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Identity Theft: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Stolen Wallet
Many cases of identity theft start with a lost wallet or purse. Taking the right actions (and taking them quickly) can help protect you from that. Find out what you can do now.
H-8 Types
When we hear about identity theft, most of us think about credit cards and bank accounts. But there are several areas identity theft can strike, not just our wallet. Find out about the various forms of identity theft, and what you can do to reduce your risks.
Ecommerce_Security
The majority of identity theft takes place in the real world, away from the Internet. But the Internet is still a commonly used tool in identity theft, and Internet shopping is one area in which you are at risk. Learn online shopping safety tips to help protect your identity and your credit.
Police Report
Reporting identity theft to the police is the first step in recovering if you are a victim. There are some specific issues you want to be aware of when you are trying to get an identity theft police report, though.
ATM Cards
For years now the line has been blurred between credit cards and ATM cards (or debit cards). Although
How It Happens
How identity theft happens may include a combination of low and high tech methods, from simple phone scams to data breach.
Credit Card Fraud Prevention
Credit card fraud and identity theft are not the same crimes. But you still need to protect yourself from credit card fraud. Learn how in this article.
IDT and SSNs
Most people seem to think identity theft is a government issue, that our elected officials need to make
Repairing Credit Reports
Identity theft usually hits victims where it hurts most: in the wallet. If you've been victimized by identity theft, you want to clean the mess up quickly. This article walks you through the basics of fixing your credit report after identity theft.
IDT Definition
The definition of identity theft seems to vary depending on who you ask. Some sources think it only has to do with money, while others have a broader definition. So, what is identity theft?
Little Known ID Theft Risks
Identity theft starts in many different places. Some of those places are completely obvious, like your mail box and online, but there are other identity theft risks that you might not be so familiar with. Learn more about little known identity theft risks in this article.
Reporting Identity Theft 101
Identity theft happens to even those who protect their identities closely. But when it happens, you want to report it as quickly as possible to limit your liability. Use these steps to quickly report suspected identity theft.
EIN IDTheft
The strangest thing about identity theft is that you don't have to be a person to have it happen. Corporate identity theft (or business identity theft) is a very real concern, whether you are a mega corporation, a mom-and-pop shop, or just run a home-based business.
Identity Theft Scams
The risk of identity theft presents itself at every turn. Learn what some of the most common identity theft scams are, and how to prevent them.
ID Theft Recovery
It's scary when identity theft happens. Your first instinct is to panic. But you shouldn't. Instead, begin immediately to put your identity back together following these steps.
Protection Programs
In 2008 the FTC published a brochure – To Buy or Not To Buy . In it, they say most identity theft protection
Spyware Protection
Spyware is one of the most prevalent methods that identity thieves use to collect the information needed to steal your identity. Learn how to recognize and protect your computer from spyware threats.
Financial IDT
Identity theft can have deep and long-term effects on your life, but when someone digs into your wallet for your bank or credit card, it can send you in a tailspin.
Dealing with Banks
When an identity thief gets your debit card of finds a way into your bank account, you will be fighting with the bank to get your hard-earned money back. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act is the law your bank will most follow as you try to get your cash back.
Risk Assess
Knowing what information an identity thief is after can help you protect yourself from identity theft.
The Cloud
Cloud computing, or “the Cloud”, is now being marketed to companies as an inexpensive online data storage solution. But with data breaches in the news on a daily bases, data security is a big concern when it comes to those companies putting your personal information somewhere they have no control over.
Mail_Theft
The most commonly used means of identity theft in the real world is mail theft and redirection. This article explains the crime and provides tips for protecting your mail and your identity.
IDT History 1
The history of identity theft goes back quite some time, there is even an account of it in the Bible. But the more recent history of identity theft can be very telling about where we are heading.
IDT Legal Help
Most people are a little intimidated by lawyers, but when you look to protecting yourself and your family from identity theft, having access to legal help can be a critical part of fixing your problems.
