IdentityTheftSolutionTips

A new Indiana law aims to protect children against identity theft by allowing their parents to lock down their credit reports.

Adults already could place a “security freeze” on their credit reports with the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Doing so prevents identity thieves, or anyone, from opening up a line of credit in the person’s name.

The new law allows parents to register their children who are 16 years old and younger. It also covers legal guardians of mentally disabled adults.

MORE: 7 new state laws you should know

“It allows parents to be proactive where they can actually go out and put this freeze on their child’s credit report,” said Terry Tolliver, deputy director of the consumer protection division of the attorney general’s office.

Children are targeted by identity thieves because years could pass before anyone learns of the theft, Tolliver said. They provide personal information when they sign up for school, sports programs and other activities. Some parents might keep their children’s Social Security cards in a wallet or purse.

“It could be 10 years down the road before you find out that your child is a victim of identity theft,” he said. “What this does is at least allow some protection so those that are proactive can put this out there and protect themselves early on.”

The attorney general’s office has received 18 complaints since 2011 alleging identity fraud against children. Only six were substantiated.

Often, the fraud involves people who are estranged parents or relatives, Tolliver said. All but one of the substantiated complaints since 2011 involved a family member.

A cybersecurity expert said parents should not consider identity theft against children a major threat.

“If I’m going to steal someone’s information, I want to find someone who’s going to have a good credit record,” said Fred Cate, former director of Indiana University’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. “I don’t want to get someone who has no credit record like a child.”

The online security freeze is free for most people, though credit service bureaus could charge parents a $5 fee. To register, visit the attorney general’s website.

Identity theft is becoming more common as more institutions rely on personal data. A hacker breached Butler University’s system in May, possibly stealing information on 163,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and even applicants.

Call Star reporter Steph Solis at (317) 444-6494. Follow her on Twitter: @stephmsolis.

Article source: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2014/07/03/new-law-safeguards-children-theft/12198915/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=FeedBlitzRss&utm_content=New+law+safeguards+children+against+ID+theft

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DECATUR – Diane Johnson always carried her Medicare card with her. At 81, the Decatur resident thought it was the smart thing to do.

“I always had it with me just in case I got sick,” she said.

Like many seniors, Johnson didn’t realize the possibility for identity theft from her Medicare card. “My Social Security number is on there. So I’m not going to do that any more.”

Area seniors learned other helpful hints to avoid identity theft, as well as credit card fraud and tax exempt benefits, during an Independence Day party on Thursday at the Decatur-Macon County Senior Center.

The event began with a presentation by representatives of the Illinois Comptroller’s Office.

“On average, 13 million cases of identity theft are reported each year. That’s more than the population of the state of Illinois,” said Scott Mills, staff assistant for comptroller’s office. “With the older group, it is the fastest growing crime.”

“It’s something seniors need to be aware of,” said Betsy Miller, consumer affairs adminstrator with the office.

Volunteers for the senior center, including Elnora Harlin, use this and other holidays to inform seniors and raise money for the center.

“But this party has more business knowledge that people don’t normally get,” she said.

Although no audience member had acknowledged being a victim of identity theft, many came to the event to learn the procautions.

As a senior center fitness instructor, Norma Marshall, 84, was aware of the presentation’s subject matter.

“We haven’t had any experience,” she said. “But I want to be informed.”

Edward Marshall, 92, knew it was smart to attend the presentation with his wife.

“But she’s a pretty good leader,” he said. “I just follow her around.”

The couple continued celebrating the holiday with their fellow seniors during bingo, prizes and lunch.

As a regular volunteer at the center, Harlin attended the party “just to take part in the festivities,” she said.

Although the seniors have families to help celebrate the holiday, many join the center’s festivities because it is comfortable.

“I don’t see the fireworks,” Harlin said. “I don’t want to go out and get eat up by mosquitoes.”

Article source: http://herald-review.com/business/local/freedom-from-worry-seniors-learn-to-avoid-identity-theft/article_2f6f5cc4-0479-57e7-8628-dd442c92056c.html

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IdentityTheftSolutionTips

They’re lurking, waiting and preying on people who aren’t watching. The next time you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood, they may not be thinking about breaking into your car or house.

They might be intending to break into your mailbox to steal your identity.

Police arrested Frances and Aret Frangulyan after getting a 911 call about a suspicious car.

“These two people were in their neighborhood going through mailboxes, taking mail,” explained U.S. Postal Inspector Carla Mendez.

When police pulled the car over, they found more than 750 pieces of mail. That find led to a search warrant of the Frangulyans’ home.

“We found various identifying information, other people’s credit card statements, a lot of stuff that didn’t belong to them,” said Mendez.

Postal inspectors also discovered the latest technology identity thieves use to commit their crime.

“They can make credit cards. They can make driver’s licenses. They can forge checks. There is check-making software they can use to make checks that look pretty good. They look real to the banking system,” Mendez explained.

