You'd think that by now with ID theft as prevalent as it is, that we'd have a better grip on what to do to prevent it and keep these thieves from stealing our information. Well, necessity is the mother of invention. Thieves continue to use more sophisticated techniques to stay up with or ahead of modern technology. To make matters worse, it's not just technology they're adapting to. They are also adapting to troubled times and using our down-turned economy to their advantage.
An article I read on the pressofAtlanticCity.com website quotes Jay Foley of the Identity Theft Resource Center as saying that thieves are continuing to be more creative and adapting to the current economic conditions. They are taking advantage of people who are looking for jobs, losing homes, and whatever else is ailing us. Be alert for these kind of scams. Offers of lower interest on your current home loan can seem promising, but make sure you verify the source of the lower interest and read the fine lines. Make sure it's real.
You can read more here. It seems that things are likely to get worse before they get better. Which is why you might consider an identity theft recovery solution from Merchants Information Solutions, Inc.. While prevention is the key to identity theft, it is always helpful to have a recovery advocate working on your behalf to restore your good name and credit to it's pre-theft status, should you become the victim of identity theft.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Who's Watching the Watchers?
I'm the kind of individual that believes if I have to spend the night in the hospital, I shouldn't take anything of value with me (iPods, cellphones, laptops, etc.). These only serve as temptations to those with lesser scruples, causing them to wait until I'm out of the room, in the restroom, or fast asleep to sneak in and help these items grow legs. If it's valuable, leave it at home. It's unfortunate that we can't take the same approach with our identities.
Today, some delightful health care billing worker in Los Angeles has been accused of stealing the identities of more than 1,000 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and using those identities to steal from insurance companies. What a black eye for the medical community. The former employee, James Allen Wilson, is accused of taking around $69,000, but the investigation continues. Read more here, or here.
I can't help but wonder if Mr. Allen was ever properly screened before obtaining employment at the medical center? Even if he was, he may have had a, pardon the pun, clean bill of health prior to this event. Regardless, I hope that Cedars-Sinai Medical Center takes proper precautions in the future to ensure such an event never happens again. Screen, screen, screen.
ID theft is growing rapidly and it can happen any time, any place. Have you taken measures to ensure your identity remains healthy? If not, Merchants Information Solutions identity theft product, SmartIDentity+, can help you protect yourself and your family by offering email alerts, credit monitoring, identity monitoring, and a fully-managed recovery solution in case you ever become a victim. Cover your bases. Make sure someone is watching the watchers.
Today, some delightful health care billing worker in Los Angeles has been accused of stealing the identities of more than 1,000 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and using those identities to steal from insurance companies. What a black eye for the medical community. The former employee, James Allen Wilson, is accused of taking around $69,000, but the investigation continues. Read more here, or here.
I can't help but wonder if Mr. Allen was ever properly screened before obtaining employment at the medical center? Even if he was, he may have had a, pardon the pun, clean bill of health prior to this event. Regardless, I hope that Cedars-Sinai Medical Center takes proper precautions in the future to ensure such an event never happens again. Screen, screen, screen.
ID theft is growing rapidly and it can happen any time, any place. Have you taken measures to ensure your identity remains healthy? If not, Merchants Information Solutions identity theft product, SmartIDentity+, can help you protect yourself and your family by offering email alerts, credit monitoring, identity monitoring, and a fully-managed recovery solution in case you ever become a victim. Cover your bases. Make sure someone is watching the watchers.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
3 Ohio Officials lose jobs over Joe-the-Plumber Records Search
Regardless of which presidential candidate you supported, and regardless of your personal feelings toward Joe Wurzelbacher; this can't be seen as anything other than a victory for maintaining privacy, greater protection against identity theft from state actors, greater safeguards against official misconduct.
Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reported that Ohio governor Ted Strickland accepted the resignation of Helen Jones-Kelley (Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services). She commented at the time of her resignation that "this decision comes after a time of pause, in which I realize that I continue to be used as a political postscript, providing a distraction from urgent state priorities".
Jones-Kelley Resigns
Governor Strickland, through his spokesman, said "he understands her decision and accepts her resignation". No word on whether Jones-Kelley offered her resignation of her own volition, or whether the governor asked for it. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusion.
I do, however, think it noteworthy that never at any time did Jones-Kelley make an admission of wrong-doing. She never came forward to say that she had made an error in judgment. She never begged the pardon of Mr. Wurzelbacher or the people of Ohio who she serves.
Assistants Dismissed
So that no one is under the mistaken impression that Jones-Kelley is in the right, her two deputies (Fred Williams, the Assistant Director is out on January 31, 2009 and Doug Thompson, Deputy Director for Child Support is likewise out on December 22, 2008) are getting the axe for their involvement in the misdeeds.
More to the point, Jones-Kelly continues to proclaim her innocence. In the statement accompanying her resignation, she continues to practice denial saying that she will not allow her reputation to be disparaged. I find it curious that no matter how often or how loudly she trumpets that what she did (investigators confirmed that she accessed Mr. Wurzelbacher's records) was proper, the public is not half so thick as she believes and has consistently asked for her to be held to account.
That day has come.
Ohio is expected, in the wake of this smear on the Ohio public officials, to adopt new restrictions today on who can access personal records and for what purpose .
Reconciliation?
Perhaps Jones-Kelley will at some future day to reach deep inside and grasp the courage and insight sufficient to admit to herself that she did wrong and then attempt to make amends. Judging from her resignation statement, her deepest regret seems to be, not that she did something wrong, but rather that she got caught. Not a positive start on reconciliation process, but perhaps the end of a career will grant her the time and space to make the admission.
In the meantime, she should count herself fortunate that the consequences arising from her misdeeds resulted only in the self-inflicted wounds of: losing her job, trashing her reputation, and likely ending her career as a public official. It might have gone worse if the attorney general had wanted to aggressively pursue the issue by seeking not only her resignation, but also fines, and jail time.
Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reported that Ohio governor Ted Strickland accepted the resignation of Helen Jones-Kelley (Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services). She commented at the time of her resignation that "this decision comes after a time of pause, in which I realize that I continue to be used as a political postscript, providing a distraction from urgent state priorities".
Jones-Kelley Resigns
Governor Strickland, through his spokesman, said "he understands her decision and accepts her resignation". No word on whether Jones-Kelley offered her resignation of her own volition, or whether the governor asked for it. I leave it to you to draw your own conclusion.
I do, however, think it noteworthy that never at any time did Jones-Kelley make an admission of wrong-doing. She never came forward to say that she had made an error in judgment. She never begged the pardon of Mr. Wurzelbacher or the people of Ohio who she serves.
Assistants Dismissed
So that no one is under the mistaken impression that Jones-Kelley is in the right, her two deputies (Fred Williams, the Assistant Director is out on January 31, 2009 and Doug Thompson, Deputy Director for Child Support is likewise out on December 22, 2008) are getting the axe for their involvement in the misdeeds.
