Identity Theft Prevention Articles
For a little over five years, rumors have circulated the internet about hotel key cards potentially placing an identity theft threat. Are the rumors true? And if so, how can you protect yourself? We’ll explore ways key cards could be used against you--and how much of a risk they really pose.
Where the Concerns Started
The first whispers linking hotel key cards to possible identity theft date back to 2003, when warnings began circulating the internet via e-mail and websites. Concerns reportedly stemmed from Pasadena, CA, where a police detective leaked an internal theory that key cards might be encrypted with the ...
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Little did many Christmas shoppers know that they were giving the gift of malware to their friends and loved ones this Christmas. However, a well known brand name carried corruption into their computer files even as they downloaded their favorite pictures!
Windows Vulnerable to ‘Attack of Photo Frame”
Windows XP has been the stronghold of many PC owners, who steadfastedly campaign for the version to be kept up and running with full support years after it should have given way to newer programs such as Vista. Unfortunately, a specifically aimed worm virus somehow included in many digital picture frames has targeted the ...
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From political moves to the romantic lives of Hollywood stars, predictions abound at the beginning of each new year.
But what about identity theft? Organizations such as the Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC), as well as professionals in the field of identity theft prevention, have a lot to say about what to look out for in 2009. We’ll outline a few potential ID theft pitfalls…and reveal what efforts are in the works toward a safer future.
New Information from ITAC
Spokespeople for the ITAC outlined the problems associated with identity theft and predicted it will continue into the new year, according ...
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Those savvy in the internet world were stunned late last week when Microsoft broke their rule of releasing patches to their software on the second Tuesday of the month. The reason? Their latest version of Internet Explorer had been breached by hackers.
Microsoft's IE7 Breached
Malicious software aimed at a weak spot in IE7 hit several legitimate websites the first week of December, including a major internet portal in Taiwan. Trend Micro identified at least 10,000 websites infected with the software, which was slipped onto unprotected browsers and can be used by hackers to take control of infected computers, steal data, redirect ...
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Identity theft typically rises around the holidays. Don’t get snowed by an identity thief this Christmas. We’ll give you safety tips to make your shopping experience merry, bright…and safe.
The Holidays are Prime ID Theft Time
With the holidays upon us once again, American consumers are being advised to “spend, spend, spend”. And it’s not greed alone that’s the motivating factor: economists insist that increasing the flow of cash in the U.S. is vital to the recovery most citizens have been hoping for.
But these efforts to jump-start a flagging economy are a veritable treasure trove in the eyes of criminals waiting to ...
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When seniors get taken advantage of in group homes they may not report it; afraid of being ridiculed, accused of memory problems or even threatened with losing control over their own finances. This makes them prime targets for identity thieves, and scammers who would take advantage.
Part Time Employee, Part Time Scam Artist
A terminally ill woman on hospice was living at an assisted living center in northeast Texas when she received a disturbing American Express bill - The total was over $5K, and she hadn’t used her card in over two years. An on-call employee who lived in the next town ...
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Tis the season to be careful, according to experts in the field of ID theft and theft prevention.
Shopping is projected to be down this year as opposed to previous years due to a flagging economy. Even so, criminals will have a watchful eye out, waiting for harried consumers to look the other way.
Because more purchases are made around the holidays, and because both husband and wife may be buying off the same credit cards, an extra withdrawal or two could easily be missed. The rushed quality of the season also makes people more lax than usual about keeping up with ...
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Iowa has one of the lowest ID theft levels of anywhere in the US, but lawmakers and enforcers stay on their toes. Too much on their toes, according to some, who point out flaws in new laws proposed to cut down still further on this particular type of crime.
A legislative study panel heard expert witness testimony on cyber crime and combative methods, revealing that sometimes the laws as they are written hurt more than they help. Legitimate commerce could be impeded by laws that restrict information to the point that accurate details cannot be obtained.
This is especially true in the ...
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It sounds absurd, but authorities say it happens with frightening regularity: children are being targeted for identity theft.
What’s worse, the thieves could be family members who take advantage of their children’s social security numbers to procure credit cards or fraudulent loans.
Identity theft may be easier and faster to detect when perpetrated against adults, as most individuals in the workforce check their credit regularly.
It’s different in the case of a child, who may never know his or her identity was tampered with until years later, experts warn. The possibility is an unsettling one for parents, but there are signs to look ...
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When you fill up at the gas pump, you may unknowingly be leaving something behind: your identity. ID theft at the gas pump is the preferred method of the latest generation of ID defrauders. But there are ways to outsmart them. Let’s take a closer look at this growing problem and what you can do to minimize the risks.
A Full Tank…and an Empty Bank Account?
ATM card users have long been advised to shield the key pad any time they input a PIN number to obtain services. Though this method is an important one and can deflect a thief standing just ...
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