Identity Theft and Fraud: The Importance of Awareness

Any form of theft is a violation to the law. It causes infringement to the right of an individual, an organization or even a group of companies. Moreover, for every violation there is a corresponding sanction.

Majority of the people are aware about it. However, only few can understand regarding this matter. There is a necessity for clarification because it can bring so much impact to several aspects of both the business and the group of individuals concerned.

Are you aware that there is also the so-called identity theft and fraud that happens in the web world? With the advent of technology, where everything almost functions through computer technology, there is a lot of falsification that can happen.

Identity theft on its strictest sense refers to stealing of your personal data. These data are usually found in your typical identification card. The data will constitute your SSS number, license number, credit card and also your bank account number as well as your mother’s maiden name. In other words, if all of this necessary information will be stolen from you, they can also perform transactions using your identity.

Identity theft and fraud indeed ruins your personal privacy. This is something serious because it can bring risk to your life also. You do not even know if someone is planning against you or your property.

The worse thing is that, traditional identification card is not in the line anymore. Almost all the transactions already pass through the computers and even the identification cards. It is easier to steal your identity through computer access because of its being accessible to the public.
You should secure yourself at all times. Be sure that you are always ready if somebody will take your identity. It is a fact that it is quite difficult to do this primarily because everything is out of your control.

Bear in mind that you are responsible of making significant actions in order to prevent your identity from being taken away from you by other users. Do not let them benefit from the fruits of your labor.

You should always beware of the people that are expert in terms of identity theft and fraud. They know all of the tactics and strategies in stealing your identity. Some of these people even study all the tricks that they can do for them to execute the crime clean.

Yes, the identity theft and fraud can be both considered crime. Fraud usually happens after somebody steals your identity, because it allows him to manipulate and execute with his illegal actions using your personal information.

Your personal identity can be a greatest tool also for deceiving other people. This will particularly happen if the business transaction will happen computer to computer. So many people are becoming wealthy with this fraudulent act.

You should not loose hope because there are still possible means that you can do to prevent yourself from being a victim of these identity theft and fraud. It will also vary depending on the place where you are.

If you are at boarding, do not trust too much with your roommates. Make sure that you keep all your personal data properly. It is not good if you will be exposing your entire personal identity o your roommates. Better if you will be sending or getting your letters in the nearest post office in your place than leave it into the mailbox at your gates. You can also crumple and destroy all the unnecessary forms that will include your personal data immediately so that others will not have an access to this anymore.

If you are at work, you can refer to some agencies that can guarantee you for the security of your personal data. Do not forget to confirm if your personal data is held safely. Make sure that when making business transactions, avoid trusting other people especially those that ask your personal information via phone. You can verify if it concerns business matters or any legal operation.

Likewise, in your computers avoid posting too much information regarding your personal identity. Exposing yourself too much to the public is not advantageous. Do not cause a menace to your life.

The public has become more armed against the threats of identity theft. While identity thieves can steal individuals’ money, ruin their good credit and cause years of aggravation and stress, an alternative form of identity theft, medical identity theft, can actually threaten lives.

Medical identity thieves steal and misuse other people’s personal information including their name and insurance card account numbers without the person’s consent and usually without their knowledge.

The Scary Truth about Medical Identity Theft

Your medical and insurance records follow you and when false information is added to your medical records, you can be at risk when you are treated in the future. Doctors may make decisions about your treatment and medications based on a fictitious medical history and this can put your health at risk. Not to mention that the insurance companies will have noted false “pre-existing conditions.”

As more and more medical communities rely on electronic records, the information is more likely to follow you on a larger scale and some believe this trend makes it easier more medical records to be compromised.

What can a thief do with your medical identity?

Medical identity thieves may use other people’s information to obtain medical care, prescription items or to make fraudulent medical claims.

A medical identity thief without insurance who wants a surgery or prescription drugs can use your information, get what they want and leave knowing you and your insurance company will get the bills.

