce (or even order) perfectly valid looking checks that can be written by the thief that will clear and post against your checking account.
* Deposits - An outgoing deposit-by-mail is a double gift to the thief. Not only can they “edit” the checks to their specifications but they can use the deposit slip too. That scam goes like this: They go into your bank (probably a remotely located branch so they aren’t recognized) and hand the teller the deposit slip along with some bogus checks they printed up on their PC or have from a nearly zero balance account out of state. Then they ask for some cash back from the deposited funds. They are usually handed the cash, since it is less that the funds already available on your account. When the deposited checks bounce back against your account, the thief has been gone for two or three days.
* Data sources - Various other sorts of mail (like car registrations, tax forms) can help the thief build a file on you which will later be used to open accounts in your name. You can count on him running up overdrafts and bad debts in your good name.
For all of these reasons, place outgoing mail only in secure mail boxes, not the office OUT box and not your personal mailbox. The big blue USPS boxes are pretty well bear-proof.
Be wary at ATMs and points of purchase
The ideal situation for a thief is to have both your card and your PIN. They will go to quite a bit of trouble to get them. If they can copy the data from the magnetic stripe on the back of the card they can create an exact copy of your card. Even with only plain white card stock they can use the magnetic stripe data to create a “white card” that will work perfectly well on an ATM, gas pump or other unmanned locations.
* Getting your PIN - Watch out for “shoulder surfing”. Be aware of anyone watching you enter your PIN at an ATM or point of purchase terminal. Some thieves even use a video camera to record your entry from a short distance or hide a camera to record and transmit your finger movements on the keypad.
* Getting your data - Your card’s magnetic stripe data can be read by one of three types of small skimmer devices.
* One is a portable device that can be taped to a waiter’s arm. They go to a private space, roll up their sleeve, swipe the card, then go about their normal business.
* Another kind is mounted under the counter. You won’t see the card swiped but it will disappear from view momentarily.
* Some thieves go so far as to install a skimmer on a bank’s ATM. These look like part of the machine but they are unauthorized “add-ons” that read the magnetic stripe on the card before passing it on to the real ATM card reader.
* Getting your card - Some thieves us a device known as a “Lebanese loop” to steal your card at the ATM. The loop is a strip of plastic they stick into the cred reader slot. Your card is caught by it and jams. After you leave in frustration the thief uses a tool to pull out the loop and your card with it.
Use safer ways to make payments.
It is safer to use credit over debit cards, as they provide better protection against fraudulent charges and their spending limit is most likely below the amount than can be taken from your deposit (checking or savings) account. Once money has been taken from your deposit account, it may take some time to resolve the issue with the bank. In the mean time you may not have access to all of your funds. A credit card balance, on the other hand, you can simply not pay if you have lodged a legitimate complaint in the right manner.
Checks are relatively easy to manipulate. Even if gel ink is used the check can be scanned, the image manipulated, then printed (including the signature). It is remarkably easy for people to order checks on your account and have them sent to an address supplied by the thief. They just say they are you and have recently moved. Many check printers do nothing to verify the identity of the person placing the order, On-line bill paying is available from most banks and is far safer. Once you get used to it you will probably find it more convenient as well. Just be careful with your on-line ID and password.
Now obviously there are other kinds of risks in the world that need to be considered. Over use of credit cards, without regular full payments of the balance, can be a problem. To address this, some families use one card for debt and another for routine purchases. They look for a low-interest card for the first purpose and pay off the other each month, without exception.
Close old accounts.
An amazing number of accounts are sitting around the country in an inactive status. These are prime targets for the thief. If they send in or call in a change of address for the account they are set to strike. They can then run up a card balance, get checks printed and overdraft a deposit account, and set up new accounts related to the original.
After you try to close an account, note it on your Account and Card Inventory Form but don’t remove it until you see a credit report listing it as closed. It once took me five trys to get a card issues to actually cancel my card account.
Establish good habits for new accounts.
Ask what the statement date will be. Establish passwords when you set up the account, as described in Chapter 2. Add new accounts to the Account and Card Inventory Form as soon as you get them. Watch for the first statement and review it carefully.
Avoid common mistakes
Doing the things described above is important. But it is equally important that you avoid common mistakes.
* Don’t give out data - Incoming-phone calls or e-mail can be a source of data to the thief. They can later use that data to pretend to be you while on the phone to a bank, check printer, or loan company. Once they are accepted as you, they can run any number of scams:
* Take over your account by changing the address of record. They can then transact without your finding out about the activity.
* Set up a new account, card, or loan and link it to the existing accounts. They then are positioned to make transfers as well as play on your good credit.
Another form of thief’s data request is “phishing” e-mails. These can seem to be from your bank, card company, brokerage, or other trusted financial institution. They send you to an apparently valid web site that asks for your ID and PIN data. They can be very realistic, with your bank’s logo, the look and feel of their web site and even seem to have taken you to the familiar site.
