Should You Pay Your Bank for Their Identity Theft Prevention Services?

Should you trust your bank when it tries to sell you its identity theft prevention services? Or is there something here that doesn't quite make sense to you. Is it possible that you don't really need to pay for the kind of protection they offer you if you shop elsewhere? In fact, look at the forums, and you find that consumers have plenty of complaints against the identity theft prevention services they buy from their banks. And the regulators are not happy with them either - as they begin to challenge the banks on how effective their products are.

Go to any website these days and the banner ads are all about how Bank of America or Morgan Chase or Citibank wants you to buy their identity theft prevention package. They are going all out marketing their plans. If it isn't advertising on websites, it's when you stand in line when you visit your local branch. Or there are flyers in your mail. What they charge you is about $10 a month - about the same as what you pay for third-party services like ID Patrol and LifeLock. Citi offers you your first month nearly free and charges you normal fees after that.

So what exactly do they do for the money they charge you? To begin with, they monitor your credit to find out if there is any kind of change to your credit score day-to-day; and they try to check to see if there are any new bank accounts, credit cards or loan applications that have come up against your name. If anyone out there is trying to use your name or your financial information to apply for a loan or a credit card or something, they promise to alert you right away. They will monitor all the chat rooms that they believe data theft fraudsters use to buy and sell information. And they'll send you an alert.

There is a reason that the banks very eager to sign people up to these services - they've really been stung by the new consumer friendly laws that have come about that make it difficult for them to charge you a reasonable fee for services you don't want. They need to sell you new services to make up for the money they've lost. The problem with buying these services is that they are unregulated. There is no one actually checking to see if they really offer you value for your money. There is no one checking to see if they do a good job. What kind of problems are expected?

To begin with, these banks don't actually provide you with the services themselves. They outsource to other companies. And these companies usually have truly awful customer service records. And they have lawsuits pending against them. These are the kind of services that the banks are happy to sell you for your $10. And anyway, the protection they sell you doesn't usually keep you safe from Social Security number fraud or medical identity theft. That's how most people get blindsided.

Anyway, you can always apply with the credit bureaus to be alerted if there is unusual activity. And it's free.

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Lesser Known Facts About Identity Theft

Many facts about identity theft are now common knowledge. Identity theft has been rising every year for at least a decade, and it has exploded wildly along with the growth of the Internet. Some hackers steal personally identifiable information and then sell it in private forums to other, would-be thieves. Phishing websites collect your personal information to facilitate identity theft, the list goes on.

Yet there are lesser known facts about identity theft that may help shape your plans to prevent it and how to monitor for it.

Many, but not quite a majority, of cases of identity theft involve family members and close friends. Parents have used a child's Social Security Number to get credit cards and even home mortgages after their own credit is shut down. Unfortunately, this ruin's their child's credit just as they are starting their own lives. And many financial institutions won't let the loans be forgiven unless the child presses charges against the relative. Making up a Social Security Number (SSN) on a credit card application is identity theft as well as fraud. Since credit reporting is based on the Social Security Number, using a false one results in them checking someone else's credit. Illegal aliens using your Social Security Number are committing identity theft as well as fraud, whether they use your name as well or only your SSN along with their name. This is done to pass background checks and determine if they are legal to work in the United States. Identity theft has also involved American born children of illegal aliens. Once the child has a Social Security Number, the parent uses that SSN to work and apply for credit. Unfortunately, the teenager can discover they now have a long work history and are at risk of audits by the IRS when they try to work at a fast food joint. The IRS may say they owe taxes on another job or have to explain the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claimed when they were a minor. Impersonating someone's identity is increasingly used to gain access to health benefits. From using another's Medicaid card and ID to listing the health insurance information of a friend, this permits someone not entitled to the benefits to get free or discount care. Unfortunately, it also adds incorrect information to the correct person's medical records. This can result in bills sent to someone who never even received care. In rare cases, the medical insurance cap is reached and the person paying the health insurance premiums is unable to get care due to the health insurance fraud. If someone is working using your Social Security Number and then claims retirement benefits, the payments go to whomever retires first. If it isn't you, you will face an uphill battle to prove the money is going to the wrong person. And there are as of yet no court cases in which the person received the benefits paid to the identity thief. Basic shredding of your bank statements is sound advice but of limited use. Anywhere your Social Security Number and contact information are listed is vulnerable to ID theft. Your doctor's office can be hacked and your personal information stolen as easily and reliably as the Department of Motor Vehicles. An attorney's records include the SSN, address and phone number, allowing those who steal legal records to gain access to even more information for identity theft. You cannot control the information security of all of these hundreds of locations where this information is stored.

