Category Archives: IdentityTheft

IdentityTheft

Antivirus

Read This Statement Very Carefully [br][br]

 

YOU NEED ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION FOR YOUR COMPUTER.  NOW.

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My preference, hands down, is Kaspersky Internet Security.  You can purchase this online, and download.  Setup takes about 15 minutes, and is pretty straight forward.  Alternatively, you can purchase at Best Buy, and the Geek Squad guys can install it in a couple minutes.[br][br]

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Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Comcast/Xfinity or Verizon FIOS do provide free antivirus for their subscribers but the products I have seen are Norton Antirus and McAffee.  Neither meet my standards, and McAffee is particularly badly behaved, although SOME protection is better than none.[br][br]

 

Rich Moyer[br]

484-902-8819[br]

richard.moyer.1953@gmail.com[br]

IdentityTheft

Paper Shredders

Gallery

I had occasion (sadly) to go through 4 file cabinets of documents as a result of flooding in our basement rec room (another story).  [br][br]

I’m a keeper – as in, “I don’t throw anything out I think I MIGHT NEED”.  Not the fanatical type, just the lazy type.  It was too much work to go through all this stuff and I could always find something BETTER to do.  As such, I had file cabinets filled with old records and estate documents for our long deceased parents (on both sides).  I HAD to deal with it now, since I had to unload those cabinets so the contractors could replace some water damaged sheet rock and replace the carpet.    [br][br]

So, I carved out a space in my “office” that I designated the “SHREDDING STATION”.  As I emptied each file cabinet, I dumped all the unnecessary documents (about 95% of them) into black 33 gallon garbage bags, that started to make quite a mountain of shredding candidates.    [br][br]

Every day, I would designate some time on my calendar to spend shredding.  It was a time carved out first, to get my face out of computer, shred some documents, and actually watch some TV.    [br][br]

My poor shredder got so hot at times, it just shut down (a safety feature in my Fellowes W11c shredder).  Important features to look for:    [br][br]

Automatic feed – when the “trigger” senses that there is paper in the feed slot, it starts shredding automatically.    [br][br]

Reversible – it should have a Normal and Reverse button so you can “back out” jammed paper.    [br][br]

Off switch – on mine, it is a center position on the 3-way switch – Normal – Off – Reverse.    [br][br]

Cross-cut or strip – I am not so paranoid about this information that I NEED a cross-cut shredder.   I don’t have anything THAT secret. At the time I purchased my shredder, my company was doing some confidential-level consulting, so my company sprung for a “medium duty, reliable shredder compliant with Level 3 Security standards”.  A strip shredder would serve my purpose now.  If someone wants to go through 33 gallon garbage bags to piece together the strips of paper to reassemble my PII, they worked for it.  Go for it.  At the time I bought this unit (YEARS ago, right after the cavemen invented paper), the cross-cut shredders were so much more expensive.  Now, that price difference is not so much.     [br][br]

Trash Bin – look for a shredder that has a trashcan that form-fits the shredder head.  Makes it so much easier, contains the mess, and makes your shredder “hands free”.    [br][br]

Shredder Sheet Capacity – My shredder is advertised to hold 11 sheets at a time.  It depends.  If you are talking standard copy paper weight paper, that may be, but many investment company statements (if you haven’t gone “paperless”) are on thicker paper stock.   If you have lots to shred, a 8-12 sheet capacity is just fine.  As you move to higher capacity models, that is also reflected in the price.  You can get a perfectly good shredder for around 30 bucks for home use.    [br][br]

Shredder Bags – I would do some comparison shopping.  Also consider the total capacity of the bags.  I use standard Tall Kitchen Bags – they are fairly thin, but are large enough to expand when emptying the trash bin.  You see, when you are shredding along and not paying attention, it’s not hard to fill that bin to capacity.  I use a tall kitchen bag inside the trash bin, then when I take off the shredder head, I lift that head slightly, then I just pull the tall bag up over the head to catch all the debris that dribbles down from the head. As I said, this is a messy job, but little tricks like this help keep it relatively contained.  BTW, I empty the tall kitchen bags into the heavy duty black 33 gallon trash bags – they will hold the contents of 4 or 5 of the tall kitchen bags, then I reuse the tall kitchen bags over and over. Frankly, I see no need for “Shredder Bags” at 20 bucks a pop.  I can buy the ones I use for 1/4 of the price at BJ’s.    [br][br]

