McAfee has created a tongue-in-cheek list of the most unwanted identity thieves, describing the various techniques thieves use to steal your information. It’s clever and, unfortunately, very real.
Pauly the Pickpocket & Sally Sticky Fingers work as a team to lift wallets and mobile devices from pockets and purses, often in broad daylight. Sally creates a distraction by dropping a shopping bag, crying for help, or stopping suddenly in your path, and then Pauly bumps into you from behind and picks your pocket.
To avoid having your pocket picked, keep your wallet in your front pocket, or keep your purse closed and hold it in front of you. Thin out your wallet and skip the backpack. Lock your cell phone with a password. And consider investing in McAfee’s Lost Wallet Protection service.
Trojan Sea Biscuit is a two-faced liar who sneaks malicious files into emails and hides viruses in PDFs and other downloadable files.
The Smartcard Alliance has released an in-depth report called “Medical Identity Theft in Healthcare.”
While identity theft is a global issue that garners much media attention, most do not realize that medical identity theft is a serious and growing threat. Many authorities consider medical identity theft one of the fastest growing crimes in America. With the digital age of healthcare upon us, the risks are expected to increase as electronic medical records become more prevalent and the exchange of this data over expanding networks becomes more pervasive.
Anyone could be an identity theft victim and if you might have not known it yet, millions of people fall on the hands of these thieves and stunning billions of dollars a year are lost due to this crime. When one’s identity get stolen, it takes months and sometimes even years before he realizes it. There are times when you see some charges unknown to you in your bills; thinking that it is something that just slipped your mind you just brush it off. If it happens every now and then, better have the hint that you’ve already lost your identity.
You might sometimes wonder how could someone know and use your personal information when you can’t remember giving out any information to any individual or any company. Identity theft criminals have a lot other ways of collecting other people’s personal information.
For identity thieves, your trash could be their treasure. If you’re thinking how then read on.
Having someone steal your identity seem to be the stuff that science fiction books and movies have on their convoluted plots. But that was before… before the rise of technological advancement, before the creation of the world wide web.
Now, identity theft is no longer a dream for some hackers and internet con artists. One can even say that with their techniques and expertise, it will be like taking candy from a baby… yet this time, it involves more than sweets. Life is at stake, personal and social life.
How can someone steal your identity? By assuming your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their own use. In short, identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
Identity is life! Your identity is your life. Once it is compromised, your life is at risk and your dealings in jeopardy. Your credit sinks. Is your identity secure, protected and safeguarded? Are you presently using any identity theft protection service? If yes, how safe and secure is it?
Every year millions of Americans lose their identity without their knowledge to unscrupulous online and offline thieves. Without prior identity theft protection service they come to realize the theft of their identity when it is too late to prevent and repair it. They add to identity theft statistics. You wouldn’t want to add to this statistics, would you?
Identity theft claims victims everyday. You could be a victim! Identity theft thieves steal your personal information for their benefit, at your loss and expense. They pose as you using your identity.
Knowing how to avoid identity theft is one of the most important steps any individual can take today to ensure their financial security and good credit standing. Failure to learn how to avoid identify theft can result in financial loss, credit rating reverses and a tangled mess that can take years to unravel.
Store your financial information, such as bank account numbers and credit card accounts, in a secure, locked location which strangers or visitors to your home or office cannot easily access. Only share your account numbers with legitimate businesses in order to conduct financial transactions. Do not automatically give any financial account information on an application just because you are asked for it.
Guard the confidentiality of your social security number. Identity theft experts who gain access to this number literally have a key to unlock plenty of other financial details about you in order to do major damage.
Right at this very moment there could be someone walking around claiming to be you and using your credit cards. It is not very hard to steal someone’s identity, so why don’t we try to make it just a little more difficult for them. To avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, here are a few simple steps you can take.
1. You can greatly reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft by closely watching your credit and financial transactions. Always be sure to monitor your credit card and banking statements online once a week at least. If you see any suspicious activity, report it immediately to the institution involved.
2. If your wallet, purse, or items such as credit/debit card or drivers license are lost or stolen, report it immediately to the appropriate institutions and authorities.
3. When you apply for new credit cards after having the others stolen or lost, you should look for them in the mail within a few business days.