Don’t ever provide ID or PIN’s as a response to e-mails or calls. Call the bank and report the e-mail. Go to your bank’s Web site only in your usual manner, by typing in their URL or clicking from your browser’s Favorites or Bookmarks list.
* Don’t leave data around - Don’t leave the customer copy of a charge slip on the table after paying for a meal or making a store purchase. Although the law now requires that only the last digits of your card number appear on the slip, some older systems are still out there which have the whole card number. This applies also to carbon copies and the carbon sheets themselves.
*Don’t write your PIN or password on anything that isn’t very secure. This includes your house or unsecured PC file.
* Don’t use your SSN unnecessarily - Don’t put your SSN on your checks, driver’s license, resumes or anything else, if you can avoid it. Don’t give it out unless absolutely necessary. It is legally required in relation to any taxable income source. Merchants may not choose to grant you credit if you do not reveal it, it’s your choice (and theirs) in that case. Some people make up a number. This ploy has risks that the number will be found to be invalid or, worse, that the number belongs to someone else. The other person may not have good credit or may even be wanted by law enforcement. You don’t want to appear to be an ID thief yourself.
*Don’t ignore early signs - A common mistake is to take lightly the early signs of identity theft. The quicker it is caught, the sooner it will be resolved and at the least cost in effort and dollars. That is the subject of the next chapter.
This article is from a larger workbook available at www.yourIDsite.com
Copyright Jim G. George
ALVIN
Jan
31
Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud: What you Need to Know to Protect yourself
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Rick Churchill asked:
Once you learn about what the different types of identity theft are and what a criminal does with your information, it is easier to protect yourself from becoming an identity theft victim. Because credit card theft is the number one identity theft crime in America, this article will discuss what it is and talk about some ways to reduce the probability of becoming a victim.
Credit card fraud is the number one fraud committed by identity theft criminals and possibly one of the easiest crimes to commit. Credit card fraud is split into two categories with the first method being a thief who actually steals an existing credit card. This is by far the easier crime to commit and luckily is easier to catch. The other option the thief may use is to gain access to your personal information and open a new credit card account that the victim will know nothing about. Many times the thief will use an alternate address and phone number so the victim never sees a bill and will not be aware of a problem until it is too late. There are steps you can take to prevent this type of fraud.
To prevent a thief from stealing your existing credit card you should cancel any credit cards you don’t need or use, pay close attention to your monthly bills, and above all else contact your financial institution immediately if you fail to receive your monthly billing statement. If a thief opens a new credit card account with your social security number it is harder to catch but there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening as well. Number one is the contact the Credit Reporting Agencies and request that no new lines of credit be approved without first seeking your approval. You should also request to be removed from any pre-screened credit offer mailing lists as thieves can steal such offers out of your mailbox or trash.
You should also take advantage of the fact that you can access your credit history twice a year for free to check for any fraudulent activity. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the security departments of the appropriate financial institution immediately. Finally, if you are making purchases online you should use a credit card instead of a debit card. Let me explain.
Debit cards are legally riskier than traditional ATM cards or credit cards. While you are only liable for $50 if your credit card is used fraudulently, you may be liable for $500 or more if your debit card is misused plus the fact that the thief can drain your account dry and leave you broke until you get things worked out with your bank. In addition to this fact, debit cards offer much less protection then a credit card because with a credit card, you have certain legal rights to dispute fraudulent charges. If you suspect that your credit card or debit card has been compromised then you should contact your financial institution and cancel the card and put a hold on your funds.
You should now be aware that identity theft in general and credit card fraud in particular can happen to anybody. While there is no 100% guarantee that you wont become a victim of credit card fraud, taking the above steps can dramatically reduce the possibility. The important thing is that you take action to protect yourself now before it is too late. If you feel that you are not up to handling all the details then there are identity theft programs available such as the one offered by LifeLock which can take care of everything for a monthly fee.
ALPHONSO
Once you learn about what the different types of identity theft are and what a criminal does with your information, it is easier to protect yourself from becoming an identity theft victim. Because credit card theft is the number one identity theft crime in America, this article will discuss what it is and talk about some ways to reduce the probability of becoming a victim.
Credit card fraud is the number one fraud committed by identity theft criminals and possibly one of the easiest crimes to commit. Credit card fraud is split into two categories with the first method being a thief who actually steals an existing credit card. This is by far the easier crime to commit and luckily is easier to catch. The other option the thief may use is to gain access to your personal information and open a new credit card account that the victim will know nothing about. Many times the thief will use an alternate address and phone number so the victim never sees a bill and will not be aware of a problem until it is too late. There are steps you can take to prevent this type of fraud.
