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Identity Theft, Credit Score, And Fraud

Sigrid Salucop — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:18:11 +0000

Getting a loan of whatever kind is a difficult process these days not only because you have to provide a number of documents for your application but because there just might be mistakes in your credit score report.

It’s not clerical errors that are the problem though, analysts say, it’s identity theft that usually ruin the credit reputation of law-abiding citizens who have no intention of running away from their debts.

If you are planning to apply for a loan, make sure that you check your credit score report and see if there is something amiss. If there is something wrong, it is best to contact the three credit bureaus and the authorities. This process is to ensure that this kind of mistake will not affect your credit rating in the future and will also protect you from unfortunate events such as what happened to a Washington resident who was sent to jail because another individual used his name. The person who stole his identity is a registered sex offender.

Some may say that this is an isolated case but it’s really not. There are a number of criminals out there just waiting for their chance to get a hold of anyone’s identity details so that they can use these details for illegal activities.

It’s not just about money anymore, a Seattle, Washington policeman said in an interview and this is true. It’s not just your credit that is at stake when it comes to identity theft because they could rob you off your freedom.

Just recently, the FBI sent a press release to news agency regarding the arrest of 53 year old Frederic Alan Gladle of Austin, Texas. Gladle was sentenced to 61 months in prison was ordered by US. District Judge Lee Yeakel to forfeit $84, 010 for Gladle’s role in a foreclosure rescue scam. The scam took place in a number of states where Gladle and his cohorts charged distressed homeowners to ensure that there will be a delay in the foreclosure of their homes.

According to FBI News Examiner Joel Hendon, Gladle was sentenced to jail not only for the foreclosure fraud but also for identity theft.

Gladle was also ordered by the US District Judge to close all his reloadable credit cards. Gladle and his crew reportedly earned $1.5 million in their operation.

Finance experts say that what Gladle did was rather cunning because he filed for bankruptcy in behalf of homeowners. According to US laws, a bank cannot foreclose a house that is owned by a person who has already filed for bankruptcy.

Identity Theft No Longer Just About The Money

Sigrid Salucop — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:17:42 +0000

Identity theft is definitely one of the biggest issues online. Stealing information and not just personal information per se has been around for centuries but today, aside from embedding spies in certain territories, some governments go as far as hacking computer systems to steal military secrets of other countries. An example of this one is Operation Shady Rat. Now your information might not be of any interest to any government of the world but this very same information may be deemed useful for criminals.

In this time and age where making money is very difficult thanks to the economy, there is a need for you to protect your personal information to ensure that you yourself are protected. There are a number of ways to protect ourselves from identity theft and this includes installing the right internet security and antivirus programs in our computers. Whatever you do online, it is always best to have protection. Crude as this may be, but having antivirus software is more like using a condom during sexual intercourse. It is one way to ensure that you don’t catch something.

According to statistics around 9.1 million people are victimized by identity thieves but what makes the issue a more horrible one is that it isn’t just your money that is at stake, it can even cause you your freedom. It’s not just online identity theft that you should be afraid of though because however the perpetuator got a hold of your personal information, his or her usage of this information can potentially ruin your life.

Back in the year 2010, Seattle, Washington resident Dan Wheeler was halted by a police officer because he made an illegal left turn. He later on made it in the headlines because the next thing that happened wasn’t something that Wheeler expected. He was told by the officer to get our of the car and put his hands on the car while the officer’s hand was on his gun. Wheeler asked the officer what he did.

Wheeler later on found out that the warrant was actually for a certain Jason Ellis, a registered sex offender. According to authorities Ellis has been using Wheeler’s name as an alias. Wheeler ended up in jail until of course he was able to convince the police that they have made a terrible mistake. This of course will scar Wheeler’s reputation for life and something that the system can do nothing about.

This is the reason why you should protect your personal information at all costs, because this time, it’s no longer just about the money.

What To Do If You Think Your Identity Was Stolen

Sigrid Salucop — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:56:39 +0000

Old fashioned robbery may just be a case of a robber wanting to make a few bucks or steal a few bucks for that matter but it is also a very effective way for criminals to steal other people’s identities. What happens when your social security number and other identification cards are stolen? What kind of consumer protection can one get from the government? Identity theft victims usually just file a report to the police and fail to follow up with the credit bureaus regarding blocking negative information on one’s credit records. You must remember that you are entitled to this blocking of negative information if you are victim of identity theft. If you want more information on this one, you should take a look at the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act.

If you report potential identity theft to the credit bureaus, you are entitled to getting a copy of your rights. If you do not receive this, you’d better call them and demand for it because the credit bureaus are required by law to provide this information.

You should remember that even if you have already told the police about potential identity theft, not informing the credit bureaus will not do you any good. In fact, it will only lead to you having to pay for things you did not buy or loans you did not apply for. You should have a fraud alert on your credit report to ensure that the fraud is stopped before it ever happens. What happens if you have a fraud alert on your account? This means that before any kind of credit or financial institution approves a loan or approves a new account under your name, they will call you at home first to confirm that it was you who opened the said account.

To add to your security, you can also get an advanced anti-fraud system in your account.

You would have to follow through once you have filed for a fraud alert in all credit bureaus because not all of them will update the system as fast as needed. Consumers have to be proactive when it comes to dealing with potential identity theft, experts say. Basically, it is up to you to ensure that you and your information are safe and not used by criminals for whatever purposes. If you fail to call the credit bureaus after your identity has been stolen, this is something that is difficult to repair.

Top 5 Identity Theft Scams

Sigrid Salucop — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:52:31 +0000

You probably have heard about these scams before but it pays that you read about them again –just in case you come across them and forget that they are just ways for scammers to steal your identity.

Phishing, how it’s done.

