Posts Tagged ‘ Identity Theft ’

Keeping Your Private Parts Private Online

April 9th, 2013. By Hunter West

There is little doubt the evolution of communication towards electronic or social platforms such as email, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter has effectively taken over our lives. Social networking, while great for reconnecting with long-lost friends or career networking, can also carry substantial risk–and often the fallout is nothing short of devastating.

While figures are not yet available for 2012, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ 3/15/12) reported last year that incidents of identity theft increased 13 percent in 2011 over the same period the year before. That translates to 12 million Americans.

What’s worse, it can take, on average some 30 hours and about $500 to resolve online identity fraud, according to TransUnion, a credit-reporting firm.

Think of it. 30 hours represents almost an entire week’s worth of lost productivity – so the financial costs can be even higher. And beyond examples of simple identity theft, are cases that are far more complex and damaging, for which legal representation is often necessary.

As our use of smart communications technology and social media increases, it’s useful to be aware of who is at risk for identity theft: 7 percent of smartphone owners were victims of identity theft in 2011, and are considered one-third more likely to fall prey to identity theft than the general population.

The reason, is that smartphones are actually mini-computers–but users tend not to protect their smartphones with passwords and other security features, as they would their PCs or laptops. According to a recent survey, 62 percent of smartphone users fail to use a password to access their home screen.

You might be surprised to know that according to a survey conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, the business social network LinkedIn had the highest identity-theft rate at ten percent, vs. five percent for the general population. The rate for Google+ users was 7 percent, 6.3 percent for Twitter and 5.7 percent amongst users Facebook. Note that these figures are all about a year old and are probably much higher today. Facebook, says Javelin, is probably the lowest due to the availability and awareness of those much-maligned but highly effective privacy settings.

On the other end of the scale, LinkedIn is probably high because users perceive LinkedIn as a business platform and take fewer precautions, given an assumption you are connecting with like-minded business people rather than spammers, or worse.

And here is another sobering thought–you will recall that large security breaches involving Sony, Epsilon and RSA together with several government entities in 2011 represented a whopping 67 percent increase over the same period in 2010.

Ways you can protect yourself include keeping your antivirus software updated on all devices, the consistent use of strong passwords (featuring a mix of letters, numbers and symbols), and the use of different passwords for each account. And avoid storing personal information on a mobile device. All it takes is the laying down of your Blackberry or iPhone for a split second in a crowded venue and suddenly, it’s gone – with all your personal information along for the ride.

Even emails can get you in trouble, by inadvertently hitting ‘Reply all’ instead of just ‘reply.’ In so doing you may have sent sensitive, hurtful or even libelous information out to the masses.

There is little doubt that electronic communication and social networking are here to stay, as is the growing e-commerce. Protecting your identity is of paramount importance.

Tags: Identity Theft, Internet Privacy, internet security, Online Privacy, Online Security
Posted in Emerging Issues, Internet/E-commerce | No Comments »

Tax Alert: Tax Scam Tips to Avoid Getting Screwed

April 3rd, 2012. By AbiK

With two weeks left to file taxes, everyone’s in a bit of a scramble to fill out those 1040’s or 1040EZ’s. And, don’t you know that tax scammers know it. So here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a tax scam—after all, owing money to the IRS or going through an IRS audit is bad enough—but being a victim of identity theft due to a tax scam is potentially a lot worse.

Tax Scam Tip #1: The IRS Does Not Use Email or Social Media to Contact You.

If the IRS has a problem with you or your tax return, they’ll use the regular mail. So your mailman will be the bearer of those joyful greetings. The IRS will not send you an email. Therefore, if you receive an email from someone claiming to be the IRS, do not open it, do not open any attachments that may be on it, do not click on any links in it, and do not respond to it—it’s someone who’s phishing for your personal information. And keep in mind, the IRS website ends in “.gov”—not .net, .com, .org, .biz or any other domain extension—if you see those, be highly suspicious.

Likewise, while I’m sure there are some friendly folks working at the IRS, the IRS as a rule is not your friend and will not be sending you a message on Facebook or DM’ing you on Twitter.

If you receive either an email or a message on your social media channels from someone who claims to be the IRS, forward that information (you can send the email directly) to .

Tax Scam Tip #2: The IRS Does Not Request Your Personal Information by Phone (or Email).

Again, the IRS won’t ask you on-the-spot for things like your social security number or a password or a credit card or bank account number. So if you receive a phone call (or email for that matter) from someone claiming to be the IRS and they ask you to provide any of your personal information, just hang up. It is not the IRS calling.