More to the point, Jones-Kelly continues to proclaim her innocence. In the statement accompanying her resignation, she continues to practice denial saying that she will not allow her reputation to be disparaged. I find it curious that no matter how often or how loudly she trumpets that what she did (investigators confirmed that she accessed Mr. Wurzelbacher's records) was proper, the public is not half so thick as she believes and has consistently asked for her to be held to account.
That day has come.
Ohio is expected, in the wake of this smear on the Ohio public officials, to adopt new restrictions today on who can access personal records and for what purpose .
Reconciliation?
Perhaps Jones-Kelley will at some future day to reach deep inside and grasp the courage and insight sufficient to admit to herself that she did wrong and then attempt to make amends. Judging from her resignation statement, her deepest regret seems to be, not that she did something wrong, but rather that she got caught. Not a positive start on reconciliation process, but perhaps the end of a career will grant her the time and space to make the admission.
In the meantime, she should count herself fortunate that the consequences arising from her misdeeds resulted only in the self-inflicted wounds of: losing her job, trashing her reputation, and likely ending her career as a public official. It might have gone worse if the attorney general had wanted to aggressively pursue the issue by seeking not only her resignation, but also fines, and jail time.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Former FEMA Worker Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft
Robert G. Davis, 44, of the District of Columbia, received a sentence of 64 months in prison from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton. The sentence also included payment of $48,765.80 in restitution to the victims. The sentence was in response to a guilty plea he entered earlier this year to charges of wire fraud (1 count) and aggravated identity theft (1 count).
Davis was employeed by a number of mortgage companies and subsequently by FEMA, from December 2003 to November 2007. During this time, Davis fraudulently used the personal information of 200 people to finance multiple shopping sprees. The items purchased were not just the everyday household products but luxury items instead. They included: gold and diamond jewelry, designer watches, gourmet food, and expensive clothing. Davis grew weary of wearing the same old jewelry, so he pawned some of it and bought more.
The victims of his fraud did nothing that would have put them at unusual risk. They were simply living normal lives trying to get by. In fact, 30 of the 200 were simply disaster victims applying to FEMA for relief.
This is just another excellent illustration that you have to exercise bad judgement or take unusual risks to be a victim of identity theft. All it takes is for one bad actor to have motive and opportunity.
That's why Merchants believes it is so important to protect yourself by enrolling in Merchants SmartIdentity program. We'll watch your credit file for you and send you email alerts when suspicious activity occurs. If you do become a victim, our Recovery Advocates can do the legwork for you to contact all of the creditors to straighten things out.
Davis was employeed by a number of mortgage companies and subsequently by FEMA, from December 2003 to November 2007. During this time, Davis fraudulently used the personal information of 200 people to finance multiple shopping sprees. The items purchased were not just the everyday household products but luxury items instead. They included: gold and diamond jewelry, designer watches, gourmet food, and expensive clothing. Davis grew weary of wearing the same old jewelry, so he pawned some of it and bought more.
The victims of his fraud did nothing that would have put them at unusual risk. They were simply living normal lives trying to get by. In fact, 30 of the 200 were simply disaster victims applying to FEMA for relief.
This is just another excellent illustration that you have to exercise bad judgement or take unusual risks to be a victim of identity theft. All it takes is for one bad actor to have motive and opportunity.
That's why Merchants believes it is so important to protect yourself by enrolling in Merchants SmartIdentity program. We'll watch your credit file for you and send you email alerts when suspicious activity occurs. If you do become a victim, our Recovery Advocates can do the legwork for you to contact all of the creditors to straighten things out.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Identity Theft, the IRS, and You
Question: What happens when someone steals your identity and gains employment under your identity (but conveniently doesn't pay income tax)?
Answer: The IRS sends you a bill for the taxes the identity thief didn't pay.
Surprise!
That's what happened to an Chicago area 41-yr old woman. Surprise! You owe the government $22,024.40 in back taxes (to say nothing of penalties and interest). Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!
What a (un)pleasant bit of news that must have been to receive. With the economy in a tailspin, the banking and housing sectors in complete meltdown, and inflation in food and energy up significantly; one might have been tempted to ask what else could go wrong. For the victim of identity theft, we now know the answer.
An Old Theft
According to the news report, the identity theft had actually occurred years earlier (on or before mid-2006). The accused identity thief (Rosa Flores-Velasco of nearby Elgin, IL) had purchased the identity (Name, Social Security Number, and Date of Birth) for $500 and assumed the identity for purposes of, at least, employment and obtaining a telephone account.
Flores-Velasco had additionally obtained, an additional fraud, a resident alien card with her own picture but the victim's name and information. The telephone account was also a trouble spot as it had referred to collections for non-payment.
The Anticipated Future of the Thief
Flores-Velasco has been arrested and charged with Identity Theft. Her bail has been set at $5,000 and she has been inducted into the Kane County jail. Her hearing is set for December 3rd. Her immigration status and other potential frauds relating to the identity theft are likely to be discussed then. For Rosa Flores-Velasco, her journey through the criminal justice system is just beginning.
The Anticipated Future of the Victim
Since the full details of the frauds committed by the identity thief are not yet known, it is clear that the journey of discovery, repair, and remediation has only just begun. Dealing with the consequences of identity theft can take hundreds of hours. In this case (long-term theft), the damages are likely to be both broad and deep.
Recovering your good name, dissolving fraudulent debt, restoring a valid credit worthiness score are all challenging. Dealing with government agencies like the Immigrations and Customs Service as well as the Internal Revenue Service generally do not rate very high on the list of "fun things to do".
How Merchants Helps
Merchants Information Solutions, Inc. has developed a service offering that helps folks recover from the consequences of identity theft. We have trained Recovery Advocates (RA's) that can assume much of the burden of clearing your name. The RA's can, upon execution of a limited power of attorney, act on your behalf contacting banks, credit card companies, utility providers, and other creditors where there is fraudulent debt. They can also contact government agencies (like ICE and IRS) and get things straightened out. We call this procedure our "Managed Recovery".
Of no less importance than our system of Managed Recovery, is our prevention service. Merchants' SmartIdentity program actively monitors your credit and other factors and sends you email alerts when potential trouble is spotted. We believe that prevention truly is better than cure. So when yet one more story of how identity theft has made the life of someone else very unpleasant, do more than just think about protecting yourself and your family.
Source:
- http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=250846
Answer: The IRS sends you a bill for the taxes the identity thief didn't pay.
Surprise!
That's what happened to an Chicago area 41-yr old woman. Surprise! You owe the government $22,024.40 in back taxes (to say nothing of penalties and interest). Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!
What a (un)pleasant bit of news that must have been to receive. With the economy in a tailspin, the banking and housing sectors in complete meltdown, and inflation in food and energy up significantly; one might have been tempted to ask what else could go wrong. For the victim of identity theft, we now know the answer.
