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The state of Indiana has launched an identity theft prevention toolkit in an effort to aid Hoosiers in protecting themselves against identity theft through education, detection practices, and corrective procedures.
Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. Read More
Popular Grey’s Anatomy star Sandra Oh has told the Los Angeles police she is the victim of an apparent identity theft. She told the police that someone has fraudulently used her Social Security number in order to get a job at a hotel, causing the Internal Revenue Service to come after Oh for unpaid taxes from 2009. It was not immediately clear how the identity thief accessed the Social Security number, nor was it clear whether Oh’s financial information was also stolen. Read More
In his latest “Ask the Excerpt” installment, CEO Kent Lawson points out why it’s more important than ever to use strong passwords — and also why it’s imperative to change passwords for your various login accounts. Otherwise, you might as well leave your house key under your doormat. Read More
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Airports can be dangerous because they provide a great venue for identity thieves to engage in their crimes. Luggage transfer, public WiFi and a chaotic environment all leave travelers open to becoming victims of identity theft. Read on to learn more about the identity theft risks inherent in airport travel today, and ways you can avoid becoming a victim. Read More
Identity thieves obtain information about deceased individuals in various ways. They may monitor obituaries, steal death certificates, or even get the information from websites that offer the Social Security Death Index file. These web sites are supposed to be used for genealogy research but are sometimes used to steal identities. Unfortunately, the thief may also be a family member who may take advantage of the situation or who has already been using the deceased’s identity. This may be especially true if the deceased suffered from a lengthy illness, mental confusion, or if there is disagreement among family members prior to death. Read More
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Whether travel is for business or pleasure, travelers must be on the alert for opportunities that identity thieves may try to take advantage of in any given situation. Unfortunately you cannot trust anyone you meet (housekeeping staff, bellmen, security guards, front desk clerks, etc) with your personal information. While your hotel should be a place to offer refuge from the hustle and bustle of travel, it can also be a breeding ground for identity theft. Read More
The injuries suffered by an older person from physical abuse or neglect are tragic, but there is another, less publicized, form of abuse: financial exploitation. Financial abuse or exploitation can rob a senior of self-esteem and trust, as well as of his or her means of subsistence. It is a serious and shameful crime. When a relative, friend or caretaker exploits an older person and manages to drain away savings, assets and good credit that have taken years to accumulate and establish, the result can be devastating. Read More
Sony has announced a free 12-month identity-theft prevention program for PlayStation Network users. The monitoring company, Debix, Inc., requires your credit-card information during that “free trial.” Is it worth it to you? Will you remember to cancel in time, or would you be willing to pay $10 per month for this service? This is simply up to each individual user to decide for themselves, but as hackers have attacked Sony for the third time in less than a month, identity-theft woes heat up globally. Read More
Like Target, Disney, Marriott, Best Buy, or Tivo? Do you bank at Chase or US Bank? In the wake of a massive data breach at online marketer Epsilon, millions of people are learning about “spear phishing” emails that are harder to detect than regular phishing because the scammer already knows your personal details. This means you have a higher chance of having your identity stolen. Read More
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Filing your taxes? There’s an app for that. Actually, there are a few apps for that. These days time is a precious commodity and the ability to file your taxes through your Smartphone seems like a dream come true. You are now able to snap a picture of your W-2 with your Smartphone, have the information automatically entered and then submitted to the federal government. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Convenience though, often goes hand in hand with a lower level of security and these Smartphone apps are no exception. In order to understand the risks of using these apps one must look at just what is available, what the risks of usage are, and how to protect oneself. Read More
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