To prevent a thief from stealing your existing credit card you should cancel any credit cards you don’t need or use, pay close attention to your monthly bills, and above all else contact your financial institution immediately if you fail to receive your monthly billing statement. If a thief opens a new credit card account with your social security number it is harder to catch but there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening as well. Number one is the contact the Credit Reporting Agencies and request that no new lines of credit be approved without first seeking your approval. You should also request to be removed from any pre-screened credit offer mailing lists as thieves can steal such offers out of your mailbox or trash.
You should also take advantage of the fact that you can access your credit history twice a year for free to check for any fraudulent activity. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the security departments of the appropriate financial institution immediately. Finally, if you are making purchases online you should use a credit card instead of a debit card. Let me explain.
Debit cards are legally riskier than traditional ATM cards or credit cards. While you are only liable for $50 if your credit card is used fraudulently, you may be liable for $500 or more if your debit card is misused plus the fact that the thief can drain your account dry and leave you broke until you get things worked out with your bank. In addition to this fact, debit cards offer much less protection then a credit card because with a credit card, you have certain legal rights to dispute fraudulent charges. If you suspect that your credit card or debit card has been compromised then you should contact your financial institution and cancel the card and put a hold on your funds.
You should now be aware that identity theft in general and credit card fraud in particular can happen to anybody. While there is no 100% guarantee that you wont become a victim of credit card fraud, taking the above steps can dramatically reduce the possibility. The important thing is that you take action to protect yourself now before it is too late. If you feel that you are not up to handling all the details then there are identity theft programs available such as the one offered by LifeLock which can take care of everything for a monthly fee.
ALPHONSO
Jan
27
Tips For Preventing Check Fraud
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Lyn Askin asked:
Convenience is the offspring of the twenty-first century. But even with the advancements afforded by technology, some still opt for more traditional methods. One such example is evident in the finance and banking industry. Despite the advent and development in online banking, many account holders still maintain the use of checks. In fact, roughly 15% of the nation’s population still depends on checks for executing transactions. This 15% are also the prime targets of one of the most damaging violations in the financial industry: check fraud.
Entrepreneur Weekly, an online business magazine, reports of an American Bankers Association data that says that there is a 25% annual growth rate of check fraud cases in the country. At this rate, check fraud is indeed a serious threat to the security and privacy of anyone-from the multi-million dollar company to the average wage earner.
However, even if you belong to that 15%, you still have the option not to fall into the trap of hoaxers and scammers. Here are some tips that, if all together applied, will help you stop check fraudsters from getting their swindling hands on you:
There are no exceptions
Create a tight policy on check acceptance. This policy should require associative information, a list of valid ID forms, and dollar limits. There should also be no exceptions to the rules. Remember that the greatest con artists are creative in finding ways of concocting situations that distract you into taking a bad check.
Feel the check with your hand
Get familiarized to the “feel” of a genuine check. This will allow you to spot the fakes, even just by mere touch of it. Fakes are usually lighter than the real ones. Moreover, most authentic checks, save for the government-issued ones, have perforated edges on at least one side.
Check for signs
Pay close attention to the check writer as he or she signs the check. Also, ask the customer to write his or her name below (in print), should the signature be illegible. Most of all, don’t forget to compare what he or she had written with the specimen signature in his or her information sheet.
Look at the numbers in the check
You could be familiar with the numbers written on the lower portion of your check. You may have also observed that their font differs from the others and wondered why this is so. Well, those series of numbers is called an MICR line. MICR means magnetic ink character recognition. These numbers are printed with the use of an MICR toner that possesses magnetic particles of the iron oxide additives variety. These additives allow the reader-sorter machines to read checks.
As a check is run through a reader-sorter, the MICR line scans across and causes the iron oxide to become magnetized, thus, emitting a signal. Then the check is read by a “magnetic read head.” Upon the contact of the magnetic head and the MICR line, an electromagnetic field, called a flux pattern, is detected. The current created by the flux pattern allows the MICR series to be processed and recognized by the machine. The potency of an MICR toner ensures the readability of your check’s MICR series. It is important to note the quality and appearance of the check’s MICR line. Most fraudulent checks use a different kind of ink to change the MICR number sequence of a check.
If used wisely, and maintained in all the check transactions you make, there is no chance in the world for you to fall victim to fake checks. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
SIMON
Convenience is the offspring of the twenty-first century. But even with the advancements afforded by technology, some still opt for more traditional methods. One such example is evident in the finance and banking industry. Despite the advent and development in online banking, many account holders still maintain the use of checks. In fact, roughly 15% of the nation’s population still depends on checks for executing transactions. This 15% are also the prime targets of one of the most damaging violations in the financial industry: check fraud.
Entrepreneur Weekly, an online business magazine, reports of an American Bankers Association data that says that there is a 25% annual growth rate of check fraud cases in the country. At this rate, check fraud is indeed a serious threat to the security and privacy of anyone-from the multi-million dollar company to the average wage earner.