An Old Theft
According to the news report, the identity theft had actually occurred years earlier (on or before mid-2006). The accused identity thief (Rosa Flores-Velasco of nearby Elgin, IL) had purchased the identity (Name, Social Security Number, and Date of Birth) for $500 and assumed the identity for purposes of, at least, employment and obtaining a telephone account.
Flores-Velasco had additionally obtained, an additional fraud, a resident alien card with her own picture but the victim's name and information. The telephone account was also a trouble spot as it had referred to collections for non-payment.
The Anticipated Future of the Thief
Flores-Velasco has been arrested and charged with Identity Theft. Her bail has been set at $5,000 and she has been inducted into the Kane County jail. Her hearing is set for December 3rd. Her immigration status and other potential frauds relating to the identity theft are likely to be discussed then. For Rosa Flores-Velasco, her journey through the criminal justice system is just beginning.
The Anticipated Future of the Victim
Since the full details of the frauds committed by the identity thief are not yet known, it is clear that the journey of discovery, repair, and remediation has only just begun. Dealing with the consequences of identity theft can take hundreds of hours. In this case (long-term theft), the damages are likely to be both broad and deep.
Recovering your good name, dissolving fraudulent debt, restoring a valid credit worthiness score are all challenging. Dealing with government agencies like the Immigrations and Customs Service as well as the Internal Revenue Service generally do not rate very high on the list of "fun things to do".
How Merchants Helps
Merchants Information Solutions, Inc. has developed a service offering that helps folks recover from the consequences of identity theft. We have trained Recovery Advocates (RA's) that can assume much of the burden of clearing your name. The RA's can, upon execution of a limited power of attorney, act on your behalf contacting banks, credit card companies, utility providers, and other creditors where there is fraudulent debt. They can also contact government agencies (like ICE and IRS) and get things straightened out. We call this procedure our "Managed Recovery".
Of no less importance than our system of Managed Recovery, is our prevention service. Merchants' SmartIdentity program actively monitors your credit and other factors and sends you email alerts when potential trouble is spotted. We believe that prevention truly is better than cure. So when yet one more story of how identity theft has made the life of someone else very unpleasant, do more than just think about protecting yourself and your family.
Source:
- http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=250846
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
When the Going Gets Tough, the Identity Thieves Get Going
Things are already difficult and show no signs of improving in the near term. As if that were not sufficiently bad news, identity theft shows no sign of abating either.
Just yesterday at a Wal-Mart in the Phoenix metro area, a woman was arrested for reportedly stealing the identity of another Phoenix area resident and using the stolen credit card number (and an apparent forged driver's license) to purchase goods online from a local Wal-Mart.
Chandler police arrested Crystal Wright when she attempted to pick up the goods purchased with the stolen credit card (kudos to the Wal-Mart folks who spotted the fraud). However, when Ms. Wright was arrested, she did not reveal her true identity and instead used the stolen identity of Margaret Farnsworth. After Ms. Wright's arrest, she was released.
A local newspaper reported the arrest. An alert friend of the real Ms. Farnsworth read the report of the arrest in the newspaper and informed the real Ms. Farnsworth. The real Ms. Farnsworth, upon learning that someone claiming to be her had been arrested, contacted the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (kudos to both Ms. Farnsworth for promptly reporting and to the alert friend).
Tempe police then went back and discovered Ms. Wright's true identity and have begun to clear Ms. Farnsworth's good name.
Ms. Wright has subsequently plead guilty to the charge of Aggravated Identity Theft (Class 3 felony) and may be spending some quality time in Sherriff Arpaio's (Maricopa County) famous Tent City jail.
Among the interesting things about this particular incident was that it highlights that the danger of identity theft goes well beyond just money. Imagine how unpleasant it might have been for Ms. Farnsworth (the real one) when Ms. Wright didn't show up for an arraignment hearing. The Sherriff's deputies could be on her doorstep to arrest, to charge, and to induct her into Tent City.
Sources:
- http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/11/11/20081111cr-idtheft1112.html
- http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/113191
Just yesterday at a Wal-Mart in the Phoenix metro area, a woman was arrested for reportedly stealing the identity of another Phoenix area resident and using the stolen credit card number (and an apparent forged driver's license) to purchase goods online from a local Wal-Mart.
Chandler police arrested Crystal Wright when she attempted to pick up the goods purchased with the stolen credit card (kudos to the Wal-Mart folks who spotted the fraud). However, when Ms. Wright was arrested, she did not reveal her true identity and instead used the stolen identity of Margaret Farnsworth. After Ms. Wright's arrest, she was released.
A local newspaper reported the arrest. An alert friend of the real Ms. Farnsworth read the report of the arrest in the newspaper and informed the real Ms. Farnsworth. The real Ms. Farnsworth, upon learning that someone claiming to be her had been arrested, contacted the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (kudos to both Ms. Farnsworth for promptly reporting and to the alert friend).
 |  |
| Margaret Farnsworth | Crystal Wright |
Tempe police then went back and discovered Ms. Wright's true identity and have begun to clear Ms. Farnsworth's good name.
Ms. Wright has subsequently plead guilty to the charge of Aggravated Identity Theft (Class 3 felony) and may be spending some quality time in Sherriff Arpaio's (Maricopa County) famous Tent City jail.
Among the interesting things about this particular incident was that it highlights that the danger of identity theft goes well beyond just money. Imagine how unpleasant it might have been for Ms. Farnsworth (the real one) when Ms. Wright didn't show up for an arraignment hearing. The Sherriff's deputies could be on her doorstep to arrest, to charge, and to induct her into Tent City.
Sources:
- http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/11/11/20081111cr-idtheft1112.html
- http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/113191
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
More Vishing Attacks Seen
We continue to see more and more "Vishing" attacks mounted against unwary consumers. Attackers typically like to target large consumer bases so they focus efforts on impersonating large organizations (federal, state, or local government entities, banks, utilities, employees of large companies, etc.).
I recently read of just another such attack. In this particular attack, the attackers targeted a large utility company (DTE Energy). Metro Detroit residents were contacted by telephone by the attackers posing as representatives of DTE. In the recorded message, the attackers threatened the residents by stating that the resident's account was overdue and that services would be cut. The residents were then instructed to call a toll-free number for resolution.
The provided toll-free number was one operated by the attackers. When the residents called the number, they were instructed to supply their name, address, and social security number. Once the identity information had been harvested by the attackers, the residents were told that they had been contacted in error and the issue had been successfully resolved (no further action required on their part).
The attack was well executed. The recording was believable and convincing. The attack appeared legitimate as DTE does use an automated phone system to contact customers for billing issues but does not collect sensitive information.
It is very easy to become a victim. Identity theft wouldn't be the popular crime that it is if it didn't pay well for the attacker and was reasonably easy to execute successfully. It only requires that the target drop their guard for a moment.
