Ways Criminals Get Your Money

Your credit score is one of the most important things that you will have to manage as an adult. Your credit score is the number one thing that lenders will look at if you ever need to loan money to buy a home, car, or need a little extra cash. Since it is so important, it is important to always know your credit score and how it affects you. By knowing your score you will be able to tell if there is anything being reported that should not be there. You will also be able to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. Unfortunately, criminals can hack your information, steal your identity, or even spend your money all without you knowing. This article will take a look at some of the different ways that a criminal can access your information. By knowing these tricks you will be better able to arm yourself.

Do you shred all documents that you get that contain your personal information? If you said no, then you might be able to have your identity stolen. Believe it or not, but criminals are not above digging through your trash to get your personal information. This can include back statements, bills, or credit cards. If you are ever in doubt you need to shred or cut it up. An obvious way that criminals can get your information is to steal it. If you are out and about and notice that your wallet is missing, do not waste any extra time, Call your card companies and banks and have them freeze your accounts or change them all together. By doing this as quickly as you can, you decrease the chances of criminals racking up charges in your name.

Criminals are also smart enough to send you fake emails and letters. Your bank should never send you an email asking for your personal information. Also, do not be fooled by those credit card offers. Sure it looks appeasing, but you just never know where it came from. Unless you know for sure do not send your information. Are you still in doubt? Call the company and make sure they have a legitimate reason to need your information. You will probably find that they did not send the information.

One place that you may have not thought about is at a restaurant. Some criminals will work in a restaurant setting just to steal a customer's information. They can take a carbon copy of your card or steal the number if you leave it face up on the table. There is no secure way to prevent this but when you are at the table, make sure that the card is face down and nobody can see the numbers.

Ever get a phone call late at night from a jail house? Well it could be a scam. Unfortunately, criminals in jail can call just about anyone and obtain money by saying that they are a loved one of yours. If you do receive one of these phone calls do not give any information on the phone unless you know it's a legitimate call.

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What Is Identity Theft Protection?

You have no doubt heard the horror stories about identity theft. People who have perfect credit are suddenly denied a loan and realize that this is because someone has been using their identity and racking up two amounts of debt in their name. Getting this straightened out once it has occurred can be a nightmare as you go through months and months of appeals and disputes. Often it is nearly impossible to get everything off your report once the damage is done. This is where the job of identity theft protection comes in.

This type of service takes a proactive rather than a reactive approach to identity theft. The way this works is that if there is any transaction which may have an impact on your credit report or score the company will intercept this transaction before allowing it to occur. You must then follow some sort of procedure to verify that you are okay with the transaction being added to your report and being carried out.

In this way everything on your report which is originated by you is on a white list of items that are accepted. Everything else is automatically on the blacklist and therefore anyone who possesses your identity, social security number, etc. will be unable to use your credit as you will not accept these transactions. Furthermore you can pass on the information that you obtained in the attempt to use your credit to the authorities giving them more time to apprehend these criminals.

Services such as this offer you peace of mind in the knowledge that there is someone regarding your identity and attempting to prevent wrongdoers from doing things in your name.

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Identity Fraud Protection and Education - The Shocking Facts and Figures

CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service have published some rather worrying statistics when it comes to identity fraud and general theft of personal data for illicit purposes. Their data shows that there are two types of ID theft:

Identity Fraud - where personal/confidential information which has been stolen is used to obtain goods or services. Or alternatively, the stolen information is often used to forged identity documents including passports, driving licences and more. These false documents can then be used to apply for credit cards, loans or other financial services.

Account Takeover - is another sort of identity theft where an individual's bank accounts are taken over and drained dry.

Neither of these types of identity fraud is pleasant for the victim and in this time of recession within the UK (and worldwide) ID fraud is on the rise. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, there were over 65,000 incidents of identity fraud annually and a sharp rise in the number of account takeovers from 6,272 in 2007 to well over 16,000 in 2009. The steep rise in 2009 onwards, shows that not only that identity theft is becoming more prevalent but also that the knowledge about how to prevent it is not sufficiently widespread. It's not only the individual that suffers from ID theft, but society as a whole. Banking institutions, loan companies, insurance firms and the providers of goods and services all suffer as a result of identity fraud and generally the cost is passed on to the consumer. The result is - everyone suffers. It is estimated that identity fraud costs the UK economy over £1 billion per annum.