Both suspects in this case were convicted. Frances received probation and her husband, Aret, is serving two years in prison on stolen property charges, larceny and ID theft.

Postal inspectors said there are several ways you can protect yourself from identity theft.

“You keep track of all of your identifying information. If you are mailing a bill with a check in it, make sure to take it to a post office or a blue collection box,” advised Mendez.

She also said you should be aware of the mail delivery schedule in your neighborhood.

“Know when the mail person comes to your house and delivers the mail and try not to let it sit overnight or if you are on vacation forget to put a hold,” she added.

You might consider purchasing a residential mailbox that locks — so only you can remove the mail. An Internet search reveals a lot of them. But not all boxes are created equal and not all boxes meet the requirements of the United States Postal Service.

Locked Mailbox requirements:

Designs having a slot for in-coming mail must be at least 1.75 inches high by 10 inches wide.

If a slot has a protective flap, it must operate inward to ensure mail can be inserted in a horizontal manner without requiring any additional effort of carriers.

A mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer’s normal daily mail volume and receive U.S. Priority Envelopes without the need to be folded.

Article source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/mail-theft-bust-reveals-new-id-theft-devices/26785150

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Image Source: Matt DiLallo.

Vacations are times to put all your worries behind you. Unfortunately, scammers know all too well that travelers have other things on their minds besides protecting themselves from their schemes. That knowledge emboldens them to follow the latest trend in crime: identity theft.

Vacation identity theft: Two ways to get cheated
Identity theft when you travel takes two main forms. First, thieves can steal important items from you, like your passport or your credit cards, while you’re traveling. According to a recent survey from Experian, more than three-quarters of all travelers take their driver’s licenses and credit or debit cards with them on their trips, and keep them on themselves at all times. Not only can pickpockets leave you in a bind far from home, but they can also wreak havoc with your cards and personal information, selling card numbers to other criminals for future use.

The other trap that travelers fall into is that thieves can attack their homes while they’re away. Breaking into your home is the most obvious crime that can occur, but some criminals are more subtle by taking steps like intercepting your mail, and looking for credit card or other financial statements that contain personal information. Merely taking a credit card offer can cause you a big hassle for weeks, or even months, after you get home from your trip.

Source: Visa.

Why identity theft is a big deal
One reason why many people don’t pay as much attention to identity theft as they should is that they believe that they’re protected from its consequences. It’s true that, for credit cards, U.S. law limits potential liability for identity theft and fraud to $50. For debit cards, that $50 limit applies if you report your card stolen within the first two days. Moreover, both Visa (NYSE: V  ) and MasterCard (NYSE: MA  ) offer zero-liability policies that apply to many cardholders, keeping them from having to pay even that $50 amount.

But even if you end up losing none of your own money, dealing with identity theft takes extensive effort. The Experian survey found that, among those who have been victims of identity theft while traveling, more than half said that it had at least somewhat of an impact on their entire travel experience, distracting them from the true purpose of their vacation. Moreover, resolving the fallout from identity theft is a major undertaking, with more than half of those surveyed saying that dealing with the theft took a week or longer. Fully 10% said it took several months to sort through the damage that scammers did to their credit ratings and financial lives.

Some basic to-dos to protect against identity theft
Modern technology has made it a lot easier to take steps to prevent identity theft, or to minimize its effects when it does happen. With online and mobile access to bank and credit card accounts, you can see almost in real time when unauthorized transactions hit your account. Many credit card companies encourage their customers to inform them when they’re traveling, so they can adjust their fraud-monitoring detection systems to take these travels into account, but also to be on the lookout for common travel-fraud problems.

But people make other common mistakes that can cause trouble. Simply stopping your mail delivery can prevent scammers from tapping a treasure hoard of personal information, but only 40% of those surveyed do so. Social-media sites are a common way people share their travel experiences, but they also give criminals vital information about a person’s whereabouts that they can then use to track movements, and plan their activities accordingly.

The last thing you need while you’re traveling is to have a con artist steal your identity. By taking just a few moments to be vigilant about protecting yourself, you can help reduce the odds that your next vacation will become an identity-theft nightmare.

Article source: http://www.fool.com/how-to-invest/personal-finance/credit/2014/07/04/traveling-for-the-holiday-dont-let-identity-theft.aspx

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Worried about finding a job after you graduate from college? Worried about paying off your debts? It gets uglier: New college grads need to think about their identities being stolen. One-third of identity theft complaints come from young adults.

A new college graduate will often have a clean credit history. If the new college graduate discovers, however, that their credit score is inexplicably low, it’s probably because their identity has been stolen. This can be a nightmare.

Compounding the issue is that some businesses will check the job applicant’s credit report and use this information against them by not hiring.

Prior to graduation, the college student should do a credit check; it can be done annually online free of charge. Young adults should never have an “It can’t happen to ME” approach to one of life’s raw realities: the proliferation of identity theft.

College students should always shred all of their bank related statements, credit card statements and all other documents that contain very personal information.

