Back in the olden days (a year ago), I would have easily thrown out old non-confidential school documents and work records with ancient addresses on them, instead of shredding them. However now I know that when you’re a victim one identity theft, credit reporting agencies authenticate you by you confirming…
I just came across a Washington Post story on the "ID Theft Cycle," which delves into the underworld of online data theft and fraud. It’s a useful reminder to beware of websites that you don’t know enough about, as far as their data security. The Post also has a transcript…
This is a tough situation: While attempting to protect medical records, laws have actually made it harder to investigate medical fraud. The LA Times reports on a recent incident in which a retired school teacher is billed for the alleged amputation of her right foot — actually having to send…
Today I was on a website that offers deals for various consumer services. I noticed one related to identity theft so decide to check into the company. The site had was almost no information on who they are. I dug further. While I found out some info, such as that…
A friend told me her credit card bill had more than $10,000 in charges from Google AdWords. What I’m guessing happened is: Someone got her credit card number somehow. Set up an AdWords account using her number and name. Created ad campaigns and offered to pay extremely high amounts of…
The national task force on identity theft, formed this May, has announced some interim recommendations to help combat identity theft and help victims recover. (Here’s the full enchilada in PDF form.) The final recommendations are scheduled for November. My Thoughts As an identity theft victim, I think the promising recommendations…
If you’ve ever donated or sold one of your cell phones or smartphones, the TechNewsWorld article "Used Cell Phones May Reveal First Owners’ Personal Data" may make you gulp. "Selling your old phone once you upgrade to a fancier model can be like handing over your diaries. All sorts of…
I’m sitting in my favorite cafe, and a guy asks if he can plug in his cell phone. He asks my first name. I tell him.He asks my birthday. I tell him the month.He asks the day. I asked why but for some reason told him. He tells me he’s…
A friend just sent me this email about Zabasearch.com and cc’d all of her friends. If you receive an email like this, please read these tips. The information in the rest of this blog posting may help you as well: Beginning this month (JULY ’06) a new database will be…
Recently a number of articles warning against "innovative" credit card-related scams caught my eye. Here’s a rundown of situtations to avoid: Get free sub sandwich; give a credit card in your name: “At Subway, (identity thieves) will buy 50 certificates for a free sub. Then they’ll pick up 50 applications…
Just a few months ago, my colleague Matt suggested only giving out your credit card to people you call – not who call you. Now the San Francisco Chronicle reports about a scam that makes it necessary to take this advice with a grain of salt: "A fraudster contacts an…
At first I thought nothing of the mailing promoting moving services. Then I realized: "Hey, wait I’m not moving." I called them up to see if an identity thief was trying to establish a phone number using my Social Security Number. It turned out they’d had no inquiries. The rep…
I recently saw an online forum that freely gives out people’s SSNs, birthdates, credit card numbers, checking accounts, PASSWORDS and addresses. It literally made me sick to my stomach how this forum made such critical information accessible to the world – not even requiring a login to view the forum….
