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Identity Theft
The Most Basic Way to Protect Against Identity Theft
Everyday folks aren't armed with the high-tech equipment to battle elaborate identity theft schemers, but we do have one thing going for us — our common sense. Setting up various, unpredictable passwords for your online accounts is one way to guard yourself, and we can thank Mrs. Federal Reserve Chairman for demonstrating another basic lesson.
Ben Bernanke's checking account was one of hundreds that was wrapped up in an identity theft ring after his wife Anna's purse was stolen at a Starbucks.
Money Tip: Invest in a Shredder
It takes up a little bit of room, but buying a shredder is a smart use of your money and space. You've heard the horror stories about identities stolen because of careless disposal of things like credit card offers and bank account statements. A shredder can help you avoid trouble, protect yourself, and keep your table junk-mail-free.
Airlines Will Require Your Birthdate When Booking Tickets
The TSA is making travel even more personal. While the whole-body imaging machines that virtually strips passengers are about as intimate as the airport gets, you'll soon be required to provide more details when booking your ticket for air travel.
The new Secure Travel program will be rolled out over the next 18 months, and beginning later this Summer passengers will be asked to supply a date-of-birth and gender when making a plane reservation.
Guy Fieri, Other Food Personalities Face Identity Theft
The fashion world may claim that fakes are never in style, but lately, the food world sure has seen a lot of them. Take Food Network star Guy Fieri, who's living the good life — in three short years, he went from unassuming restaurateur to TV star and TGI Friday's spokesperson. But apparently, his life is looking so good that somebody actually wants to be him.
Identity Scammers Targeting Online Job Seekers
An internal red flag should go up whenever you're asked to provide your social security number. Always ask yourself why the person would need your SSN for their purposes. Sure, it makes sense for a credit card carrier to ask for the number to verify your identity.
Your Two Cents: Have You Tried ID Theft Prevention Services?
A company called Lifelock has been getting a lot of attention for its generous and confident ID Theft Prevention plan.
Lifelock boasts a $1 million service guarantee that it will protect your identity and money. A membership costs about $110 a year and Lifelock works with credit bureaus to set free fraud alerts on your behalf, checks in with the bureaus every 90 days, requests that your name be removed from preapproved credit-card and junk-mail lists and offers a complicated identity monitoring package.
TSA Puts ID-less Travelers on Terrorist Watch List?
Recently domestic airline passenger Sherri Davidoff wrote about her experience boarding an airplane without ID. Security required only basic information before Sherri could board the plane: she provided her name and the street and a state where she had lived previously. Sherri later said that she probably could have skipped even that much questioning by printing two boarding passes at home, and tossing the first one marked for further screening.
What Forever 21 Has to Do With Your Credit Report
Last week, in the biggest case of identity theft ever, 11 men in five countries were charged with stealing more than 40 million credit card numbers from US retailers. Unfortunately, 73 percent of you aren't strangers to having your credit card information compromised, but it seems that some of us might be in the dark about our card's safety.
According to The Wall Street Journal, most states require full disclosure to customers when credit-card data is stolen from a company's stores.
Has Your Card Information Ever Been Compromised?
Yesterday, my fiancé tried to use his debit card at the gas station and was told by the machine that it couldn't authorize his card. He discovered a strange purchase on his online account, and when he called the bank, a customer service representative told him a freeze had been placed on the account because of the mystery transaction. Seems someone in another country somehow got ahold of his details, so thank goodness they immediately caught it.
Front Page: US Cracks Largest ID Theft, Rwanda Accuses French of Genocide, Bush to Urge Human Rights
- US Cracks Largest ID Theft: US authorities have charged 11 people in what they're calling the largest-ever identity theft case. Hacking into the computer systems of major retailers like TJ Maxx and Barnes & Noble, the group is accused of stealing 40 million credit card numbers before selling them. The DOJ says the scam caused "widespread" losses, and US AG Mukasey says, "this case highlights our increasing vulnerability to the theft of personal information."
- Rwanda Accuses French of Genocide: Rwanda's government issued a report accusing French officials of involvement in the 1994 genocide that left 800,000 dead.
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