Who - F and F
We usually trust family and friends to look out for us, but what can we expect if it is someone close to us who commits identity theft?
Spear Phishing
Phishing is already a mainstay in identity theft attacks, but now a new method of attack is emerging. Spear phishing targets individuals and can be far more costly than its predecessor. Learn what spear phishing is and how to protect yourself.
FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives identity theft victims specific rights when it comes to recovering from identity theft - rights that most businesses still try to take from the victim.
Javelin 1
I always look forward to this report being released - Javelin has been keeping an eye on these numbers for over a decade now.
Employment Scams
Unemployment rates keep rising. But identity thieves don't care if you're out of work. They'll take advantage of you anyway with employment scams designed to steal your personal information. Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft employment scams.
Foodbank
When you’re down on your luck, getting something to eat may have a bigger pricetag than you expect…
Protect Personal Information
You're told all the time to protect your personal information, but do you know what to protect? What information is it that identity thieves are after? And is some information more valuable than others? Find out what personal information thieves want most in this article.
Vishing
Vishing uses social engineering and phishing techniques to steal people's identities using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone lines.
Monitoring Credit Reports
Your credit report is center of your financial world. It's also the main target for identity theft. Learn how to monitor your credit report and keep your identity safe from identity theft.
Social Engineering
The practice of deceiving someone, either in person, over the phone, or using a computer, with the express intent of breaching some level of security either personal or professional.
Protect Yourself
Although it's nearly impossible to stop, there are things you can do to help protect yourself from identity theft. Here are some recommendations by experts in identity theft.
Review: TrustedID
Product Review: TrustedID
Which Mail to Shred
Postal mail is one of the most used methods of identity theft. Learn what mail puts you at risk, and then reduce the risk by shredding it.
5 ID Theft Protection Methods
Identity theft is a common crime that affects everyone. Learn how to protect yourself from mortgage scams, mail fraud, credit fraud, and other identity crimes.
Hiding Behind an IP
While wireless internet (WiFi) gives you the ability to take your internet virtually anywhere, an open network allows anyone to get an IP address under your account.
Cell Phone Safety
Social media like Facebook and Twitter are just a couple of places you must think about when looking at your cell phone security. But cell phone safety doesn’t end with social networking…
PrePaid Cards
Prepaid (or reloadable) debit cards are a clever way to protect your money, and shop online securely, if you use them properly.
Spoofing
Spoofing is a broad-ranging term that essentially means to pretend to be something or someone that you're not. It is, however, much more complicated.
IRS Hotline
The Internal Revenue Service now has a toll-free hotline for identity theft victims.
FACTA
FACTA or the FACT Act, is a primary Federal law related to identity theft and data security. It gives consumers specific rights, and provides businesses with guidelines about how to protect your personal information.
What Do I Do
Statistics the past few years say that the chances of being a victim of identity theft are rapidly on the rise. It’s just as important to know what to do when if happens to you as it is to know how to prevent identity theft, or at least reduce your risk of being a victim.
Credit Report Freeze
A credit freeze, or credit report freeze, locks down a consumer's credit report so no new credit accounts can be activated without the proper authorization from the consumer.
Review:ITAC Sentinel
Product Review: ITAC Sentinel
EEs and Identity Theft
Most business owners understand there are risks involved with hiring a new employee. The new landscape created by identity theft and the potential of data breach can be a minefield if proper steps are not taken early on.
Smartphones
Now that the cell phone companies are marketing 3G and 4G capable “smartphones” like the Droid, Blackberry and iPhone, identity thieves are targeting these more heavily.
Credit Fraud Alert
A fraud alert is used to alert potential lenders that your identity may have been compromised by identity theft.
Social Networking
The phenomenon of social networks took the business world by surprise. But people are social by nature, so it's natural for them to want to participate in a social network. It's also natural for identity thieves to go where the information is, and people may be unknowingly placing themselves at risk with the information they include on social networking profiles. Learn what personal information not to include on your social networking profile in this article.