If you receive phone calls like this, be suspicious and verify the source. You can visit the website of the utility company to get their phone number or use the telephone directory. Don't assume that the call is legitimate. You can confirm the veracity of the call by calling back using the phone number you obtained by using your telephone directory or visiting the company's website. A healthy dose of skepticism will go a long way.
Here at Merchants, we see a number of folks who have concluded that their personal information was at risk and didn't feel comfortable not having a safety net were they to discover that their identity had been stolen. For these good folks we offer broad spectrum consumer oriented identity theft services which include: education, prevention, detection, and remediation.
In some cases, forward-thinking companies use our business-to-business oriented services to safeguard their employees (offering them as an employee benefit) or to their customers (a customer benefit for valuable customers). In other cases, companies or other large entities approach us when they fear that information they possess relating to their customers and/or employees might have been compromised (lost, stolen, or made public).
However our customers come to us, we provide the security and peace of mind they seek. It's a risky world out there with bad actors ready to steal not only your money, but also your good name and reputation. You don't have to go it alone, Merchants can help.
I recently read of just another such attack. In this particular attack, the attackers targeted a large utility company (DTE Energy). Metro Detroit residents were contacted by telephone by the attackers posing as representatives of DTE. In the recorded message, the attackers threatened the residents by stating that the resident's account was overdue and that services would be cut. The residents were then instructed to call a toll-free number for resolution.
The provided toll-free number was one operated by the attackers. When the residents called the number, they were instructed to supply their name, address, and social security number. Once the identity information had been harvested by the attackers, the residents were told that they had been contacted in error and the issue had been successfully resolved (no further action required on their part).
The attack was well executed. The recording was believable and convincing. The attack appeared legitimate as DTE does use an automated phone system to contact customers for billing issues but does not collect sensitive information.
It is very easy to become a victim. Identity theft wouldn't be the popular crime that it is if it didn't pay well for the attacker and was reasonably easy to execute successfully. It only requires that the target drop their guard for a moment.
If you receive phone calls like this, be suspicious and verify the source. You can visit the website of the utility company to get their phone number or use the telephone directory. Don't assume that the call is legitimate. You can confirm the veracity of the call by calling back using the phone number you obtained by using your telephone directory or visiting the company's website. A healthy dose of skepticism will go a long way.
Here at Merchants, we see a number of folks who have concluded that their personal information was at risk and didn't feel comfortable not having a safety net were they to discover that their identity had been stolen. For these good folks we offer broad spectrum consumer oriented identity theft services which include: education, prevention, detection, and remediation.
In some cases, forward-thinking companies use our business-to-business oriented services to safeguard their employees (offering them as an employee benefit) or to their customers (a customer benefit for valuable customers). In other cases, companies or other large entities approach us when they fear that information they possess relating to their customers and/or employees might have been compromised (lost, stolen, or made public).
However our customers come to us, we provide the security and peace of mind they seek. It's a risky world out there with bad actors ready to steal not only your money, but also your good name and reputation. You don't have to go it alone, Merchants can help.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Identity Theft and Illegal Aliens
If you are a resident of the state of Arizona, you already are familiar with the E-Verify program. At the beginning of this year (2008), Arizona adopted a law requiring all employers to verify the employment eligibility of new employees. This goes beyond the mandatory (in all states) I-9 and now requires the use of E-Verify. Many other states are watching with interest to what is happening in Arizona in consequence of requiring the use of E-Verify.
One consequence is a significant drop in the number of ineligible workers applying for employment, as one might imagine.
Before the Form I-9 and E-Verify, illegal workers wanting to secure employment had been able to supply completely bogus information on employment application. After the introduction of the Form I-9, many began to respond to the challenge that the I-9 form represented by stealing the identities of legitimate workers (name, address, social security number, etc.).
The reason for the identity theft is that the federal government checked the I-9 forms and required employers to fire workers who were not authorized to work (name and social security numbers did not match the existing records). The solution for the illegal workers seemed to be to assume the identity (use the name and social security number of someone who would be authorized to work in the US). This frequently required the illegal worker to purchase forged identity documents so that they would be able to cash/deposit the payroll checks.
Now that Arizona has raised the bar with respect to verification of eligibility, the illegal workers have either moved to another state where employment is more easily obtained or have become more sophisticated in their identity theft / impersonation.
Arizona law enforcement has made several arrests of individuals involved in the production of counterfeit identity documents (U.S. Social Security cards, U.S. Permanent Resident cards, etc.). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a program (Real-ID) to improve the quality (and reduce the likelihood of forgery) of identity documents.
However, and quite curiously, Arizona and several other states have passed laws requiring non-compliance with the Real-ID program. It is not certain at this point what the final outcome will be for Real-ID (full adoption, partial adoption, or abandonment).
While the debate continues, illegal workers will continue to acquire forged documents and obtain employment. In order to do so, the identities of legitimate workers have been, and will continue to be stolen.
One consequence is a significant drop in the number of ineligible workers applying for employment, as one might imagine.
Before the Form I-9 and E-Verify, illegal workers wanting to secure employment had been able to supply completely bogus information on employment application. After the introduction of the Form I-9, many began to respond to the challenge that the I-9 form represented by stealing the identities of legitimate workers (name, address, social security number, etc.).
The reason for the identity theft is that the federal government checked the I-9 forms and required employers to fire workers who were not authorized to work (name and social security numbers did not match the existing records). The solution for the illegal workers seemed to be to assume the identity (use the name and social security number of someone who would be authorized to work in the US). This frequently required the illegal worker to purchase forged identity documents so that they would be able to cash/deposit the payroll checks.
Now that Arizona has raised the bar with respect to verification of eligibility, the illegal workers have either moved to another state where employment is more easily obtained or have become more sophisticated in their identity theft / impersonation.
Arizona law enforcement has made several arrests of individuals involved in the production of counterfeit identity documents (U.S. Social Security cards, U.S. Permanent Resident cards, etc.). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a program (Real-ID) to improve the quality (and reduce the likelihood of forgery) of identity documents.
However, and quite curiously, Arizona and several other states have passed laws requiring non-compliance with the Real-ID program. It is not certain at this point what the final outcome will be for Real-ID (full adoption, partial adoption, or abandonment).
While the debate continues, illegal workers will continue to acquire forged documents and obtain employment. In order to do so, the identities of legitimate workers have been, and will continue to be stolen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hurricane Victims Beware
Sadly enough, hurricanes aren't the only force of nature that disaster victims need to be on the look out for. Apparently identity thieves are also interested in tearing your life apart and leaving you in shambles.
Today, MarketWatch picked up a piece the FTC has put out warning victims of hurricane Ike and those who would like to contribute to the relief for those victims to be on the look out for scam artists, home repair scams and fake charities, all wanting your money.