College students should avoid posting their birthdates, phone numbers and addresses on social media.

Additional Tips

• Ask your parents to explain whatever they know to you about online scams like malicious e-mails (phishing), suspicious pop-up ads, buying apps from third party sellers, etc.
• Avoid debit cards; use only a credit card because thieves prefer to steal identities through debit cards.
• Memorize your SSN so you can keep your SSN card in a safe place at all times.
• Check your credit card statements every month for suspicious charges.
• Never give out your SSN, even if the clerk at the retail store insists they need it so that they can give you an intro 15 percent off with the store’s credit card.
• Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to check your credit report every year.
• Get identity theft protection and a credit freeze.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/graduates-beware-of-ident_b_5557799.html

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The Missoula County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a woman suspected of identity theft.

The woman allegedly used a stolen credit card to make several purchases at Walmart on Mullan Road and Jay’s Food Store on West Broadway on June 22 and 24.

If you can identify the suspect, call the sheriff’s department at 258-3315 or Five Valleys Crimestoppers at 721-4444.

Callers to Crimestoppers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 and can remain anonymous.

Article source: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/missoula-county-sheriff-seeks-identity-theft-suspect/article_bcd587aa-0302-11e4-b76f-001a4bcf887a.html

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A new Indiana law aims to protect children against identity theft by allowing their parents to lock down their credit reports.

Adults already could place a “security freeze” on their credit reports with the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Doing so prevents identity thieves, or anyone, from opening up a line of credit in the person’s name.

The new law allows parents to register their children who are 16 years old and younger. It also covers legal guardians of mentally disabled adults.

“It allows parents to be proactive where they can actually go out and put this freeze on their child’s credit report,” said Terry Tolliver, deputy director of the consumer protection division of the attorney general’s office.

Children are targeted by identity thieves because years could pass before anyone learns of the theft, Tolliver said. They provide personal information when they sign up for school, sports programs and other activities. Some parents might keep their children’s Social Security cards in a wallet or purse.

“It could be 10 years down the road before you find out that your child is a victim of identity theft,” he said. “What this does is at least allow some protection so those that are proactive can put this out there and protect themselves early on.”

The attorney general’s office has received 18 complaints since 2011 alleging identity fraud against children. Six were substantiated.

Often, the fraud involves people who are estranged parents or relatives, Tolliver said. All but one of the substantiated complaints since 2011 involved a family member.

A cybersecurity expert said parents should not consider identity theft against children a major threat.

“If I’m going to steal someone’s information, I want to find someone who’s going to have a good credit record,” said Fred Cate, former director of Indiana University’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research and a law professor at the school. “I don’t want to get someone who has no credit record like a child.”

The online security freeze is free for most people, though credit service bureaus could charge parents a $5 fee. To register, visit the attorney general’s website.

Identity theft is becoming more common as more institutions rely on personal data. A hacker breached Butler University’s system in May, possibly stealing information on about 163,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and even applicants.

Article source: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/indiana/2014/07/04/new-law-safeguards-children-theft/12233907/

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Posted: Friday, July 4, 2014 10:20 pm
|


Updated: 10:23 pm, Fri Jul 4, 2014.

Headland man faces aggravated ID theft charge

• 
  
  
  

• Posted on Jul 4, 2014

  by
  
  Matt Elofson
  

A Headland man faces an aggravated identity theft charge after the federal government recently filed a felony criminal information complaint against him.

Federal court records show the criminal information complaint filed against 29-year-old Kamarian D. Millender alleges wire fraud along with aggravated identity theft.

The complaint alleged Millender used and possessed the name and Social Security number of another person used in the electronic filing of a false federal income tax return with the IRS, which fraudulently claimed a tax refund. The felony offense also allegedly happened on Feb. 12.

Court records show Dothan lawyer Dustin Fowler has been retained to represent Millender in court. Fowler said Dothan attorney, Stephen Etheredge, also represents Millender.

A class action lawsuit filed in federal court names a Kamarian Deshaun Millender as a former employee of Flowers Hospital who allegedly stole patient medical files.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in May claimed Millender and an unknown accomplice stole the personal identification information, along with personal health information for multiple people.

According to an earlier Eagle report, Flowers Hospital sent out letters on April 15 to possible victims of the information theft, warning them of the situation. According to the letter, back in February, the hospital discovered an employee in a lab took lab forms containing patients’ personal identification. The letter said the employee may have used the information to file bogus tax returns.

According to the letter, the employee has been fired. The files stolen from the hospital were taken between June 2013 and February 2014. Information stolen may have included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and health plan policy numbers, as well as information about the lab tests, but not test results.

According to the lawsuit, filed by Dothan attorney Adam Jones in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Millender and an unknown accomplice took the records from an unsecure location in the hospital.

Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Millender earlier this year on Feb. 28 on a felony trafficking in stolen identities charge. He’s since posted his bail on that charge, which remains pending in state court.