While you can never be 100% safe from identity theft, it's important to remain alert. Catching identity theft early is the key to preventing financial ruin. There are services to help protect your identity, but everyone's situation is different, so this may not be the best option for you.

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Recovering From Identity Theft - 3 Ways to Get Your Identity Back After It's Been Stolen

If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, regardless of what tipped you off, report, document in detailed files and make changes. You may be spending months or years getting back your identity and your good credit. Be proactive. Do not allow yourself to be defeated. You have worked hard to attain your assets. Go to bat for them.

Report

1. To police in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred

2. To all creditors and businesses with whom you do business

3. To the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)on the online form

4. To all three credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and file fraud alerts

5. To your bank and change all account numbers and debit cards

6. To the Social Security Administration even if your card was not stolen

7. To the U.S. State Department or consulate if your passport has been stolen

Document

1. Conversations you have with collection agencies with whom you have spoken

2. The FTC Identity Theft Report you have filed

3. Regular credit reports from alerts you have placed on them

4. Police reports if you can actually get them

5. All your bills for the last six months

6. Every conversation and report and contact you have made about the theft

7. All promises you have received in writing from any agency involved-"get it in writing"

Change

1. Bank accounts and credit cards and debit cards and account numbers

2. All you passwords and make each one different

3. Your security information from mother's maiden name to something hard to steal

4. Your Personal Identification Numbers (PIN)

5. Use of your personal information by opting out with each business with whom you deal

6. How your mail is delivered by investing in a vandal proof steel locking mailbox

7. Research online for a locking mailbox that is ¼ in thick steel and has a lock only you can open.

Sadly, you must accept that you will have to monitor your personal and business affairs very closely for the rest of your life. Once a thief has been able to profit from stealing your identity, he will seek more information about you. He may even sell your information to another criminal. Even when you notify everyone you can about the theft, an identity thief can open new accounts, rent a home or purchase a vehicle using your identity.

So, if you see charges you didn't authorize, your credit card is denied, your bank statements are incorrect or your bills cease to arrive as usual, Report, Document and Change as is stated above.

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Steps To Avoid Identity Theft

Worried about becoming the victim of identity theft? Not sure what steps you can take to help protect the identities of you and your loved ones? If so, then this article on steps to avoid identity theft is definitely for you. I'll discuss a few easy ways you can safeguard yourself and some red flags to keep an eye out for.

Guard all of your information when it comes to finances - The only time you want to give a bank account or credit card number is when you are physically paying for something.

Social security numbers stay confidential

- This is the key that will unlock your entire identity. Never give this to anyone unless you can be sure of why it is necessary to give it out and who you are giving it to. To stay on the safe side ask that your health insurance company or any other companies that use your social as an ID number give you a different substitute number instead. If your motor vehicle agency uses it for your driver's license ask that they also give you a different number instead.

Guard against imposters

- There are many dishonest people pretending to work with businesses you do business with. They may try to email or call you saying they need to verify sensitive personal information. If this happens be very suspicious! Before giving out any information, contact the company yourself to confirm that the email or call is actually from them.

Guard your mail

- Most people overlook this but your mail is something that needs safeguarding as it has personal account numbers and other valuable information. Always collect if from your box as promptly as possible and have the post office hold it if you're away for any reason. Also when sending out mail be sure to send any type of bill payments directly from the post office or other public mailbox and not from your home. Dont throw your mail in the trash. Shred it!