Some medical identity thieves are motivated purely by money. Thieves can collect large amounts of money, even millions of dollars, by making these false medical claims.

Don’t Ignore a Medical Billing or Insurance Statements

Don’t assume a medical bill or insurance statement for services you didn’t get is just a mistake. It could be the first sign that someone has stolen your medical identity.

Joe Ryan, a Colorado resident, got a hospital bill for over $40,000 for surgeries and treatments he never received. This wasn’t a billing error. An ex-con had used Ryan’s medical identity to check into the hospital and obtain extensive medical care. Two years later, Ryan was still trying to undo the damage to his medical records.

You may not learn about a medical identity theft from a bill. Brandon Reagan, who stationed in California, learned that his medical identity had been stolen and used in South Carolina when his mother called and told him he was the lead suspect in a car theft. Reagan had lost his wallet in South Carolina and a thief used his military i.d. and license to test drive cars and then steal them. In addition to getting Ryan on a wanted list, the thief also used Ryan’s medical identity to go the hospital on several occasions to get treatment for injuries and kidney stones. The medical bills were close to $20,000.

Even though the identity thief was finally arrested, Reagan was left with a nightmare. His medical records in South Carolina were full of false information and his tax refund check was withheld due to the unpaid hospital bills still in his name.

Sketchy Law and Statistics on Medical Identity Theft:

Laws dealing with medical identity theft are still not thorough or consistent from state to state. Many Federal laws that were intended to protect confidentiality actually make it more difficult for you to access and correct your own medical records. Wide scale investigations into medical identity theft are just beginning but in 2005 there were over 8 million victims of identity theft and three percent, 249,000 of those involved medical identity theft.

Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum warns, “Medical identity theft causes terrible harm, both financial and physical.”

How can you protect yourself from medical identity theft?

- Get a copy of your medical records for comparison in case they are compromised in the future.

- Annually request a list of payments made for your medical services from your insurance company.

- Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) as they are provided by your insurance carrier to determine their accuracy.

- Check your credit report at least once a year for any unusual unpaid charges.

- Research and report any suspicious medical bill or insurance statements.

Protecting your identity is more important than ever. It’s not just your money, time and credit that could be at risk if your medical identity is stolen, your health could be at risk as well.

Economy Still Abundant with Mortgage Scams

Today’s economy is abundant with mortgage scams. Thieves are taking advantage of homeowners’ desperation, many with offers that sound too good to be true. These scams are generally under the guise of “mortgage rescue” programs. You must be very careful and not let your house get tied up in one of these scams. And these people are professionals, so please be very careful.

Equity stripping is one of the scams. If a homeowner is facing a foreclosure, a lender claims that they are rescuing the homeowner by purchasing the property and allowing the homeowner to stay in the property as a renter. In this scam, it is not always clear to the homeowner that they are turning over ownership of their house to the lender until the transaction is complete.

Another mortgage scam occurs when illegitimate lenders or credit counseling services pretend to assist in mortgage refinancing. These companies also call themselves loan modification companies. Many times these companies collect all your personal information and request you send a check to process the paperwork for a great new rate. The check is cashed, and the company or person disappears, but your mortgage rate remains the same.

If it sounds too good to be true, be suspicious and check it out. Protect your family with a reputable identity theft product today.

Consumers Can Dispute Credit Reports with Creditors

The FTC recently testified before Congress and stated that starting July 1st, 2010, consumers will have a right to dispute credit reports directly with the creditor, also called a “furnisher” because they furnish the data to the credit reporting companies. Two examples of a creditor are a credit card company or mortgage lender.

In the past, the FTC only required consumer credit reporting companies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) to handle credit report disputes (they would in turn communicate with the furnisher directly).

This is a substantial change, at least on paper, to one of the biggest areas of consumer credit problems and identity theft. How it will work in practice, and whether it will improve things for consumers, remains to be seen.