If convicted of the class B felony of trafficking in stolen identities Millender faces two to 20 years in state prison.

Follow Matt on Twitter @ElofsonMatt.

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• Print
  
  
  

Posted in
Crime court

on

Friday, July 4, 2014 10:20 pm.

Updated: 10:23 pm.

Article source: http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/crime_court/article_5d1fee12-03f3-11e4-a6f8-001a4bcf6878.html

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Image Source:
Matt DiLallo

Matt DiLallo.

Vacations are times to put all your worries behind you.
Unfortunately, scammers know all too well that travelers have
other things on their minds besides protecting themselves from
their schemes. That knowledge emboldens them to follow the latest
trend in crime: identity theft.

Vacation identity theft: Two ways to get cheated

Identity theft when you travel takes two main forms. First,
thieves can steal important items from you, like your passport or
your credit cards, while you’re traveling. According to a recent
survey from Experian, more than three-quarters of all travelers
take their driver’s licenses and credit or debit cards with them
on their trips, and keep them on themselves at all times. Not
only can pickpockets leave you in a bind far from home, but they
can also wreak havoc with your cards and personal information,
selling card numbers to other criminals for future use.

The other trap that travelers fall into is that thieves can
attack their homes while they’re away. Breaking into your home is
the most obvious crime that can occur, but some criminals are
more subtle by taking steps like intercepting your mail, and
looking for credit card or other financial statements that
contain personal information. Merely taking a credit card offer
can cause you a big hassle for weeks, or even months, after you
get home from your trip.

Source: Visa.

Why identity theft is a big deal

One reason why many people don’t pay as much attention to
identity theft as they should is that they believe that they’re
protected from its consequences. It’s true that, for credit
cards, U.S. law limits potential liability for identity theft and
fraud to $50. For debit cards, that $50 limit applies if you
report your card stolen within the first two days. Moreover, both
Visa

and
MasterCard

offer zero-liability policies that apply to many cardholders,
keeping them from having to pay even that $50 amount.

But even if you end up losing none of your own money, dealing
with identity theft takes extensive effort. The Experian survey
found that, among those who have been victims of identity theft
while traveling, more than half said that it had at least
somewhat of an impact on their entire travel experience,
distracting them from the true purpose of their vacation.
Moreover, resolving the fallout from identity theft is a major
undertaking, with more than half of those surveyed saying that
dealing with the theft took a week or longer. Fully 10% said it
took several
months

to sort through the damage that scammers did to their credit
ratings and financial lives.

Some basic to-dos to protect against identity theft

Modern technology has made it a lot easier to take steps to
prevent identity theft, or to minimize its effects when it does
happen. With online and mobile access to bank and credit card
accounts, you can see almost in real time when unauthorized
transactions hit your account. Many credit card companies
encourage their customers to inform them when they’re traveling,
so they can adjust their fraud-monitoring detection systems to
take these travels into account, but also to be on the lookout
for common travel-fraud problems.

But people make other common mistakes that can cause trouble.
Simply stopping your mail delivery can prevent scammers from
tapping a treasure hoard of personal information, but only 40% of
those surveyed do so. Social-media sites are a common way people
share their travel experiences, but they also give criminals
vital information about a person’s whereabouts that they can then
use to track movements, and plan their activities
accordingly.

The last thing you need while you’re traveling is to have a
con artist steal your identity. By taking just a few moments to
be vigilant about protecting yourself, you can help reduce the
odds that your next vacation will become an identity-theft
nightmare.

Your credit card may soon be completely worthless

The plastic in your wallet is about to go the way of the
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Dan Caplinger

has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool
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free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions,
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policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights
reserved. The Motley Fool has a

disclosure policy

.

Article source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/traveling-for-the-holiday-dont-let-identity-theft-ruin-your-trip-cm367703

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Copyright © 2014
Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc.
This story may not be reproduced in any form, by any media, without express written consent.
This includes rewriting, broadcasting and/or printing of material from MidHudsonNews.com,
by radio
and
television stations, newspapers or other media.

Article source: http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2014/July/05/Candelario_arr-05Jul14.html

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   For Immediate Release: July 4, 2014

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Identity Theft Unit detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who used a cloned credit card in Deer Park.

A man used a credit card with cloned information stolen from another individual to purchase more than $500 worth of merchandise at Stop and Shop, located at 421 Commack Road, in Deer Park May 27 at approximately 12:20 p.m. The man, who was described as Asian, fled the scene in a small, silver four-door SUV.

Suffolk County Police Identity Theft Unit detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who used a cloned credit card in Deer Park. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Advertising Services Section

Article source: http://www.longislandexchange.com/press-releases/unidentified-man-wanted-for-identity-theft-in-deer-park/

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News

Published: Saturday, July 05, 2014

Dearborn Heights Police Department | Photo by Aysha Jamali

View and purchase photos

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
comments powered by Disqus

Article source: http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2014/07/05/news/doc53b58af4686b9817411407.txt

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It’s finally here. You’ve been saving up for months. This is your day. You are the Master of the Data Security Universe, Ms. Never-Gonna-Happen-To-Me, Captain Try-Personally-Identifying-This. And you’re going to… a Shred-a-Thon!

