Posts Tagged ‘Social Security Number’

PostHeaderIcon Top 10 Things Every Taxpayer Should Know About Identity Theft …

Taxpayers need to be careful to protect their personal information. Identity thieves use many methods to steal personal information and then they use the information to file a tax return and get a refund. Here are 10 things the IRS wants you to know about identity theft so you can avoid becoming the victim of an identity thief.

1. The IRS does not initiate contact with a taxpayer by e-mail.

2. If you receive a scam e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

3. Identity thieves get your personal information by many different means, including:

  • Stealing your wallet or purse
  • Posing as someone who needs information about you through a phone call or e-mail
  • Looking through your trash for personal information
  • Accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site.

4. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS but does not begin with ‘www.irs.gov’, forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

5. To learn how to identify a secure website, visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.onguardonline.gov/tools/recognize-secure-site-using-ssl.aspx

6. If your Social Security number is stolen, another individual may use it to get a job. That person’s employer may report income earned by them to the IRS using your Social Security number, thus making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.

7. Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don’t know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address or phone number on the IRS notice.

8. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet, questionable credit card activity, or credit report, you need to provide the IRS with proof of your identity. You should submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification – such as a Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport – along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. As an option, you can also contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 800-908-4490. You should also follow FTC guidance for reporting identity theft at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

9. Show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting purposes. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your Social Security number.

10. For more information about identity theft – including information about how to report identity theft, phishing and related fraudulent activity – visit the IRS Identity Theft and Your Tax Records Page, which you can find by searching “Identity Theft” on the IRS.gov home page.

PostHeaderIcon Identity theft and credit card fraud! | Mortgage Refinancing …











Identity thieves others to use personal information for many things. The most common use is the credit card fraud. After obtaining a target of personal details, thieves can open new lines of credit, to divert the credit card accounts available, and go on spending sprees with other people’s money. Here is an overview of the many tactics thieves use to commit identity fraud by credit card.

The opening of new accounts
Armed with personal information such as name, date of birth and social security number, thieves can impersonate someone else to open new lines of credit. They can apply for credit cards on behalf of the victim, or steal prequalified credit offers from the target, the mailbox or trash. These sometimes contain preselected credit cards that thieves can activate it by calling a toll-free number. Many victims do not know that someone has taken the credit cards in their name until they receive calls from debt collectors or obtain loans fell due to a low credit score.

Misuse of existing accounts
In addition to opening new lines of credit, identity thieves can use them adequate information to make the audit. They are using their personal information from the victim to “verify” the thief of identity as the true account holder. Then the thief changes the account details such as PINs, passwords, billing and mailing address. Once an identity thief has control of any accounts it may be difficult to return to the proper owner before the thief wreaks financial havoc.

Skimming
Through the use of palm-sized devices for reading cards, thieves can drag all of their victims’ information card in no time at all. Skimming is a subtle, which typically crime is not detected until the victim notices of fraudulent credit card. Anyone who hands their card to an employee in the stores or restaurants is a potential target for scavengers. Some courses are also located in the gas pump and ATM card reader slots. This information card collection for identity thieves to use, and most devices are impossible for casual observers to detect.

Phishing and Vishing
Phishing is a scam that thieves use to trick victims into providing personal information. Some thieves send e-mails that appear to come from banks or popular websites. They provide a link for the recipient to follow. The link takes the victim to a login page where they enter their information to verify it. What they really do is give their contact information for identity thieves. This scam can also be stored on the phone. This variant is known as vishing. Scammers claim to be representatives of the IRS or the victim’s personal bank. They ask the victim to verify the account information and personal data, or providing a telephone number where information can be entered from a telephone keypad.

Anytime someone uses a credit card without the permission of the cardholder, the fraud was committed. Credit card fraud is very popular and profitable type of identity theft and possibly cause more financial harm to the victim. To protect yourself, never give personal information over the phone. Avoid clicking on links in e-mails. Only pay with a credit card when you have, and stick to reputable companies that you are familiar. Well look at your credit card statements each month. Some crooks are many small charges that do not trigger alerts of fraud. If you see suspicious activity on your monthly bill, contact your card issuer immediately.

The best way to protect against credit card fraud is to take proactive steps to reduce your exposure to theft and possible diligently monitor your credit file. Although these measures may be carried out free of charge, we recommend some type of protection against identity theft including theft insurance. Many of us do not have the time or energy to regularly check our credit history and identity protection services are becoming more affordable. The protection industry of identity theft has really evolved, research, products, services and approaches vary greatly.





PostHeaderIcon Identity Theft Security | Wolf Tracking

Identity Theft Security

I learned th? hard way th? importance ?f identity protection. Three months ago, fr?m th? time ?f th?? writing, m? family suddenly ?nd unexpectedly lost everything b?????? ?f identity theft. Unfortunately, w? h?d heard ?f identity theft b?t never th??ght ?t ???ld befall m? family. It seemed unimaginable.

