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.

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!

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.

The FTC reports that more than 9 million people each year fall victim to identity theft. Before working in the identity theft protection industry, I was like most people. I thought, “It’ll never happen to me.” At that time, my idea of identity protection was finely tearing up bills and placing half of the pile in one garbage can and the other half in another. Times certainly have changed.

These days, the old ways of committing identity theft – dumpster diving, stealing mail, stealing Social Security numbers – still exist, but they are partnered now with some daunting companions like skimming, Wi-Fi hacking, RFID readers, the list goes on and on.

The multiple methods that are open to people to perpetrate identity theft mean that the people committing this crime aren’t always a stereotypical thief. In fact, a detective I know said that when economic times are hard, many everyday people feel compelled to turn to identity theft as a way to make ends meet. He told me he’s seen cases where the thieves were doctors, teachers, and caregivers. It truly is a crime of opportunity. It behooves all of us to take stock of our current risk levels and do what we can to protect ourselves. So, here’s a brief list of some things you can do today to mitigate your risk of identity theft.

•Focus on cybersecurity – Whether it’s making sure you log in to secure Wi-Fi connections, or not oversharing personal information (i.e. full birthdate) on Facebook, make cybersecurity a priority.

•Shred and shred often – Don’t make a shredding pile that collects dust then ends up in the trash months later. Shred unneeded financial or personal documents as soon as they can be discarded.

•Keep it safe – Lock all important documents and information in a safe and secure place. This could be a safety deposit box, a fireproof home safe, or a locking file cabinet. Just remember, whatever you choose, don’t tape the key to the safe.

•Use a locking mailbox – A locked mailbox is a good way to keep unwanted hands out of your mail.

•Be proactive – There are plenty of things you can do to protect your identity, but having a trusted partner in the fight against identity theft is always a good idea. With MyID.com, you have the peace of mind that your identity is being protected through daily monitoring, Internet Scan, Surveillance Alerts and more.

If you haven’t done so in a while, today is a good day to assess how you can better protect yourself from identity theft. Simple changes can make all the difference.

The theft of sensitive data from a computer can lead to identity theft. So can the theft of the actual computer itself. The crime of identity theft poses serious consequences for college students, who can end up with tarnished credit records that negatively impact their ability to get jobs, rent apartments or obtain school loans.

A new or recent laptop likely already has some type of security software on it. Be sure that the anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software is activated and updated or install it if needed. Then take your precautionary steps further and make sure your teenager understands the importance of the software. Instruct him/her not to deactivate it and to install any updates that become available for all software, as well as updates for the operating system. Also, think about installing software to remotely wipe data from or locate a lost or stolen laptop.

While software provides an important layer of protection, college students also need to be aware that their own behavior can comprise their data security. Talk with your teenager about never leaving a laptop unattended in class, in the library, in a car, at a café or in a dorm room. If the dorm room doesn’t have a locking file cabinet or desk, send your teenager to college with a safe big enough to hold a laptop and a few other valuables.

Help your teenager understand the difference between a less secure password, such as one that uses personal data, and a secure password, such as one that uses upper and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation. Ask him/her to use a login password when the computer boots up and to change it every three months.

Before you hand over the laptop, write down the serial number and keep it in a secure place. If the laptop ever goes missing, you can report the theft to the police and provide the serial number.

There are a lot of things to do when setting your college student up for success. But, make sure laptop security is on the list.

With Hurricane Irene in the news, it’s important to look back at scams that have arisen from natural disasters so you can arm yourself against new ones.

http://www.fbi.gov/news/katrina/hurricane-katrina#charity_spoof

Charitable Phishing, Spoofing Alerts

Fake Charity Websites, E-Mails

The FBI is seeing an influx of websites soliciting for charitable donations to aid the victims of the latest natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina. Consistent with previous guidance on incidents of phishing/spoofing and identity theft, when considering online options for providing funding to this relief effort, consumers should consider the following:

•Do not respond to any unsolicited (SPAM) incoming e-mails.
•To ensure contributions to U.S. based non-profit organizations are used for intended purposes, go directly to recognized charities and aid organization’s websites, as opposed to following a link to another site.
•Attempt to verify the legitimacy of non-profit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources which may assist in confirming the existence of the organization, as well as its non-profit status.
•Be leery of e-mails claiming to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
Several variations of this scam are currently in circulation. Be aware, scammers will attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the relief efforts along the Gulf coast. If you have received a fraud, or similar e-mail, please file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Fake Spam E-Mail Allegedly Seeking Donations for the Red Cross

The FBI has become aware of a spam e-mail soliciting $5 donations that purports to be coming from support2@redcross.org, with the subject line of “American Redcross Help Needed! Katrina relief.” The e-mail provides a link to click and enter credit/debit card information for the $5 contribution. The link appears to go to the RedCross.org website. However, the link actually sends one to a non-affiliated collection site. THIS E-MAIL IS A HOAX. DO NOT FOLLOW THE PROVIDED LINK. Be cautious when responding to requests or special offers delivered through unsolicited e-mail:

•Guard your account information carefully.
•Keep a list of all you credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If your monthly statement looks suspicious or you lose your card(s) contact the issuer immediately.
•To ensure contributions to U.S. based non-profit organizations are received and used for intended purposes, go directly to recognized charities and aid organizations’ websites, as opposed to following links provided in e-mails.

If you have received this, or a similar hoax, please file a complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.