Don’t Become a Victim of yet another type of Identity Theft ?

How many of you would believe that a photocopy machine would need a hard drive

similar to what you have in your computers???

I always assumed that when you placed a document into a Copying Machine, the scan would be transferred directly to the copy paper.

Not so and this has awesome ramifications as described in this video of a CBS investigation.

Check it out at the below web address. It will blow your mind – tell everyone you know about this.

CBS News – Copy Machines – A Security Risk ?

Makes you wonder what the people at Staples, Kinko or the U.S. or Canadian Postal Service do with their coin- operated machines that some of you may use for your important documents!!!

Better to be careful than sorry!

CBS News – Copy Machines – A Security Risk ?

Author:

Jordan Nicckels

(Video link in this post is courtesy of & the content of said video is the sole property of CBS News -Copyright 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved – April 19, 2010)

1. Use common sense when you give out your confidential information.

2. Do Not give out your credit information over the telephone.
Very few legitimate companies call and ask you for your information
over the phone.  It is best to call the company back yourself and
speak with an authorized person from the company in question.

3. When shopping online, be sure you are on a secure site.  One of
the most common ways to know you are on a secure site is by viewing
the web address at the top of the page.  It will start with https://.
The “s” indicates the site is secure.  Using Paypal also allows for
online shopping without having to disclose your financial information.

4.  Always shred credit card applications that you are not interested
in applying for.  Do not just throw away credit card receipts if you
do not wish to keep them with your personal records – shred them.
All it takes is for an unauthorized person to retrieve your credit
information from the trash in order to make online transactions in your
name using your credit card number.

5. If you do lose a credit card or suspect one has been stolen from
you, quickly take action.  Call the toll-free number for the credit
card company right away and report it.  You will not be responsible
or held liable for any charges made on the card after you have made
the report.

Avoid becoming the next victim of credit card fraud.

About the author:

Author: Jordan Nicckels

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Identity theft simply putting it is a case of someone else
assuming another person’s identity with the intention of
committing fraud which usually results to trails of ruined
credit, debts and collectors. And in most cases identity theft
can lead to wrongful arrest.

The worst thing about identity theft is that most victims will
only know that their identity has been robbed after everything
that they have worked hard for is taken from them and the sad
part is that most of the offenders usually get away with it.

The case of identity theft is increasing in an alarming rate
every year and to the great number of people who have become a
victim of this crime the experience is comparable to a
terrifying nightmare that has made them to live a life of fear
and uncertainty. In what manner can your identity be robbed?
There are actually so many ways on how an identity thief can
acquire information about you like from your driver’s licence,
bank accounts, credit card accounts and others.

After the thief gathered all your information he or she will
then direct all the bills and statements of his or her
transactions to a temporary address. This is now where he or she
wastes all of your credit line for all its worth in cash
advances, loans and credit card debt without the least intention
of paying. After you are financially drained that is the only
time that the thief will stop using your identity.

However, there are also some cases wherein an identity thief
assumes somebody else’s identity not with the purpose of
financially robbing the person but just to destroy the
reputation of the person. This is usually where wrongful arrest
occurs.

High Technology Provides a Great Venue for Identity Thieves

With today’s advanced technology it is no longer surprising that
even identity thieves have also utilized the up-to-date
resources especially in terms of the internet. Most of the
identity thieves make use of the information provided by
customers during online transactions. So if you are one of those
avid consumers of online products and services you are a
potential victim of identity theft.

The Federal Trade Commission suggests ways on how you can avoid
becoming a victim of identity theft and here are some of them:

* Never give more than the information that is required of you
especially in shopping online or in joining online services.
Likewise, refrain from answering unsolicited emails since most
thieves pose as representatives of legitimate businesses and
often times would require you to supply some additional
personal information about yourself.

In cases such as this it would be wise if you would contact the
company and ask them about the email and why they are asking for
some very personal information. If the company denied the email
then you better report the person that has sent you the email to
FTC (Federal Trade Commission) or you can send a fraud alert to
consumer reporting companies so that they can keep track of the
thief.

