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

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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.

Protect Your Identity - Paper Shredders Help Prevent One Of The Fastest Growing Crimes In America

Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in America, and is the #1 concern among consumers. Identity theft occurs when a criminal appropriates another person's private information and opens fraudulent credit accounts, ruining the victim financially.

According to 2 studies done in July 2003 (Gartner Research and Harris Interactive), approximately 7 million people became victims of identity theft in the prior 12 months. That equals 19,178 per day, 799 per hour, 13.3 per minute. Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime, often over a period of years.

It's hard to believe, but some people make a good living by dumpster diving. They dig through public dumpsters and private trashcans looking for information AND IT'S COMPLETELY LEGAL! According to the U.S. Supreme Court (California v. Greenwood, decided May 16, 1988), all rights of privacy and ownership are forfeited by your disposal in the trash. The Court also said: "It is common knowledge that garbage is readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public."

Your best defense against identity fraud is by shredding documents with personal information before disposing of them. There are two very important things to be aware of before purchasing a shredder. There are strip-cut shredders and cross cut shredders. These two styles of paper shredders are fundamentally different.

Strip cut shredders cut paper into thin ¼-inch or 1/8-inch strips of paper. This form of shredding was initially all that was available to the public just over a decade ago. Although documents are shredded, it was discovered that these strips of paper could be easily re-assembled by a determined thief. In 1979, when the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was overrun by militants, Persian basket weavers were used to re-assemble strip cut documents containing sensitive information.

Cross cut shredders, sometimes referred to as confetti or particle cut shredders, cut paper from more than one angle. This makes it more difficult to re-assemble documents. It is now recommended that bills, receipts and other documents containing sensitive information be cross cut. One thing that many people do not realize is that cross cut shredders are available in different security levels, depending on the size of the cross-cut particles.

These security levels vary from 1, which is a 3/8-inch strip cut document and the least secure, to 6, which is almost dust and is used for high-security shredding. These security levels are based on the DIN 32757 shredding standard, which has been adopted by the shredding industry. DIN is an abbreviation for the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung).

Security level 6, which hasn't been officially adopted by DIN 32757, is approved by the NSA (National Security Agency) for top-secret shredding. You can find a detailed list of specifications for the different shredding security levels by going here: http://www.officezone.com/shredder_guide.htm#security?NR.

Office Zone, a leading supplier of paper shredders over the Internet, offers a wide variety of paper shredders and information for all shredding applications (www.officezone.com/shred1.htm). Shredders vary from desk side models to high-end industrial shredders and CD destroyers. You can contact Office Zone by phone (1-800-543-5454) or by e-mail (info@officezone.com).

J. David Stuart is a leading authority regarding office automation equipment and supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._David_Stuart

It’s Not Me! Preventing and Dealing With Identity Theft

It’s one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, and most victims are unaware they’ve become a target until long after the crime is committed. We’re talking about identity theft. In today’s world, information travels faster than ever, and that includes your personal information. If it falls into the wrong hands, your personal info could be used to acquire credit cards, loans, or to open accounts.

Unknown to you, somewhere, someone could be using your good name for their own criminal purposes, and you’ll be the one held accountable. In 2004, 3.6 million American households had at least one person who was a victim of identity theft. Don’t let it happen to you.

Preventing Identity Theft Is Key

The best way to fight identity theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Since you could be a victim right now and not know it for months, it’s important to check your credit report. Under an amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have a right to a free copy of your comprehensive credit report once every 12 months. Take advantage. Visit annualcreditreport.com to get started.

Once you have your credit report in hand, check it carefully for any irregularities. It’s also a good idea to put a fraud alert on all of your credit reports. The three major credit bureaus—Equifax (800-525-6285), TransUnion (800-680-7289) and Experian (888-397-3742) will all put a free alert on your reports that will tell companies to call and inform you when someone tries to open an account in your name or tinker with an existing one. The alert lasts 90 days, so give yourself a reminder to call and update it every three months.

Next, think about the passwords you use to access your credit card information, bank accounts, and other finances. Is it something like the last four digits of your Social Security Number or your mother’s maiden name? If so, change it. Identity thieves are a crafty bunch, and they’ll easily crack a simple password. Think about something that you can remember that includes a variety of uppercase and lowercase letters combined with numerals. If an institution asks for your SSN or mother’s maiden name, insist on another identifier.

Also, secure your personal information at home, at work, and while you travel. Don’t leave your wallet or any important receipts lying around the house or the office. Someone can easily pick it up, write down a few numbers, and set it back down without you ever being the wiser.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

Truer words were never spoken when it comes to identity theft. Thieves will do whatever it takes to get your personal info, including digging through your trash to get the numbers they need. Buy a shredder, and use it. Credit applications, receipts, bank statements, insurance forms, and any other document containing personal identification that you are tossing should always be shredded first. And about those unsolicited credit applications that clog up your mailbox every day—you can put a stop to them. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT to stop receiving these offers.

Speaking of mail, hopefully you get yours out of a locked mailbox. If not, ask your postal worker about getting one. Never deposit your outgoing mail in an unsecured mailbox. Drop it in a collection box or run it by the post office if need be.

About The Author

Joe Kenny writes for the Card Guide, a UK based credit card site, visit today for a balance transfer credit cards and clear your credit card debt today.

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