HIPAA
For medical identity theft, HIPAA is the principle law geared to protect consumers. This law is focused on your health information, who has access to it, and how it can be used.
LPRs and Privacy
License plate readers can sometimes help police catch the bad guys, but privacy advocates worry that police profiling is violating privacy.
Medical IDT
Money is the least of your worries if you've had a medical identity theft. Getting the wrong alergies or blood-type in your medical record can yield deadly results. Information shared through the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) means once your medical information is digital, anyone can get it, and (worse) it can get the wrong information into the hands of your doctor. And fixing medical identity theft is never easy.
SSN Protection Act 2010
The Social Security Number Protection Act of 2010 is one of several laws designed to protect your SSN from misuse by Federal, state and local governments. Unfortunately, there are several bills by the same name, and each seems to cover a different use of our Social Security Numbers.
Passwords
We use the internet for everything - online shopping, email, even managing our bank account - and we use passwords for everything. One key to protecting yourself form identity theft is to have good passwords. Here's some tips to help make killer passwords that will stop identity thieves in their tracks.
VLAN Security
An exploration of the concept of VLAN security as it relates to segmenting network traffic by threat/risk level and the all too common practice today of virtualizing everything and labeling it as “secure”.
Criminal IDT
You don't have to do something wrong to run afoul of the legal system. The Identity Theft Resource Center reported 56% of the identity theft victims they talked with reported the impostor used their information when they were arrested, booked, or arraigned. One third said there were criminal convictions in their name as a result of this, while still more found warrants in their name.
IDT Protection Progs
If you’re considering an identity theft protection program like many consumers today, it’s probably more important to know what it won’t do, than what it will.
Insurance IDT
Insurance identity theft can create issues in healthcare and finances. For many victims, the problem only starts there - the real impact is in future insurability.
Misinformation
Sometimes thinking you know something you don’t can have a big impact on your life. This is usually the case when it comes to identity theft, because there has been a lot of misinformation circulated over the past several years.
PurseWalletSafety
A stolen wallet or purse can mean more than just losing your cash and credit cards. It can also mean that your identity is at risk. Learn how to protect belongings and prevent identity theft
Kids and IDT
Watching out for your own identity can be tough, but when you think about your risks where your kids are concerned, there are a couple of things that need to be considered: what information they have, and who has their information.
What is Identity Theft
This basic explanation of identity theft details why criminals steal identities, who those thieves are, and how the crime is committed. Readers are reminded to remain constantly vigilant about protecting their identities.
Email Spoofing
Email spoofing is a technique that hackers use to send fraudulent emails and is often used as a tool to collect information need for identity theft activities.
GPS and Privacy
The US Supreme Courts decision in a recent case involving GPS may have ruled in favor of the defendant, but published opinion gives broad license to law enforcement when it comes to your cell phone.
Taxes and IDTheft
Tax time is big money for tax preparation services, like H&R Block. But the IRS will not give you a tax refund if they have already processed one this year in your name. And sometime, the culprit is an identity thief working for the tax service…
Synthetic Identity Fraud
Synthetic identity fraud occurs when an identity thief alters your personal information for the purpose of using it to gain access to information or money based on your credit history.
Disaster Identity Protection
Identity thieves never take a break. They're always looking for the next opportunity and natural disasters, like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes offer lots of opportunity. Learn how to protect your identity in the wake of a natural disaster
Identity Theft Restoration
Identity theft restoration programs are among the high-end of identity protection when it comes to price, but victims who have a restoration program almost always say it was well worth the investment.
Spotting a Phishing Email
It's estimated that 75-100 million phishing emails are sent out each day. These emails are designed to capture your personal and financial information so that criminals can steal your identity. Learn how spot a phishing emails so that you can protect yourself from this threat.
Biometrics
One way that shows a lot of promise in trying to combat identity theft is implementing biometric identification.
