Are You Wasting Your Money On Identity Theft Insurance?

Identity theft is a topic on everyone's mind these days and with it, insurance against it also a hot topic. Many of these identity theft insurance policies, while priced reasonably, are extremely limited in their benefit structure and are "typically not worth the money," stated the editors of Consumer Reports magazine.

While there are numerous statistics being collected about the number of identity theft victims annually, there is no real, solid figure. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that there are about 9.3 million individuals unlucky enough to make this list. However, a recent report delivered by the Justice Department puts the figure at 3.6 million households that were victims of id theft, and the majority of these incidents revolved around a stolen credit card, and not the account opening and fake ID crimes that are considered to be much more serious.

Publicity has been high regarding identity theft as it is considered one of the fastest-growing consumer crimes in the country today. People are more than willing to buy some insurance and peace of mind for $20 to $100 a year on their basic homeowner's policy or from a stand-alone product marketer. It seems a small price to pay to save one's financial privacy and stability. Encouraged to get some form of protection, Karl Newman, president of the Northwest Insurance Council, feels that something is better than nothing.

The real question then comes down to, what are you getting for your money?

There are many cautions for consumers when buying identity theft insurance in that some "cannot protect the consumer from becoming a victim of identity theft, nor does it provide direct monetary compensation when losses are incurred. What it actually provides is coverage of expenses to deal with the problem when it arises including the costs of making calls, copies and mailing of documents necessary to resolve the issue. It can also provide, in some cases, help with legal bills.

When looking to invest in a identity theft policy, Jay Foley of Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego, cautions that some policies don't cover legal fees or lost wages from time lost at work. He also says that when looking for a policy, look at the deductible which can usually range from $100 to $250. Read the fine print, because he's also seen some deductibles that went as high as $1,000.

There is a free alternative also available in that you may qualify for free ID theft protection depending on which credit card you have. For example, American Express offers free identity theft assistance for its cardholders and more and more credit card companies are following suit. Amex gives you round-the-clock telephone access to their representatives who will quickly help you determine if identity theft has occurred and what to do to recover from it.

To find out more about how you can protect yourself against identity theft, visit http://www.identitytheftprotectionsite.com/identitytheftprotection.php and learn 10 methods for identity theft protection.

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Prevent Identity Theft With A Few Basic Steps

Identity theft is a severe crime that is spreading annually. If you are a victim of identity theft you might spend months, possibly years, attempting to mend a damaged credit history. An extremely ruined credit file could compromise your opportunities of acquiring a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even rental housing. It's even possible to be arrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has utilized your identity to break the law.

Unfortunately, several of the means that criminals utilize to snatch identities are beyond your control to shield against. Although it is seldom, even store clerks have been known to take advantage of their position to pass along information to identity thieves. There are a few actions you could take, nonetheless, that can make it more difficult for a thief to swipe your identity.

Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases

Subsequent to you making a purchase and your credit or debit card has been processed through a credit card terminal, investigate to be sure that the printed receipt disguises every number but the last four digits of your credit card account number (most likely there will be Xs in place of the 1st twelve digits). Some terminals continue to print receipts that show all sixteen digits of an account number, and may even consist of the date the card expires too. After your card is swiped, you are authorized by law to mask the 1st twelve digits of your account number on the duplicate of the receipt that the merchant keeps. Apply any marking pen that can do the task.

When you dine at a restaurant, it is especially vital to be sure that the 1st twelve digits of your credit card number are hidden on your receipt. You may be in the custom of endorsing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after your meal. A criminal could simply swipe the signed receipt prior to the waitperson coming back around to retrieve it from the table. Don't take any risks.

Do You Really Have To Offer Your Social Security Number?

Another important way that you could protect against identity theft is to withdraw from offering your social security number except under the circumstances that it is definitely necessary. Although you have to give your social security number upon applying for a loan or for a bank account, sometimes a business or an organization will need to utilize it as an identification number, only to identify you in their network. This is a common routine although the law says that social security numbers are not to be maintained as identification numbers. In this situation, use your judgment. There's generally an alternative if you question.

Eliminate Forms That Include Sensitive Personal Information

Invest in a paper shredder and apply it to terminate forms you are getting rid of which include personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone numbers and dates of birth. This is critical to do both at home and your place of employment. Identity thieves are not above sifting through people's garbage to discover valuable personal information that could help them obtain credit in someone's name.

