Child ID Theft, Top Ten ID Theft Tips, Facebook Button, Social Networking, ID Theft Breach
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How to tell if your child’s identity has been stolen
www.msnbc.msn.com
We’ve heard the nightmares of adults having their identity stolen — someone else using their Social Security numbers (SSN), ruining credit and lives. Now imagine the horror of discovering that someone has been using your child’s SSN.
Wait, how can that be? Children aren’t allowed to apply for credit, so how can a thief have access to that personal information?
It’s all in the way the SSN system is set up, according to Jay Foley, executive director at the Identity Theft Resource Center. The numbers are recorded by date of issue, not date of birth. That means it is impossible to tell if an issued number belongs to an infant or an adult immigrant.
“When a creditor gets a request in with a valid SSN, one that they can confirm has been issued, they don’t get information telling them to whom the number was issued,” Foley said. “That’s not information Social Security gives out. Nor is it information that the three credit reporting agencies have access to.”
From that point, it is easy for the thief to put down his name, a date of birth, and a reasonable excuse for why he his Social Security number had been issued recently…more…
Top Ten Identity Theft Prevention Tips
www.identitythefthappens.com
1. What is identity theft anyway?
2. How are these people getting my personal identification?
3. What steps can I personally take to prevent identity theft?
4. How do I know if I’m ok, if my identity hasn’t been stolen and used?
5. How can I fix my credit report and score?
6. Why do I need protection for my credit?
7. Does checking my credit report frequently affect my credit score?
8. What is the most important piece of information that I need to protect?
9. What can I do to make sure I keep my good credit?
10. Can information be taken from my computer by viruses or online tracking devices?…more…
Fake ‘Dislike’ button on Facebook tied to identity theft scam
www.e-wisdom.com
Social networking site Facebook gives consumers and businesses a chance to connect on another level, although it can also present an opportunity for identity thieves.
Part of the interaction made available on the site includes a “Like” button, which can give members the chance to put their support behind a posting, product, service or event.
However, Facebook has yet to provide a “Dislike” button, and scammers have taken notice.
The Better Business Bureau announced recently that some thieves have set up a fake Dislike button. Clicking on it could install a program on a person’s computer that can track their information and lead to identity theft.
“While there have been multiple Facebook scams that have popped up recently, this is the first scam involving a dislike button,” the BBB said…more…
Price To Pay For Social Networking – Identity Theft
www.watblog.com
Social networking is a craze for everyone in the country. These days, when you meet someone new, usually the first question is, ” Are you on Facebook / Twitter?” (Orkut might be a part of the question only if your new acquaintances are unfamiliar with social networking faux pas) LinkedIn is another social networking website which may get a mention if the meeting is on a professional front.
Some of us might deny it, but such websites have become an important part of our lives for the sole reason of networking; be it with friends, family, or people in your field of work. But what is the price we are paying for putting all our information on these websites?…more…
Laptop with Social Security numbers stolen from UConn West Hartford
www.westhartfordnews.com
University of Connecticut officials are investigating the theft of a laptop computer from its West Hartford campus that contains the names and Social Security numbers of 10,174 applicants, many of whom were selected for consideration to attend the regional campus.
This is the second incident of a missing laptop with sensitive information made public this week. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating the theft of a laptop from the Yale School of Medicine that contained clinical health information for approximately 1,000 patients.
UConn officials said the theft of its laptop, which was being kept in a storage cabinet at the West Hartford campus information technology department, was discovered Aug. 3.
They said steps have been taken to prevent unauthorized access to the university through this computer and there is no indication it was stolen for the purpose of identify theft…more…
Guest column: Beware: Your medical identity is at risk, too
www.desmoinesregister.com
Imagine giving insulin to a non-diabetic, prescribing medication to a patient severely allergic to it or administering the wrong type of blood. If identity thieves use a victim’s personal information for medical care and inaccurate information is placed in their medical file, these examples could become a sobering reality.
Medical information is the fastest growing segment of identity theft. Health care facilities are prime targets for their medical files that contain insurance and payment information, as well as Social Security numbers, on hundreds or even thousands of patients. Thieves can sell this data or use it to craft a new identity.
Under the victim’s name, a thief can get health care services, surgery or prescription medications at the victim’s expense, with the wrong information going right into the victim’s medical file. For the victim it can mean other serious issues, too, such as:
- Fraudulent medical or pharmaceutical bills.
- Fraudulent insurance claims.
- Unpaid medical bills showing up on a credit report.
- Denial of insurance claims or coverage.
- Employers screening out a job application, if they find health problems that might pose risks or costs…more…
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