IDTheft by Gadget
Your cell phone, iPod, and GPS system might be putting you at risk for identity theft. These gadgets can be used by identity thieves to gain access to your personal information. Learn how to protect your identity by securing your personal gadgets.
Free Credit Report
Internet sites like FreeCreditReport.com say they will let you look at your personal credit report free, but may only show you one credit report. If you want to get your credit report free from all three credit reporting agencies, the best site is AnnualCreditReport.com, the governments gateway to watching your credit reports.
Phishing
You might want to Think twice before forwarding an e-mail – especially if it has been forwarded many
MIB
The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) is often cited as a potential threat of medical identity theft, but this is not precisely accurate.
College Identity Theft
College students are at high risk for identity theft. To protect themselves, they need to understand what identity theft is, where they are at risk, and what steps to take if they suspect identity theft. All of that information is included in this article.
IRS Form 8821
Social security identity theft often shows up around this time of year, in the form of tax fraud. IRS Form 8821 could provide you an early warning in the event someone is trying to file for your tax return.
Printers
Businesses scan, print, copy, and fax information all the time. Who would have suspected that the office printer they use is really an identity thief's Trojan horse?
ITADA
The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (ITADA or ITAD Act) was the first of many Federal laws targeting identity thieves.
Dealing w CC Companies
When identity theft strikes, it's not uncommon for the identity thief to get credit in the victim's name. It can be a slow process cleaning up the mess, often taking years. Find out what you can do, and how to start fixing the problem today.
Privacy
Identity theft relies on your personal information. How your personal information is handled, though, is a matter of law and how you protect your privacy.
The Federal Trade Commission
If you are an identity theft victim, you will end up talking with someone in the FTC. But they do more than collect information – they help consumers fight back against identity theft.
H-Biz IDT
Statistics say that 90% of all businesses fail during the first five years. Of the 10% that survive, 90% of those fail during the next five years. This is most often because the business owner had not taken into consideration factors that could ruin public perception, or impact his company directly.
Ongoing-Global
An update on how the Global Payment Systems data breach has evolved in the first 2 months.
Web Page Spoofing
Web page spoofing is just one type of deception that hackers use to trick people into providing personal information that can be used for the purposes of identity theft.
Prevent Senior ID Theft
Seniors make attractive identity theft targets because they have life-long credit worthiness, retirements funds, and can be too trusting. If you're a senior, learn how to protect your identity before someone steals your life's work.
Who - Organized
Because of the random nature, organized identity theft can be the most difficult to prepare for, or respond to. If you are a victim of organized identity theft, or if it is an identity theft ring who commits identity theft affecting you, be ready for anything.
Social Digital Identity
One of the emerging areas of personal privacy we have a great deal of control over is our social digital identity.
IDT Types Part 1
Although most of us think about money when we hear the words “identity theft”, financial identity theft is less of a concern than social security identity theft – and medical identity theft is often playing with your life… literally.
H-High Tech
Identity theft has already touched the lives of 10% of the American population, and shows no signs of slowing. The high-tech markets are paying attention, and now offer several new solutions that may protect us through the 21st century.
Medical IDT 2
Providing medical information electronically creates a problem for health care providers. How do they make critical information available while keeping our private information safe? Experts recently sounded off about the risks, and what's being done to protect their patients from this threat.
Medicare and Medical Identity Theft
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) know having your SSN on your Medicare card is a threat to your identity. Now they are looking at a fix...
IDTheft_Consumer Rights
It's frightening to realize that your identity has been stolen. But the sooner you realize it, you can begin to repair the damages. Before you even start the repair process, however, you need to understand your rights as a consumer. This article explains them.
IDTMonitoring
Glossary: Identity Theft Monitoring Service
Specialty
There is far more to consider than your credit rating when you are looking to protect your identity. Specialty consumer reports have become a common tool used by credit lenders, and therefore have become subject to the FCRA - meaning you can look at these reports, dispute information in them, and even make statements in them... free.