Javelin 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report

Javelin released their 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report. It’s a mixture of positive and negative news. Identity fraud still grew by 12% in 2009, although less quickly than in 2008 (22%). However, cases are also getting reported and resolved more quickly. Javelin reports 11.1 million U.S. adults were victims in 2009 and the total fraud amount increased by 12.5 % to $54 billion. Average fraud resolution time dropped 30% to 21 hours, and nearly half of the victims file police reports, resulting in double the reported arrests, triple the prosecutions, and double the percentage of convictions in 2009.

Lastly, be aware that increasingly, identity theft starts with information that the thief finds online in public directories like white page listings. Be sure to get rid of these listings yourself, or choose an identity theft service that removes them for you. Here is how it works: Using these directories such as http://CitizensInfo.com or PhoneNumbers4.me, a thief looks up your info. They then have enough information to pose as you and open new accounts. It is scary to see how much info there is about each of us. Be aware and check yourself out.

Seven Steps to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft on Shared Computers

Personal computers are widespread and shared computers are a popular means for internet access. These “public” computers exist in libraries, colleges, coffee house cyber cafes, and other places. They are popular because they offer quick, convenient access to the world wide web. Unfortunately, they are also very popular with identity thieves because they present an easy means to access the personal information of others. Just recently, a young twenty- two year old former Drexel University student pleaded guilty to identity theft and she openly admitted stealing more than $116,000 worth of money through various schemes.

Credit cards, banks, and even online sites that are not used to transact business still contain personal data that needs to be protected and this problem is compounded further with shared computers. Are there ways to protect against this type of theft when using a shared computer? Let’s take a look:

Protecting Your Identity:

Shared computers are common in many places, like libraries, schools, hotels, coffee house cyber cafes, etc. Remembering these simple precautions can help keep your personal information your own:

Never select the “Remember My ID” box:

Many web sites offer the option to remember your personal id on that particular computer. This offers added convenience, but this option should never be selected on a shared computer. If an ID is remembered, it will be stored on the shared computer and will likely remain logged into the web site, offering a thief easy access your personal data.

Never Save Passwords:

Similar to the option to “remember my id”, many web sites offer to save your password. This option is usually presented when you logon and it is intended as a convenience measure. With shared computers, however, passwords should never be saved. If an identity thief logs onto a site with a saved password, there is no doubt what will happen next. The thief will already have your password and will logon immediately to seek your personal information.

Don’t Forget to Sign Out Completely:

Signing out is as important as not selecting the options to remember your personal ID and password. You should always remember to sign out of all web sites. If you remain signed in, your account will be openly accessible to identity thieves. It’s like placing your logon id and password on a silver platter and turning over to an identity thief.

Begin the Habit of Changing Passwords Frequently:

Changing passwords is a good idea whether a computer is shared or not, but it is especially important on a shared computer for two important reasons: spyware and malware. If a shared computer becomes infected by spyware or malware, these programs will quickly obtain your password and logon id combination because spyware and malware record every key stroke made on the infected computer. To avoid this problem, change passwords frequently using a non- shared pc.

Erase the Contents of the Browser’s Cache:

Personal computers contain copies of all the web sites visited. This cache needs to be cleared, if possible, after using a shared computer. Some libraries, colleges, and other places do not permit individual access to this area, but it doesn’t hurt to check upon logging off, just to see if it is possible.

Don’t Sign Into a Shared Computer and Walk Away:

This sounds simple enough, but the temptation to logon to a shared computer at a library, school, hotel, or cyber café and walk away for a quick break or other purpose is always present. Giving into this temptation might satisfy a hunger pang or the urge for a drink, but while away from the computer, an identity thief could quickly walk over to the abandoned pc and access whatever personal information is exposed in front of him/her. To be completely safe, get into the habit of logging off immediately before taking a break when you use a shared computer. Even a short break of a few minutes is enough time for a determined thief to obtain personal information.

