Not so long ago, losing your mobile phone meant the additional expense of replacing it and possibly, someone charging up additional minutes on your bill.  Today the stakes are higher.  With the ownership of smartphones on the rise, the ability to store more information on your phone can now lead to identity theft opportunities if your mobile phone falls into the wrong hands. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind in efforts to keep your phone and information secure:

REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR CONTACT LIST:  Who you have listed and how you have them listed can increase the potential for identity theft.  Many people don’t know that clearly identifying their spouses with their last names or nicknames like “sweetheart” or “hubby” can lead to identity theft.   A fraudster could text your easily identifiable significant other asking for personal information such as credit card information, bank account PINs, etc.  If you or your loved one is unaware the phone is missing, that personal information could unknowingly be sent into the wrong hands.  To minimize this threat, take the time to scroll through your list of contacts and change last names, nicknames, etc.

LOCK IT: If you have a smartphone, a simple safety step – often overlooked or ignored – is to lock your phone.  Lock it tight by creating a password that is needed to open it.

LOG OUT:  If you use your phone to access online accounts, make sure to log out so that no else could access them.

TRACK IT: There are services that can help you track your cell phone if it goes missing.  Invest in one of these products, such as iHound, which will help you easily lock down and locate your phone, hopefully before someone misuses it.  (Full disclosure, MyID.com and iHound are owned by the same company).

If lost or stolen, replacing a phone is an easy fix; sensitive information on your phone being exposed to the wrong person is not.  Following these simple steps can minimize the chances of your smartphone becoming a conduit for identity theft.

Spring is here and for many that means gearing up for a bit of rest and relaxation with a spring break vacation or, at the very least, planning a fun-filled trip in the summer months to come.  However, the planning shouldn’t stop at selecting your dream destination and accommodations.  Unfortunately, identity thieves are everywhere, and are especially known to target unsuspecting tourists who are loose with their personal information.

Taking the time to protect your identity is a ‘must do’ to ensure your dream get-away doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Here are some tips that can help:

1. Think ahead about the money you’ll need for the trip and carry cash and/or travelers’ checks.  This will prevent you from having to access unfamiliar ATM machines.  If you must use the ATM, use one at a real bank and cover the keypad when inputting your pass code.  Make sure no one is nearby with a cell phone camera and check that the ATM doesn’t have any strange attachments above or below the card slot.
2. Lighten your load and carry only what you really need.  That means only carrying the credit cards, cash and travelers’ checks you will need for the day.  Also think twice about carrying around your passport.  Anything that isn't necessary for the day can be left in the hotel safe.
3. Protect your mobile devices.  With banking online increasingly becoming the norm for many, it’s important to password protect this and other personal information we carry in our smartphones, tablets and laptops, in the event they are stolen or lost.

Fun and adventure should be the focus during your special time away from home, but a bit of forethought implementing these steps can help you steer clear of a world of problems, not only during your vacation, but well beyond it.

We previously discussed the issue of identity theft when it comes to filing taxes.  Identity thieves use other people’s Social Security numbers (SSN) to file tax returns and claim refunds that aren’t theirs to take.  If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tells you it already has a return for your SSN when you file your taxes this year, there’s a good chance you’ve become a victim of this form of identity theft. 

So now what do you do?  Here are two critical steps you’ll need to take to correct this injustice:

1. Contact the IRS

Call the IRS’ Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 and explain the situation.

Next, complete the Identity Theft Affidavit (form 14409).  This form is how you officially inform the IRS that you are a victim of identity theft and that you would like the IRS to mark your account to identify questionable activity.  You will be required to send in a copy of a piece of personal identification to prove your identity.  (It’s important to note that copier hard drives retain images of everything copied on the machine, so it’s important to choose where you photocopy personal information carefully.)

The IRS will only communicate with you about this matter in writing, so it’s important to respond quickly to any letters you receive from them on this matter.

Also, once you have confirmed that you have been a victim of identity theft, consider adding an identity theft alert to your file.

2. File a Police Report

No matter how few details you may have about the incident of tax fraud, it’s important to call your local law enforcement agency to report the incident and have it officially on record.

Keep a copy of your police report, and any related documents, in the event other problems of identity theft arise from the tax fraud.

Keep in mind that your refund may be delayed, but now that the IRS is aware that tax fraud occurs, it has put several protocols in place to help you resolve the matter.