Identity Fraud Facts and Figures

The facts and figures of identity fraud are pretty shocking:

The average amount stolen from a victim through identity fraud is over £1,000, yet only 7% of people have been a victim. Despite this, 95% of Britons believe ID fraud is a direct threat to them.

25% of people in the UK do not shred confidential documents at home.

96% of people believe that organisations do not handle their data correctly and as a result they might be at risk of ID fraud through the actions of others.

In the UK, there are around 4.3 million victims of identity fraud to date and the number of victims continues to grow.

Statistics show that around 18 million households in the UK are failing to properly protect themselves from the risk of ID theft.

Yet identity theft protection is simply a matter of education in prevention methods. In many instances, this simply involves encouraging home owners and individuals to shred important and confidential documents before disposing of them in their weekly rubbish - because this is where the biggest threat lies - criminals rifling through your rubbish. Obviously shredding all your paperwork is a hassle and takes time, but there is an alternative. The Japanese have invented an ID protection stamp, which is a simple stamp that when used quickly and easily covers and obscures personal data and cuts out the need for shredding. Confidential waste can then be put to better use and recycled rather than thrown in the landfill - while you can remain confident that your data is safe and secure.

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How To Deal With Identity Theft

Identity theft is when a person's personal information is stolen for the purpose of criminal use. Unfortunately it has become a growing epidemic. Most people don't even know that they are a victim of this type of fraud until they are contacted by creditors and so we need to take precautions to ensure that we are not a victim of this crime. Here are some ways in which you can deal with identity theft:

Protect Yourself - There are ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. Always protect your personal information. Shred your confidential documents and only use secure sites when purchasing online.

Notify Credit Bureaus - If you suspect fraud you must first be sure that it is in fact fraud. If there's a charge on your credit card statement that you do not recognize, call the credit card company and find out more about the charge. Some vendors hold their credit accounts under a different name so you may not recognize the charge. Once you eliminate the scenario that it was an error and you're sure that it's fraudulent activity then you should contact the credit bureau to establish fraud alerts. Your account will be flagged so that all creditors will contact you before extending any credit.

Request A Copy Of Your Credit Report - Once you receive your credit report, examine it carefully. Make sure the information is accurate and report all fraudulent activity, in writing, to the credit bureau and also to the creditor. Don't forget to continually monitor your credit reports!

Debt Collectors - If you're being contacted by a collector to pay the balance on a fraudulent account, get the name of the person calling, the collection company name, phone number, address, the creditor info, the amount of the debt, the date of charges and account number. Explain to them that you are a victim of fraud and that you are not responsible for the balance. You may need to complete a fraud affidavit form. Follow up the call with a letter and ask for a letter back stating that the account has been closed and that you do not in fact owe the debt.

Lost or Stolen Wallet/Purse - If you have lost your wallet or purse or had it stole, report it immediately. Call all credit card companies and get new cards with new account number sand change your password to a new one. Closely continue to monitor your bank accounts.

Identity theft is a big problem and it's really difficult to catch people who have stolen other's identities. If your identity has been stolen then it can take a lot of work to clean up the mess. Educating yourself will help you deal with Identity theft.

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How to Prevent Corporate Account Takeover

There are people out there who will take advantage of a company's assets in a way that negatively impacts that company's bottom line. As companies conduct an increasing amount of business online every day, many find themselves susceptible to various types of fraud. One prevalent type of fraud is corporate account takeover - when an unauthorized user obtains a company's vital information, re-routes all official mailing to his or her own address, then uses that company's information to make charges or even apply for credit.

The most important step in avoiding corporate account takeover is to recognize the different methods unauthorized users employ to obtain information. Social engineering, finding online filings, dumpster diving, and gaining internal access are all common account takeover strategies. Each is explained below, along with steps that can be taken to prevent each from happening.

Social Engineering:

What is it?

Social engineering is when an unauthorized user calls a company, asking for vital information such as electronic passwords, under the pretense that he/she is conducting legitimate business.

How to avoid it:

Prevent social engineering by knowing who your trusted business partners are. Most of these partners have the information they need about your company and will never call to ask for more information.

Finding Online Filings:

What is it?