It certainly is admirable that the human side of us desires to contribute to relief funds intended to help victims of natural disasters. And those willing to do so should continue their efforts, and are to be commended. Identity theft is a devastating force in its own right. But targeting people trying to get their lives back in order, or those willing to help in such efforts is certainly demonstrative of subhuman behavior.
Don't be fooled by these creeps. Before you generously donate money to any charity or relief effort, do your homework. The article referenced from MarketWatch has links to a list of precautions that consumers should take when desiring to aid those in need. If you suspect that a charity is fake, or if you have become a victim of fraud or identity theft, contact the FTC and look immediately into getting identity theft protection, if you don't already have it. Even those who are already victims can get further protection and be eligible for recovery efforts. You don't have to do it alone.
Today, MarketWatch picked up a piece the FTC has put out warning victims of hurricane Ike and those who would like to contribute to the relief for those victims to be on the look out for scam artists, home repair scams and fake charities, all wanting your money.
It certainly is admirable that the human side of us desires to contribute to relief funds intended to help victims of natural disasters. And those willing to do so should continue their efforts, and are to be commended. Identity theft is a devastating force in its own right. But targeting people trying to get their lives back in order, or those willing to help in such efforts is certainly demonstrative of subhuman behavior.
Don't be fooled by these creeps. Before you generously donate money to any charity or relief effort, do your homework. The article referenced from MarketWatch has links to a list of precautions that consumers should take when desiring to aid those in need. If you suspect that a charity is fake, or if you have become a victim of fraud or identity theft, contact the FTC and look immediately into getting identity theft protection, if you don't already have it. Even those who are already victims can get further protection and be eligible for recovery efforts. You don't have to do it alone.
Monday, September 15, 2008
FTC Mandating Identity Theft Programs
The Stanley News and Press is reporting today that the FTC is now requiring municipalities to implement identity theft programs. The reason? Apparently utility companies and other similar municipalities are ranked third in the list of identity theft targets. Read the full story here.
This really seems to be more of an attempt to enforce compliance with the Red Flag Rules then anything. From the Merchants Information Solutions Red Flag Rules web page we can learn that the red flag rules are an initiative put in place by the "Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), Section 114 which states that all financial institutions and creditors must have a written plan to prevent, detect, and mitigate identity theft in relation to its new and existing covered accounts by November 1st, 2008."
When you think about it, it really just makes sense that the municipalities also take the same initiatives as the financial institutions. After all, to open an account with your local power company they want your name, address, phone number, social security number and many other pieces of personal information. Is it any wonder they are the number 3 target? This really is good news for us all.
Merchants' SmartIDentity+ line of identity theft products will help support your company's efforts to comply with these rules. Take a look at how we can help your company today and beat the November 1st deadline.
This really seems to be more of an attempt to enforce compliance with the Red Flag Rules then anything. From the Merchants Information Solutions Red Flag Rules web page we can learn that the red flag rules are an initiative put in place by the "Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), Section 114 which states that all financial institutions and creditors must have a written plan to prevent, detect, and mitigate identity theft in relation to its new and existing covered accounts by November 1st, 2008."
When you think about it, it really just makes sense that the municipalities also take the same initiatives as the financial institutions. After all, to open an account with your local power company they want your name, address, phone number, social security number and many other pieces of personal information. Is it any wonder they are the number 3 target? This really is good news for us all.
Merchants' SmartIDentity+ line of identity theft products will help support your company's efforts to comply with these rules. Take a look at how we can help your company today and beat the November 1st deadline.
Phishing for Job Seekers
These days, a lot more folks are paying attention to what jobs are appearing on job boards. Many are out of work and looking for their next job, while others are looking to improve their position. Whatever the reason, it is important to know with whom you are dealing.
I was reading a story from earlier this summer about some folks who did not pay close attention. The victims in this story were duped into believing that there were searching for jobs on Craigs List when, in fact, they were transacting instead with sophisticated identity thieves from Latvia.
The scam succeeded in getting the victims to divulge their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other personally identifying information. The victims were told that the hiring company required this information in order to perform background checks.
Once the scammers had the information, they then wired money from russian bank accounts into the personal accounts of the victims. The victims, once funds were received, were instructed to wire the funds into specific accounts (which corresponded to the brokerage accounts the scammers had established). The scammers then proceeded to manipulate the prices of some thinly traded securities and make a handsome profit.
This was a sophisticated attack in that the victim was not the target of the attack but rather a means to the end. The real goal was to manipulate the price of securities. The identity theft victims provided the mechanism of generating apparently legitimate securities transactions. In some cases, the victim was attacked directly as the victims identifying information was used to tap funds the victims had in existing brokerage accounts.
Finra suggests six things to help keep yourself safe. They are:
- Be suspicious of anyone asking for your personal information
- Know who you are doing business with
- Don't Respond to Emails Requesting Personal Information
- Ask questions
- Order a copy of your credit report
- Review your account statements
We support these suggestions as prudent and wise. We further suggest that you get your credit report copy from Merchants through our SmartIdentity program. Where you'll not only get a copy of your credit report, but also a credit score and monthly monitoring of your credit profile.
I was reading a story from earlier this summer about some folks who did not pay close attention. The victims in this story were duped into believing that there were searching for jobs on Craigs List when, in fact, they were transacting instead with sophisticated identity thieves from Latvia.The scam succeeded in getting the victims to divulge their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other personally identifying information. The victims were told that the hiring company required this information in order to perform background checks.
Once the scammers had the information, they then wired money from russian bank accounts into the personal accounts of the victims. The victims, once funds were received, were instructed to wire the funds into specific accounts (which corresponded to the brokerage accounts the scammers had established). The scammers then proceeded to manipulate the prices of some thinly traded securities and make a handsome profit.
This was a sophisticated attack in that the victim was not the target of the attack but rather a means to the end. The real goal was to manipulate the price of securities. The identity theft victims provided the mechanism of generating apparently legitimate securities transactions. In some cases, the victim was attacked directly as the victims identifying information was used to tap funds the victims had in existing brokerage accounts.
Finra suggests six things to help keep yourself safe. They are:
- Be suspicious of anyone asking for your personal information
- Know who you are doing business with
- Don't Respond to Emails Requesting Personal Information
- Ask questions
- Order a copy of your credit report
- Review your account statements
We support these suggestions as prudent and wise. We further suggest that you get your credit report copy from Merchants through our SmartIdentity program. Where you'll not only get a copy of your credit report, but also a credit score and monthly monitoring of your credit profile.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Feds Getting Tougher on Identity Thieves
It seems that the Federal government is taking more aggressive measures against identity thieves. A new law carries a mandatory two-year sentence for anyone convicted of identity theft. Of course this two-year term is mandatory, but is not the maximum. Identity thieves can still receive more jail time if convicted of identity crimes. But, this new law gets these villainous parasites off the streets no matter how insignificant the dollar amount.