Unfortunately, now that you know your SSN has been comprised you need to face the possibility that you could become the victim of other types of identity theft.  Once a SSN is stolen, it can be used time and time again over several years.  It could even be sold to another criminal.  Here are a few protective measures to keep in mind:

When your annual Social Security Administration (SSA) statement arrives, review it carefully to make sure there are no signs of fraudulently reported income in your name.  If any information seems suspicious, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

Check your credit reports regularly.  Have any new accounts been open that you aren’t familiar with?  Are there any missed payments for accounts you didn’t open?  If so, it’s time to investigate these red flags.

It’s important to also pay attention to the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements that periodically arrive in the mail from your medical insurer.  Keep an eye out for possible unauthorized use of your insurance as your health coverage can be targeted by identity thieves as well.

With most things in life, where there’s a will, there’s a way.  And, identity theft is no exception.  Identity thieves are always on the prowl for ways to scam the system at the expense of innocent individuals, even when it comes to filing taxes.

A recent story in The Los Angeles Times reported that the Internal Revenue Service is cracking down on people who commit identity theft by filing false tax returns to try and obtain refunds, something that has apparently been going on for years.

Rather than going through the regular routine of filing taxes and expecting a return, victims find themselves with the anxiety and burden of trying to clean up a huge mess with the government that involves their money, identity, and reputation. Last year, around 260,000 fraudulent returns were identified by the IRS. 

The Los Angeles Times article quotes IRS spokeswoman Anabel Marquez, “ID theft is a growing problem all across the country, and we’ve come to find out that the tax system isn’t immune…They’ve figured out that just like they can steal credit card numbers, they can file false refunds.”

On a positive note, there are new identity theft screening filters being put in place by the IRS to help their agents spot fraudulent returns before they are processed and a refund issued. 

For more information on protecting your identity, visit www.myID.com.

It’s easy to realize that there is an endless array of technology-enabled methods identity thieves can use to steal your identity, but it’s important to realize identity theft is also easily accomplished through low-tech methods.  MyID.com™ helps to protect you online.  But offline, it’s important that you take measures to steer clear of becoming a victim of dumpster diving -- one of the most common and unsophisticated risks that puts your private information at jeopardy.

If you aren’t already aware of this practice, dumpster diving is when identity thieves comb through the garbage for personal information they can use to set up fraudulent accounts.  One remedy to avoid this form of invasion of privacy is to have an organized system at home for saving important documents and receipts so they don’t end up in the garbage where someone could go looking for them.  The other option is to simply discard documents, but to do so by shredding them. 

There was a time when a shredder was, like a copy machine, a fancy piece of equipment found only in professional offices. Fast forward today and shredders are viewed as a must-have for your home…and with good reason.  Even though in today’s hi-tech world we have the opportunity to receive many important documents via e-mail, most of us still receive a good portion of private information (billing and financial statements, credit card offers, contracts, etc.) by the good, old-fashioned, US Postal Service. 

If you’re not the type to file away every receipt, you may find yourself setting dumpster-diver bait when you discard those seemingly outdated and worthless documents without destroying them first.  Identity thieves can be patient and cunning, and will source information through various means to compile a complete enough profile to be able to exploit your identity.  It’s better to be safe than sorry -- shred anything with your name, address, birthday, bank name, or even partial credit card number.

Shredding is effective but there’s also a definite value in choosing to save important personal paperwork.  The obvious conclusion is if you don’t put important information into the garbage, no one can rummage through your trash to steal it.  However, beyond that, this good habit can also save you time and money.  If you are ever called upon by the IRS for an audit, holding onto documents, receipts, etc. can be key to providing the information needed to verify any questions or red flags that might come up about previous tax filings.  From a day to day perspective, the simple act of holding onto receipts can provide you the opportunity to return items you may have purchased but realize you don’t have a need for, allowing you to receive a refund.    It’s both simple and obvious, but most of us can attest to at least one time in our life having to eat the cost of an item we couldn’t return without that lost receipt.  The beauty of choosing to file and keep organized is that once the documents are outdated and no longer needed, than you take the step to shredding.

21^st century living is complicated in ways previous generations could never have imagined, but sometimes it just takes a few simple steps to protect yourself, in the virtual world as well as in the one we occupy.

With input from the Identity Theft Resource Center (http://www.idtheftcenter.org/), here are 10 actions you should take to prevent becoming a victim:

1) Invest in a cross-cut shredder. Just as important - use it to destroy documents that include personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, and account numbers. If you’re not sure if certain paperwork should be shredded, it’s better to err on the side of caution and destroy it.

2) Think twice about giving out your Social Security Number (SSN). Beyond a handful of circumstances (verifying identity for employment, opening a new line of credit, tax purposes and participating in government benefit programs) you shouldn’t need to provide it to others. Don’t hesitate to ask why it is needed and who’s going to see it.