Since the Secretary of State began allowing businesses to file annual reports online, unauthorized users have found ways to access those filings and add themselves as company officers. Once listed as a company officer, the unauthorized user just has to do a little more research for credit information and can use this information to apply for credit as a company officer.

How to avoid it:

Monitor your online filings, and ensure that only the appropriate contacts are listed on the filing. Also, continue to ensure that your correct corporate address is listed on the filings.

Dumpster Diving:

What is it?

Have you ever heard the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure?" Dumpster diving is a low-tech, common method of obtaining a company's vital information, and is a great example of how the things we throw away can be valuable to others. Combined with mail-watching, unauthorized users can access both personal and business information which can be used to access accounts by simply digging through the trash.

How to avoid it:

Shred any sensitive materials prior to disposal. An in-office machine is inexpensive at office supply stores. If possible, have all of your business' mail delivered inside your office location to reduce exposure to unauthorized users. Avoid using common passwords that can be easily compromised.

Gaining Internal Access:

What is it?

Both current and former employees have the ability to commit account takeover, as company information is readily available for their use. Unfortunately, sometimes it is used for personal gain, particularly if an employee has sole access to a particular account.

How to avoid it:

Avoid this form of account takeover by establishing a strong monitoring system over company accounts, so that all spend that occurs on these accounts has oversight. Also, it is widely considered a best practice to set more than one person as an administrator of corporate accounts, which gives each account an additional layer of monitoring. Finally, when an employee leaves the company, immediately block his/her access to secured data and sensitive information.

Working with a corporate purchasing partner who can help you monitor suspicious activity on your accounts is the first step towards making sure your profits are protected. When looking for a provider, make sure it has programs in place to detect potential fraudulent transactions before they become a problem.

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How to Choose an ID Theft Prevention Service

Most of us know the prevalence, dangers, and consequences of identity theft. It is the fastest growing white-collar crime. To proactively combat identity theft, more and more people are turning to ID theft prevention services to regularly monitor fraudulent activity.

Unfortunately, not all identity theft prevention services are the same, and selecting the best one for you can be confusing and frustrating. There are dozens to choose from and each offers varying levels of protection for a monthly fee.

Before you even start shopping for an ID theft prevention service, it's important to know that there are many things you can do to proactively defend against ID theft at no cost. For example, you can monitor your credit for free once per year with each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, and can implement a credit freeze to prevent any new accounts from being opened in your name.

One form of ID theft you can't directly guard against is a data breach, which occurs when an identity thief hacks into the database of an organization that has your personal information on file (such as a bank or a doctor's office). There were 662 data breaches in 2010 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, up from 498 in 2009, proving that no one is immune to ID theft.

Considering the growing threats, subscribing to an ID theft prevention service is definitely a good idea. But before you decide to pay for one, do your research and ask whether the service:

• Offers monthly, weekly, daily, or even real-time credit monitoring. Time is not on your side when your identity is stolen, so real-time or at least daily credit monitoring is recommended.

• Provides ID theft prevention services, such as setting-up fraud alerts, obtaining credit bureau reports, and monitoring credit card activity. Although you could complete these services yourself for free, it's a time-saver to have them performed by the ID theft prevention service.

• Monitors all three credit reporting bureaus. Some services only monitor one of the three agencies, which isn't enough protection when you consider that a potential creditor usually only checks with one of them.

• Provides unlimited access to your credit scores. Keep in mind that many ID theft prevention services do not provide access to your FICO score.

• Has customer support. Live representatives should be available 24/7 if you suspect a problem.

• Provides ID theft insurance. Although it does not cover damages resulting from identity theft, ID theft insurance reimburses the costs involved in restoring your identity.

• Offers recovery assistance. Services vary greatly, and you want to know how much help you can expect in the event of ID theft. Some services only provide you with fraud affidavits to complete, while others actually contact creditors, law enforcement agencies, and other entities on your behalf.

You will also want to compare costs of the various ID theft prevention services, remembering that the price doesn't necessarily reflect the level and effectiveness of the service.