However, even if you belong to that 15%, you still have the option not to fall into the trap of hoaxers and scammers. Here are some tips that, if all together applied, will help you stop check fraudsters from getting their swindling hands on you:
There are no exceptions
Create a tight policy on check acceptance. This policy should require associative information, a list of valid ID forms, and dollar limits. There should also be no exceptions to the rules. Remember that the greatest con artists are creative in finding ways of concocting situations that distract you into taking a bad check.
Feel the check with your hand
Get familiarized to the “feel” of a genuine check. This will allow you to spot the fakes, even just by mere touch of it. Fakes are usually lighter than the real ones. Moreover, most authentic checks, save for the government-issued ones, have perforated edges on at least one side.
Check for signs
Pay close attention to the check writer as he or she signs the check. Also, ask the customer to write his or her name below (in print), should the signature be illegible. Most of all, don’t forget to compare what he or she had written with the specimen signature in his or her information sheet.
Look at the numbers in the check
You could be familiar with the numbers written on the lower portion of your check. You may have also observed that their font differs from the others and wondered why this is so. Well, those series of numbers is called an MICR line. MICR means magnetic ink character recognition. These numbers are printed with the use of an MICR toner that possesses magnetic particles of the iron oxide additives variety. These additives allow the reader-sorter machines to read checks.
As a check is run through a reader-sorter, the MICR line scans across and causes the iron oxide to become magnetized, thus, emitting a signal. Then the check is read by a “magnetic read head.” Upon the contact of the magnetic head and the MICR line, an electromagnetic field, called a flux pattern, is detected. The current created by the flux pattern allows the MICR series to be processed and recognized by the machine. The potency of an MICR toner ensures the readability of your check’s MICR series. It is important to note the quality and appearance of the check’s MICR line. Most fraudulent checks use a different kind of ink to change the MICR number sequence of a check.
If used wisely, and maintained in all the check transactions you make, there is no chance in the world for you to fall victim to fake checks. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
SIMON
Dec
26
Id Theft — What to Do
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Joe Farinaccio asked:
there to do when it comes to fixing Identity theft?” ask most fraud victims.
Naturally, this question comes after fraud has happened. Many software programs on the market today are promising to prevent id theft from taking place by making you aware of any flags you establish for existing accounts or new credit lines.
The Federal Trade Commission does offer a slew of great information on it’s website. There is a challenge in trying to tie together all the details about what needs to be done in order to shut down ID fraud, while cleaning up all affected records.
For example, the first piece of sage advice you’ll most often read about will say something like, “Call the credit reporting agencies immediately.” This is absolutely correct. Phone numbers for the big 3 credit reporting agencies are: Trans Union - 800-888-4213, Experian - 888-397-3742 and Equifax - 800-685-1111.
But then what?
There are a few important things you can ask for during the call. For example …
1) You need to request a free copy of your credit report. (Anyone may request a free copy of his or her credit report from CRAs each year. And if you’re denied credit, employment or insurance as a result of identity theft then you’re entitled to an additional free copy of your credit report).
2) Request that a “fraud alert” be attached to your credit profile.
Now comes the more detailed actions. After your credit reports come you must do several important things. Among them are:
3) Specifically identify fraudulent accounts and inquiries and ask that each one be removed from your credit profile. (The CRAs may tell you that you need to do this in writing, which we’ll cover in the next section). Then ask the CRA to send you a copy of the notification(s) of fraud sent to each credit grantor who they contact regarding suspected fraudulent activity.
4) Ask each CRA for a list of names, phone #’s and addresses for all businesses and organizations that looked at your credit history in the past year (and perhaps even longer, depending on how long the fraud has been going on).
Request the agency to call you whenever applications are made for new credit lines in your name. The alert can say something like, “Please contact me immediately at this phone number before issuing any credit. All new credit applications must be validated and personally authorized by me.”
6) Ask the Credit Reporting Agency to contact every company that has received your credit report in the last year and tell them you’re a victim of identity theft. Request that copies of these notices be sent to you in order to make sure the CRAs follow through with your request.
7) Now you need to call the credit grantors your information search has revealed the identity thief has set up fraudulent accounts with. Tell each one you’re the victim of identity theft and indicate the account(s) in question.
Ask each one to stop issuing credit to the fraudster who has stolen your personal information.
9) Request that fraudulent accounts be closed immediately, then ask for their removal from your credit profile. If an identity thief was able to use a valid credit account (one opened by you), such as a credit card account, then you’ll either have to get a new card issued (with a new number) or cancel the card altogether. It’s better to have this kind of request worded something along the lines of, “This account has been closed at the customer’s request.” That reads much better than, “Card was stolen or lost.”.” Wording such as that might negatively impact your credit score in the future.
10) Request all documentation associated with the fraudulent accounts (including original application). Companies are required to send you this information under federal law. Fraudulent applications often contain forged signatures and other information that might be useful to you or law enforcement. Such documentation includes: false application with forged signature, all billing statements, address and phone number where credit cards were mailed, all correspondence between a creditor and the identity thief, plus electronic, audio or video evidence related to the crime.