3) Speaking of SSNs, don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Like all other important personal document, put it in a safe and secure place, such as a safety deposit box.

4) Create unique passwords for bank, investment and credit cards accounts. A random word not associated with you or your life is the best way to ensure no one but you is able to access your personal financial information. Stay away from using passwords that may be recognizable to others, i.e. - the last four digits of your SSN, your mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, etc.

5) It’s no secret anything put online can easily go viral; therefore don’t put anything you don't want the world to see online. Do not access social media accounts on shared or public computers (library, internet cafes, work, etc) and like all other online accounts, the password should be unique. It is recommended to have more than 8 characters in length and contain both capital letters and at least one numeric or other non-alphabetical character. For more information on safe social networking, see the ITRC’s fact sheet on Social Networking and Identity Theft.

6) Your mail often contains personal information like credit card statements and other personal information you don’t want to share with others. So, consider investing in a locked mailbox. Also, dropping off outgoing mail at the post office rather than leaving it sticking out of your mailbox, is one less opportunity to open yourself up to identity theft.

7) Open and review account statements promptly and carefully when they arrive in the mail. Discrepancies do happen from time to time, but in order to resolve them you need to handle it in a timely manner.

“Buyer Beware!” applies just as much to shopping online as it does in a traditional retail setting. Make sure you are dealing with a legitimate merchant and use a secure payment agent that allows you, as the consumer, to control the use of your personal identifying information when shopping, registering for websites or paying bills online. Installing security and malware software and updating it regularly is another way to protect yourself when shopping online. Lastly, consider using a credit card instead of a debit card to make a purchase.

9) Credit is king, but there are still times when you break out the checkbook to write a check. Treat your checkbook and deposits slips as prized valuables. If your account information gets in the wrong hands it could be financially devastating. Specifically, use formulated gel ink pens when writing checks to protect against check washing.

10) Last but not least, seek help from identity protection products such as myID.com. Life’s obligations make it difficult to regularly look over your shoulder. myID.com monitors all facets of your identity including your personal privacy, financial information, your reputation and your safety, and quickly alerts you to risks to your identity so you can take action and minimize potential damage.

Here’s to a happy and safe 2012!

Here are a few ways to make sure nothing gets in the way of a happy holiday season:

*E-cards are an easy way to spread the cheer this holiday season. This is a fact of which hackers are also aware. If the email that delivers the e-card doesn’t address you personally or has typos, it’s best to think twice about opening it. Since there’s no way to confirm whether the e-card is coming from a friend or hacker, the only way to know for sure is to check with your friend first.

*The same risk applies to downloading a free holiday ringtone or watching a holiday-themed animated scene online. Be extra cautious about clicking on a link or a banner ad that offers up this kind of seasonal entertainment even if you trust the website on which you see it. Although the website may be legitimate, it likely does not control third party links and banners that may appear on it.

*Advice that we have often given before but want to take another opportunity to recommend again is to keep your operating system updated and to use updated firewall, antivirus and antispyware software. Check for updates before you take part in an online holiday shopping spree.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Unfortunately, even as careful as you may be about sharing personal information online, you may be unwittingly exposing information through a process called “geotagging.” Today’s smart phones and digital cameras include GPS. When you take video or photo with these devices it embeds the location of where it was taken. So that snap shot of you in front of the Christmas tree might be all it takes for someone that you don’t want to know where you live finding your home. If that picture includes something of value (jewelry, electronics, etc.), a criminal only has to check for the geo tag to find out where to go to try and steal these possessions. They can then watch your postings and activities to find out when you aren’t home and break in.

Although geotagging has taken on this negative role, it’s important to note that it exists on phones and other devices as a very helpful feature. Say you’re trying to find the nearest gas station. A GPS enabled smartphone will instantly find it for you. GPS indicators can also help law enforcement find you should you need them.

So what can be done to make sure smartphone’s geotagging is used for good, not evil? Below are tips to help you steer clear of the dangers posed by this feature:

• The golden rule of online posting - Be mindful about what you post. Assume whatever you put online will be there forever. Therefore, think twice before you post anything.

• Educate yourself, family and friends on geotagging dangers. Make sure you understand what information you are sharing and know what products you own that have and use geotagging capabilities.

• It’s an obvious, but important tip – turn the geotagging feature off if you will be taking photos from your phone that you plan to post online. Instructions on how to turn geotagging off for most phones can be found at www.icanstalku.com, a website created to spread awareness of the privacy issues of geotagging.