With all of the ID theft prevention services available, choosing the best option can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be. Professional practices and individuals alike turn to The Identity Advocate to rest easier. Get tips to start protecting your identity by visiting http://www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

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The Menace of Identity Theft

In the modern world, the crime of identity theft, or fraud, goes beyond the understanding of human mind! It can happen to anyone at anytime in any place of the world. It is a crime of the century with millions of people falling victims each year! It refers to the impersonation of criminals via careful adaptation of bank account numbers, debit/credit card numbers or driver's license stealthily. Criminals use this personal information and spend the victim's money before it is known. Not only this, the impersonator can misuse your confidential documents according to his own sweet will!

Research indicates that the criminal operation pattern shows a primary type of identity theft. In account information, as mentioned above, the fraudulent gets your credit account information and purchases via your credit card. He often opens new bank account on your name using your SSN; this you will never know till you receive the bank statement showing "payment due." Though the law protects the victim where he is not liable to pay any part of the loss, he certainly gets a bad credit report! It could be months or even years for you to recover financial loss, depending on the extent of damage.

When we hear about the crime of identity theft, senior citizens come to our mind as the likely targets. But the recent Survey Report revealed that youngsters in the age group of 18-29 were the greatest victims. The youth were the most vulnerable and comprised about 31% of the total theft! This may be because the younger people are more carefree and not interested to protect their identification.

To prevent identity thieves from getting access to your personal information, some precautionary steps can be taken. Thieves usually indulge in dumpster probing where trash bins are searched for credit cards, loan applications, documents and other sensitive information. Don't keep your mailbox unlocked from where the thief can easily steal newly issued credit cards and bank statements. Your investment reports and insurance statements are quite vulnerable in this way.

Be careful at ATMs and phone booths from where the identity thieves are always on a look out for your PIN numbers. It is evident now that they pose as loan-sanctioning officer or insurance agent to obtain your personal information. If you are computer user for the most part of the day, you will also notice emails that seem to be just like the ones you receive from your bank! Let spam filter work for you and delete those emails. Used computer or refurbished laptops or new branded model, whatever you prefer to use, you must check your credit report twice for early detection of any fraudulent activity on your card. If it happens, it is our duty to report to the concerned authorities immediately.

When you buy a cheap computer or refurbished laptop, or sell your used computer make sure to delete all files, as it is said, "prevention is better than a cure," it is well applied in this matter too.

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Identity Theft at Tax Time - Ways to Stay Safe Year Round

Some say this year alone, another 10 million people are expected to have their identities stolen. Are you going to be one of them? You can either pray that you will be lucky, or take steps to protect yourself and your financial information online and at home. Here are some tips to help with your choice.

At this time of year it's especially important to get protection from identity thieves, since tax time is upon us. Why does that matter? Well you probably get most of your tax documents in the mail, right? This information is so critical to protect, you must take steps to be sure nobody intercepts your tax documents. Not only do your W2 forms have your social security number, your name and address, but also where you work and how much money you made last year. Do you think that would be helpful for a thief that is thinking about robbing you blind?

Intercepting documents through the mail may seem pretty "old school", but if it works why stop doing it? Many thousands of Americans will have these documents stolen, so it's time to get a post office box to be sure you don't have yours taken. For the cost of less than $100 per year, they aren't expensive. And if you consider that the cost of fixing your finances after having your tax records stolen, and possibly your identity along with it can run into the thousands, it's a steal. Yes it's a bit inconvenient, but many times if your post office isn't close by, private companies offer the same service for about the same cost. And these places normally provide security cameras so you can be sure that no one is tampering with your mail.

While you're at it, make sure that your tax information is safe at all times by keeping the records in a binder or folder. If you have your taxes done at a private accountant, ask what their procedures are for storing your documents while in their possession. If they aren't locked up, how can you be sure they are safe? Never assume that a private company will take precautions with your information, be very sure so you don't have to wonder. If you do your taxes online, be sure that you are on a secure website that uses encryption to pass your information back and forth. Normally they will have an emblem that certifies they are encrypted, besides having the "https" in the beginning of the site name. The "s" in this address indicates a securely encrypted web server, don't ever send information without it.

Once again there are many ways that cyber-thieves and identity thieves can steal your information, both online and from your home by intercepting your mail. Don't take a chance either way, protect your identity by taking steps to be sure your information doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Monitoring your credit reports, checking your credit card balances for unusual activity, and keeping track of your mail to be sure it's not stolen are simple solutions you need to take every day.