Red Flags Rule
The Red Flags Rule is an addition to FACTA that applies to companies which use credit reports, give information to credit reporting agencies, or accept payments from customers. This law requires companies to watch out for your identity, and to tell you if they see something wrong.
Collusion
One piece of the online privacy puzzle is focused on the digital profile created by companies that track you for marketing purposes. But this can also determine what information you see.
Med IDT - Not Funny
Mac McMillan sounds off about medical identity theft, and how it can impact victims for (literally) years beyond when the problem is discovered.
Questions
Everyone knows identity theft is a real problem today. Dozens of companies have crept up over the past
Monitor Your Credit
Monitoring your credit is the easiest way to stay on top of your identity. It's easy enough to get your free credit report, but there are many companies that try to trick you into enrolling in a credit monitoring program by saying they will give you one.
Small Biz IDTheft
Small businesses often believe they're too small to interest identity thieves, but they're wrong. Identity thieves have an intense interest in small businesses as Jennifer and Rick learned when their small business identity was stolen by a check forgery ring dealing in gray market goods.
NGI
Obviously as technology advances it will be used by law enforcement to catch bad guys, but privacy-minded organizations are concerned when the FBI ignores legal requests for information.
Biz Owner IDT
Technically speaking, a business can't be the victim of identity theft. But if you own a business, you should know that an identity theft that happens to you can close your doors for good.
Tax Time IDT
Tax time is a stressful time for most people. But identity theft can take stress to a new level. Tax time scams are common and growing in popularity. Learn how to spot a tax scam, and protect yourself from identity theft at tax time.
H - Who Commits
If you want to prevent identity theft, it’s important to know how identity theft happens, what information to protect, and who commits identity theft. Our friends, family, and trusted advisors are often more dangerous than identity theft rings.
2012 Illegal Immigration
The face of illegal immigration is evolving, and now, more than ever, political lines are being drawn.
EPD WiFi
Privacy is a big concern with regards to unsecured wireless networks, but a recent story about the Evansville Police Department may give you additional incentive to secure your home WiFi.
HIPAA-FACTA
Recent (and upcoming) identity theft laws look toward protecting your personal information.
Scams, Banks and Phishing
Phishing scams are identity theft scams that try to trick you out of your personal information - usually so they can create bank accounts or get credit cards in your name.
Google Glass
Google Glass promises to help merge technology seamlessly into our daily lives. Some are concerned that we will lose even more privacy, but an argument could also be made that the new toy could subtly change society in an unexpected way.
The Work Number
Thanks to Bob Sullivan (The Red Tape Chronicles) Equifax takes a prominent place in front of the controversies surrounding how personal information is being used by employers. And the year has just begun...
Victim Resources
Although not an exhaustive list of agencies, this article will give identity theft victims a launchpad to getting help with identity theft.
Baseline Services
Identity baselining may provide one of the most useful tools in recovering from an identity theft, but as a stand-alone service, they aren't so cost-effective.
Vacation Identity Theft
Vacation should be a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but it can turn into an identity theft nightmare if you're not careful. Learn how to protect your identity while you're on vacation.
Who - Trusted Adv
We have trusted advisors to guide us through life’s complications, but what can we expect if it is one of our trusted advisors who commits identity theft?
IRS and Your Right to Privacy
When I read the headline that the IRS said they didn't need warrants to get my email, I thought it was from The Onion. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was actually from CNet...
bit.ly
URL shortening services have quickly become a real problem for Facebook users. You never know what might happen if you just click a link…
ITERA
The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act can help consumers recoup the costs associated with having their identity stolen. Currently, this act is still pending approval of the President.
Going Viral
Sometimes I feel like a prophet of doom, walking around in sack cloth with ashes on my head, wearing
Schools and Biometrics
Biometrics have been presented as the answer to identity theft, but the technology brings with it certain privacy issues that have many up-in-arms.
Protection From Mortgage Scams
Mortgage fraud is often one of the results of identity theft. Learn how to protect yourself from mortgage fraud and prevent criminals from stealing your home right out from under you.