Keep your PIN numbers and passwords memorized

- Do not leave these numbers in a wallet, desk or anywhere else where somebody could easily find it. Also be sure to make them difficult to crack. Don't use birthdays, kid's names or anything else someone might be able to guess or figure out.

Get your names off any credit marketing lists

- The credit bureaus create these marketing lists for all types of pre approved credits offers. These can be a treasure trove for anyone trying to steal your identity as they can steal the offers from your mailbox and then apply for a card under your name. To get off these lists simply call 888-567-8688. You need to be sure to have your social security handy as you'll need to verify yourself to be removed. Getting off this list has no effect on your chances when trying to apply for credit.

Lock Up Valuable Info

- Have a spot where you can keep all of your personal information secure whether at home, school, in your car or at work. The harder it is to get access to the harder it is to steal

Hopefully, this article on steps to avoid identity theft has shown you a few of the ways to keep your valuable information free from the prying hands of others. When it comes to protecting your personal information be diligent, as a stolen identity is a nightmare and not something you'll ever want to have to deal with.

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What Is Child Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a rampant problem especially now that there are so many ways to get vital information from people. From skimming credit cards to sending phishing messages to just stealing information from certain databases. But what is child identity theft?

One of the most alarming cases of identity theft is when it occurs on a child. If your two-year-old for example has been getting calls from credit card companies or other banking institutions, you better check what's going on because someone might be using your child's name.

This crime occurs when a child's identity or name is used by an individual for the latter's personal gain -personal financial gain to be exact. What is worse is the perpetrator can be a member of the child's family. Another possible scenario is the use of the child's identity by a family friend. According to authorities however, the perpetrator could also be someone that the family of the child does not know.

Why a child's identity though?

Authorities say this method is chosen by criminals because it takes time before the crime is discovered. Although there are cases that may appear as child identity theft, e.g. receiving a pre-approved credit card under your child's name, parents should still beware of this crime. Child identity theft occurs when your child's Social Security Number (SSN) is utilized in establishing new lines of credit.

The question is, how is this possible? Many do not know that creditors cannot verify the age of their applicants. Most application forms are taken at face value. This is a flaw in the system but there is yet another flaw that the government should take a look at. The credit reporting agencies and the Social Security system do not share information with each other, making it impossible for the CRAs to know that certain applications are fraudulent. This means that a perpetrator of this particular crime can say he or she is 30 and the CRAs will believe him or her unless of course someone files a complaint.

Parents of the victim are the first ones who would usually notice something is amiss. This usually happens when the parents of the child try to open a savings account under the child's name but are denied because of a bad credit record. Another flag is when parents keep receiving checks, credit cards and bills under the name of the child. More often than not, parents discover that their child's identity was stolen when they start receiving calls from collection agencies or when they start receiving letters about certain bank accounts that were not opened by their child.

Trouble later in life

Adults whose identities were stolen when they were children are usually denied credit and won't be able to get a loan even if they never incurred any debt from any banking institution. They are also usually denied utility or phone service and sometimes even tenancy. This crime can really affect a person's life and might even get arrested for something that they do not even know about.

If you think you or your child is a victim of child identity theft, it would be best to file a complaint and investigate as soon as you can.

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Ways People Don't Know They Can Become Victims Of Identity Theft - Falling Victim to Identity Theft

It's very difficult today not to become a victim of Identity Theft. The chances of someone actually having their identity stolen is much larger than most people think. Everyday these crooks come up with new schemes to steal a person's identity, that it makes it nearly impossible to keep up with them. There are thousands of ways that an identity criminal can access your information. However, majority of our nation's population believes that a criminal has to physically steal your belongings in order to get your personal data. On the contrary, they have figured out several ways to take your personal information without having to lay a hand on any of your tangible items.

3 Ways To Have Your Information Stolen That Most Don't Know About

1. R.F.I.D- Also known as Radio Frequency Identification Technology. This is a new and up coming scheme that is starting to find it's way through the United States. The funny part of it all, is that you have probably used an RFID once or twice before without realizing it. This type of technology is found in most of our credit, debit, or bank cards. You simply wave the card in front of the device and it will pick up your information so that you would not have to input any pin numbers of any sort. Some banks, department stores, and drive through food places have these types of devices for their customers. Here's the kicker, crooks are able to purchase a wireless R.F.I.D. device for less than a $100 and carry it in the palm of their hand. All the identity thief has to do is simply pass by you like anyone else, and the R.F.I.D. will pick up all your card information without you ever noticing. This also goes for passports as well. It happens in less than 2 seconds.