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Definition of Identity Theft Articles

Protecting Credit Card Numbers and Security Codes Articles and reviews concerning the definition of identity theft, are easily accessible to the droves of web users and are very helpful, too.

Ironically, these folks are also the focus of this particular felony. In those articles and reviews, are revealed the sophisticated tactics that identity felons employ to get hold of credit card numbers and security codes.

Articles and reviews relating to identity theft, additionally usually provide a narrative on ways to circumvent getting deceived by identity thieves. These sites also have articles and reviews concerning the legal guidelines and getting laws passed to prevent such crimes, including details about the different incidents recently heard in courts of law.

The definition of identity theft refers to the assimilating of some individual's private and discreet particulars, without their consent. These felons use remarkable systems to find out an individual's visa and credit card information, full identify, social security and banking information.

The people whose sensitive information and identity they take, are typically blissfully unaware of this criminal activity, to the point where the felony is already long been done. Subsequently, they tend to end up seriously struggling, as it is they who are the believed perpetrators, the card being theirs.

Being a target of identity theft can be highly damaging, and in some cases can totally mess up a person's way of life. It is important to consider, that it does not matter who you are, it is easy to fall foul of this type of unlawful behavior. It is not just the well-to-do and well known who become casualties, it might affect any person and, lack of education in the matter is no defense.

This is a malicious and vicious crime. It is necessary that you be appropriately up to date of such tricks and the ensuing implications. Therefore, you have to be kept informed of the latest events and cases regarding such crimes.

Staying informed and up to date is a good move to protect yourself from being attacked or being a target of such a crime in the first instance. This will at least afford you some sort of identity theft shield.

There are many online news sites designed to deliver the needed details, data and the latest concerning identity theft. Such sites will explain to you exactly what you must know concerning personal identity stealing felons, the way they function, when and where they are likely to strike and the things they usually do in conducting their malicious strategies.

Absolutely nothing particularly pleasant exists in relation to this kind of crime, nor the sods who perpetrate the idea. Such crimes are performed making use of many different strategies and methods, but the point that endures as their trademark, is the illegal taking of someone else's personal data and making use of it for their exclusive commercial gains.

Specific info, like checking account details or mastercard number, Social Security info, contact numbers, as well as other invaluable personal info, can effortlessly be compromised and taken for the crook's personal gain.

If invaluable info of yours gets into the pockets of these criminals, you could end up an unwilling recipient of nasty people that benefit at your suffering. This may lead to individuals being turned down for motor finance, all sorts of funding refusals including housing loans, and credit card applications.

Here are some other categories where identity theft can occur:

- health-related financial transactions- bank information- surface post and electronic mail theft- charge card financial details - business financial data

The sites that specialize in details regarding fraud, identity and data theft, have an abundance of articles concerning the tactics of these felons and what to look for, additionally, many of them feature connections to present information on electronic media about these kinds of illegal happenings.

Such web sites all promote major cautions, to be even more watchful in keeping tabs on all monetary dealings, for any inexplicable financial movement, money going out frequently, or strange transactions in general. There will also be abundant particulars in relation to the dynamics and extent of identity theft strategies, as reported by people having previously been targeted.

On a more positive note, you can easily find articles relating to the Fair Credit Report Act, discussing the facts of the FCA having demanded that credit-reporting agencies have to correct credit card inconsistencies.

In addition there are those reputable sites designed to provide visitors with access to legal articles, or blog posts regarding these crimes. They offer good assessments and precise info concerning the hearing of lawsuits and structured law actions against such criminal activities.

Quite a few articles, or blog posts, target certain categories where they explain the perils associated with identity theft, explaining suitable protection and cautions, reviews and figures relating to these crimes.

Don't forget, no one is exempt from the threat of this rapidly expanding crime. So start looking for details now, about articles and reviews concerning the definition of identity theft, keep yourself up to date, before it's too late.

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How Can One Protect Their Privacy When Shopping Online?

A few things you can do to stay secure are listed below:

1. Do not be greedy, just because a particular store online is offering you prices you will not receive anywhere else, does not mean it is a good deal. If you do not pay attention to certain important indicators for security and read the description of the product properly you could lose much. Be sure that the website you shop from can be trusted.