11) Don’t forget to ask the credit grantor, company or agency to verify your requests … in writing.
FLOYD
there to do when it comes to fixing Identity theft?” ask most fraud victims.
Naturally, this question comes after fraud has happened. Many software programs on the market today are promising to prevent id theft from taking place by making you aware of any flags you establish for existing accounts or new credit lines.
The Federal Trade Commission does offer a slew of great information on it’s website. There is a challenge in trying to tie together all the details about what needs to be done in order to shut down ID fraud, while cleaning up all affected records.
For example, the first piece of sage advice you’ll most often read about will say something like, “Call the credit reporting agencies immediately.” This is absolutely correct. Phone numbers for the big 3 credit reporting agencies are: Trans Union - 800-888-4213, Experian - 888-397-3742 and Equifax - 800-685-1111.
But then what?
There are a few important things you can ask for during the call. For example …
1) You need to request a free copy of your credit report. (Anyone may request a free copy of his or her credit report from CRAs each year. And if you’re denied credit, employment or insurance as a result of identity theft then you’re entitled to an additional free copy of your credit report).
2) Request that a “fraud alert” be attached to your credit profile.
Now comes the more detailed actions. After your credit reports come you must do several important things. Among them are:
3) Specifically identify fraudulent accounts and inquiries and ask that each one be removed from your credit profile. (The CRAs may tell you that you need to do this in writing, which we’ll cover in the next section). Then ask the CRA to send you a copy of the notification(s) of fraud sent to each credit grantor who they contact regarding suspected fraudulent activity.
4) Ask each CRA for a list of names, phone #’s and addresses for all businesses and organizations that looked at your credit history in the past year (and perhaps even longer, depending on how long the fraud has been going on).
Request the agency to call you whenever applications are made for new credit lines in your name. The alert can say something like, “Please contact me immediately at this phone number before issuing any credit. All new credit applications must be validated and personally authorized by me.”
6) Ask the Credit Reporting Agency to contact every company that has received your credit report in the last year and tell them you’re a victim of identity theft. Request that copies of these notices be sent to you in order to make sure the CRAs follow through with your request.
7) Now you need to call the credit grantors your information search has revealed the identity thief has set up fraudulent accounts with. Tell each one you’re the victim of identity theft and indicate the account(s) in question.
Ask each one to stop issuing credit to the fraudster who has stolen your personal information.9) Request that fraudulent accounts be closed immediately, then ask for their removal from your credit profile. If an identity thief was able to use a valid credit account (one opened by you), such as a credit card account, then you’ll either have to get a new card issued (with a new number) or cancel the card altogether. It’s better to have this kind of request worded something along the lines of, “This account has been closed at the customer’s request.” That reads much better than, “Card was stolen or lost.”.” Wording such as that might negatively impact your credit score in the future.
10) Request all documentation associated with the fraudulent accounts (including original application). Companies are required to send you this information under federal law. Fraudulent applications often contain forged signatures and other information that might be useful to you or law enforcement. Such documentation includes: false application with forged signature, all billing statements, address and phone number where credit cards were mailed, all correspondence between a creditor and the identity thief, plus electronic, audio or video evidence related to the crime.
11) Don’t forget to ask the credit grantor, company or agency to verify your requests … in writing.
FLOYD
Dec
19
Isla Campbell asked:
It’s one of the country’s fastest growing crimes – but how do you stop someone from stealing your personal details and using them to get credit in your name? There are a number of ways in which you can help to defend yourself – and your finances – from identity fraud.
The electoral roll is used by lenders to verify that you live where you say you do - if you’re already registered, an identity thief will be unable to register in your name. If you haven’t already done so, protect yourself by contacting your local council to register to vote.
An unidentified or suspicious transaction is often one of the first signs of ID fraud. Ensure you thoroughly check your credit card and bank statements for unusual entries. Your credit report can also indicate that someone is using your identity to apply for credit, so check it regularly for applications you didn’t make or accounts you didn’t open. You can view your free credit report online by signing up to a credit monitoring service that will alert you every time there’s a change that could indicate fraud.
If you have had key items stolen, such as credit cards or your passport, report these to the police and any other relevant organisations in order to warn them of potentially fraudulent activity in your name. Thieves may also intercept mail to steal vital information so if any of your mail is going missing, notify the Post Office immediately, and ensure you have mail forwarded when you move.
If you go away on holiday, arrange for your post to be collected regularly to avoid it being stolen and used to commit Identity theft.
An old catalogue with your name, address and account number on it could be useful to fraudsters so ensure that you don’t throw away anything containing personal information that could be used to steal your identity. If in doubt, shred it. Also avoid carrying important documents around unless you really need them. Your passport, driving licence and payment cards can all be used by criminals, so make sure they are kept in a safe place.