Yes, it’s that time of the year when friends and neighbors gather in the haze of grilling hot dogs and burgers as they feed their old papers to a municipality-owned, or financial institutionally-leased shred-mobile, while talking about data security and sharing a horror story or two about identity theft.

While the goal of a shred-a-thon is laudable, and the action is certainly a concrete one, the gesture is more or less symbolic in terms of actually stopping identity theft. And as we ready ourselves to enjoy the colorful symbolism in the evening skies of Independence Day celebrations across the nation, it’s crucial that you not allow a little something like document shredding to stand between you and the truth.

The Privacy Rights Clearing House estimates that some 867,810,607 records with personally identifiable information (PII) have been exposed in data breaches since 2005. Others have reported numbers far in excess of 1 billion files. The sheer quantity of purloined, as well as willingly over-shared, information floating in the cyber-sphere has pushed us way beyond mere symbolic gestures. The chances that chunks of that information include pieces of your own identity puzzle are pretty close to a slam dunk.

So it’s time to trade that false sense of security pervading shred-a-thons for some real-world actions that can push off your inevitable day of reckoning and help keep you and your family as safe as possible. Because in this Everyone’s Exposed world where pieces of your PII can be had for pennies, it’s really just a matter of time before someone cobbles together enough of your data to cause you pain.

Article source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/shred-white-blue-freedom-identity-theft/story?id=24419489

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IdentityTheftSolutionTips

Question: My sister recently found out that her identity was stolen. She has been informing me of how difficult the process is to rectify the situation. Are there any tips you can provide that can help prevent this happening to me?

Answer: Identity theft is a serious problem and continues to grow worldwide. People are affected by it every day. There are numerous ways an identity can be stolen. It can be done using technology through online “phishing” scams or emails or through unsecure Wi-Fi spots. Other ways are more traditional like using information from a lost or stolen wallet or dumpster diving in your trash.

According to investopedia.com, identity theft is defined as “the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person for the sole purpose of assuming that person’s name or identity in order to make transactions or purchases.” Consider every aspect of your information a puzzle piece. Once identity thieves collect enough pieces they can start putting it together to know more about you. The more pieces they collect the easier it is for them to steal your identity. Once your identity is stolen it can ruin your credit rating, personal reputation or even chances of getting a job. Although you may not be able to keep all the puzzle pieces out of the hands of identity thieves, you can make it more difficult to obtain. Here are a few tips:

• Social Security: Your Social Security number is one of the most important pieces of personal information you own. Think about what you have used your Social Security number for — jobs, college, banking, licenses, taxes, health care and much more. Think twice before giving anyone that information. Never carry your original card or any information with your Social Security number in your wallet or purse.

• Wallet/purse: Because we carry these items everywhere the chances are that one day it will be lost or stolen. Our wallets carry a lot of information about us. Photo copy everything in your wallet and keep it safe. This will help you remember what was in your wallet and who you will need to contact. It is hard to remember the user names, passwords and pin numbers for everything but do not keep that information in your wallet or purse.

• Mail: You receive and send a lot of financial and personal information in the mail. If possible ask banks if you can pick up checks and credit cards at the bank instead of mailing them to you. Use security envelopes for important documents. If the document is really important, consider spending a little more money on sending it certified. Pay attention to your mailing cycle. If your bills arrive late, contact the sender.

• Trash: We throw away a lot of personal information. If someone was to rummage through your trash, they could find credit card and bank account numbers, health insurance and more. Before throwing away anything with personal information, destroy it. Using a cross shredder works best. Shred receipts, old credit cards and statements. Black out your name and other personal information on medication bottles when disposing of them.

• Financial account: Keep current on all your financial accounts. Review your monthly statements and check them against your receipts. With today’s technology you can check your accounts a lot more frequently and in real time. Look for irregular withdrawals or charges or for companies that you have not had transactions with. Keep your receipts and always ask for a copy of the credit or debit card transaction, especially those that were entered incorrectly or voided.

• Credit report: Review your credit report at least once a year. All three credit agencies are required to provide a free review of your report once a year. Stagger your request so that every four months you can review your report. Consider using a secure and reputable credit-monitoring service, which can alert you when there is a change in your report. Correct fraudulent or suspicious activity as soon as possible.

Article source: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20140707/NEWS01/307070011/Protect-yourself-against-identity-theft

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IdentityTheftSolutionTips

Laura Christina Dayton

Jeffrey Lynn Mays Jr.

Posted: Monday, July 7, 2014 5:53 pm

Police: Two arrested in connection with identity theft

From staff reports
news@hickoryrecord.com

Hickory Daily Record

HICKORY, N.C. – Two people who spent the weekend in jail on identity theft and larceny charges allegedly opened a line of credit in someone else’s name at a Hickory furniture store, then apparently were unable to select a suitable piece of furniture to take home with them.