It’s just conjecture, but perhaps this*explains the mysterious disappearance of a desktop PC loaded with Veterans Administration data, from a Unisys office. Or perhaps it was the old tshirt-thrown-over-a-security-camera trick we’ve seen in so many suspense flicks. I’m on the edge of my seat. *In case you don’t want to…
The BlackHat computer security conference is currently underway in Las Vegas. As you might expect, we have some people down there to gather information on the latest security risks and ensure we protect our customers. One of the more interesting presentations explains the risks associated with the current proposal to…
Imagine asking someone for their ID and being handed your own driver’s license in return. That’s exactly what happened at a bar in Ohio. A server checking ID’s requested one from a patron and was handed her own ID in return: A bar waitress checking to see if a woman…
The Associated Press reports that "Undercover investigators entered the United States using fake documents repeatedly this year — including some cases in which Homeland Security Department agents didn’t ask for identification." They also report that "Homeland Security agents intercepted 75,000 fraudulent documents from border travelers last year." That’s a lot…
The World Privacy Forum is a useful source of research that delves into issues and examples of non-financially related identity fraud, namely medical identity theft. Their recent report (in PDF format) estimates this issue affected up to 250,000 individuals in the U.S. since the early 1990s. They warn that: "It…
About 3 months ago I signed up at OptOutPrescreen.com to stop receiving offers of credit. The offers kept coming. Today I flipped upon receiving 4 credit card offers in one day (2 were duplicates; I guess they wanted to make sure I got them). That’s when I checked the fine…
The New York Times reports that regions with high concentrations of methamphetamine users also have high incidence of identity theft, in Meth Users, Attuned to Detail, Add Another Habit: ID Theft" (The article may require registration.) Joe Morales, director of the Denver district attorney’s economic crime unit, is quoted as…
If you’re concerned with recent talk about increased tracking of people’s web activity you might be interested in a special deal where you can get Anonymizer for $19.95 through the Zone Labs site. It’s normally $29.95. Some people say it slows down your surfing a little (perhaps because web traffic…
When I reported my identity theft, people repeatedly asked if I had had checks stolen. Not that I am aware of. But the times that my private information may have fallen into unsavory hands are numerous – some due to my own slackness, some out of my hands: Someone stole…
As mentioned in this post, the laptop containing Veteran’s Administration data was recovered. While it’s good they got the *hardware* back, recovering the laptop itself doesn’t mean the data wasn’t stolen. Speaking to this concern, another report stated this: FBI…
The news just broke that the laptop containing data on 26.5 million veterans has been found. Could it possibly be the $50,000 reward that did it? This is a relief. Hopefully the silver lining of this episode will be the awareness raised of how easily our critical personal information can…
The Associated Press reports that "The government agency charged with fighting identity theft said Thursday it had lost two government laptops containing sensitive personal data…Many of the people whose data were compromised were being investigated for possible fraud and identity theft." Did you need to re-read this to fully comprehend…
I heard this on the radio during my commute home today. Marketplace reports on new federal legislation that would *reduce* consumers ability to control their credit information and place blocks on who can use that data: Congress is considering a bill that would roll back consumers’ ability to freeze their…
A news story today reported that an identity thief who created multiple false identities for himself received a 5 year jail sentence. "Using the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of these deceased persons, JIMENEZ applied for, and fraudulently obtained, a U.S. passport, Massachusetts’ Driver’s License, bank accounts…
This morning I had my wallet out to make some online purchases (of course with my ZoneAlarm fired up to protect me). Yet for some reason, despite my constant thoughts of identity theft, I left my wallet sitting out for hours. Well part of this is my cubicle is kind of…
The Guardian UK tells a chilling story of how easily they were able to get enough details to impersonate someone — starting with a boarding pass found in a dustbin (U.S. English translation: trash can "Using this information and surfing publicly available databases, we were able – within 15 minutes…
I’ve been chomping at the bit to announce some new services that you get when you purchase the new 6.5 versions of ZoneAlarm® Pro/ZoneAlarm® Internet Security Suite. And now I can! Included when you buy the 6.5 versions for identity protection include: Internet Surveillance – to detect and notify you…
Upon reading The Register and CNET accounts of a laptop stolen from an Ernst & Young employee’s car, I was not pleased to learn that I could be a victim, as the one time I used Hotels.com was in March of 2003. “Thankfully” since I’m already an identity theft victim,…
Legislation has been introduced to try to get the government to foot the bill for credit monitoring services. However for now, here are some discounted offers to help veterans monitor their records for signs of fraud. Watch http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml for updates. Identity Guard is offering 6 months of free fraud protection…
Adding to the proliferation of data breaches, FirstGov.gov reveals that: "An employee, a data analyst, took home electronic data from the VA, which he was not authorized to do…This data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some…
In any instructions you read about recovering from identity theft, you will always see caveats about potential issues getting a police report, such as this from the FTC: "If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your…
Recently someone used my identity to create phony checks and open credit in my name. I suspect they used information that a previous employer of mine had "lost," which seems to be quite common these days according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Of the steps to take if you suspect…