2. Wireless Networks- Many places now offer the convenience of free Wi-Fi. The problem with connecting to a Wi-Fi network, is that there have been hundreds of cases where people believed they were connecting to a friendly network, but in fact were connecting to a fraudulent one. Thieves can set up a wireless network at the exact same spot you are at and use the exact same name as the place offering free Wi-Fi. Once connected to the fake Wi-Fi Network, the crooks can actually hack into your system and begin downloading your personal info that you may have on you computer. Also, they can see everything you are seeing. So if you are using your email or checking your online bank account, the crooks can also see your personal information. No matter if you have any type of security protection. Once you are sharing a wireless network that's not yours, your information is available to whom ever it does belong to.

3. Social Security Number Prediction- This by far is the most devious way identity crooks can obtain your Social Security number. You don't have to be an identity theft expert to know that that your Social Security is the number one tool for an identity thief to begin destroying all your credit. You S.S number actually stands for a code. These criminals have figured out what each number stands for, making it easy to predict a S.S number that has not yet been issued. or can randomly figure out one that has been issued. You will never know if you or your child's Social Security number is being used until your next credit report or when you try to open a credit account and you have less than bad credit.

In Conclusion...

Despite the ever growing rate of Identity Theft, there are many ways to prevent it from happening to you and your family. The most difficult part however, is knowing what you need to do to start protecting them. Practicing awareness is always the best solution. The more you become aware of Identity Theft and how it can affect you or your loved ones, the more cautious you will be about how you handle your personal information.

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Credit Report Monitoring - Keeping Consumers Safe From Identity Theft

Credit report monitoring has become an important aspect in the lives of many people today. It is regarded as an essential service to have to help ensure protection from identity thieves. These days, perpetrators of identity theft are seldom caught by the authorities. With technology giving them the ability to conduct their illegal business, they can continue conducting their unlawful acts and victimize more people each year. But this same technology can also be used to thwart these criminals. To protect oneself, he has to properly monitor his accounts through services designed to detect suspicious activities. By doing this, he can protect himself from the grave consequences of identity theft.

Getting adequate protection from ID theft is the best defense to stay safe. Through a service that provides monitoring, consumers can take advantage of effective procedures implemented to keep identities away from the hands of thieves. As of recently, a lot of people have already benefited from these services. These specific programs have been instrumental in monitoring the personal credit files of each customer. More importantly, the emergence of these services has protected people from attempts that were made to steal their identities. Some others have been given assistance after they have fallen victims to identity thieves while enrolled in the program. These show the benefits of having such services.

The advantages of getting a credit report monitoring service

Companies that offer protection for identities give consumers a number of benefits. In addition to getting the best service to monitor credit reports, anybody who subscribes to these services can look forward to obtaining certain benefits. One of them is a comprehensive credit report. One's credit report is a highly essential document. It is his ticket to getting services that give him the most privileges. When this is compromised, he loses the benefits attached to having good credit. Therefore, it is crucial that this document be monitored to ensure that there is no illegal movement going on that will put one's identity in trouble.

Another advantage is getting identity insurance. With a good program, a subscriber can take advantage of insurance that will provide assistance to its members who have become identity theft victims. This is usually through done through financial resources that will cover lost income, attorney fees, as well as other expenses related with the restoration of their identities. Along with this service must come identity reestablishment to help them get their credit ratings to good standing.

With an identity theft protection program that offers credit report monitoring service, one is able to access various important files. People who have subscribed to these programs are given easy accessibility to files that are important in monitoring their accounts. With some plans, a member is able to get full access to these documents. Through this, he can easily assess the activities that are going on, specifically the movements that have transpired for any given period. This allows easy detection for any unauthorized changes. Therefore, it is a wise move to have such a service as it works to help enhance security for one's identity.