If The Worst Happens

If you do turn into a victim of identity theft, take the following actions without delay:

• Contact your credit card companies, stop your accounts and ask to have new cards sent to you.
• Place a fraud alert on your report with any 1 of the three major credit bureaus. The other two will be informed automatically.
• Put in a police report. You might need it to show to creditors as evidence of the illegal act.
• Put in a complaint with the FTC, which preserves a filing system of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.

Fred Hopkins is a 9 year consumer finance veteran, helping people prevent identity theft and protecting their credit. He also posts lifelock reviews, in addition to the wealth of information on http://www.mountaintopmtg.net.

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Child Identity Theft - How to Protect Your Child's Financial Identity

The law specifies that parents must apply for a social security number for each child. Once a social security number is applied to your child, we immediately begin years and years of filling in forms with this magical number on it. From signing children up with a new pediatrician, to getting health insurance, to registering them for sports programs, it seems as though everyone wants personal information.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, child identity theft is increasing at an alarming rate. This means more people - primarily a parent or a guardian - are using a child's social security number to open a credit account, apply for a loan, or rent an apartment. Such actions tend to go undetected until the child is old enough to do this for his or herself.

It's important for parents to be on the look out for 'red flags' such as getting a bill in your child's name from a credit card company or receiving calls from a collection agency looking for your child. Following are ways to protect your child's financial identity:

• Keep your child's social security information and birth certificate in a safe, or in a computer file that is protected from unauthorized access.
• Limit access to your child's social security number by not providing it on non-essential forms, such as when registering them for sports.
• Do not give your child their social security information until they are old enough to understand how to protect this information.
• Shred papers containing your child's social security number.
• Do not carry your child's social security card in your wallet.
• Never give out your child's social security number over the phone or on the Internet.
• Scan your mail for bills, statements, or credit card offers that arrive in your child's name. If bills arrive in your child's name, call the credit reporting agency to ensure there is no balance.

Children typically don't use their social security numbers until their late teens, when applying for a first job, a student loan or a credit card. This makes them easy targets since thieves have years to rack up considerable damage. Two-thirds of child identity theft cases involve relatives. Victims need to file a report with local law enforcement officials and can file a dispute through the Fair Credit Reporting Act to credit bureaus.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find parenting tips and resources at http://becomingaparent.myguidesusa.com

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Top 10 reasons to have your Free Credit Score Report

Your Free Credit Score Report is absolutely the most important piece of mind you need to have these days. How are you ever going to know what is being reported about you if you don't have a current copy of your Free Credit Score Report. Maybe you are applying for some type of loan and find out to your surprise that you don't have the credit score you really should have to get the best interest rates. I am going to give the top reasons why you should get a copy every 60 to 90 days. It is to most peoples surprise when they are told NO in regards to the following, or maybe someone stole your identity and you never knew about it. Here are the top reasons.

1. To get that new "Dream Job".
2. To get the low interest rate credit card.
3. New Car
4. Identity Theft Protection
5. New House
6. Keep your current rates low on existing credit cards
7. Discover inaccuracies on your Credit Report
8. Because you were denied credit
9. Piece of Mind
10. An educated consumer saves money.

The previous list mentioned is so important because all of these items are part of our every day lives. If you are not on top of your Free Credit Score Report, you may not have got that new "Dream Job". Most employers are now pulling your credit report to determine if you are a responsible person. Your Report will say a lot about your personal life. If you have a history of not paying your bills, your new employer may assume you don't show up to work on time. A Credit Report says a lot about an individual, and that is why most establishments are pulling your in-file. There is talk also about Medical facilities pulling your credit with there credit scoring system to determine the likelihood of you paying back your medical bills. Read more at Dallas Morning News. No matter what you do, or how cleaver we thing we think we are, they will find out your Credit Score.

Identity Theft is also another huge reason to have a current copy. Every 3 seconds someone gets there personal information violated. Once this happens to you it is a major on taken to get cleaned up. All of this could have been avoided if you had monitoring of your Credit Report set up. Believe me I see this all the time with clients of mine, someone stole there credit and they had no idea. I think this article pretty much covers why you should not delay anymore. Get your Free Credit Score Report today with monitoring.

About the Author

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.my720fico.com . My720fico.com is one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score reports, Internet identity theft software, secure credit cards, and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness.