Avoid Transactions That Involve Secure Financial Data

Shared computers should always be avoided when logging into web sites that contain any type of personal financial data. This includes sites used for banking, purchases, and other sites that contain secured data stored in the site. Web sites like blogs do not usually contain the sensitive information that an identity thief wants and are thus less important. However, a site like a bank, brokerage service, or online store contains extensive amounts of personal information including access to financial data. You don’t ever want to compromise something as important as your money.

Shared computers are popular and they can be found in libraries, schools, hotels, and other places. They offer convenience, and this is the primary reason for their popularity. However, with this added convenience comes the added chance for identity theft. A single shared computer can easily be accessed by hundreds of people each day, making it critical that individuals take the necessary precautions to prevent theft of personal information. Taking some simple steps like the ones listed above can help prevent identity theft before it begins. These steps won’t prevent one- hundred percent of the instances of identity theft, but they will greatly reduce the chances for falling victim to this type of online crime.

How To Dispute Your Credit Report Information

Errors on your credit report may take a variety of forms from simple spelling errors or no new address reported to fraudulent uses of your credit to obtain financing for purchases. There are two different ways to correct or “dispute” this information; online or in writing.

If you need a credit report visit “An Overview of the Fair Credit Reporting Act” http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com/an_overview_of_the_fair_credit_reporting_act_what.html for information on how to obtain your free credit report and why you are entitled to one.

Here is a step by step process for disputing your credit report information:

It is important that you receive your credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com ; Experian-888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) www.experian.com ; TransUnion-800-916-8800, www.transunion.com: as different credit companies report to different agencies. Not all creditors use only one and the incorrect information may appear in different reports. You may obtain your credit report online for free one time a year, with each additional report costing and additional sum, usually $10.00. If you are obtaining your first free annual credit report it will include all three agencies, you do not need to request one for each. However, you may find it more cost effective to use a credit monitoring system with a yearly fee that gives you all three credit reports in one on a periodic basis which you determine.

Next, review your credit report and mark the incorrect information. You may wish to print your report out to do this – especially if you have several mistakes or errors. Be sure to record the name, address, amount and account number if available in your notes.

Third, write the credit reporting agency a letter indicating that specific information if incorrect.

Fourth, attach to the letter any supporting documentation to dispute the inaccurate information. I recommend that one of your attachments be a copy of your credit report with specific errors circled or noted in some manner. You may wish to number them and then address as each numbered point within your letter, especially if you have several errors or mistakes. For example, there were errors on my credit report that all listed a false address and a variation of my name. I provided proof of my name over the period of several years, proof that the address did not exist and proof regarding my primary address that was listed on one, as it was not my address but a rental property.
NOTE: The most important thing you need to do when attaching documents is to include COPIES. Do not send originals as you may need that information for another report or in the future.

Fifth, write another letter to the credit lender providing the information. Indicate to them that you have filed a dispute with the credit reporting agency (Naming it specifically) and provide a copy of supporting documentation of the dispute to that information provider also.

If you are using a credit monitoring system online you may be able to eliminate many of these steps. In many of the better versions of a credit monitoring system, as you pull up the details of each account it offers you the option to “dispute” the information. You simply click on dispute and it will automatically pull up the account information you are disputing. You then has a small amount of space to indicate why you dispute the information and click submit.

After filing either your written letter or online dispute the credit reporting agency will investigate the information and determine if your dispute is accurate or not. They also forward all the information you have provided to the credit lender. Usually within approximately 30 days a decision is made as to the accurateness of the information and the credit lender must provide all three major credit reporting agencies with the corrected information. Also when the investigation is complete, you are entitled to the results in writing; a free corrected copy of your credit report; and if you request it a corrected copy of your credit report may be submitted to other credit providers that you may be trying to obtain credit from. For example, you may discover the errors while attempting to purchase a car or home. A corrected copy will be provided to the lender upon your request. If your dispute is denied, resubmit it with additional documentation or contact the credit reporting agency to determine what information would be convincing.

