Articles and Ideas January, 2008
Protecting yourself from the damages of identity theft involves reviewing your credit file to ensure that the information is correct. You can order one free credit report each year, but it is recommended that you review your credit report at least twice a year. Your credit file is a key part in determining your credit worthiness, and the adversities an identity thief can wreak on your credit score can be devastating. It is critical that you ensure the accuracy of all of the information on the credit report, and if the information is not correct, file ...
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Identity theft is everywhere these days and in many guises - stealing your credit card number to make fraudulent purchases, posing as you to open bank accounts and buying homes in your name, and using your SSN number to gain employment and benefits. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 8.3 million Americans reported being a victim in 2005.
The history of ID theft
Identity theft began as a “white collar crime,” where scammers would simply assume the identity of an unsuspecting victim. They would become the stolen identity, opening new bank accounts, credits cards, and perhaps even ...
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"Congratulations! You’ve won a free, 4-day vacation for two in the beautiful, sun-drenched Bahamas!"
When you get a flyer, email, or unexpected phone call promising a complimentary vacation, it’s likely a vacation scam. A current variation of the scam is an automated phone call explaining that you or somebody entered your name in a draw, and that you won. Of course, it's always from a perky-sounding female voice! Don't fall for any of it.
Do not, under any circumstances, give the company your credit card number or any other details. Many scammers simply collect your personal information and sell it ...
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The damages done with medical identity theft are usually irrevocable, permanently damaging the accuracy of your records. The changes in your medical file range from minuscule details to alterations that could pose a very high medical risk. Cleaning up your medical files of the erroneous information is very important, as they can reflect permanent, long-term diseases that are not really yours.
The underpinnings of medical identity theft
Medical identity theft is the least studied form of all ID theft crimes. It occurs if someone uses the name or insurance of another person, along with other ...
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Have you used your credit card to make your purchase, and the store clerk asks you for your identification? Sadly, not many of them ask for ID, but they should in order to compare signatures that are on the back of the card. The store clerk's oversight is an added bonus for credit card thieves, and it makes it relatively easy for them to make purchases with your identity! They can make purchases at stores, by mail, and very easily over the Internet. They often do not even need to have a physical card, as ...
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