 

Here are shredders and accessories available right here or on my Amazon Reseller Store.  You can purchase them right here, or to display the complete Amazon website simply click on the Amazon Reseller Store then the “Powered By Amazon” logo.  (This Amazon Reseller Store IS Amazon.  I am an authorized Affiliate and Reseller.  My Amazon Reseller Store allows me to put the actual Amazon links on my site for your convenience).  [br][br]

Rich Moyer  [br]

484-902-8819[br]

richard.moyer.1953@gmail.com[br][br]

IdentityTheft

Lake-Area Document Shredding Pick-Up Service Helps Businesses Avoid Identity Theft, Comply With Regulations

LakeExpo.com

CAMDENTON, Mo. — With the number of victims of identity theft continuing to increase, the laws regarding document destruction are becoming more and more stringent; the liability and legal requirements involved are a lot greater than some businesses may be aware of.

Lake Area Industries, a local organization dedicated to offering the developmentally disabled meaningful employment, offers a document-shredding service to helps local businesses protect themselves and their clients from identify theft. LAI points out identity theft often occurs simply by the collection of papers containing sensitive information that are thrown in the trash rather than shredded.

Through an ongoing pick up contract with LAI, businesses are provided with a secured bin to dispose of sensitive documents and are able to arrange pick up times that best meet their needs.

Since 1983, Lake Area Industries, Inc. has been providing meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities, providing them daily challenges and support to reach their greatest potential. LAI also partners with and supports other non-profit organizations, in an effort to help others in the Lake Area.To learn more about Lake Area Industries contact 573-346-7934 or find them on Facebook.

IdentityTheft

Better Business Bureau advises filing tax returns early to lessen chances of ID theft

Better Business Bureau advises filing tax returns early to lessen chances of ID theft
Better Business Bureau
POSTED: 01/27/2016 08:06:33 AM MST

Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming is encouraging taxpayers to file early this tax season to protect themselves from income tax fraud, now the most common form of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission in the last five years.

Most victims are unaware their identity has been stolen until they file their return and discover that a return already has been filed using their Social Security Number. In some cases, the IRS may send the victim a letter informing the victim that it has identified a suspicious return using their SSN.

Signs that you are an income tax theft victim include:

– More than one tax return filed using your SSN.

– You owe additional tax, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return.

– IRS records indicate you received wages or other income from an employer for whom you did not work.

How can you prevent becoming a victim of tax identity fraud? Your BBB offers these tips:

File now if you can– This is not always possible for everyone, because many are waiting for their W2 paperwork; however, the sooner you file the better.

Use a business you trust– Check out tax professionals at bbb.org before making an appointment for the first time.

File electronically– If a refund is due, you can get your refund in less than a month by filing electronically and requesting that your refund be deposited directly into your account.

Use ID theft prevention measures– Do not carry your Social Security card and don’t provide the number to a business or organization just because they ask for it. In addition, don’t carry your Medicare card unless you’re going to a doctor for the first time.

Check your credit report– Request your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228. You will be asked for your Social Security number and date of birth for authentication purposes.

If your Social Security number is compromised and you know or suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS recommends:

– Responding immediately to any IRS notice; call the number provided or, if instructed, go to IDVerify.irs.gov.

– Completing IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, if your return is rejected because of a duplicate filing under your SSN or you are instructed to do so. Use a fillable form at IRS.gov, then attach the form to your return and mail according to instructions.

– Continuing to pay your taxes and file your tax return until the problem is resolved.

For more consumer tips and information, go to bbb.org.