Several criminal ploys exist to get hold of your personal details, including cold calls and unsolicited e-mails, so be wary of sharing confidential information with anybody. This includes PINs, bank account details and passwords.
What’s more, steer clear of opening attachments to unsolicited e-mails or visiting dubious-looking web sites - they could contain a virus that will steal important data from your hard disk. Always make sure your computer is protected by installing the latest security patches and anti-virus software on your computer. Increasingly popular social networking sites are ideal for Identity thieves as they can use personal details such as your full address, date of birth, children’s and pet’s names to obtain your password or PIN.
In summary, to protect yourself from ID thieves, use the tips above to ensure that you keep your confidential information secure and stay on top of ID fraud by checking your credit report on a regular basis.
PETER
It’s one of the country’s fastest growing crimes – but how do you stop someone from stealing your personal details and using them to get credit in your name? There are a number of ways in which you can help to defend yourself – and your finances – from identity fraud.
The electoral roll is used by lenders to verify that you live where you say you do - if you’re already registered, an identity thief will be unable to register in your name. If you haven’t already done so, protect yourself by contacting your local council to register to vote.
An unidentified or suspicious transaction is often one of the first signs of ID fraud. Ensure you thoroughly check your credit card and bank statements for unusual entries. Your credit report can also indicate that someone is using your identity to apply for credit, so check it regularly for applications you didn’t make or accounts you didn’t open. You can view your free credit report online by signing up to a credit monitoring service that will alert you every time there’s a change that could indicate fraud.
If you have had key items stolen, such as credit cards or your passport, report these to the police and any other relevant organisations in order to warn them of potentially fraudulent activity in your name. Thieves may also intercept mail to steal vital information so if any of your mail is going missing, notify the Post Office immediately, and ensure you have mail forwarded when you move.
If you go away on holiday, arrange for your post to be collected regularly to avoid it being stolen and used to commit Identity theft.
An old catalogue with your name, address and account number on it could be useful to fraudsters so ensure that you don’t throw away anything containing personal information that could be used to steal your identity. If in doubt, shred it. Also avoid carrying important documents around unless you really need them. Your passport, driving licence and payment cards can all be used by criminals, so make sure they are kept in a safe place.
Several criminal ploys exist to get hold of your personal details, including cold calls and unsolicited e-mails, so be wary of sharing confidential information with anybody. This includes PINs, bank account details and passwords.
What’s more, steer clear of opening attachments to unsolicited e-mails or visiting dubious-looking web sites - they could contain a virus that will steal important data from your hard disk. Always make sure your computer is protected by installing the latest security patches and anti-virus software on your computer. Increasingly popular social networking sites are ideal for Identity thieves as they can use personal details such as your full address, date of birth, children’s and pet’s names to obtain your password or PIN.
In summary, to protect yourself from ID thieves, use the tips above to ensure that you keep your confidential information secure and stay on top of ID fraud by checking your credit report on a regular basis.
PETER
Sep
20
Credit Card Fraud
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Author asked:
The rampant use of credit cards, and especially that use compounded by the secret avenues of the internet, can put the common consumer in a substantially vulnerable position to become a victim of fraud. Much like computer viruses and the necessary adjustments made by internet providers, card companies and merchants are vigilantly combating fraud as it occurs and thinking of new ways to pre-empt it before it can hit. The cost of fraud is high, over 500 million pounds in the UK alone in 2004 so finding ways to anticipate and curtail the damage caused by fraud, is like the credit card industry itself, very big business.
Everyone wants a piece of the fraud protection trade. Credit card companies offer their own incentives and programs and advertise them through clever ads starring Donald Trump, Viking marauders, and unwitting customers channeling the voices of the thieves who made them victims. Internet sites like Scambusters dot com and Merchant911 dot com protect consumers and merchants respectively. Often these services are free, or just provide a forum within which consumers and merchants can share information regarding recent scams. Even email, which can easily be harvested for numbers being sent back and forth in transactions, is a potent medium through which consumers can communicate with each other about impending threats or even scams in progress. Though the elimination of fraud is an impossibility, its reduction is possible due to recent innovations in fraud prevention such as security chips, picture id’s and the increasing awareness of online merchants.
Company databases often unwittingly supply massive amounts of credit card information to hackers, having conveniently kept it all in one place. Often, the merchant himself will be responsible for payment of the fraud if it is found that improper steps were taken to ascertain the purchaser’s identity and/or adequately protect the identity of their consumer’s. The purchases most at risk for fraud are “card not present” purchases. Sites like Merchant911.com list fraud screening sites like: preCharge, MaxMind, Cardinal Commerce, FraudSmack, WhyLabs and Merchant Sense all of them offering fraud-screening services to the merchant community, specifically e-merchants who deal exclusively with “card not present” scenarios. Consumers have other resources, including identity theft protection software, many of these offered by ClearCommerce.