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Why Do Thieves Commit Identity Theft

The thieves of the past have evolved over the years. This may be their way of keeping up with the changing world. They may also be evolving to be able to maximize the advantages that the world offers them.

In the past, thieves usually stole valuables such as money and jewellery. Nowadays, thieves steal for a lot of different reasons as the definition of valuable has changed considerably. The digital age which is marked by abundant influx of information has made data pertaining to people extremely valuable. You might be tempted to say that your name and birthday is unimportant, but a professional thief may have hundreds of uses of information as insignificant as someone's name and date of birth.

Why do thieves commit identity theft? There is a multitude of reasons, but some of the most important ones are listed below:

1. To cover up for another crime.

Identity thieves steal the identity of another individual in order to cover up for a crime that they have committed. There have been accounts of people being pinned down in a certain crime because of an identity thief's usage of their information. It happens mostly in cases of online crime, but there are cases where victims have been accused of a real-world crimes too.

2. To make unauthorized purchases.

Credit cards and credit card information are most usually stolen in order to make purchases. In the case of a stolen card, it will take time for the real owner to be informed that his or her card is being used for purchase, especially if the retail store is very lenient. Identity thieves can purchase all that they want until they reach the card's credit limit. After purchase, they usually simply toss your card away.

3. To extort money from your loved ones.

E-mail hacking is one of the earliest styles of identity theft. The thief will hack into your account, open your e-mail and then send a call for help type e-mail message to people your contact list. This ranges from them asking for monetary help because you are in a hospital, stranded in a foreign country without money or have been kidnapped. A lot of people who actually fall for this.

The reasons mentioned above are some of the most common and important reasons why a thief might be interested in stealing your identity. Knowing why thieves commit identity theft, and how they work helps you prepare and protect your identity.

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Preventing Child Identity Theft

Identity theft doesn't just affect adults. Children are also at risk of having their identity stolen, and this type of crime is becoming more common. Children are good targets for identity theft because it may be years before the crime is discovered. Usually the child's parents discover that their child's identity has been stolen when they attempt to open a bank account or a college fund for their child or when their child begins receiving credit card applications in the mail or calls from collection agencies. They may find out about the crime when their child is denied a driver's license for unpaid traffic tickets or when the police come to their door to arrest them for writing bad checks. These events may happen years after the child's identity is stolen.

Lenders have no way of knowing the age of the person applying for credit. The information on the application is usually accepted with very little investigation into its accuracy. It is important that parents stay vigilant in protecting their children's identity. One way to prevent identity theft is by placing a freeze on their child's credit report. With a freeze in place lenders will not extend credit. The freeze can be lifted when the child becomes an adult and needs to establish a credit history. Parents should also check their child's credit report regularly.

If you discover your child's identity has been stolen, contact the credit agencies, dispute the reporting and ask the credit agencies to remove the notations from the child's credit report. Parents should also file a police report so that there is some record supporting the parent's assertion that their child's identity has been stolen. Request copies of all statements, loan applications and requests for extension of credit from the lenders and provide this information to the police so that they can use it in their investigation.

It can be a very difficult process to clean up a person's credit history after identity theft and it requires very little effort to prevent most cases of identity theft from occurring. Shred documents containing your child's personal information rather than throwing them away. Don't carry your child's social security cards and other documents containing personal information with you. These documents should be kept at home in a secure place or in a safe deposit box. Finally, be on the lookout for signs that there is a problem, such as receiving credit card applications in your child's name in the mail.

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Stay Organized and Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Every year, thousands of people are made victims by identity theft. Modern telecommunications devices and computer processing can make it easier for us to stay in touch and process transactions, yet they can also make it easier for criminals to get hold of valuable information.

Be it paper or digital, preventing the wrong element from getting a hold of information they can use to steal from you and others, is important.

Imagine your children's information being used to establish credit cards and loans before they are even old enough to work. Imaging your identity stolen and your credit rating trashed for bad debt that someone else created for you. Worse yet, imagine being arrested for crimes you never committed.

In doing some research on the topic, these are just some of the scenarios I found that identity theft victims have had to live through.