I think this is a good call. Fines alone do not deter identity theft and do not make those who suffer from this type of crime feel as though justice is served. When someone ruins your good name and takes your hard earned money, you want justice. Just ask the innocent 96-year old victim in this story. Aside from getting her money back, I'm sure this poor lady would like to get a significant portion of this jerk's posterior. Let justice be served!
Credit and identity monitoring may have helped the victims of these stories identify problems earlier. Merchants Information Solutions can help provide you with this sort of coverage. We'll monitor your credit and identity and send you email alerts whenever any suspicious activities occur. Furthermore, a recovery advocate will work on your behalf to restore your good name to its pre-event status, no matter how long it takes. And, with up to $25,000 in reimbursement insurance coverage, you can rest easy knowing that your out-of-pocket expenses are covered throughout the recovery process. Learn more about our identity theft protection and recovery solutions today by clicking here.
I think this is a good call. Fines alone do not deter identity theft and do not make those who suffer from this type of crime feel as though justice is served. When someone ruins your good name and takes your hard earned money, you want justice. Just ask the innocent 96-year old victim in this story. Aside from getting her money back, I'm sure this poor lady would like to get a significant portion of this jerk's posterior. Let justice be served!
Credit and identity monitoring may have helped the victims of these stories identify problems earlier. Merchants Information Solutions can help provide you with this sort of coverage. We'll monitor your credit and identity and send you email alerts whenever any suspicious activities occur. Furthermore, a recovery advocate will work on your behalf to restore your good name to its pre-event status, no matter how long it takes. And, with up to $25,000 in reimbursement insurance coverage, you can rest easy knowing that your out-of-pocket expenses are covered throughout the recovery process. Learn more about our identity theft protection and recovery solutions today by clicking here.
Friday, August 29, 2008
2008 Research Report: Both Good and Bad News
Earlier this year, Javelin Strategy & Research published their fourth annual Identity Fraud Survey Report. The (2008) report contained a number of items. Some are positive, others disconcerting.The most significant good news is that identity fraud actually declined slightly. The previous estimate of the cost of identity fraud was $51 Billion, the report identifies a decline to an estimate of $45 Billion. While somewhat encouraging in terms of overall losses, $45 Billion is still a pile of cash and no one should feel they have a reason to become complacent.
To underscore the need for continued vigilence, the fraudsters continue to test new tactics and try new approaches. Significantly among these new tactics is something called Vishing. Vishing is defined as combination of Internet Telephony (VoIP) and Social Engineering.
With Vishing (like its twin Phishing) the purpose is to get you to divulge useful details about your identity so that it may be stolen. A typical attack can involve Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems controlled by the fraudster making a telephone call to your home phone, cell phone, or office phone. The system fraudulently identifies itself as a charity or other non-profit, a utility company, government, bank, or other billing or financial organization. The system then asks a number of questions and confirms a number of details designed to entice you into divulging your identity (Social Security number, account number, etc.).
These new vishing attacks now account for 40 percent of identity fraud in 2007. This is a stunning number given that the same attack accounted for only 3 percent in the prior year.
Identity theft is also becoming more costly each time it occurs. In 2006, the average cost was $554 per incident. In 2007, that figure grew to $691.
The report concludes with six recommendations for consumers to protect themselves from identity theft. At the very top of the list is credit monitoring. That is a service we provide here at Merchants. Not only can we watch your credit, we send you email alerts, and can act as your agent to resolve and ID theft event were to occur.
Our suite of services for identity theft protection is robust, comprehensive, and available. Stop by the website or give us a call (toll-free at 1.800.966.0576), see how we can help keep you safe.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Teacher Fails Students
An article I read today on FOX 4 TV in Kansas City shows that at least one educational system is failing their students, but not in the way you would expect. You pay good money to get an education and you would think the school you attend should take every precaution to keep your personal information safe. Not so with one college teacher at least.
In Manhattan, Kansas, one teacher had his backpack stolen from his vehicle parked outside a home. No biggie, right? Well, it just so happens that he had the papers of 86 students and their Social Security numbers in that backpack. These were his students from Fall of 2007 to Summer of 2008. I can understand why a teacher would have papers with him if he were taking them home to grade. But papers from students a year ago? And if he was taking them home to grade, why didn't he take them in the house? And why did he have the students SSN's? Is that required to turn in a paper? Something is wrong with that.
This teacher deserves a failing grade for failing his students. Now they are all exposed to the possibility of identity theft and have to monitor their credit (which they should anyway) and identities for the next few years. Hopefully, the burden of expense will fall on the university and not the students.
Click here to read the full article.
This is similar to an incident that happened to me a few years ago. The financial institution handling my student loan had a server stolen from their facility. Just my luck, my personal information was on that server, and at least the bank knew that. In an effort to apologize, the bank was at least nice enough to foot the bill for credit and identity monitoring for the next year for myself and all the other thousands of students that had their information on that server.
Consider these two incidents for a moment. One occurred as theft from a car (a random smash and grab from the sounds of it), and the other occurred at a well-known financial institution. How exactly someone walks off with a server from a data center is beyond me. Where's the security? But to the point, both incidents bring to light the fact that your identity is at risk in many different ways, and unfortunately most often beyond your control. You can be as cautious as humanly possible about your personal information and do everything within your means to prevent someone from stealing your identity, yet some moron is allowed to walk off campus or out of a bank with your personal information in tow and you're put at risk.
Now, with an identity theft protection and recovery solution in place from Merchants Information Solutions, I feel a little more assured that at least if something like this should happen to me again and resulted in some devastating financial activities, I'd be able to clean it up. But I wonder what many other people are doing about this type of crisis? What kind of plan do you have in place for such incidents? Leave a comment and let me know.
In Manhattan, Kansas, one teacher had his backpack stolen from his vehicle parked outside a home. No biggie, right? Well, it just so happens that he had the papers of 86 students and their Social Security numbers in that backpack. These were his students from Fall of 2007 to Summer of 2008. I can understand why a teacher would have papers with him if he were taking them home to grade. But papers from students a year ago? And if he was taking them home to grade, why didn't he take them in the house? And why did he have the students SSN's? Is that required to turn in a paper? Something is wrong with that.
This teacher deserves a failing grade for failing his students. Now they are all exposed to the possibility of identity theft and have to monitor their credit (which they should anyway) and identities for the next few years. Hopefully, the burden of expense will fall on the university and not the students.
Click here to read the full article.
This is similar to an incident that happened to me a few years ago. The financial institution handling my student loan had a server stolen from their facility. Just my luck, my personal information was on that server, and at least the bank knew that. In an effort to apologize, the bank was at least nice enough to foot the bill for credit and identity monitoring for the next year for myself and all the other thousands of students that had their information on that server.