IdentityTheft

Victim Of Identity Theft-The Good News And The Bad News

If you ever find yourself the victim of identity theft I have good news and bad news. The good news is that since this type of fraud is happening more and more often, the process of putting things back together has improved a little. Can you imagine what it was like to prove someone had stolen your identity and try to clear your name back when it was still relatively unheard of? The bad news is that even though it may be a little easier today to reestablish your good financial name, it can still be a huge hassle. In this article I will give you some tips of the steps you need to take to get your records and credit cleared up. One of the best things you can do to get things cleared up as soon as possible is to act quickly. The second most important thing is to keep careful records. Document everything: everyone you speak to about this issue as well as dates and times of the conversations, keep copies of any letters you send or receive during this "clean up" process. Other than those tips, here are the specific things you should do: 1. No matter what has alerted you to a problem, as soon as you see something is wrong immediately contact all three credit bureaus: Trans Union, Experian and Equifax. Make sure they understand that your information has been compromised, explain in detail what has happened and request a fraud alert is placed on your reports. This fraud alert should make it impossible for anyone to open up a line of credit using your information. Ask how long this fraud alert will stay in effect. It may only be for a few months but you may be able to have the time frame extended beyond that point. 2. If any of your existing credit cards are lost you should also contact all your credit card companies and let them know what has happened. They will probably cancel all your cards and reissue new ones to you. 3. Contact your bank to see what, if any, steps they think you should take. Opening a bank account in your name or even having someone add themselves to your account and then cleaning you out are very real scenarios. Your bank should be able to tell you what you, or they, can do and what safeguards can be put in place to protect your existing accounts. 4. And last, but definitely not least, contact your local police department and file a report. This can help out later when you are trying to put things back together again. It may also be important if the thief is ever caught. The bottom line is this: do everything you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim in the first place. And if you ever find that despite your best efforts someone has succeeded in stealing your identity be willing to take the time to get it sorted out. Never be afraid to ask questions, get the names and titles of the people you are dealing with and make a timeline. Keep all records and stay calm. This too shall pass. These tips can make it easier to get everything back to normal if you ever become the victim of identity theft. Richard Moyer is the Owner of http://WebcastSource.com. Check us out anytime for marketing tips and a free subscription to our cutting edge newsletter.

IdentityTheft

Identity Stolen What To Do-Tips How To Handle The Crisis

If you find yourself asking the question "identity stolen what to do?" then this article can help. I will go over some of the basic things you should do to minimize the impact of a stolen identity on your financial life. I will also go over some simple things you can do to spot the identity theft as early as possible. The sooner the theft is detected the more you can do to keep the damage to a minimum. So, here are the steps to take that will allow you to spot trouble right away: 1. You are legally allowed one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year. If you spread out when you get the report to one from one bureau every 3 months or so, you can spread it out for a year. This is a great tactic and will enable you to keep an eye on your reports all year long. Remember though that not all reports will have the same information. If you spot anything that doesn’t look right contact that particular bureau as soon as possible. This could very well be the first sign that someone has stolen your identity. 2. If you have some credit cards that are getting close to expiring but you haven’t received your new ones yet, this could be a sign that someone has stolen the new cards. It’s not uncommon for them to take them right out of your mailbox. If this happens contact the credit card company immediately. Also carefully read over all your credit card statements every month. If you see any unusual transactions contact the company right away. 3. If you receive a letter from the post office read it. Don’t ignore it. The post office will contact you at the address they have for you to notify you that someone has requested a change of address. This is a common ploy used by thieves: they will simply redirect your mail to themselves so they can search through your mail at their leisure. If you spot any of these issues it’s a good bet someone has stolen your identity and is trying to cash in. If that happens, or if your wallet is lost, do the following right away: 1. Contact all 3 credit bureaus and explain what has happened. Tell them you want a fraud report attached to your credit report. That way the thieves can’t open new lines of credit in your name. 2. Next, contact your bank as well as all the companies you have credit with. Tell them what has happened so they can monitor your accounts. Another common tactic is the thieves will add themselves to your account then once they are listed as one of the account holders, they will clean you out. 3. Contact your local police department as well as the FBI. You want to file a report and establish a time line. This will help protect you from the damage the crooks do. These are all just very basic steps, your local law enforcement agency, bank or credit bureau may well have more information for you. Do what they tell you to do. Also, make sure you keep careful and detailed records of every step in the process. Hopefully these tips will answer the question "identity stolen what to do"? Richard Moyer is the Owner of http://WebcastSource.com. Check us out anytime for marketing tips and a free subscription to our cutting edge newsletter.

IdentityTheft

How To Prevent Consumer Credit Card Fraud

We all know that most things have an upside and a downside. When it comes to the automation of our money system the upside would definitely have to be the added convenience. The downside, of course, would be the very real threat of identity theft.

In order to prevent consumer credit card fraud there are simple steps you can take. Remember, it may seem harmless since you probably won’t have to pay for any fraudulent use of your personal information, but don’t believe for a minute that the banks are going to absorb that loss, they will simply pass it on to you in the form of higher fees.