2. When you are shopping online you need be careful about phshers and scammers and there are so many of them around. Though, there is a way to dodge them by ensuring that you are on the right website, a website you can trust and not on any other website that is a scam. Check the address, make sure it belongs to the website that you can trust and then enter your personal and account details. Always open a new browser window when you get a link in an email for online shopping.

3. Secure browsing is essential. Make sure that the address of the website you are shopping at starts with 'https'. Also look for the padlock symbol to ensure that you are not at threat.

4. Using a third party payment system could offer you additional security as well. These accounts work as a buffer between you and the merchants you are shopping with. Services like PayPall and Google Checkout offer third party payment systems so that you can stay secure by serving as middlemen. This will also reduce the hassle of entering in your account information every time you make an online purchase.

5. You could also consider keeping one credit card only for shopping online. In this way if your details do fall into the hands of someone you cannot trust, the limit will be too low to exploit.

6. Pre-paid credit cards are an option that a lot of people are using today to stay secure when they shop online. There are a number of choices you have and you can choose between CVS, Walmart or a number of other stores as well. In this way, if a thief does get a hold of your credit card details, you will not lose out on a lot of money, but just the amount that is loaded up on your card.

7. When thieves get a hold of your credit card information in the real world, they can use it online. To save yourself from this threat, you have to pay special attention to safeguarding your credit information in the real world as well.

8. Make sure that you do not share your online passwords for third party payment systems like PayPal with anyone. If you get an email from a bank that is requesting you for passwords or PINs, you can be rest assured that it is someone wanting to get access to your account, so refrain from divulging that information. Banks have a standing policy not to request their customers for their passwords or PINs.

9. It is ideal to change the details of online bank accounts once every two or three months. Make sure that it is a combination of letters and numbers and it is something that is difficult to crack. Ideally, if it is a randomly generated password, it is the best, however, you may have trouble remembering it. Once you have chosen a password, make sure that you do not share it with anyone.

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Avoid Identity Theft by Avoiding Phishing

We are all aware that there are individuals out there who capitalize on stealing the identity of others; primarily for the sole purpose of gaining material possessions or money while leaving the debt on the hands of the victim. These types of criminals can reside in your own backyard or in foreign countries and use a variety of tactics that make it difficult to find out their identity. Despite this, there are steps that consumers can take in order to protect their personal information.

One of the most common methods of identity theft is through the use of phishing scams. This type of scam involves creating of an email and/or website that looks as though it belongs to a legitimate financial institution. The email, which requests the recipient to supply their personal information (e.g., social security number or credit card number), is then widely distributed. Anyone who responds is essentially giving their information to someone who will use it for malicious reasons.

Unfortunately, many people fall victim to this scam on a daily basis and it's not surprising why. Scam artists who use phishing as a means to obtain credit card or financial data use tactics that make it difficult for the consumer to spot what is really going on. These tactics include:

Creating an email and/or website that is identical to the financial institution they are purporting to come from Masking their email address to match or appear similar to that of the financial institution Using scare tactics in the body of the email to coax a consumer into responding; such as telling them that they must supply their account information in order to avoid suspension.

While it can sometimes be difficult to spot a phishing scam, consumers can easily avoid becoming a victim by following one simple rule...NEVER supply your personal information in an email. You should also never click on a link within an email and provide your information via the provided website. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter how legitimate the email or website looks. Practically all companies consider it a violation of their policy to request this type of data via email.

If you ever receive this type of email, you should delete it immediately. Do not bother clicking on any links or reply to the email in any way. If you are ever concerned regarding the legitimacy of the email, you can always contact the financial institution directly. However, make sure that you obtain a phone number through a direct web site or even from a billing statement you received in the mail. Do NOT use any contact information provided within the email. You may even want to go ahead and contact the institution simply to report the scam, as they may want to post a warning announcement to their customers.

People who make it a point to protect their account information and personal data are much less likely to become a victim of theft. Your personal information is highly important and the consequences can be detrimental if this data falls into the wrong hands. Consumers should always be on guard and take necessary steps to ensure that their information stays safe.