Your safety is my concern, and so in order to prevent any one of these stories from ever being yours, today I offer some tips on identity theft prevention to help you protect yourself, your loved ones, and your business.

Common ways to protect yourself:

Paperwork One easy first step to helping prevent someone from getting a hold of your private details is to invest in a paper shredder. Expect to spend $30.00 - $100.00 depending on what your volume of shredding may be. Shred personal information, credit card and debit card receipts, pre-approved credit applications etc. Cross cut shredders that can handle full sheets of paper make shredding easy and effective.

You can also bring your papers to service providers who make it their business to shred your docs on site. Some will even come to you, should you have a significant amount of documentation to destroy.

Around Town When using your debit and credit cards, watch who is standing around you. Guard your pin number from prying eyes. Also, try not to carry extra credit cards you don't use. That goes for cards like you Social Insurance Number too. Better to leave that in a safe at home if you can.

For added security for your credit cards, cover up the 3 digit code on the back too. Memorize those numbers or write it down in a secret place somewhere separate from the card. That way you won't be sharing that code to everyone you hand your credit card too. I personally got stung on this one not long ago.

At the Mail Box When ordering checks, have them delivered to your local bank instead of to your home. If getting new cards mailed to you, watch that they come on time. If you suspect it's late call the card company to see when it was mailed. If too much time has passed, have the card canceled. Same can go for your bills too.

On-Line Secure your computer with anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware programs. Have a firewall set up and when shopping on-line be sure that the site you are providing your private details to, is secure.

Set clever passwords for your on-line accounts. Combo's of letters and numbers is best. Don't use things like your mother maiden name or the city you were born in.

Personal Information Unless you initiated the call yourself, do not give out personal information over the phone. Keep in mind too that there is technology available to monitor cell phone calls, so use a land-line if you can when you are going to give personal information over the phone. And another tip is to keep your phone number or social security number off of your personal checks.

Some key information that you should be diligent in protecting would be, your full name, date of birth, address, credit card numbers, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and any other personal identification numbers that could be used to open accounts, redirect mail, establish cell phone services, rent vehicles or even secure employment.

Stay Safe!

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Why an Identity Theft Defense Attorney Is So Vital

If you have been accused of taking someone else's personal information, you need to know that it is vital that you hire an identity theft defense attorney. Whether or not you are guilty, these are very serious accusations and carry strict penalties and fines. In fact, this is considered a federal offense, and thus you need a lawyer with experience in federal crimes.

Not just any criminal lawyer will do, either. You need one specifically who has experience in this area. You are facing loss of liberty and money, and you need a lawyer who understands this very detailed area of the law.

Thefts of identities are becoming more and more common as the Internet gradually becomes engrained in our society. However, the fact that this crime is very common does not make it less serious in the eyes of the courts. Cyber crimes, including these types of thefts of personal information, leave a nasty trail behind, making it harder for attorneys to fight for their clients in these cases. This is why it is so vital to have one who understands the nature of the crime as well as the laws that surround computer crimes.

Because these thefts typically involve commerce, which is overseen on a federal level, the crime you are being accused of is one that will be prosecuted in federal courts. Not all lawyers have experience in these courts. An identity theft defense attorney will.

Even if you are guilty of wrongdoing, and you know it, you can still benefit from legal help. Often the charges are inflated over the facts involved in the case. People are strongly fearful of this particular crime, and as a result the court system tends to make more out of what you have done than what is warranted. Your lawyer will help bring the charges down to a more reasonable level, so you can benefit from his services to protect your liberty after your alleged crime.

As you look for an identity theft defense attorney, start by looking for one that has a long list of successful cases in this specific area of the law. The more success the lawyer has under his belt, the better your results will likely be, and the more understanding the lawyer will have about the laws surrounding your particular crime.

That said, identity theft defense is a fairly new area of the law. For this reason, experience may not mean a list of hundreds of successful cases. You want a lawyer who knows this branch of the law well, but set your expectations at a reasonable level to ensure that you get quality representation, without expecting too much experience in a new branch of the law.

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