Consider these two incidents for a moment. One occurred as theft from a car (a random smash and grab from the sounds of it), and the other occurred at a well-known financial institution. How exactly someone walks off with a server from a data center is beyond me. Where's the security? But to the point, both incidents bring to light the fact that your identity is at risk in many different ways, and unfortunately most often beyond your control. You can be as cautious as humanly possible about your personal information and do everything within your means to prevent someone from stealing your identity, yet some moron is allowed to walk off campus or out of a bank with your personal information in tow and you're put at risk.
Now, with an identity theft protection and recovery solution in place from Merchants Information Solutions, I feel a little more assured that at least if something like this should happen to me again and resulted in some devastating financial activities, I'd be able to clean it up. But I wonder what many other people are doing about this type of crisis? What kind of plan do you have in place for such incidents? Leave a comment and let me know.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
College Students At Risk
By J. Crismon
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Most students enjoy returning to campus at the beginning of the school year. The start of new classes, perhaps the final year school, the friends they missed over the Summer, etc. But one of the things they would not enjoy is becoming the victim of identity theft. College students can be an easy target for identity thieves. Sharing a dorm room and leaving personal items laying around, such as mail or personal files stored on a shared computer, can turn the college life into a life of agony.
I read an interesting news article today about students returning to college and the dangers they may face from identity thieves. You can read the article here, but here's my take on college life and protecting yourself, including some great ideas from the article itself.
If you live on campus, or even if you don't, here are a few tips to keep your personal data out of the hands of thieves and make the school year more enjoyable:
- Have your personal mail sent to your home address rather than your dorm address. This keeps personal information out of the view of prying eyes, including your roommate's. In case there's ever anything of significant importance in the mail, rent a PO box and have your parents forward that mail to that PO box. However, don't use your PO box for general mail. Have that all sent to your permanent address. And, as an added bonus, when the school year is over, you don't have to fill out any change of address forms at the Post Office. Just cancel your PO Box.
- Rather than receiving a check from your parents, have them deposit money directly into your account. This leaves little chance that your check will be intercepted and your funds depleted by someone other than yourself.
- Make sure you keep your personal information off of public and shared computers. Carry a large capacity USB thumb-drive around with you and keep your personal information on that instead. This way your files stay with you, not where they can be accessed by prying eyes. This will also come in handy should your computer be stolen or hacked into as your data, including your valuable homework, will remain safe.
- Keep as little identifying information that an identity thief might be able to use on you at all times. Keep whatever personal identifiers you have with you (Social Security card, birth certificate, etc.) stored in a safety deposit box at the local bank. You might need those now and again, but overall, they should be kept in a secure place and off of your person for safety. And, since they're still in a nearby bank, you can access them when needed.
- For guys, keep your wallet in your front pocket rather than in your back pocket. This is something I personally have been doing since Junior High. It's a lot more difficult for your wallet to slide out of your front pocket than it is from the back. Also, carrying the wallet in your front leaves you less vulnerable to pick pockets. I also have a habit of checking my pockets every time I stand up from a chair, the couch, etc. Make sure you know where your personal items are before you leave anywhere.
- For the ladies, keep your purse within site of you at all times and keep as little identifying information as possible in there. If you plan on going to a party, don't take your purse. Just take what you need, money, etc. and put it in your pockets.
This list is not complete by any means, but the point is clearly made. There are thousands of people attending your school. Several of them live in your dorm, or near your on-campus home. But even more important are the thieves and identity thieves that know you are a college student, that know where you live, and that are waiting to take advantage of you at a moments notice. They'll take whatever they can get. Don't let it be your identity.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Most students enjoy returning to campus at the beginning of the school year. The start of new classes, perhaps the final year school, the friends they missed over the Summer, etc. But one of the things they would not enjoy is becoming the victim of identity theft. College students can be an easy target for identity thieves. Sharing a dorm room and leaving personal items laying around, such as mail or personal files stored on a shared computer, can turn the college life into a life of agony.
I read an interesting news article today about students returning to college and the dangers they may face from identity thieves. You can read the article here, but here's my take on college life and protecting yourself, including some great ideas from the article itself.
If you live on campus, or even if you don't, here are a few tips to keep your personal data out of the hands of thieves and make the school year more enjoyable:
- Have your personal mail sent to your home address rather than your dorm address. This keeps personal information out of the view of prying eyes, including your roommate's. In case there's ever anything of significant importance in the mail, rent a PO box and have your parents forward that mail to that PO box. However, don't use your PO box for general mail. Have that all sent to your permanent address. And, as an added bonus, when the school year is over, you don't have to fill out any change of address forms at the Post Office. Just cancel your PO Box.
- Rather than receiving a check from your parents, have them deposit money directly into your account. This leaves little chance that your check will be intercepted and your funds depleted by someone other than yourself.
- Make sure you keep your personal information off of public and shared computers. Carry a large capacity USB thumb-drive around with you and keep your personal information on that instead. This way your files stay with you, not where they can be accessed by prying eyes. This will also come in handy should your computer be stolen or hacked into as your data, including your valuable homework, will remain safe.
- Keep as little identifying information that an identity thief might be able to use on you at all times. Keep whatever personal identifiers you have with you (Social Security card, birth certificate, etc.) stored in a safety deposit box at the local bank. You might need those now and again, but overall, they should be kept in a secure place and off of your person for safety. And, since they're still in a nearby bank, you can access them when needed.
- For guys, keep your wallet in your front pocket rather than in your back pocket. This is something I personally have been doing since Junior High. It's a lot more difficult for your wallet to slide out of your front pocket than it is from the back. Also, carrying the wallet in your front leaves you less vulnerable to pick pockets. I also have a habit of checking my pockets every time I stand up from a chair, the couch, etc. Make sure you know where your personal items are before you leave anywhere.
- For the ladies, keep your purse within site of you at all times and keep as little identifying information as possible in there. If you plan on going to a party, don't take your purse. Just take what you need, money, etc. and put it in your pockets.
This list is not complete by any means, but the point is clearly made. There are thousands of people attending your school. Several of them live in your dorm, or near your on-campus home. But even more important are the thieves and identity thieves that know you are a college student, that know where you live, and that are waiting to take advantage of you at a moments notice. They'll take whatever they can get. Don't let it be your identity.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
*You* might be a victim
Today, US Attorney General Michael Mukasey announced indictments against 11 people for (according the allegation) stealing more than 40 million credit cards. The credit cards were stolen by hacking into the computer networks of at least nine major US retailers:
- TJX Corporation (TJ Maxx and Marshalls)
- BJ's Wholesale Club
- Barnes and Noble
- Sports Authority
- Boston Market
- Office Max
- Dave and Busters
- DSW shoe stores
- Forever 21
With so many major retailers having been hacked and so many credit card numbers stolen; what are the chances that *you* might be a ID Theft Victim?
If you have ever purchased clothing, accessories, or home decor from TJ Maxx or Marshalls; you might be a victim.
