Here’s a scary thought, Visa has reported that the most likely place for you to have your credit card information stolen is at a restaurant. They have found that 40% of all credit card theft happens at restaurants. Most of this takes place when computer thieves break into the restaurant’s computer system and download the credit card information. The National Restaurant Association was surprised to hear this. They believe that this is due to the large number of people who dine out each year in comparison to the numbers in other industries.
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One of this country’s largest identity theft scandals has recently been featured on several news sites. Customers of stores owned by TJX Companies (including: TJ Maxx, Marshalls, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Office Max, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW) have been victimized while shopping in these stores. Apparently, the stores have used wireless internet connections to transmit transactions to credit card processors. Identity thieves are outside in an automobile in the parking lot with the equipment they need to capture the details of the transaction. The store’s main computer was also on the wireless network which allowed these thieves to steal over (more…)

So how do you protect yourself from those who know how to gain access to your computer without your knowledge? One thing we all must have is a firewall. The ports to your computer are a way for internet traffic to come right to your hard drive. It does not matter if the websites you buy from or bank with show that they have high security protection, if you don’t have it yourself. Anytime you are online without your own personal firewall, you can be accessed by anyone on the internet and they will be able to easily get to your banking information, credit card numbers, or anything else you store on your computer. Your entire hard drive is accessible to them. You must install a firewall which will block your computer from incoming internet access.
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Do you feel like you know the “FreeCreditReport.com” guy? He has sung to you in several catchy commercials on TV since the end of 2007. He has a band that could use just a “little” practice. He is spreading fast on YouTube.

What you may not yet know, is (more…)

Many of us who use the internet, especially those of us who have “direct connections”, do not realize how vulnerable we are to having our personal information stolen by hackers. If you use cable modem, DSL or T1 to connect to the internet, (more…)

Many times when we think of identity theft, we think of the affect it has on adults, especially those who are working. However, many thieves have focused on using the identity of children to commit their criminal acts. In many cases, by the time that any one realizes the child has been victimized, the amount of debt accumulated under that identity is astounding. This is due to the fact that many do not realize any activity has taken place until the child is old enough to try to apply for a college loan or get their own apartment. Criminals who focus on this type of identity theft will use the child’s information until the credit history is completely damaged, making it impossible for them (or the individual) to get any credit. (more…)

Now that identity theft is a widely known occurrence, many people are doing what they can to be careful to protect their identity. Keeping close watch on credit cards, social security cards, driver licenses, etc. Being sure not to disclose their information to any who are not authorized to have it. But what about those companies or authorities who are authorized and do need to have it?
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Have you ever thought about the various ways that someone can steal your identity? We might think it takes place mostly on the internet, however any of the following situations can result in identity theft:

1) Shredding mail or documents that contain personal information
2) Giving your credit card to a waiter or waitress
3) Putting paid bills or other mail with personal information in your home or business mailbox to be picked up by the carrier
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Most cases of identity theft deal with some kind of financial fraud. Identity thieves normally use personal information to steal your hard earned money, but one woman nearly lost something far more precious than her money or credit score. She almost lost her children.

Anndorie Sachs received an unexpected call from the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. The investigator informed her that her newborn child had tested positive for methamphetamine. She had four children, but none of them were younger than two years old. The agent didn’t believe this and said the DCFS was ready to put through paperwork to take away all her children. Her 7 year-old daughter was pulled from her first grade classroom where she testified that her mother had not recently given birth. It took some time to piece together what had actually happened.

Two months before her life was plunged into chaos, Anndorie’s driver’s license was stolen from her car. It fell into the hands of Dorothy Bell Moran, who was 33 weeks pregnant when she went into labor pains. She happened to look similar enough to the owner of the license that she could use it to get into the university hospital. After giving birth to a premature baby girl, she slipped out of the hospital and abandoned her daughter.

When the investigation was mounted, (more…)