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Safeguarding Personal Information Today Requires More Vigilance Than Ever Before

With the economy still in turmoil nearly four years later, the incidents of identity theft are on the rise yet again. It is vitally important that you do everything you can when it comes to safeguarding personal information, no matter what. You have to be continually vigilant these days, because simply monitoring your credit is no longer a viable option. Even when traveling, you have to be sure that nothing you carry will give a thief the option of stealing your identity, and ruining your credit and financial future for life.

Tips For Safeguarding Personal Information Today

It used to be that you just had to be careful about opening certain forms of email, the kind known as phishing mails, to avoid giving away credit or financial information to people searching for it by mistake. The emails would often look like official documentation from government agencies, banks and credit bureaus, and would trick people by the thousands. People would often monitor their credit histories for unexplained charges, but these days, even that is no longer enough for safeguarding personal information properly.

For safeguarding personal information these days, you have to get tough. You have to take every measure you can to make sure that nothing gets out into the wrong hands, period. Once they have it, they often will open up accounts with different addresses, so that the information may not ever hit your personal credit history. To forestall that, you may need to sign up for personal credit monitoring services, so that if any part of your information is used to request loans, credit cards or bank account services, you will be alerted, and nothing will be approved. Being vigilant just is not enough, not any more.

Using Personal Credit Monitoring Services

When using personal credit monitoring services for safeguarding personal information, you will need a service that provides the most value for the money you will be spending. You need for them to stay on top of matters, and to inform you reasonably soon after any attempt is made to use your credit information to open new accounts, that triggers enquiries into your credit history, or causes alterations in your employment information or residential address. All of these are signs that someone is trying to use your personal information for their own personal gain. They should also be able to effectively stop further actions from happening, and freeze that information for review.

Traveling Abroad

To effectively perform safeguarding personal information tactics, you have to take a hand yourself, rather than just rely on an outside agency to do it for you. When you are traveling, for example, do not carry anything that contains your social security number, or banking information, period. And, keep everything you need easily accessible by using travel wallets and purses. These attach to your wrist, and should contain passports, a credit card, and cash, that is it. Carry nothing of value to thieves in any travel wallets or purses, or you will regret it.

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Email Identity Theft - How to Avoid the Phishing Nightmare

The most common form of email identity theft is called phishing. We'll take a closer look at phishing and finally wrap things up by showing how you can prevent identity theft without paying monthly fees.

Security experts advise their clients that they should ever send sensitive personal information over the internet. But, that seems a bit extreme.

If you have the right anti viral, anti spyware and fire wall programs, you should be able to safely communicate with your broker, your spouse, your financial institutions and other people that you know. You just need to be sure that you really know them first; that they are who they say they are.

Phishing scams are becoming more and more sophisticated. In the early days, bad grammar and dozens of misspellings filled their emails. Today, you have to look really hard to spot even one difference between the messages they send and those that would be sent by true professionals.

Not that they aren't professionals. Scammers are professional con-men. There's no doubt about it. There's also no way to determine how many people have fallen for their cons. Some people are too embarrassed to even report it. They take the loss and go about protecting their accounts from future thieves.

In truth, there probably isn't much that anyone can do about email identity theft. There are several organizations that collect the emails in an effort to let unknowing consumers in on the latest scams.

Identifying phishing efforts before you become a victim is what you really want to know about, if you're like most people. As mentioned above, they are becoming harder and harder to spot. You can't forward an email to the anti-phishing organization and ask them to tell you if it is a scam or not.

So, here is one example of what you can do to avoid email identity theft.

You receive a message that appears to be from your bank or credit provider. There are no grammatical or spelling errors that you can detect. The logo seems authentic.

You are advised to follow the link in the message or download a form. Do not do either one of those things.

Call the bank or credit provider in question. Ask if there is some information that they need to verify. Do not call the number included in the message. Call the number on your statement or the back of your credit card.

In addition to using this tactic for email identity theft, some hoodlums use it to spread viruses. I call them hoodlums, because they are just like vandals. They gain nothing from this pastime. The viruses are present in the attachments. As long as you don't download them, your computer is not at risk.

There are many other things that you can and should do to protect your personal information from internet and email identity theft. Numerous books have been written on the subject. At least one of them is a worthwhile investment.

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Identity Theft and Your Rights to Privacy - Know Your Rights and Protect Yourself!