1. There are three major credit bureaus and it’s important to check all three.

Government regulations now make it possible for you to check your credit reports for free. By law each of the three credit reporting agencies need to allow you one free report every 12 months. If you want you can request one report from one agency every three months. It’s important to check all three because the information may not be the same on each one. If you find an error contact the credit agency immediately as this could be a sign of identity theft. It’s very important you pay especially close attention the the inquiries section. If some unknown organization is looking at your credit report it could be a sign that someone is using your identity to try and get a loan or a credit card. Also check all the addresses listed on your credit report. If there are addresses listed that aren’t yours it could mean someone is pretending to be you and is getting information sent to their house.

2. Don’t carry your social security card with you.

If your card is lost or stolen, a thief could have a field day with just this one piece of personal information. Instead get a lock box at home, or better yet, get a safety deposit box at your local bank and keep it locked up.

3. Shred all your documents.

Unfortunately thieves aren’t dumb, you would be surprised what they can do with even the most innocent of information. Don’t take a chance, shred everything. Also, try not to take your trash out until right before the trash men come to pick it up. It’s gross, but the truth is that many thieves will swoop in and grab trash bags right from your trash can. They will then go to some private location and sort through your trash trying to find some type of personal information.

4. Stop getting all those credit card offers in the mail.

Each time you get one it’s an open invitation for a thief to come by and grab it right from your mailbox, send it in, and get a credit card in your name that they will use. You can contact the credit card companies and tell them to stop sending you offers in the mail. If you do get an offer in the mail, make sure you shred everything that came with the offer so that thieves can’t get the information.

5. Don’t sign the back of your credit card

Instead of signing the back of your card, which only allows a thief to learn how to copy your signature, you can write ‘request ID’ , or something similar. That way the clerk should always ask to see some sort of identification whenever that card is used. These are just a few of the simple daily changes you can make to help prevent consumer credit card fraud.

By following these guidelines and using common sense, you can help keep the costs low for all of us and protect your good name at the same time.

Richard Moyer is the Owner of LifeBalanceb2b.com

<a href="http://LifeBalanceb2b.com">http://LifeBalanceb2b.com</a>.

Check us out anytime for Identity Theft Awareness and Prevention tips and resources, and a free subscription to our Home Business Tips newsletter.

IdentityTheft

RFID Blocking Products

I did some consulting for various companies and industries that adopted Radio Frequency Identification tags to control inventory and increase security.  Here are some examples of how this powerful technology is being used in industry. [br][br]

Pharmaceuticals  [br][br]

For instance, in the fully automated pharmaceutical distribution center, everything within the “sealed” warehouse, each item, each package, and each palette was tagged with RFID.  As the robot retrievers progressed to the aisle, rack, and shelf within the warehouse, they located the palette by scanning the palette tag, found the proper package or case, then scanned each product within the case or package to verify contents, quantity, and lot. [br][br]

Product Factory Warehousing [br][br]

We were doing a beta for a manufacturing company who had to shut down the whole factory in order to do fiscal quarter end and fiscal year end inventory.  We chose a section of the warehouse for our trial that had these monster rolls of material that were stored on floor to ceiling racks.  The rolls were lifted by a track-mounted crane.  We tagged the rolls on the top shelf of the rack, which was about 40 feet off the floor.  In the mock-inventory, we simply walked down the aisles in front of the racks, and the hand-held RFID scanners perfectly read the RFID tags, even the top-most racks closest to the ceiling. [br][br]

Credit Cards

So, your new credit card now has an RFID chip in it.  Some unscrupulous individual can be as far as 30 to 40 feet from you, and scan that RFID chip without you ever suspecting anything was wrong. [br][br]

Consumer Level Products for RFID Protection [br][br]

OK.  You caught me.  I bought MY RFID wallet from a late night infomercial.  $19.95 plus $6 shipping, and because I acted quickly, I got two wallets for the price of one, and all I had to do was pay the extra shipping. [br][br]

I’m not asking you to stay up nights to get a wallet for yourself.  I found two different types of RFID-shielding wallets in the “As seen on TV” store in the local outlet mall.  But, better yet, there are a whole bunch of them in different colors and designs on Amazon.  For your convenience, I listed them below.   [br][br]

(You can order right from here – I am an Amazon affiliate and have several mini-stores installed on my website.  Don’t worry, IT IS AMAZON.  Select any item and you are taken right to Amazon’s shopping basket and checkout). [br][br]

Recommended Products [br][br]

 

 

Rich Moyer

IdentityTheft

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