Laura Christina Dayton, 30, and Jeffrey Lynn Mays Jr., 35, both of 3077 First Avenue SW, Hickory, were arrested at their residence Saturday.

Dayton was charged with one count of felony obtaining property by false pretenses and four counts of felony identity theft. She was held with a $53,000 secured bond.

Mays was charged with two counts of felony larceny and one count of misdemeanor larceny. He was held with a $43,000 secured bond.

A Claremont woman reported her purse was stolen from her car June 20, said Hickory Police Department spokeswoman Chrystal Dieter. The victim reported the theft to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

On June 26, the victim called Hickory police to report someone tried to open a credit line in her name at Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Hickory, Dieter said. A clerk at the store told police a man and woman came in the previous day to open the line of credit but ended up leaving without buying anything.

The victim told police she thought Mays might be responsible for the crime because she was aware he used to commit similar crimes, Dieter said.

Officers conducted a photo lineup with the clerk. The clerk identified Mays as the man who came into the store, Dieter said.

In addition to opening the credit line, the suspects also reactivated one of the victim’s deactivated credit cards and were seen on surveillance video at Home Depot in Hickory purchasing a pressure washer with the card.

Both suspects were expected to appear Monday in District Court in Newton.

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Article source: http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/police-two-arrested-in-connection-with-identity-theft/article_1617714a-0621-11e4-86b5-001a4bcf6878.html

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FORT MYERS, FL -

For family members, it’s a time to mourn a loss. For criminals, it’s a chance to gain.

“It’s disgusting. It’s a violation of your being,” said Diana Butler, Fort Myers.

Every year, criminals steal the identity of 2.5 million dead Americans. It breaks down to almost 140 deceased people’s identities stolen per state, per day.

“That surprises me. I didn’t know it was that rapid,” said Lisa Parker, Fort Myers.

Florida is the number one state in the country for identity theft.

“Even when you’re alive, you have to start all over-. It’s just sad to see that you worked your whole life to become something, and

somebody come and take your identity and you have to start over,” said Cora Gorillo, Fort Myers.

It’s a big enough concern here in Lee County, the sheriff’s office is holding two seminars this month, on how to protect the identity of a deceased loved one.

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that. I’m not surprised it happens,” said Butler.

So how do these criminals do it–steal the identity of millions of dead people a year? Fraud experts say all the information is at their finger tips everyday in black and white, in the obituary section of the newspaper.

“I think its terrible. I think you need to keep track after someone dies, I know I did after my mother in law,” said Parker.

A quick search online offers a few suggestions on how to protect your family’s dead relatives.

• What is most important, keep the obituaries short. The less information the criminals have the better. 
• Keep a close eye on death certificates. 
• Notify credit bureaus and have them flag the accounts.
• Close bank accounts, credit cards and cancel memberships to places like Costco and Sam’s Clubs.

“Criminals are criminals. If they can think of a way to do it, they will rip you off,” said Butler.

There are two Lee County Sheriff’s Office seminars being held this month:

Tuesday, July 8th, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Tuesday, July 22nd, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Both events will be held at the Colonial Family Center located on the grounds of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida, 33907. Seating is limited and reservations are appreciated. Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve a seat call Samantha between the hours of 9am-5pm at (239) 936-0555, or for more information about Identity Theft and the Deceased, contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Specialist at (239) 258-3287.

Article source: http://www.nbc-2.com/story/25958825/crime-alert-protecting-your-dead-relatives-from-id-theft

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Posted: Monday, July 7, 2014 5:39 pm

Flowers Hospital ID theft suspect to change plea

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• Posted on Jul 7, 2014

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  Matt Elofson
  

A Headland man connected to identity thefts at Flowers Hospital has a change of plea hearing scheduled for today in federal court.

Federal court records show U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Coody has set a change of plea hearing for 29-year-old Kamarian D. Millender. The federal government filed a criminal information complaint against Millender last week, alleging wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Coody set the change of plea hearing for 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Montgomery.

The complaint alleged Millender used and possessed the name and Social Security number of another person in the electronic filing of a false federal income tax return with the IRS, which fraudulently claimed a tax refund. The felony offense allegedly happened on Feb. 12.

Court records show Dothan lawyer Dustin Fowler has been retained to represent Millender in court. Fowler said Dothan attorney Stephen Etheredge also represents Millender.

A class action lawsuit filed in federal court names Kamarian Deshaun Millender as a former employee of Flowers Hospital who allegedly stole patient medical files.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in May claimed Millender and an unknown accomplice stole the personal identification information, along with personal health information, for multiple people.

Flowers Hospital sent out letters on April 15 to possible victims of the information theft, warning them of the situation. According to the letter, back in February the hospital discovered an employee in a lab took lab forms containing patients’ personal identification. The letter said the employee may have used the information to file bogus tax returns.