Disputing your credit is not something you need to hire a specialist to do, and many of those “get help repairing your credit report” programs are scams that are used to obtain your information for their own identity theft purposes or just to make money. Remember, negative information on your report that is correct can not be removed, no matter what someone may offer. This is a simple easy process, which involves very little cost to you. The only cost you incur is your postage and copies. For just a few dollars and a little effort you can save yourself money and permanent damages to your credit report. It’s well worth the effort.

Sample letter:

* Date
Your Name
Your Address, City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department

Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be removed (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)

* Source: Federal Trade Commission

Additive Identity

Untitled Document

Additive Identity
Definition of Additive Identity

• Additive identity states that the sum of the number and zero yields the same number.

More about Additive Identity

• The number zero is called to be the additive identity.
• a + 0 = a and 0 + a = a

Examples of Additive Identity

• 9 + 0 = 9
• 0 + x = x

Solved Example on Additive Identity

Which of the following satisfies the additive identity property?
Choices:
A. 7 + 0 = 7
B. – 4 + 0 = 0
C. – 9 A 0 = 0
D. 2 – 1 = 1
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Step 1: In Identity property, the sum of the number and zero yields the same number.
Step 2: Here, 7 + 0 = 7 satisfies the property of additive identity.

Related Terms for Additive Identity

• Addition
• Zero

Additional Links for Additive Identity

• Click here for samples
• Click here for Mathematics Dictionary

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Home Page > Internet > Email > How Identity Theft Monitoring Can Guard Users from Online Identity Theft?

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How Identity Theft Monitoring Can Guard Users from Online Identity Theft?

By: Joy Mali
Posted: May 16, 2011

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Similar to any activity, protecting users’ identity online is significant for the future of the internet economy. Unfortunately, as we learn every single day, being smart is not enough to guard yourself from dangerous online scams or deceitful identity theft. So what can be done?

As the crime continues to grow, it is vital for both the new and experienced internet surfers to take extra preventive identity theft measures to protect themselves from falling victim to the hushed crime of online identity theft. Rather than just sitting there and hoping that it will never happen to you, perhaps you should consider employing the help of identity theft monitoring services.

How online theft monitoring services can monitor identity theft?

Read more articles
How to Protect Your Personal Information Privacy on Internet?
Most Sought out ways to Protect Personal Information Online?
Theft Identity Protection Finder People
12 Steps to Protect yourself From Identity-theft

Uncover – Theft monitoring services uncover public social information along with private personal information found online. They also perform deep, private web scans to disclose both old and new information online.

Alert – After uncovering private data, these services alert the user about privacy changes made on social networking sites, send fraud alerts and internet scan alerts if too much personal information is shared online such as social security number, credit card number, address, phone number.

Take Action – After the alerts, these services ask you to take action to remove your personal information from additional sites, adjust/update Facebook privacy, delete old unused social accounts and DNC, DMA and credit offers.

Major Features of Identify Theft Monitoring Services:
Online monitoring services help you see what personal information is publicly available online.
Customize what private information you want to monitor and protect.
Assess your risk of identity theft with an identity theft score.
Such services help detect misuse of your identity as early as possible
Register your phone number with national do not call list to stop unwanted calls
Stop unwanted catalog and mail spam
Enable browser privacy using easy to install plug-ins and cookie removal tools

Always remember that the key to minimize the distressing damages of online identity theft is to grab hold of the identity thieves early, and one of the top ways to spot early signs of online identity theft is to monitor identity theft with an effective identity theft monitoring service.

Joy Mali – About the Author:

Enroll with MyID and monitor identity theft in real time. MyID keeps an eye on your financial privacy on the internet and alerts you when your identity is at risk. Visit www.myid.com and get more info on identity theft protection.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/email-articles/how-identity-theft-monitoring-can-guard-users-from-online-identity-theft-4774355.html

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Article Tags:
identity theft, identity theft alert, identity theft protection, protect your privacy, privacy protection, protect against identity theft

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By following these eight Privacy tips when using Facebook and other social websites you can shield yourself from this harm.