• Download disabling software: An easy way to prevent sending out the wrong information is to download this kind of software to your smartphone. To help you prevent sending out the private information, it will search for geotagging and delete it before sending.

Technology is full of little surprises such as geotagging. We take it for granted when using it for helpful purposes, but it can be exploited for dangerous purposes by the wrong people. By keeping informed on the devices you use and the information they may provide you can help to keep what you want private, private…this holiday season and beyond.

Ask any victim of identity theft how it has affected them and you’ll likely hear of experiences of feeling helpless, angry, rage, betrayal, depression, isolation and vulnerability, among other negative emotions. Identify theft is a life-altering crime that has lasting implications for those who have experienced it. Acknowledging the psychological pain of loss and lack of control is essential to recover from this ordeal. Bottom line - it’s okay to feel this way. But where do you go from here to put this ordeal in the past? Here are steps to take to help move on with your life:

Be aware of emotions. The victim may feel like he has his emotions under control but it may not seem that way to family member and friends. By recognizing your emotions you can better bring them under control and avoid negatively impacting members of your support team who are there to help you through this tough time.

Your future is still ahead of you. Identity theft can feel like it is consuming most every part of life but victims need to realize there are parts of life that remain untouched by the crime. It’s important not to let it take over every aspect of your life. Keep balance in your life and keep the negative emotions at bay by focusing on accomplishments you have had in the past and events and goals in the future that are unaffected by the ordeal.

Organization and persistence is key to overcoming adversity. Picking up the pieces of your broken credit can leave you feeling constantly at a loss. It’s not uncommon for victims to be bounced from company to company or even treated like a criminal when trying to resolve issues that they had nothing to do in creating. Don’t let these situations defeat you and don’t take no for an answer. After all, identity thieves don’t quit, why should you? If someone turns you down, try again. Just as critical is to keep organized with your paperwork and diligently track all conversations (who you spoke with, when the call took place, etc.) you have with any involved companies. Not only can this help if previous conversations and actions need to be referenced but it can also help you feel more in control of the process and resolution.

Give yourself a break. Through all the drama of identity theft, you can’t forget to take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Do what is within reach on a daily basis without allowing the clearing process to become a full-time job. There is always a tomorrow, but there is only one you.

Lastly, take solace that you are not alone. Finding a support group of some kind – it can be through a nonprofit counseling service, a faith-based organization or other counseling options. Involving yourself in these kinds of groups can make a world of difference in your emotional outlook.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember - in order to recover and move one, you must become aware, fight back and be sure to take care of yourself.

SMS-based Attacks:
Commonly known as ‘smishing’ a SMS-based attack is when unsolicited text messages request the user to click on a link that is provided in the SMS or text message. Typically, this kind of attack is intended to spread malware. If the link is opened the malware may be downloaded into the smart phone. If your device is subject to malware, you are in danger of having your information accessed by others.

Web-based Attacks:
Emailing via your phone has become a way of life but there are risks involved. When users click on unsafe links, which are often received through unsolicited emails, this may result in a web-based attack. When this happens, it can give rise to “phishing” attempts. This kind of e-mail often looks like correspondence from a legitimate company that you do business with that asks for updated information such as a Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords you can be fooled into providing. More likely than not, companies do not request their customers to update their information through email correspondence so it’s important not to provide personal information unless you are certain the email is legitimate. Web-based attacks may even result in unknowingly downloading infected files – giving criminals the ability to obtain the personal information users have stored in their devices or logging their keystrokes, which would reveal passwords and other sensitive information.

App-based Attacks:
The list of conveniences that apps have provided smartphone owners gets longer by the moment. Today with a few push of buttons you can deposit checks, use the device as a bus pass among many other amazing uses in addition to communicating by voice, e-mail or text. But among the many helpful and fun apps available, there have been several that have been removed from the market because they have been deemed malicious apps. Downloading one of these bad apps can prompt an app-based attack that can spread malware and open the door for an unauthorized individual to be able to use your smartphone and access your personal information.

The smartphone is considered by many as a miniature version of the personal computer. With that said, internet security companies are seeing the demand for anti-virus and anti-spyware software for these mobile devices as well. This new kind of security software is allowing smartphones users to defend themselves by giving the device the ability to inform the user if an application is not safe and/ or whether a link is unsafe.

It’s good to know that these security risks are being addressed by the industry but the most important steps you can take as a smartphone user is rely on common sense, use caution and educate yourself on the ongoing threats that exist. Ultimately, the smartphone is only as smart as the user.