According to the letter, the employee has been fired. The files stolen from the hospital were taken between June 2013 and February 2014. Information stolen may have included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and health plan policy numbers, as well as information about the lab tests, but not test results.

According to the lawsuit, filed by Dothan attorney Adam Jones in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Millender and an unknown accomplice took the records from an unsecure location in the hospital.

Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Millender on Feb. 28 on a felony trafficking in stolen identities charge. He has since posted his bail on that charge, which remains pending in state court.

If convicted of the class B felony of trafficking in stolen identities, Millender faces two to 20 years in state prison.

Follow Matt on Twitter @ElofsonMatt.

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Stephen Etheredge

Article source: http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/crime_court/article_9e69bca0-0627-11e4-a389-0017a43b2370.html

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NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -

As the primary caregiver for his wife, Peter Rosenberger says he sees countless medical bills that come in each month.

“When you’re dealing with 60-plus doctors at 12 hospitals, you get a lot of bills, a lot of what we call EOBs, explanation of benefits,” he said.

With all the personal information listed, he says he’s extra careful to protect his wife’s identity.

“I shred all the receipts from the pharmacy, and several times on there is a lot of personal information,” Rosenberger said.

The flurry of information on various receipts and forms could leave customers vulnerable to medical identity theft.

“With regular identity theft, people are often opening credit accounts, for example, credit cards. They’re charging up things. Those charges fall back on the companies often to resolve them,” said Tara Shaver, communications director for AARP.

But a stolen medical identity can be much harder to track.

“You may be getting an influx of charges, especially if your situation gets really complex, and you may overlook something. You may pay a bill and not be really clear on where it came from,” Shaver said.

The AARP has listed some tips to prevent medical identity theft:

• Read every letter from medical insurers and health care providers, including those that say “this is not a bill.” If you see a doctor’s name or treatment date that isn’t familiar, speak up.
• Once a year, ask your insurers for a listing of benefits paid out in your name. Make sure everything is accurate, including your address.
• When you review your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com, look for medical items. Contact your insurer and the three major credit reporting firms – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – about any falsehoods.
• Guard your health insurance card and number as carefully as you would a credit card or bank account number. If you lose your wallet, immediately contact your insurance provider.
• Don’t routinely carry your Medicare card, which lists your Social Security number. Make a photocopy and hide some of the number’s digits.
• Ask all of your doctors to make copies of everything in your file (you may have to pay for them) so you’ll have a “paper trail” if needed.
• Avoid unfamiliar health fairs or storefronts offering free screenings that require your insurance information. Hang up on phone calls promising free supplies or from “officials” asking for your particulars.

If someone has stolen your medical identity, the AARP says they can use your insurance to buy medicine, devices and even pay for surgeries in your name. It’s important to make sure that all charges you receive are legitimate and that they correspond with services you actually received.

“The same protections that you use for your credit cards and for your ID, you want to use for everything that allows you to access your medical care,” Shaver said.

Copyright 2014 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.wsmv.com/story/25960526/medical-identity-theft-becoming-growing-issue

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(CBS) – There’s car insurance in case of an accident and home insurance in case of a fire. Now, add identity theft insurance, in case you’re the next victim.

As CBS 2’s Dorothy Tucker reports, it’s among options consumers are considering to avoid the financial and emotional pain of ID theft.

Russell Talbott lost $2,000 to identity thieves who managed to access his debit card and drain his checking account.

“It literally is horrible because you work so hard for your money, so hard for your money, and somebody can take it like that,” he says.

There’s a good chance you know someone just like Talbott because ID theft seems to happen every day.

Last year, there were 614 data breaches, putting nearly 92 million people at risk.  The type of information tapped includes everything from home phone numbers and addresses to Social Security numbers.

“It’s only a matter of time until a criminal gets around to using your identity fraudulently,” ID theft expert Denis Kelly warns.

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself for free:

–Check your bank accounts online or through a mobile app to monitor your checking and credit accounts daily.

–Every 90 days, place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus to make it difficult for someone to open up credit in your name.

Kelly also suggests adding an extra layer of security at your financial institution.

“If you change your address, if you change your maximum credit line, any information – you can request that you as a customer provide a PIN,” he says.

Doing it yourself takes time. If you don’t think you’re up to the task, there are other options.

For example: ID theft insurance.

“You buy it for the peace of mind,” State Farm agent Kimberly Danlow says.

For $25 a year at State Farm you can get “ID restoration coverage.” If you should ever become a victim of ID theft, counselors are available to help.

Danlow adds: “They know exactly who to contact, how to contact them, what information they need. They will help you write letters. They will be with you every step of the way while you get your identify back.”

For $10 to $20 a month,  numerous companies promise email or text alerts through their ID protection services in case someone tries to use your credit card. They scan public records for abuse of your personal information, check the black market to see if your credit card is up for sale or train you how to protect yourself.

Talbott pays $240 a year, money, he says, that is “beyond well spent.”