Lacking identity theft prevention, th?r?’s n? way ?f realizing identity theft h?? happened until ?t’s t?? late. Aft?r several months I ?t?rt?d receiving phone calls ?nd letters fr?m various credit card companies requiring m? t? pay m? debts t? th?m. Th? person wh? h?d stolen m? identity h?d gotten a number ?f credit cards ?n m? name, using m? social security number ?nd a neighbor’s address. Apparently, th?? ?? much simpler th?n one w??ld suspect.

Aft?r th? incident w?? behind ?? (although, w? never fully recovered), w? d???d?d ?t w?? time t? find ??m? form ?f identity protection. W? h?d seen a number ?f ads, b?t w? wanted t? find th? company th?t protected ?? th? m??t, r?th?r th?n th? one th?t advertised th? m??t.

Th? m??t ?m??rt?nt thing t? know ?b??t h?w t? prevent identity theft ?? th?t ??m? sort ?f monitoring service ?? th? best way t? defend yourself.

I w??ld pay dearly t? prevent th? experience fr?m ???r happening again, b?t th? company I ?h??? ?nl? charges per month. Scouring th? web f?r ???r illegally sold ?r traded information ?? included ?n th?t cost. Wh?n ?n? such activity ?? detected, th?? alert ??? ?nd h?l? ??? take steps t? resolve th? problem. Th?? w?ll ?l?? proactively keep ?n eye out n?w address information ?n various databases around th? web. If a detected address change ?? fraudulent, th?? work w?th ??? t? h?l? avoid further d?m?g? ?nd restore ????r?t? address information. Th?? n?t?f? ??? instantly ?f anyone uses ???r information t? apply f?r credit ?r services. Th?? w?ll reduce th? amount ?f credit card offers ??? receive ?n th? mail. Th?? even h??? 24/7 service representatives t? h?l? ??? ?n th? case ?f problems.

Searching f?r ?n identity prevention service ??n b? confusing, b?t ?? long ?? ??? consider ?ll ?f th? things I’ve mentioned here, ???’ll b? well ?n ???r way t? data security.

Keith M?? ?? a writer whose goal ?? t? h?l? ??? w?th <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.identity-protection.org/”>identity protection</a>, including <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.identity-protection.org/h?w-t?-prevent-identity-theft/”>h?w t? prevent identity theft</a> before ?t ???r happens.

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PostHeaderIcon Can I attach an extra pin number to my social security number to …

Golf Gal asked:

I have heard that there is a way to make it harder for credit cards to be opened in my name by adding a pin or something to my ssn. My mom has stolen my brother’s identity but he didnt press charges and now I am affraid that it will happen to me.. Is there something I can do to help prevent this?? Please help!

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PostHeaderIcon Identity Theft and Credit Fraud on the Rise

Identity theft is up and running in America. This very popular crime has accelerated as the economy has declined and more people are acting out of desperation on both sides of the fence. With criminals looking for an easy steal deal and consumers applying for more and more credit, the information superhighway is flooded with identity theft opportunities. Here are a few steps you can take to protect your ID.

ONE: Keep your social private. Criminals usually start with a social security number to begin fraudulent activity on your credit dime. Protect your social security number and only provide to trusted sources. Most applications ask for a SSN but its usually not required until final processing.

TWO: Rigorous credit report research. Your credit report has your SSN, present and past employers, and a list of all lines of credit in your name. It’s a field day for theft and criminals have a hall pass to take what they want once they have access to your credit report. There are monitoring services available that provide updates and push notifications anytime your report reflects activities and inquiries. At the very least, please run your credit free once a year to ensure you have not become a victim of identity theft.

THREE: Create no way to paste waste. Old bank statements and credit card offers should be shredded and thrown out. If you can legally have a bonfire in your backyard this could become a monthly event, even a party. Crosscutting also works well if you’re sitting there thinking, yea I’m never going to buy a shredder. Removing yourself from marketing lists will also decrease the amount of junk mail and offers you receive via snail mail that publicize your personal information - making less to cut, shred, or burn.

FOUR: Keeping content close. There’s no need to carry around every single piece of plastic you have. It’s no longer cool to have, like, 20 credit cards- ask Lindsay Lohan. Carry the cards and IDs you need only. Better yet, make photocopies of your ID and credit cards front and back and carry those, leaving the originals at home or in a safe place. Use the copier at the office, they’ll never know.

FIVE: Actually READ your mail. Did you know? Studies show, 95% of Americans today do NOT read their mail or monthly statements?! Always take a good once over of your monthly statements. There may be purchases you didn’t make. JP Morgan may be charging you a fee you didn’t know about. First Premier raised a lot of APRs to 79.9% - could be you, have you checked your statement?

There are nonprofit counseling services that offer free credit report reviews with certified credit counselors. Contact a credit counselor today for a free review of your credit report and see if you have been a victim of identity theft and whats affecting your credit negatively and positively in a free consultation. Nonprofit credit counseling services can improve credit while eliminating debt at lower fixed interest rates. Call 800.905.1563 or visit our website freedomdm.org and LIVE CHAT with a counselor. You can be debt free, Freedom Debt can help.