How To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime and it can lead to individuals being devastated as a result. Several persons have committed suicide because their identity was stolen. Plans, relationships, and dreams can be destroyed because of identity theft. This has cause the government to take steps to address the rising problem of identity theft.

It seems however, that these cyber thieves are very talented, and the are very difficult to catch. This is why it is up to the individual to take the necessary steps to protect themselves against identity theft. Here are some tips to protect yourself against identity theft.

Your social security card should be kept in an safe place, and not in your wallet. This card contain a very important piece of information, the nine digit social security number or {snn} which identifies a person and it also can unlock bank and credit card information.

Any mail or paper that contain important information such as your bank account number or your credit card number should be shredded, as opposed to simply throwing them into the garbage can. Identity thieves have been know to go through garbage bins to retrieve the said information.

Be careful before you click. Identity thieves have been know to copy websites and use them to steal information. The identity thief or scam artist can copy the website of a bank. If a client of the said bank, absentmindedly logs into the online banking site, the will and can be ask for sensitive information. This website could say that the are updating the clients information, and the gullible client may simply fill out the form and give them the information.

Before sending vital information on the internet, an individual should first check the URL or universal resource locator of the website so as to determine if the website is authentic. For example the authentic website for yahoo is http://www.yahoo.com and the fake website would be https:yahoo.com If you notice there is a one letter difference. This does not mean that the https Indicate a phony website. In fact, the additional is desirable for the entering of personal information. The letter s along with the symbol of a lock at the bottom of the screen indicates that the website is secure.

Finally, always check the details of your bank account statement or the credit card bill. Some people put off opening the envelope because the do not want to see how much the have to pay before the due date. This can cause massive damage because these people do not immediately know if there have been unauthorized use of their credit card.

Daniel D Junior is a freelance writer and the moderator of the website Identity theft prevention tips

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_D_Junior

George Clooney And Medical Identity Theft

Just weeks after George Clooney was injured in a motorcycle accident and taken to Palisades Medical Center, he learned that dozens of employees, including doctors and nurses, have been suspended for accessing his confidential information.

As many as 40 employees are being investigated, and the hospital has suspended 27 employees for a month without pay after being accused of accessing Clooney's medical records and giving that information to the press -- which is a violation of federal law.

In my book, this is more serious than it first appears. There is so much private information contained in your personal medical records that you never want people to get their hands on. Things, like your social security number, your home address, your phone number and of course your medical history. Things that are very private and certainly nobody's business but your own.

Identity theft can be one of your worst nightmares. Imagine someone who can use your credit cards, your social, your driver's license and your insurance card to go on a buying spree. It takes forever to clear up the messes they cause, and in the meantime, your credit rating amongst other things can be ruined. What a horrible violation.

The Wall Street Journal wrote an article warning us about medical identity theft. Because health care costs are so high people are actually stealing your information and are getting drugs and medical treatment under your name.

Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania attorney general's office says "you need to treat your medical ID card as if it were a Visa card with a million-dollar credit limit." Often, it's an inside job where a worker in a hospital or doctor's office steals patients' identities and sells them to criminals.

Mike Stergio, director of Aetna's special investigation unit is currently investigating a case which Aetna was hit with claims totaling $3.5 million over a two-week period for treatments supposedly provided to 400 of its members. Individuals are often unaware their identities have been stolen, since scammers usually change the home address.

So what can you do to protect yourself? The World Privacy Forum web site provides a detailed guide on how to gain access to your medical records and seeks amendments, including sample letters that you can send to your health-care provider. To see that click here.

If your health plan gives you the option to monitor your benefits online, sign up for a password protected account. That way you can keep track each month. If you see a problem contact your insurance company immediately.

You also have to be suspicious of any free medical services or treatments. Unscrupulous people could just be fishing around to grab your information. Always ask questions. Take nothing at face value.

A few more important don'ts. Don't give your insurance information at a free clinic. Don't give your insurance information to telephone marketers. Don't speak loudly when giving out your information at the doctor's office.

You can never be to careful when it comes to protecting your privacy. If it can happen to George, it can happen to you.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope you are enjoying this joyous day. Remember the reason for the season isn't presents, it isn't even to spend time with family. The reason is for the remembrance of the birth of Jesus. I know he wasn't born on December 25, but that isn't the point. This time of year remember the greatest gift ever given was God himself in the form of a little baby. When you open those presents remember that gift that was given over 2000 years ago. God bless you, your family, and your friends on the wonderful Christmas day.