Likewise, if someone calls, claiming to be the IRS, and they threaten you or try to intimidate you in order to get you to provide your social security number, bank account information or credit card numbers, hang up. No matter what you see in the movies or on t.v., the IRS doesn’t make phone calls to threaten anyone into giving them personal identification information.

Tax Scam Tip #3: Tax Prep is Not Free, and You Don’t have to Provide Money to Get a Refund.

Yes, you will have to pay to get your taxes prepared if you do not prepare them yourself. But if anyone tells you that you’re due a tax refund—but you’ll first have to repay the stimulus money you received last year—then you’re being scammed. You will never have to pay any money—other than for your tax preparer’s services–in order to receive a tax refund.

If you receive an email, phone call or other communication offering “free” tax preparation, delete it, hang up or toss it. Tax prep is not free. Additionally, no legitimate tax preparer can guarantee you a refund—you’ll get a refund if your tax return says you will. And a legitimate tax preparer will sign your return—in your presence—and provide you with a signed copy of your tax return.

As with any other business, when in doubt, you can always check out a business at the Better Business Bureau. And if you think you’ve been a victim of a tax scam, file a report with the IRS at the phishing email above, and if you’ve fallen for the scam without realizing it until later and think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, report it to the FTC.

Tags: Identity Theft, IRS, irs.gov, phishing, tax fraud, tax scam, taxes
Posted in Emerging Issues, Internet/E-commerce | No Comments »

Woman’s FBI Fib Raises Red Flags in Insurance Scam

August 24th, 2011. By AbiK

File under “What the hell was she thinking?”

Ok–here’s a flashback. 1984. Divine Sounds. “What People do for Money”. That’s it above. I’m thinking it must not of been on Bridgette Buckner’s Walkman way back when—otherwise she might’ve had a clue as to what would be in store for her should she ever foresee a future in fraud.

Which she did.

Yes, Bridgette Buckner, 50, of Bartlett IL, was a Totally Tortelicious, insurance fraud laughingstock waiting to happen. And here’s what happened…

Buckner clearly needed some cash—and what better way to get it than to get it from a dead person? So she claimed her husband died. Oh not just once like most husbands are eventually wont to do, but TWICE! Complete with forged death certificates and Lord knows what other supporting documentation.

She also claimed to have lost three children who apparently only lived in her mind—but that’s another, albeit related, story.

So back to the hubby with two lives. According to the Courier-News, Buckner worked for Hallmark Services in Aurora, IL. And it was there that she filed her life insurance claims. But—and this is the part I absolutely love—she claimed her husband—the second but same one who died previously, was an FBI agent who died in the line of fire! Boy, when Buckner claims a death she lets it rip (no pun) with the heroics, no?

And…the security consultants who wound up reviewing her claim were actually former FBI agents—what, pray tell, are the odds of that? Needless to say, Buckner could not possibly have raised any more red flags to alert her employer to her insurance scam.

As the story unwinds, Buckner’s husband is alive and kicking–he’s estranged (any guesses as to why? ok…ok…my bad) and not an FBI agent. When presented with these tidbits, Buckner was reportedly incredulous stating, “You mean he’s not dead?” How the investigators refrained from responding with “Well, he did rise up from the dead once before, right?” is beyond me.

Poor Bridgette. She’s now set to be sentenced next month. And p.s., she’s since added being charged with identity theft.

Tags: Bridgette Buckner, FBI, Hallmark Services, Identity Theft, Insurance Fraud, Insurance scam, life insurance
Posted in Emerging Issues, Insurance | No Comments »

Parent Alert: Guard Your Children’s Social Security Numbers

August 18th, 2010. By AbiK

Every parent knows that in the midst of all the anticipation of that joyous little bundle…that new addition to the family…there’s someone at the hospital pushing papers in front of you that you’ll need to sign in order to secure a social security number for your not-even-born-yet child. They sort of tell you it’s a “convenience”—that it’ll save you the hassle of applying for a social security number for your child later. And you think, “Wow, that’s great how they just handle everything at the hospital!”

And it is. Until you read the latest news on a growing identity theft tactic that targets children’s social security numbers.

At first, it seems a bit odd—why go after a child’s social security number? After all, there isn’t even any credit history associated with it. But that’s just the point…it’s got super-clean credit. And it’s also unlikely to be used or needed for quite a few years. So why not “borrow” it?

See, it used to be that credit and identity thieves would try things like applying for credit with a Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Identity Theft, Social Security
Posted in Consumer Fraud | No Comments »