Many of the largest banks are frequently targeted by identity thieves and in this day and age no one is immune to the possibility of becoming a victim.  I recently read where an identity thief pretended to be his recent victim and got approved for a new debit card which he then activated over the phone. Within a few days, the thief wiped out the victim’s checking account stealing $8,000.00 before the victim realized what happened. For six months, the thief continued to steal an overall amount of $22,000.00.

As we all know, it’s very important to safeguard your identity.  But what do you do when you’re in situation like this?  Not only is it important to protect your identity, but it’s also important to know what to do if you happen to be an identity theft victim.

Here are important tips for working with your bank if you’re an identity theft victim:

Tip #1 Immediately close all compromised accounts 
If your bank recommends you don’t need a new account number, work with your bank that they do so.  In order to get any money reimbursed, you will need an account number that has not been compromised.

Tip #2 Get protection on all accounts
Work with your bank to place an “Identity Theft Warning” message and password protection on all your accounts.

Tip #3 Ask questions
Knowledge is power so if you don’t understand the bank’s identity theft protocol, ask questions about it. It’s important to know what the bank is requesting of you and to understand their procedures.

Tip #5 Monitor your accounts regularly
Keep an eye on your bank accounts and call your bank immediately if you notice a discrepancy no matter how small as you may have a limited period of time to file a complaint.

The purpose of this blog series is to educate people about the ways that identities are stolen without revealing confidential information or names of the people who have been affected.

Keep in mind, these stories are true (although I have omitted specific details for our members’ protection) and are described by real Fraud Resolution Agents. It is up to you if you are going to be proactive to protect yourself from identity theft after reading this post. 

Fraud Case:
Overseas Fraud Victim

Fraud Story:
While overseas on military duty, the member discovered she was a fraud victim.  While checking her personal emails on her laptop computer, she was notified by ProtectMyID.com of inquiries made by major credit card companies.  She contacted ProtectMyID.com’s Customer Care number and was assigned a fraud case representative. A little relieved that she was going to receive assistance from a designated Fraud Resolution Agent, she was quite concerned with the time difference because she was on the other side of the word.

How the ProtectMyID.com Fraud Resolution Agent Helped the Victim:
Even though the victim was on the other side of the world, the Fraud Resolution Agent was able help the victim place fraud alerts on her credit reports and assist with putting a stop to the fraudulent applications.  The Fraud Resolution Agent was also able to correspond with the victim via email when they weren’t able to correspond by telephone because of the major time difference.

As an identity theft victim advocate, I would suggest enrolling with a product such as ProtectMyID.com which will assign you a dedicated Fraud Resolution Agent to act as your advocate and work closely with you and creditors to resolve any fraud issues and reclaim your good name, even if you happen to be on the other side of the world.

Summer brings fantastic weather in most parts of the states and with this wonderful weather comes crowded theme parks, busy fairs, crammed concerts, teeming airports, and jam-packed rail stations.  What do all these different situations have in common? They all provide the ideal surroundings for pickpockets to steal your identity.  

This time of the year is when experienced pickpockets operate day and night in crowded areas “accidentally” bumping into innocent victims to steal their purse/wallet which will contain valuables such as credit cards, a driver’s license, or a Social Security card.  What can you do to protect yourself from becoming a pickpocket’s next victim?  Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when you’re in crowded places enjoying the summer weather:

Pickpocket prevention tips for men:

1. The pickpocket target areas are back trouser pockets and suit coat and sports jacket pockets located both inside and out. In general, a pickpocket avoids front trouser pockets and especially buttoned or zippered pockets.

2. If you have to carry your wallet in an unbuttoned jacket, coat, or pants pocket, be sure it holds only what you can afford to lose. Keep cash, credit cards, ID’s, etc., in your front pocket or any buttoned or zippered pocket.

Pickpocket prevention tips for women:

1. Do not carry your wallet in your purse if you don’t have to.

2. Use a purse that closes securely and is difficult to open.

3. If you are carrying a shoulder bag, place the strap(s) diagonally across your body, as opposed to carrying it on one shoulder. This keeps your purse in front of you at all times.

4. Never leave your purse unattended.

Overall, our data show that far from being nonchalant and unconcerned about privacy matters, the majority of young adult users of Facebook are engaged with managing their privacy settings on the site at least to some extent. The frequency with which they adjust their settings and their confidence in doing so may vary, but most report modifying their settings.

Of course, you should never share personal information that you couldn’t afford to lose, such as your Social Security number. It’s also wise to not share information typically used in security questions, such as birthdates, mother’s maiden name, address, elementary schools, pet names, and so forth. Read ProtectMyID.com’s recent news release for more tips to protect your online identity.

Also, it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with the privacy policies of whatever social networking sites you frequent. I know they can be long and arduous to read, but you may be surprised if you do. Keep abreast of how you can protect your personal data before posting it for the world to see, and more importantly, for thieves to access. A few simple steps could end up saving you hours of hassle.

The popularity of SMS text messaging has caught the attention of identity thieves, who are now sending fraudulent text messages that appear to be from a financial institution. 