Experts say no plan against identity theft is 100 percent foolproof. But you can significantly decrease your chance of becoming a victim if you pay attention to your most precious commodity: your Social Security number.

Only give it to entities that provide you income, credit and federal or state benefits. Everyone else is off the list.

Article source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/07/07/experts-offer-range-of-ideas-to-protect-yourself-against-id-theft/

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Items selected are from the daily police logs of the cities listed below. Times shown are when the incidents were reported to the police.

FELONY OF JULY: A 28-year-old Redwood City woman was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary, grand theft, credit or debit card fraud and identity theft at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto at 1:35 p.m. on Independence Day.

Palo Alto

WEDNESDAY

4100 block of El Camino Real, noon: An unlocked vehicle was burglarized.

Stanford Hospital Clinics on Pasteur Drive, 1:27 p.m.: A business was burglarized.

Stanford Hospital Clinics on Pasteur Drive, 2 p.m.: A fight was reported.

Stanford Shopping Center on El Camino Real, 3:40 p.m.: Items were taken from a business.

THURSDAY

600 block of Seale Avenue, 8:30 a.m.: A business was burglarized.

4200 block of Manuela Avenue, 8:50 a.m.: A money scam was reported.

400 block of West Meadow Drive, 9:25 a.m.: A vehicle was towed for expired registration.

200 block of Kipling Street, 10:30 a.m.: A ring was found.

1400 block of Hamilton Avenue, 12:20 p.m.: A stolen vehicle was recovered.

400 block of Waverley Street, 1:36 p.m.: A 55-year-old San Jose man was arrested for public drunkenness.

2100 block of Park Boulevard, 3 p.m.: A residence was burglarized.

4000 block of Scripps Avenue, 6:30 p.m.: A wallet was found.

City Hall on Hamilton Avenue, 6:30 p.m.: An ID card was found.

San Antonio Road and Leghorn Street, 7:20 p.m.: A person was cited for driving without a license and issued a notice to appear for an outside warrant.

East Bayshore Road and Embarcadero Road, 8:03 p.m.: A person was cited for driving without a license.

400 block of Waverley Street, 9:20 p.m.: A vehicle was burglarized.

300 block of University Avenue, 10:16 p.m.: A 44-year-old transient man was arrested for public drunkenness.

FRIDAY

400 block of Ramona Street, 1:20 a.m.: A 31-year-old East Palo Alto man was arrested for public drunkenness.

400 block of Kipling Street, 4:30 a.m.: A bicycle was stolen.

700 block of Palo Alto Avenue, 12:08 p.m.: A 36-year-old Santa Clara woman was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

1600 block of Arastradero Road, 3:25 p.m.: An unlocked vehicle was burglarized.

600 block of East Meadow Drive, 4:08 p.m.: An intoxicated person was transported to Valley Medical Center.

2200 block of East Bayshore Road, 9:13 p.m.: A dog was found.

SATURDAY

900 block of University Avenue, 1:03 a.m.: A 19-year-old East Palo Alto man was arrested for possessing stolen property, failing to appear for a warrant and possessing drug paraphernalia.

3600 block of El Camino Real, 11:35 a.m.: A person was transported to Stanford Hospital Clinics for medical treatment.

400 block of University Avenue, 3:12 p.m.: An intoxicated person was transported to Stanford Hospital Clinics.

300 block of University Avenue, 4:35 p.m.: A bicycle was stolen.

300 block of Hamilton Avenue, 10:11 p.m.: A person was intoxicated.

400 block of Santa Rita Avenue, 11:32 p.m.: A person was cited for a barking dog.

800 block of Emerson Street, 11:45 p.m.: A black Honda Civic was stolen.

SUNDAY

Caltrain station on University Avenue, 2:32 p.m.: A 46-year-old Palo Alto man was arrested for possessing concentrated cannabis.

800 block of East Charleston Road, 6:33 p.m.: Keys were stolen.

Mountain View

FRIDAY

1900 block of Latham Street, 7:51 a.m.: A stolen vehicle was recovered.

SATURDAY

1900 block of West El Camino Real, 1:20 p.m.: A person was arrested for public drunkenness.

1000 block of Morton Court, 1:55 p.m.: Petty theft was reported.

600 block of California Street, 3:04 p.m.: Grand theft was reported.

SUNDAY

700 block of East Evelyn Avenue, 4:21 a.m.: Vandalism was reported.

200 block of Escuela Avenue, 6:08 a.m.: Vandalism was reported.

1200 block of Dale Avenue, 9:17 a.m.: A vehicle was burglarized.

2100 block of West El Camino Real, 12:23 p.m.: A person was arrested for public drunkenness.

500 block of West Middlefield Road, 2:10 p.m.: A residence was burglarized.

1900 block of Crisanto Avenue, 3:10 p.m.: A stolen vehicle was recovered.

Article source: http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_26105639/police-beat-woman-arrested-commercial-burglary-identity-theft

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