| CNRSW FFSC gives support for identity theft victims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Some identity theft victims repair their problems quickly, while others may take years and hundreds of dollars to repair their good name and credit record.
The CNRSW Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) offers an identity theft brief year-round to help service members and their families combat id theft. "Families must be constantly vigilant," said Deborah Johnston, FFSC, financial educator.
There are several ways to prevent id theft. Don't give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you are sure who you are dealing with. Johnston feels that giving out personal information freely is where a lot of people get in trouble.
LifeLock signs pact with NRA
Identity theft prevention service company LifeLock added a big gun to its list of clients, signing the National Rifle Association in a pact that gives members of the firearms organization discounted rates. LifeLock, based in Tempe, communicates with the nation's largest credit reporting agencies to make stolen information unusable to thieves. Backed by a $1 million guarantee, the company essentially reports stolen data, including bank account, credit card and social security numbers, to the agencies to stop charges from being approved. The service also removes customers names from junk mail lists and pre-approved credit card offers. With the partnership, NRA members will receive 60 days of free service and a 10 percent discount. The monthly cost for LifeLock is $10.
E-mail scams greet the season
Just in time for Cyber Monday and the online holiday shopping rush, high-tech Grinches are cranking up their fraud attacks with a new round of bogus e-mail, identity-theft experts say. Have you won $2 million in a Christmas sweepstakes held by Coca-Cola in the United Kingdom? Can you make big bucks just by cashing checks for an Irish researcher, Chinese exporter or rich oil consultant in Dubai? Is there a problem with your account at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, eBay or PayPal? No. But you might think so if you fall for some of the recent e-mail scams infesting the Internet. And they always peak this time of year, as millions of shoppers spend more time on the Web. "We do see e-mail and phone scams picking up during the holiday season," said Linda Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a watchdog group based in San Diego.
HOW TO DO IT
Here's how to submit a security freeze request to each of the three national credit bureaus. There's no charge for identity theft victims, but you must submit a police report. Experian and Equifax require you to submit your request by certified mail; TransUnion does not. .
Tories take aim at identity thieves
The Conservative government will introduce legislation this fall aimed at catching identity thieves before they attack the bank accounts of Canadians. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said new amendments to the Criminal Code will punish identity theft, regardless of whether the stolen information is ever used for identity fraud. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Mr. Nicholson said stolen identity crimes cost Canadian individuals and businesses $2-billion a year. "I think it's a growing problem and we've got to get on it now because the technology people use to obtain information will only get better," he said. "We've got to get something on the books." The minister said the bill will close a gap in the law. Current offences are focused solely on the misuse of stolen identities through fraud, impersonation or forgery.
GCSO warns residents of possible identity theft operation via phone
Gray County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a possible identity theft operation in which the person is asked for information concerning their bank account.At least one local resident has reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the Internal Revenue Service, said Sheriff Don Copeland. The caller claimed that the IRS had a refund to send to the person, and asked for the person's bank routing number and bank account number in order to deposit the refund in their account.This information may be used by the caller to remove money from the account and may also lead to identity theft, Copeland said.
The IRS warns all citizens not to give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless they have initialed the contact or they are sure they know who they are dealing with.
Aussies lose ID in trash
AUSTRALIANS should lock their mailboxes and shred their mail to avoid identity theft, federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has told a conference on identity fraud. Mr Ruddock told the Sydney meeting the problem of identity fraud had grown exponentially because of modern communications. But snail mail and hardcopy documents still presented a problem, he said, and Australians should think of investing in a shredder, and perhaps a lock on their letterbox. ''Identity theft occurred predominantly when crooks got access to an individual's financial records, making protection of hardcopy documents essential,'' Mr Ruddock said. "It's very important to look at how you handle your personal paperwork, what you put in your waste bins," he said.
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