In a nutshell my eight Facebook Privacy tips boil down to this: Never place anything online what you want to remain private now or at anytime in the future, because what you put online today can affect you tomorrow, or in 5 years time. Make sure that those effects are positive by keeping anything that will affect your credit rating out of Facebook.

“Keep a secret and you remain its master. Reveal a secret and you become its slave. [Arab Proverb]“

So how do you do that and open accounts such as Facebook online? Here are my tips for protecting your privacy on Facebook, and prevent your credit rating suffering because of identity theft.

Facebook privacy tip # 1. Never use your full name.

Most of your real friends don’t know your full name, so why give it out to complete strangers? Yes, its OK to use your family name. Anybody can know that and it won’t affect your privacy.

Facebook privacy tip # 2. Use your nickname and family name.

Never give your middle name. That is starting to identify you from thousands of other people with a first and last name like yours. If your real friends know you as your nickname, use that nickname as your first name online.  Keep your middle name blank, or add a fake one.

Facebook privacy tip # 3. If you don’t have a nick name or name that is shortened, e.g. Ron or Ronny for Ronald, or ‘Andy’ for Paul Anderson, then why not use a name that you would love other people to call you?

Many people don’t like their given name and secretly wish they had been called a different name by their parents.   For example if you were named Ronald at birth but hated the name, why not call yourself Ronaldino, or Ronaldo on Facebook? It makes you sound more interesting straight away.

Facebook privacy tip # 4. Never use a Passport photo as your Facebook image.

A natural photo of you with a big smile that is cropped from a larger photo with a landscape background is fine. [Passport photos dont allow you to smile, so this is unlikely to be used for fake IDs.]

Facebook privacy tip # 5. Don’t use your real home address.

Your real friends already know your address, and if you move you can tell them verbally. Your Facebook “friends” and Facbook don’t need to know your real address. I suggest that you use your job address or your school or college address. After all, you are there most of the time you are awake [hopefully] and this protects your identity and your privacy. The only exception here is if that is also your place of business. You may want people to know that address to find you, but most people that work at home or work from home, don’t meet their clients at home. [There are many insurance, security and other risks and Local Government legal requirements that make seeing customers at your home a bad idea.]

Facebook privacy tip # 6. Deliberately get your date of birth wrong.

Why would your friends need or want to know your actual date of birth? Women have a phobia about telling anyone their real age, except on Facebook it seems!  You can simply move to a year lower or higher. For example, let’s say your DOB is 9/11/1990. You could make it  2/2/1991 and this will protect your ID. That is, change the day, the month and the year. Your Real friends will know your actual birthday, and your facebook friends can celebrate your “second” birthday.

Facebook privacy tip #7. Its OK to use your actual mobile phone number.

Its personal and you can easily change it if you get unwanted calls as a consequence of having your phone number on line.

Never show or discuss your social security number, your tax file number, your credit card numbers, your pin numbers or your bank account numbers online. This is what as indentifying personal information, and should not be disclosed even to friends. The only exception is when transacting with a known trusted site with a security certificate, an HTTPS start of the internet address that shows that your information is encrypted.

Facebook privacy tip # 8 Never trust Facebook for keeping your confidential information private.

Facebook’s policies may change and errors can occur. Either can leave you exposed. So keep that private information out of Facebook in the first place.

Facebook can be fun and private at the same time, without endangering your credit rating.

Feel free to share with everyone on Facebook your photos [that you would be happy for your family to see, because they can], your other friends and all the hangers on you’ll gather, what you like and dislike and what makes you unique and as a person. Just remember, your friends nor your Facebook friends need to know any of your private information, so why share it with them?

