Prevent Identity Theft:

These Identity Theft Games Can Help You Stay Sharp

2012-05-17T13:20:43Z

The concept of identity theft games may seem a bit odd at first glance, but when you get right down to it, they're nothing to laugh at. Not only can they help adults stay sharp when it comes to ID theft facts, they're a good teaching tool for young people, especially those just starting out in the workforce.

The federal government maintains a variety of online ID theft resources at OnGuardOnline.gov, including a couple of nifty games.

Can Identity Theft Repair Companies Really Help?

2012-04-19T16:11:27Z

With 9 million new cases of identity theft reported each year, it was inevitable that specialized identity theft repair companies would soon appear to offer their services to the victims. While the help doesn't come cheap, to those traumatized by ID theft, their services can seem well worth the price. But are they really?

Let's take a closer look.

IRS Identity Theft Scams

2012-03-15T16:09:04Z

Nowadays, most people know that they need to be cautious in order to avoid falling prey to identity theft scams, especially online. But we also tend to pay close attention to missives we receive from the government, particularly the Internal Revenue Service.

It never occurs to most people that a scammer might be bold enough to risk the wrath of the IRS just to steal someone's identity. The purpose of this article is to dispel that dangerous illusion.

Debit Cards and ID Theft at the Gas Station

2012-02-16T20:02:55Z

By now, you probably know to avoid gas station identity theft by taking your credit or debit card receipts with you, and disposing of them properly. But even if you do everything right, you can still get zinged by a clever identity thief -- especially if you use your debit card at the pump.

It's bad enough that the oil companies hold you hostage. Why let someone steal your identity too?

The Identity Theft Red Flags Rule

2012-01-19T17:05:53Z

Most of us would agree that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is where the new identity theft "red flags rule" comes into play. These days, many businesses are required to inform you immediately if ID theft occurs during the implementation of their commerce.

That way, you can start working immediately on your identity theft fix, rather than finding out months or years later that someone's stolen your life.

Creative Identity Theft: It's on the Rise

2011-12-15T20:12:47Z

While the same old methods of ID theft keep occurring over and over again -- because, sadly, they work like gangbusters -- we've seen some surprisingly creative identity theft methods become more prominent recently.

While ID thieves can be dumb, they're not always. Sometimes they're pretty darn smart. We don't say that because we admire them, but because it's critical for you to realize that a lack of ethics doesn't necessarily equal a lack of brains. You have to remain very, very careful, even in situations when you shouldn't have to.

Identity Theft Trends for 2011 and Beyond

2011-11-17T17:57:02Z

As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, a quick look at identity theft trends reveals that the pilfering of financial information is still one of our biggest domestic problems. There's good news, though: ID theft has dropped by 28% since 2009, so those public awareness programs just might be working!

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors

2011-10-13T16:05:08Z

For many of us, the first hint of identity theft is a rash of credit report errors -- usually late notices or charge-offs for credit cards we don't even own. Setting the record straight is a difficult, time-consuming process, but you have to do it.

By law, credit reporting agencies must correct any inaccurate information when you point it out. But because they have to be very cautious before doing so, expect to have to jump through a few hoops first.

Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number

2011-09-16T00:17:21Z

Do you know where your Social Security Number is... or, more to the point, who it's with?

The truth is, most of us don't even know our SSNs by heart, and we don't take them seriously enough. Most of us see an SSN primarily as a form of identification, which it is - but more significantly, it's the form of ID that the government uses to track almost every aspect of your life.

How to Get a New Social Security Number

2011-08-18T22:27:49Z

In a recent article, I outlined what you should do if your Social Security Number has been hijacked. But what if the identity thief has irrevocably ruined that number for you, by running up bills in your name or otherwise performing illegal acts? Can you get a new number to help limit the damage?

Yes, you can. But don't expect it to be easy, because the Social Security Administration is very reluctant to hand out an SSN if you already have one. That's understandable, because it messes things up all up and down the line.

Dispelling Common Fraud Myths

2011-07-21T14:58:20Z

We all know about fraud, but how accurate is our information? There are a surprising number of myths floating around, some of them so common they've become accepted 'knowledge' -- much to the experts' dismay! Are you falling for any of these common myths?

Computer Tips to Protect You and Your Family

2011-06-16T14:52:21Z

Identity theft and computer tips go hand in hand. Sure, there are many methods of stealing someone's identity -- but online is the easiest and most common. That being the case you have to keep your eyes open wide and remember that as private as your computer feels, it's just like a window into your home: only as secure as you make it.

In fact, a window is exactly what your computer can be -- and without computer security tips, it could be a sliding window standing wide open with a sign that says 'come on in.' So if you want to protect yourself and your financial information from identity theft, take these computer tips to heart!

Identity Theft Recovery Tips and Resources

2011-05-19T14:44:03Z

There are few processes more painful than identity theft recovery. When you discover that you're an identity theft victim, it turns your entire world upside down. Who did this? How did they get your information? What else will they do with it, and what do they have access to?

Your world is upside down. Your most private information is now public. And worst of all, most victims of identity theft have absolutely no idea what to do next. Fortunately, you're not one of them. The fact that you're reading this article shows that you're already on the road to identity theft recovery.

Facebook Phishing: A New Social Phenomenon

2011-04-21T14:38:00Z

For the last decade, phishing has become an increasingly troublesome aspect of the internet. With the advent of social networking websites like Facebook, it was only natural that identity thieves take advantage of the phenomenon.

Unfortunately, many of us structure much of our social lives around Facebook and include a lot of personal information on those sites. Obviously, we don't post our social security numbers or credit card information in our profiles, but once someone has access to your Facebook account, they can do a surprising amount of damage.

What Is Identity Theft?

2011-03-17T14:30:45Z

It's almost impossible not to know about identity theft these days. But do you really know what it means? Many people know all about identity theft protection without really understanding what the crime is, what it consists of, and what it means.

Since knowledge is power, you should know everything you can about identity theft. Fortunately, all you have to do is keep reading!