Though the dangers of “card not present” shopping are manifold, the convenience and ease of shopping from home will likely do little do deter even the most nervous consumer. Though fraud may never be eradicated, online services, software and common sense go along way towards total protection.
CLIFF
The rampant use of credit cards, and especially that use compounded by the secret avenues of the internet, can put the common consumer in a substantially vulnerable position to become a victim of fraud. Much like computer viruses and the necessary adjustments made by internet providers, card companies and merchants are vigilantly combating fraud as it occurs and thinking of new ways to pre-empt it before it can hit. The cost of fraud is high, over 500 million pounds in the UK alone in 2004 so finding ways to anticipate and curtail the damage caused by fraud, is like the credit card industry itself, very big business.
Everyone wants a piece of the fraud protection trade. Credit card companies offer their own incentives and programs and advertise them through clever ads starring Donald Trump, Viking marauders, and unwitting customers channeling the voices of the thieves who made them victims. Internet sites like Scambusters dot com and Merchant911 dot com protect consumers and merchants respectively. Often these services are free, or just provide a forum within which consumers and merchants can share information regarding recent scams. Even email, which can easily be harvested for numbers being sent back and forth in transactions, is a potent medium through which consumers can communicate with each other about impending threats or even scams in progress. Though the elimination of fraud is an impossibility, its reduction is possible due to recent innovations in fraud prevention such as security chips, picture id’s and the increasing awareness of online merchants.
Company databases often unwittingly supply massive amounts of credit card information to hackers, having conveniently kept it all in one place. Often, the merchant himself will be responsible for payment of the fraud if it is found that improper steps were taken to ascertain the purchaser’s identity and/or adequately protect the identity of their consumer’s. The purchases most at risk for fraud are “card not present” purchases. Sites like Merchant911.com list fraud screening sites like: preCharge, MaxMind, Cardinal Commerce, FraudSmack, WhyLabs and Merchant Sense all of them offering fraud-screening services to the merchant community, specifically e-merchants who deal exclusively with “card not present” scenarios. Consumers have other resources, including identity theft protection software, many of these offered by ClearCommerce.
Though the dangers of “card not present” shopping are manifold, the convenience and ease of shopping from home will likely do little do deter even the most nervous consumer. Though fraud may never be eradicated, online services, software and common sense go along way towards total protection.
CLIFF
Sep
5
Id Theft Basics - How to Protect yourself
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Mike Clover asked:
Current studies show that ID Theft is at epidemic proportions. The Federal Trade Commission surveys estimated that there are close to 9.9 million victims and growing by 2 to 3 million a year.
For individuals that are not victims of identity theft, the best thing you can do is check your credit report regularly, focusing on two categories.
* Inquiries from unfamiliar companies. Here we are talking about someone applying for something in your name in a state that you don’t live in. Remember inquiries are the result of you applying for credit.
* Unfamiliar Accounts (tradelines). Are there debts or new credit listed on your credit report that you are not familiar with?
There are 3 major Bureaus that provide services to monitor your credit report. These services give e-mails to you promptly if there are any changes to your report.
What to Do if ID Theft happens to you.
You want to keep a detailed log of events as you start the dispute process. You do this in case you run into problems with a creditor. The first step obviously is contact the 3 credit bureaus, local police, creditors, etc…… You keep detailed conversations logs with any of these entities you communicate with. Also keeps receipts, bills, or out of pocket expenses you incur during the process of disputing. I would also make note of the emotional stress and how it is affecting your work performance and personal relationships. In addition your expenses and time could be tax-deductible in certain circumstance.
Contact Law enforcement
Here is the properties procedure for contacting the authorities so you can file a formal report. You should include all fraudulent accounts in the report. As the Credit Bureaus say they are able to remove disputes, remember to keep a copy of the report number and contact info.
Who to contact:
* FTC.gov/bcp/coline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
* Local Police Department
* FTC 800-438-4338 or 800?ID THEFT
Credit Bureaus - Steps to take with the CRAs
* Notify one of the credit bureaus fraud units that you are victim of Identity Theft. This Bureau will be responsible for telling the other 2 Bureaus. (Equifax: 800-525-6285; Experian: 888-397-3742; Trans Union: 800-680-7289)
* Tell Bureaus to flag you credit report with fraud alert
* Get a copy of your credit report with scores
* Once you have read your report, send a dispute letter, accompanied with police report along with the FTC fraud affidavit specifying which accounts are fraudulent.
* Subscribe to the Bureaus monitoring services of your credit report
* Consider signing up for Trusted ID services which will block your credit report so only you can use it.
* Ask the Bureaus to contact the creditors that fraudulent activities have taken place.
Debt Collectors- You will be getting calls from debt collectors more than likely. If they call you:
* Get the debt collectors companies name, address and there phone number. Let him or her know you are noting the time and date of the conversation in your log activity book
* Inform the collection agency you are a victim of Identity Theft
* Provide the FTC uniform fraud affidavit
* Ask for number and name of credit issuer.