* For your additional protection try also to place passwords on
your bank accounts, credit card accounts as well as your other
lines of credit. Make use of other numbers other than your
social security number to guard against identity theft.

* Always keep your social security card in a safe place. If you
want you can place it in a safety box or if you have a home safe
you can also place your social security card there together with
some of your other important documents. And for those who are
fond of putting their social security number in their wallet
just be careful not to lose your wallet or else you might just
wake one day with somebody else walking around town posing as
you.

* As much as possible refrain from giving out your social
security number unless of course you are to obtain a credit
report, loan or some other legitimate transactions. If ever you
are to conduct other transactions that are entirely different
from the above stated and are required to give your social
security number be sure to ask why your social security number
is needed and always try to find out the legitimacy of your
transaction before giving away such important information.

* If you are an avid web user make sure to refrain from giving
any personal information to web sites that are not employing
Secure Sockets Layer especially in transferring information.
Look for web sites that make use of https and encrypt all
information between your computer and the site. Likewise, always
read the privacy policy of the web site in order to gain insight
on how they process and secure information their gathered
information.

About the author:

Author: Josiah Walter

Want to find out about dreams about spiders, grouper fishing and other information? Get tips from the Knowledge Galaxy website.

Identity theft usually happens when a certain person unlawfully
gets your personal data like your Social Security Number, Credit
card Accounts, Driver’s Licence Number and other information
about you.

The person who obtains your personal information utilizes it to
his or her loan or credit card application, which is under your
name. The thief also uses it to do unlawful purchases or to use
any of your active financial accounts.

Identity is very rampant today, but there are significant
guidelines you can consider which will help you lessen the
potential of becoming one of the identity thieves.

1. Do not give any of your personal details such as your birth
date, social security number and accounts numbers on the
telephone especially when someone asks you for it.

In addition, do not give it through email except if you are the
one who started the contact and if you know the person who will
receive your information.

2. Tear into pieces the papers that have your personal data
before disposing them. This papers includes credit card bills,
checking accounts and bank accounts

3. Have correct and present records of all your cards and include
the person to contact when they are missing or stolen. If
possible, make copies of your credit cards and put your service
number on the copies.

If you are not using your credits card now, make sure to store
them in a safe place and have it locked.

It is also nice to store your unused checks, social security
card and bank statement in a safe place.

4. You should also ensure to make credit card receipt copies
when buying something. Moreover, confirm if your credit card was
returned to you.

5. It is necessary to monitor your credit report every year.
There are three main credit card reporting offices, which can
help you do it.

These three reporting offices allow you to have a free credit
report annually. If you want, you can visit their websites and
ask for a free report.

6. You should also ensure that when you are withdrawing from any
ATM machines or stores, there is no one at your back who could
freely see your PIN number.

Also, be sure that no one hears you when you are giving your
credit card number or other personal data about you to someone
on the telephone.

7. When buying something online, ensure that the website is
safe.

8. When using your personal computer, be able to use firewalls
or any virus protection. You can also make use of your password
that consist of not purely letters, purely numbers and purely
symbols.

It should be a combination of at least letters and numbers,
letters and symbol, symbols and number or else a combination of
the three.

Remember not to use passwords that obviously come from your
birth date, anniversaries or phone numbers. If necessary,
memorize your passwords. Never write them down somewhere.

9. Do not reply to any emails that request your information
update. Contact the credit card office or the bank directly to
update your personal information.

Keep in mind that bank and other financial or non-financial
institutions do not ask for information update through email.
So, beware of those frauds that ask it from you.

10. If you notice many pre-approved credit offers in your
emails, call the credit card company and request to have your
name out of the promotional lists they advertise.

11. Place all your mail at the post office rather than leaving
it in your mailbox. You are giving the identity thief a chance
of stealing personal information from you this way.