The easiest way to protect your privacy on Facebook is not to share any credit rating related or private information that you would not want your worst enemy to know. When you avoid using your full name, your actual address and natural photos, then no one will be able to steal your id.

By never giving your bank account details, drivers license details or image, and social security or tax file numbers, and your privacy will be safe. Only give your credit card details to to trusted online sites that are encrypted and have a security certificate and show the HTTPS in the start of the address line.

So to protect your credit rating and your identity from being used by others, get on to Facebook and your other Social networking site accounts right now and edit your profile in the areas that affect your privacy. Don’t rely on the sites privacy policy to protect you.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) July 9, 2009

The information superhighway is granting potential thieves access to our personal information. Canadians need to beware and informed; rather than fall victim to online identity theft. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians engage in online transactions on a daily basis, unaware that identity theft can happen at several points of online contact.

“Without considering the potential long term implications of having their identity stolen, Canadians can jeopardize their financial wellbeing,” according to Jeffrey Schwartz, Executive Director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada Inc.; a non- profit credit counselling agency that has helped people recover from these very same issues.

To help, Consolidated Credit offers tips on maintaining personal identity and financial information safety:

Keep it to yourself

Keep detailed records of all online activity involving the use of your personal and credit card information.

Be Alert and aware

Investigate the website and its providers before leaving any personal or financial information; Look for security logos on the website (PayPal / Verisign). Be sure to monitor kids’ activities online; children are often targets of online predators.

Use online security measures

Firewalls and Anti-Virus programs are a good investment; keeping information safe and secure.

Clear your computer before recycling

Clear files that contain any personal or financial data; thieves thrive on this information.

Seek help and report fraud to authorities

Stop all payments to websites that contain your information. Notify your banking institution immediately, change passwords right away and report the incident to the PhoneBusters National Call Centre.

Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada Inc.’s mission is to help people end financial crisis and solve money problems through education and professional counseling. For more information and resources on identity theft and how to protect yourself, visit http://www.consolidatedcredit.ca

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Three major ways to save yourself from online identity theft are:

Deter Identity Theft
Detect Identity Theft
Defend Against Identity Theft

To deter identity theft, it is important to be vigilant with any personal and financial information and do not give thieves a way to get your personal and financial data. Follow these simple steps to deter identity theft online:

Do not use any website unless it is encrypted.
Secure your financial information under lock and key.
Use secure computer methods to deter identity theft.
Change your passwords every month and use a secure password

The second step is to detect identity theft if it occurs to save yourself from additional complications. The more quickly you identify online identity theft, the simpler it is to limit the damage to your pocket. Several ways to detect online identity theft are:

Monitor your credit card report in case you receive unexpected bills for items you did not purchase.
Place fraud alerts to your bank and discontinue your credit card transactions immediately.
Keep your personal information such as address, phone numbers, full name and email id private.
Above all, take action immediately.

Lastly, the saying “prevention is better than cure” fits perfectly if you want to protect against identity theft. The best way to prevent and check for online identity theft is to enroll in an identity theft monitoring service. Such services can take care of all major facets needed to protect you from online identity theft such as monitoring of your social security number and public records, automatic fraud alert placement, stop unwanted catalog and mail spam and alert you whenever your personal private information is public.

While it is almost impossible for everyone to avoid each instance of online identity theft, the above mentioned steps will go a long way toward identity theft monitoring, credit report monitoring, and your personal finances.

Securities offered through LPL Financial

Mark S. Rothstein is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of LPL Financial, a registered broker-dealer, member with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA" www.finra.org), SIPC www.sipc.org and a registered investment adviser. Mr. Rothstein is also an investment adviser representative of Mr. Money Talks, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

Mark S. Rothstein does not intend to provide personalized investment advice through this broadcast and does not represent that the services discussed are suitable for any listener. Such offers can only be made where lawful under applicable law. Listeners should consult with a competent professional prior to making any decisions.

Duration : 6 min 40 sec

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