* Send the debt collector a letter, stating that you do not owe this debt and that the account has been close.
* Request in writing that the account is being flagged as fraudulent, and is being closed. You also should request in writing that the fraudulent account is being removed from your credit report.
New accounts opened in your name: the Identity Thief has opened new accounts in your good name: what to do. The credit report you pulled should list all creditors that have accounts in your name with contact numbers.
* Notify each creditor of the identity theft that has taken place to you. You will be asked to send a fraud affidavit. (Be sure to put all of this in your log)
* Ask the creditors to send you any application or fraudulent activity that has happened in your good name.
* Add passwords to all accounts
* If the thief has got a hold of your checking account, credit cards, get replacements with new numbers. Call and request these accounts to be closed as well.
* Fill out FTC uniform fraud affidavit.
Your Checking account- If the thief has written checks in your name here is what you do.
* Call your local police, and file a report
* Call your bank and close the account immediately
* Remember to keep good logs
* Typically your bank will refund you your money, and ask for a copy of police report filed.
This stuff is serious business; I hope this will help you resolve issues involving identity theft to you.
ARON
Current studies show that ID Theft is at epidemic proportions. The Federal Trade Commission surveys estimated that there are close to 9.9 million victims and growing by 2 to 3 million a year.
For individuals that are not victims of identity theft, the best thing you can do is check your credit report regularly, focusing on two categories.
* Inquiries from unfamiliar companies. Here we are talking about someone applying for something in your name in a state that you don’t live in. Remember inquiries are the result of you applying for credit.
* Unfamiliar Accounts (tradelines). Are there debts or new credit listed on your credit report that you are not familiar with?
There are 3 major Bureaus that provide services to monitor your credit report. These services give e-mails to you promptly if there are any changes to your report.
What to Do if ID Theft happens to you.
You want to keep a detailed log of events as you start the dispute process. You do this in case you run into problems with a creditor. The first step obviously is contact the 3 credit bureaus, local police, creditors, etc…… You keep detailed conversations logs with any of these entities you communicate with. Also keeps receipts, bills, or out of pocket expenses you incur during the process of disputing. I would also make note of the emotional stress and how it is affecting your work performance and personal relationships. In addition your expenses and time could be tax-deductible in certain circumstance.
Contact Law enforcement
Here is the properties procedure for contacting the authorities so you can file a formal report. You should include all fraudulent accounts in the report. As the Credit Bureaus say they are able to remove disputes, remember to keep a copy of the report number and contact info.
Who to contact:
* FTC.gov/bcp/coline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
* Local Police Department
* FTC 800-438-4338 or 800?ID THEFT
Credit Bureaus - Steps to take with the CRAs
* Notify one of the credit bureaus fraud units that you are victim of Identity Theft. This Bureau will be responsible for telling the other 2 Bureaus. (Equifax: 800-525-6285; Experian: 888-397-3742; Trans Union: 800-680-7289)
* Tell Bureaus to flag you credit report with fraud alert
* Get a copy of your credit report with scores
* Once you have read your report, send a dispute letter, accompanied with police report along with the FTC fraud affidavit specifying which accounts are fraudulent.
* Subscribe to the Bureaus monitoring services of your credit report
* Consider signing up for Trusted ID services which will block your credit report so only you can use it.
* Ask the Bureaus to contact the creditors that fraudulent activities have taken place.
Debt Collectors- You will be getting calls from debt collectors more than likely. If they call you:
* Get the debt collectors companies name, address and there phone number. Let him or her know you are noting the time and date of the conversation in your log activity book
* Inform the collection agency you are a victim of Identity Theft
* Provide the FTC uniform fraud affidavit
* Ask for number and name of credit issuer.
* Send the debt collector a letter, stating that you do not owe this debt and that the account has been close.
* Request in writing that the account is being flagged as fraudulent, and is being closed. You also should request in writing that the fraudulent account is being removed from your credit report.
New accounts opened in your name: the Identity Thief has opened new accounts in your good name: what to do. The credit report you pulled should list all creditors that have accounts in your name with contact numbers.
* Notify each creditor of the identity theft that has taken place to you. You will be asked to send a fraud affidavit. (Be sure to put all of this in your log)
* Ask the creditors to send you any application or fraudulent activity that has happened in your good name.
* Add passwords to all accounts
* If the thief has got a hold of your checking account, credit cards, get replacements with new numbers. Call and request these accounts to be closed as well.
* Fill out FTC uniform fraud affidavit.
Your Checking account- If the thief has written checks in your name here is what you do.
* Call your local police, and file a report
* Call your bank and close the account immediately
* Remember to keep good logs
* Typically your bank will refund you your money, and ask for a copy of police report filed.
This stuff is serious business; I hope this will help you resolve issues involving identity theft to you.
ARON