12. Make sure that you pick up your new issued checks personally
from the bank. Do not permit them to be sent to you by mail.

13. Put passwords in all your accounts for your safety. Again,
use the combination of letters, numbers or symbols when making
passwords.

14. You can always apply for an identification theft insurance
policy.

15. You can also register to any credit watch offices. This type
of office makes checking of all your credit reports simpler by
automatically informing when something has changed in your
report.

In this way, it will be possible for you to know if someone
attempts to make credit under your name.

By simply following the solutions below, you are surely avoiding
yourself from becoming a victim of any identity theft.

About the author:

Author: Josiah Walter

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Is it really possible to prevent identity theft? The answer is
both yes and no. Let us make a comparison between identity theft
and somebody who attempts to break into your house. Can you stop
somebody who will break into your house? Of course, you will do
everything to make it difficult for him. You will be installing
alarms, locks and cameras for security purpose. You hire the
services of armed guards and some experts in security.

With the above mentioned preparations, is there any possibility
that somebody will be able still to house break? Certainly, if
that somebody is full of determination, armed with sophisticated
weapons and outnumbering your guards. This has been shown many
times in the movies.

It is really the same thing with identity theft prevention. You
will do something to make it more complicated to somebody, yet
there is no guarantee that you will not be the next victim but
at least you will minimize the risk. Just be cautious in
managing your personal information and with total awareness, you
will be able to be on guard against identity theft. What is
important is to be prepared always and be clever always and on
your guard.

There is really a need to be aware of the increasing number of
cases on identity theft. It is due maybe to the comparatively
low risk, high reward stake given to criminals. All they will
have to do is to get your Social Security Number and some pieces
of data which are taken easily. Then, they will assume your
identity and commit credit deception. It’s a pity for the
victims because they will spend so much money time draining
ordeal which will create financial and emotional distress.

Below are the tips for identity theft prevention.

1. Always give protection to your Social Security Number. Do not
place your Social Security Number in your wallet or let it be
printed on your checks. It is the main object of criminals.

2. Be aware of shoulder-surfers. Make sure nobody is looking
over your shoulder when you enter a pin number or a credit card
number at an ATM machine, or in a phone book.

3. Everything must be shredded. You should keep your identity from
being thrown into the garbage can.

4. Instead of signing the backs of your credit cards, just write
“See Photo ID”.

5. Be sure to destroy all digital data.

6. You should be diligent in checking statements. Bills and bank
statements must be checked properly.

7. Go to the post office when paying your bills. Do not leave your
paid bills in the mailbox to be sent out. They will be stolen.

8. It is better to limit information on your checks.

9. You should analyze your credit report every year. It has your
Social Security Number, present and prior employers, the list of
all your account numbers, including those you have closed and
your general credit score.

10. Your computer must be free from viruses and spies.

11. If you are going to shop online, be sure to check first the
website before entering your credit card number or any personal
information.

12. Always monitor your credit history.

13. Do not hesitate to ask questions whenever you are asked
about personal information which is not connected to the
transaction.

14. You should not be influenced by pre-approved credit offers.

15. Do not bring with you additional credit cards or other
important personal identity documents unless necessary.

16. Ask for your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement
every year so as to check for deception.

17. You should examine first the charges on your credit card
statements before you pay.

18. All unused credit card accounts must be cancelled
immediately.

19. Don’t ever give your credit card number or any personal
information when using the phone except when you trust that
business or you started the phone conversation.

20. Make a subscription to a credit report monitoring service so
that you will be notified in case somebody applies for credit
using your name.

21. Do not be afraid to question the identity of the people and
companies which will initiate contact with you through
email, mail, telephone or even in person.

22. Don’t leave your wallet or purse unattended most especially
in the church, place of work, restaurants, parties or on
trolleys for shopping.

Notify the bank immediately if you did not receive any
statement.

About the author:

Author: Josiah Walter

Find tips about how to cook eggplant, leg workouts and other information

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