Identity Theft Reimbursement
Although at first the idea of an identity theft reimbursement program sounds good, but before you enroll in one, be sure you know what it does (and does not) cover.
Employers and Facebook
The debate heats up about the controversial practice of potential employers violating the privacy of job applicants by demanding their Facebook password.
RFCA
President Obama passed the Red Flags Clarification Act to help clear up who is covered by the Red Flags Rule, but the law actually puts more businesses under the requirements.
DATA-2011
HR 2221, the Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA) is the hot-topic in identity theft law. Officially the law is a data breach, or data privacy law, but look for the FTC to put this in the same category.
RFID Dust
The latest generation of RFID tracking tags is so small it's called RFID Dust.
2012 Taxes
According to the Consumer Sentinel Network, tax and work related identity theft exploded in 2011.
RFID-Bling
Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) is making bold promises in the fight against identity theft.
2012Kroll
Looking into the future, 2012 promises to offer new challenges and changing business models with regards to identity theft.
IDTheft and Mortgage Scams
Identity thieves are interested in your identity for what they can gain from it. When they can access your mortgage or the deed to your home, that can be literally the roof over your head. Your learn what the top mortgage scams are so that you can protect yourself from criminals that would use your information to steal your home.
Candid Convo
Enrolling in an identity theft protection program may be the only thing you can really do about identity theft to protect yourself.
Preventing Identity Theft
Identity theft happens to about 8 million people each year in the US. The best way to protect yourself is to know how identity theft happens. Learn what signs to look for and the best methods for preventing identity theft.
Employers and Facebook Privacy
The recent rise of reports indicate potential employers (and schools) are violating privacy by demanding Facebook passwords.
Email Privacy
Federal legislation could give police access to your private email even without a warrant.
Healthcare
The impacts of medical identity theft, insurance identity theft, and social security identity theft are felt most heavily by individuals impacted by the crimes. But the Department of Health and Human Services has set up a new way for healthcare providers to deal with the problem if it happens to their offices.
iWallet
The latest high-tech idea, the iWallet, combines Bluetooth technology and biometric identification to keep your personal information safe and sound.
Aurora
Investigating James Holmes and the Aurora, CO shooting, some things are less-than-obvious, but could be more important to pay attention to for the average citizen.
2012 Privacy
The Federal government is taking a renewed interest in personal privacy, and the practices that seem to be violating it.
Customers
Having customers creates special problems, from customer service, loss prevention. If your business is working with some sort of product or service, then it's a good idea to take a look at the different ways identity theft can impact your business.
Asking Questions
If you’re interested in protecting your rights as a customer or client, it’s important to know the right questions to ask. Businesses are usually glad to make sure they address your concerns.
CIPA
Covering CIPA regulation and general issues associated with implementation, to include legal challenges and cost to organizations.
CALPIRG
The California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) highlights the impact of technology on identity theft and the climbing cost of new account fraud to victims.
Birthers
The “Birther” movement has been in the news for a while. I’ve been watching it, waiting for something
2012 Sentinel Report
The Consumer Sentinel Network 2012 Identity Theft report paints a picture of the government itself being under attack by identity thieves.
Online Business Practices
Doing business online has become part of our normal work routine, but some of the risks that have come about should give businesses pause for thought.
Zombie Wallet
If zombies steal your wallet or purse, you may have bigger worries than getting eaten. They may decide they want to be you instead…
E-Filing Taxes
Filing tax returns electronically (“e-filing”) can get your tax refund back to you in a matter of a couple of weeks. But there are some things you will want to know before you e-file your taxes.
IDT Insurance
Identity theft insurance is what many Americans have to protect themselves from identity theft. But they sometimes find that what their insurance agent tells them, and what they actually have are completely different things.
Do I Need A Lawyer
Victims of identity theft seldom use an attorney, but in many situations, you'll need a lawyer to nafigate the red tape and minefields.

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