Just imagine how distraught you would be if you received a text message while on vacation this summer informing you that your credit card had been put on hold. The text message would then ask you to call a phone number or visit a URL to regain access to your account.

Once you follow these instructions, you would likely be asked to provide extensive personal information, such as your account number, address, Social Security number and more of the elements that make identity theft easy for a criminal.

SMSishing is similar to phishing, in which criminals pose as a financial institution via email or phone and ask for your personal information. If you’re ever concerned about your accounts, always call the bank or credit card company directly. Make sure you use the contact information on your statements or cards, not information from a suspicious text message.

Click here to log in to ProtectMyID.

Even your credit cards require a little travel preparation, especially if you are going overseas. Select which cards to take in advance. Couples should carry cards from different accounts in case of a problem with one account. Then you can:

*Call the number on the back of your card to alert the issuer of your travel plans. A high volume of charges or overseas activity may trigger deactivation.

*Ask for a phone number you can call from overseas if your card doesn’t list one. The 800 number on the back of your card might not work outside the U.S.

*Log in to your ProtectMyID Protection Center to enter you debit and medical card information into the Lost Wallet feature. Your credit cards are already protected. If your cards are stolen, call for 24-hour Lost Wallet support at: 1-866-227-3718 (U.S. only) or 479-573-7316 (international).

After your trip, closely monitor your credit card statements for any signs of unauthorized charges.

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Use this quick guide to select an appropriate level of security if you plan to use social networking while you’re away from home this summer. If you don’t completely trust everyone in your networks, use caution.

Remember, an empty home is the ideal opportunity for a criminal to break in and find the personal information he or she needs to commit identity theft. Your safest bet is to only share your travel news with those who may be watching your home or absolutely need to know that you’ll be gone.

Good
Enable privacy settings to ensure only friends can see the travel plans you post and the photos you share that clearly show you aren’t home.

Better
Avoid posting information that indicates how long your home will be empty. This includes your exact travel dates.

Best
Wait until you are home to share the news of your travel and photos from your trip.

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Protecting your identity while traveling means watching over your credit cards and passport at all times, but it also starts before you leave home.

There are several items to scratch off your list of things to take. These include your debit card, Social Security card, birth certificate, checkbook and even your library card.

If you’re traveling domestically, leave your passport at home too. The more identifying documents you carry, the more exposed your identity will be.

Store the documents you leave behind in a secure, locked place. You can also back up your computer as an added precaution. In the event of a break-in and theft, you’ll be able to restore your files. Plus, you’ll have a better idea what the thief can access from your stolen hard drive.

As for the important items you’re taking, make two sets of copies. This includes your credit cards (front and back) and passport in particular. Leave one set of copies in a safe place at home and take the second with you in case your originals are stolen.

If you think ahead, you can easily incorporate identity safety measures in your travel plans.

Click here to log in to ProtectMyID.

Have a happy and healthy summer!

Over the weekend I was at the beach enjoying the hot summer day and laying out next to my radio when all of a sudden the Beach Boy song, “Surfin USA” came on.  Even though I’m not from that generation, I enjoyed listening to it.  After the song was over, I decided to get some cash at the nearest ATM machine so I could buy myself a nice cold drink.  As I was waiting in line like everyone else, I could not help but notice crowds of people standing around the ATM machine.  I thought to myself, anyone of these people could be “shoulder surfin USA”.

With summer here, you may find yourself using your debit card more so than often at public ATM machines.  Consequently, your debit card can be at risk.  Identity thieves look for the opportunity to slyly steal your information when you are waiting patiently to use the ATM machine. Beware; an identity thief just may be looking over your shoulder from behind you.  After pulling out your ATM card and entering your pin number they will keep their eyes wide open in order to memorize your information. 

That is why you should always be cautious of your surroundings when using any ATM machine.  When using your ATM card, you should always conceal the view of the person behind you by using your hand when you input your PIN number.  You should also prevent shoulder surfing by shielding information on the screen with your body.

Job applications can be a “HOT” item for identity thieves

Summer’s here and you may be thinking about working a part time job just to make some extra cash.  I have a friend who recently filled out a few job applications last week where extra help is needed.  However, because we talk about identity theft, she became weary of all the personal information that the application required.  She told me that she started to realize that she was setting herself up for identity theft.  If these applications got in the wrong hands, there is enough personal information for an identity thief to commit fraud.  

Bear in mind, when you fill out a job application, it has your full name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, and – in some cases - Social Security number.  Furthermore, it also has background information such as your education, work experience, and personal references which can create a portfolio of resources for an identity thief.

So what did I tell my friend to do to lesson her chances of becoming and identity theft victim?  I told her to keep  applications close to her at all times and not to fill in the social until it was requested (usually when an offer is made).  I told her to make sure not to handover her applications just to anybody and to ask for the manager or the human resources department.  Also, being a member of an identity theft protection product which monitors her credit reports of key changes alleviates the anxiety of providing mandatory information on an application.