An estimated 8-15 million cases of identity theft wreak havoc on the lives of ordinary citizens and businesses each year. Professional shredding reduces your risk by completely and securely destroying sensitive information. Residential customers can use our convenient paper shredding drop-off location for a fast and inexpensive way to safely destroy sensitive documents. Or, for large amounts, residential customers can arrange for our convenient mobile offsite shredding services.

Whether it's a home based business, a small company with a few employees, or a large corporation with multiple locations and thousands of employees, you have sensitive material which, in the wrong hands, could damage or even cripple your business. If you keep records of various types, your company's security could be breached if they are merely thrown in the garbage or viewed by the wrong people.

Please feel free to review our frequently asked questions to help determine if any of our secure document shredding services are right for you or your organization. We offer secure shredding solutions for every confidentiality need. Contact us today for a free document shredding estimate.Off Site shredding allow us to collect your material in safe manner and shred at out local plant. Unlike the shredders in the truck, our industrial shredders offer us great savings by shredding tons of paper in fraction of the time that the truck will take shredding the documents at your facility. We pass the savings to you. The process of loading and shredding your documents undergoes regular audits to ensure full compliance with HIPAA and to ensure that the process is 100% secure.

Convenient, cost-effective and transparent

By choosing our company, you're partnering with a company that follows destruction industry best practices. We handle all documents with a consistent Chain-of-Custody, resulting in a tightly controlled, documented process that will meet all your security standards. Offsite Secure Shredding gives your business a number of key advantages:

Secure destruction of business documents and records that us HIPAA compliant. Reliable and consistent service delivered by screened, well trained and highly motivated employees. Accountability with a Free Certificate Of Destruction. Secure, environmentally friendly disposition of shredded paper. Affordable Flat rates as low as 89 Cents / Lbs.

Secure process: Every step is designed and executed with security in mind. We ensures the protection of your information from the time of collection at your location, through secure transport, container handling and final disposition.Our fleet of trucks undergo routine audits. Our Employee are screened on regular basis. All collected material is processed in accordance with our company standards and destroyed to an unrecoverable state. After materials are thoroughly shredded, the paper is recycled 100%. For all materials processed in accordance with our Secure Shredding workflow, we provide a Free Notarized certificate of destruction.

For more information on Identity Theft prevention and MA Privacy Laws, visit our Document shredding blog.

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Using Private Investigators for Business Success

Private investigation is a crucial process in protecting business against fraud cases. Every business has a role to investigate and stop any occurrences of embezzlement and theft. If your business is not engaged in such activities, then your business risking running into death traps. Private investigation companies plays an important role business acquires the leaks and sail smoothly. In the following paragraphs the process is explained.

Analysis of Loss Prevention

Nowadays, rational, calm analysis is used in preventing loss in a business by improving the overall security. In this way you should be able to know the merchandise that has been returned to the store. Private investigators can help you determine the refunds that might have been given out in form of cash. Who are defrauding you most? Are they employees or clients? It is important to note that when it comes to money affairs it is rather difficult to prevent money leaks in a business. By knowing the impending factors that are contributing to theft you are able to come up with a plan that is inexpensive and offers immediate solutions.

Screening of Employees

The human resource experts will tell you that your company reputation is affected negatively or positively with every hire. In some states, the laws may deem an employer negligent in case he hires a dangerous employee who is likely tamper with customers affairs without due diligence. Surely, having a trustworthy smile is not a qualification for due diligence, there is more hidden behind the bars. Contracting a private investigation company as an employer you are protected from civil liability through detailed investigation of your potential hires.

Investigation in Insurance Frauds

The situation where you trust everyone exists in a virtual world. All of understand that this virtual world we are dreaming of does not exist. It is possible for some unsavory employees to get away with claims that never existed and cash away without getting noted. It is quite nasty that these employees do not care whether premiums are likely to increase as a result of increased of claims. It is the role of business owners to place the bottom line and every person at risk. Private investigation companies are able to offer adequate surveillance and also asset tracking and thereby helping business save huge monies in the long run.

Asset Retrieval and Location

In mathematics, when a problem has reached a point of no return or what scientists call plastic region, it is impossible to return to the earlier point. The same applies to the business world where a problem that has surpassed a given critical point may remain uncorrected. It is quite interesting that private investigators ignore the advice presented and therefore track your business when it faces internal embezzlement and theft.

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