If you have ever acquired electronics, accessories, home decor, sports equipment or toys from BJ's Wholesale Club; you might be a victim.
If you have ever obtained books, DVD's, magazines, toys, or even a gift card from Barnes and Noble; you might be a victim.
If you have ever procured clothing, footwear, or sports equipment from the Sports Authority; you might be a victim.
If you have ever grabbed lunch, dinner, or even a snack at Boston Market; you might be a victim.
If you have ever secured office supplies, technology, electronics, or furniture from Office Max; you might be a victim.
If you have ever earned the high score on the games, or enjoyed food or drinks at Dave and Busters; you might be a victim.
If you have ever collected footwear (boots, slippers, pumps, clogs, mules, athletic, casual, or even slippers) from DSW; you might be a victim.
If you have ever expanded your wardrobe (top, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, or even intimates) by shopping at Forever21; you might be a victim.
Let's pause for a moment and consider how vast the scope of the theft was. Let's bring this into focus by comparing it to something more tangible. If we were to compare the number of credit cards stolen against the population of New York City how would that turn out? The US Census Bureau estimates that New York has a 2007 population of 8,274,527. It is not even close (40 million versus 8.2 million).
If our most populous city (bear in mind that we're counting every man, woman, and child) doesn't stack up against the size of the theft. How about if we were to add Los Angeles(3,834,340), Chicago(2,836,658), Houston(2,208,180), and Phoenix(1,552,259)? Nope. The combined population of the five largest cities still doesn't compare to the scope of the theft (18,705,964 vs 40,000,000) . To approach the size of the theft, we would need to have the entire populations of the top 33 most populous cities (New York through Atlanta) to equal the number of credit cards stolen. That is a staggering sum!
So, if you are concerned about your chances of becoming a victim of Identity Theft, what should you do? An excellent choice is enrolling in Merchants SmartIDentity plus. There are several companies offering ID Theft services that you might turn to, but Merchants distinguishes itself by offering "Fully Managed Recovery".
Fully managed recovery services are different than most others. Most other service providers offerings are limited to "consultation". In other words, they provide only advice on how *you* go about recovering your credit and good name. At Merchants, Recovery Advocates (RA's) can act on your behalf to contact retailers, credit institutions and others and clean your record. With the "consultation" from other providers, you bear the full (sole) responsibility for knowing and taking all of the steps required to restore your good name. At Merchants, the RA's can act on your behalf (once you have executed a limited power of attorney) to do the legwork for you.
- TJX Corporation (TJ Maxx and Marshalls)
- BJ's Wholesale Club
- Barnes and Noble
- Sports Authority
- Boston Market
- Office Max
- Dave and Busters
- DSW shoe stores
- Forever 21
With so many major retailers having been hacked and so many credit card numbers stolen; what are the chances that *you* might be a ID Theft Victim?
If you have ever purchased clothing, accessories, or home decor from TJ Maxx or Marshalls; you might be a victim.
If you have ever acquired electronics, accessories, home decor, sports equipment or toys from BJ's Wholesale Club; you might be a victim.
If you have ever obtained books, DVD's, magazines, toys, or even a gift card from Barnes and Noble; you might be a victim.
If you have ever procured clothing, footwear, or sports equipment from the Sports Authority; you might be a victim.
If you have ever grabbed lunch, dinner, or even a snack at Boston Market; you might be a victim.
If you have ever secured office supplies, technology, electronics, or furniture from Office Max; you might be a victim.
If you have ever earned the high score on the games, or enjoyed food or drinks at Dave and Busters; you might be a victim.
If you have ever collected footwear (boots, slippers, pumps, clogs, mules, athletic, casual, or even slippers) from DSW; you might be a victim.
If you have ever expanded your wardrobe (top, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, or even intimates) by shopping at Forever21; you might be a victim.
Let's pause for a moment and consider how vast the scope of the theft was. Let's bring this into focus by comparing it to something more tangible. If we were to compare the number of credit cards stolen against the population of New York City how would that turn out? The US Census Bureau estimates that New York has a 2007 population of 8,274,527. It is not even close (40 million versus 8.2 million).
If our most populous city (bear in mind that we're counting every man, woman, and child) doesn't stack up against the size of the theft. How about if we were to add Los Angeles(3,834,340), Chicago(2,836,658), Houston(2,208,180), and Phoenix(1,552,259)? Nope. The combined population of the five largest cities still doesn't compare to the scope of the theft (18,705,964 vs 40,000,000) . To approach the size of the theft, we would need to have the entire populations of the top 33 most populous cities (New York through Atlanta) to equal the number of credit cards stolen. That is a staggering sum!
So, if you are concerned about your chances of becoming a victim of Identity Theft, what should you do? An excellent choice is enrolling in Merchants SmartIDentity plus. There are several companies offering ID Theft services that you might turn to, but Merchants distinguishes itself by offering "Fully Managed Recovery".
Fully managed recovery services are different than most others. Most other service providers offerings are limited to "consultation". In other words, they provide only advice on how *you* go about recovering your credit and good name. At Merchants, Recovery Advocates (RA's) can act on your behalf to contact retailers, credit institutions and others and clean your record. With the "consultation" from other providers, you bear the full (sole) responsibility for knowing and taking all of the steps required to restore your good name. At Merchants, the RA's can act on your behalf (once you have executed a limited power of attorney) to do the legwork for you.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Busy Week for Identity Theft in Texas
By Robby Ward
Thursday, June 19, 2008
It seems as if the old Texas adage of everything being bigger holds true with ID theft as well… at least this week.
Today in Dallas a man was indicted by a grand jury for stealing PGA Golfer Justin Leonard’s identity. The crook (30-year old Joel Keith Bridger), who obtained Leonard’s SSN, and Drivers License Number (doctored with his own picture) was caught by a witty postal worker while trying to pick up Mr. Leonard’s mail, as the worker knew the Leonard family. Mr. Bridger, if convicted, now faces up to two years in prison.
Next, a Houston based company - Sunsmart Convenience Stores parent company, Petroleum Wholesale, L.P. has been charged by the Texas Attorney General with “failing to protect its customers’ sensitive information”, by knowingly dumping an unknown number of documents, containing social security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit/debit card information, behind their headquarters in Houston. The company now faces up to a $50k fine for each record.
Lastly, another consumer class action suit was filed earlier this week in Tyler Texas against LifeLock, a leading Identity Theft solution provider. The suit filed by Marks & Klein mimics the other 5 suits filed against LifeLock and alleges that LifeLock’s advertising campaign misled consumers by “dramatically overstating the level of identity protection the company provides”. The suit also tacks on similar allegations, alleging that the identity of Mr. Davis (CEO of LifeLock) has been used fraudulently numerous times while on the service.
These three events exhibit a wide cross-section of the Identity Theft landscape and the struggles that businesses, consumers, and solution providers face today.
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