You will get an urgent-sounding email either from your bank, your credit card provider or a place where you get certain services from. The email is usually regarding an error with your account as well as a fake link that asks you for your login information. If you get a message like this one, it is better to call the company concerned and ask them if they sent you an email.

Pretexting, what is it?

This scam is more like phishing but this is done through your land line. Someone will call you at home and ask for pertinent information. They will of course say that they represent a certain company either from your bank or a government agency. These people will usually ask for your social security number and other information. How do you avoid this? Hang up and then call the company that the caller claimed to represent so that you can tip them off that some people are using their company name to steal personal information.

Rummaging.

Going through trash is not something that criminals find as demeaning because doing this is just part of the job especially when they are looking for pieces of paper with your information on it. Experts say that whenever you throw something out be it a piece of paper, hard drives or smartphones, make sure that they do not contain your information.

Fake job offer, how does this scam work?

This usually involves work from home jobs from phony companies. These “companies” would later on ask you to fill out a form that asks for your social security number, your bank details (supposedly for bank deposits) and other pertinent information.

Credit card skimming.

Remember those restaurants that were plagued with waiters and waitresses who use skimming devices to get the credit card information of unsuspecting customers? Well it’s not just restaurants that are victims of this identity theft scam, these skimmers are also installed in gas pumps and even in ATMs. How do you avoid getting your information skimmed? If you think that the machine where you need to swipe your card in looks like it’s been tampered, go somewhere else –don’t risk it.

Not sure how to protect yourself from scammers? Get advanced protection today.

Identity Theft: Protecting Your Information While Online

Sigrid Salucop — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:12:34 +0000

There are a number of ways for your information to be stolen while you are online. Your downloads, your unprotected wireless internet access, your email address, the potentially dangerous websites you go to and the things you reveal through social media can all be used by con artists to get your information. If you have done all the necessary measures to keep your personal information safe from prying eyes and still feel unsafe, you can always get advanced internet surveillance along with a proactive alert system that will of course alert you when something’s amiss in your credit report.

There are some identity protection systems that offer more than credit fraud protection but will also send you a message when your personal information is used. For example, if someone applies for a loan under your name, you will get a message about it. If someone lists a new address under one of your credit card accounts, this kind of system will send you an alert right away making it possible for you to arrest the situation asap. Identity theft is a silent crime and more often than not, perpetuators are already in some other state before the victim realizes that his or her identity was stolen.

If you think getting an identity protection system is too expensive, you can always check your credit score three times a year. This should be sufficient if you keep track of all your purchases and credit card or loan applications. It is important to be vigilant though because identity theft crimes are becoming more prevalent each day.

How else are you going to protect yourself? The only way for you to protect yourself and your information is to make sure that you do not reveal any type of information related to your identity or to your bank account to anyone.

When online, you shouldn’t reveal pertinent information on your posts or through your emails even if someone asks for them. The very event of someone asking you about this kind of information is already a red flag.

There are a number of ways for thieves to get your information, it can be online or through the phone or by stealing your bills. One way to protect your information is to be careful all the time. Secure your computer, your home and make sure that when you throw your bills that your vital information cannot be read.

Identity Theft And Social Media

Sigrid Salucop — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:59:16 +0000

No one is safe online. Wherever you are and whatever it is that you are doing on the internet, divulging too much information about yourself is never a good idea. Whether you are logged on Facebook, Twitter or any social networking site, it is best to keep your vital information to yourself.

Let’s face it, you do not know all of your “friends” in social networking sites –you might know them from somewhere but you do not know them like you know your close friends. Your close friends are not supposed to know about your social security number either so please, do not give this to a stranger or you would suffer the consequences later.

Other types of information such as your dog’s name or your favorite food or anything that ties your name, your social networking accounts and your email address to your personality can be used by hackers to guess your password. This will take a lot of guess work but if you keep obsessing about your dog Pickles or Pooch, some might guess that your password is Pickles1234 or Pooch1234. Some may say that using a password like the ones above is stupid, but one celebrity got hacked because the hackers just tried her dog’s name to get into her email account. Hackers are talented people and they can use social networking to get more information about you.

Another bad thing about social networking sites is putting information about your whereabouts. Let’s say Mary said she’s at the Hilton Hotel in Dubai or wherever, her stalkers will be able to track her pretty easily. It’s not just vital information that can be stolen from social networking sites, your own safety can be compromised.

The social networking site FourSquare is a great way for you to find out whether your friends are in the same area as you are. It makes it easy for your friends to know where you are too. This is a great website for those who love to meet up with friends or bump into them in a not-so-accidental fashion but I have seen quite a lot of people checking into banks. This is utterly stupid because it makes these people easy prey for identity thieves. Once you reveal which bank you use, you will probably get a few emails here and there that you need to update your online banking details.

To protect yourself from getting your information stolen online, you should exercise self-restraint. We know that privacy is already overrated but please, do not post every move you make in social networking sites. If you think someone has stolen your identity, better check your credit report asap –it will tell you if there are new accounts under your name that you do not know about.

Identity Theft Online: How do you protect yourself? (Part 2)

Sigrid Salucop — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:25:49 +0000

If you search for identity theft news, you will see that there are a number of identity theft cases in different police stations throughout the United States. The numbers are quite alarming and with these numbers, there is a big chance that you will become the next victim.

Identity theft crimes are usually associated with stealing money but those who steal other people’s identities can also use your good name for other criminal activities –be it selling drugs, stealing a car, conning other people, or using your photos and selling them as pornographic material –the list can go on and on.

This means that you should protect your vital information like your life depends on it –because it does. Let’s say you shred all your bills but if your information is something that thieves want, there is no stopping them. With the right software and a good amount of patience, anyone can piece together a document. So be more careful when throwing your bills out –make sure that they are unrecognizable. Aside from protecting your physical documents, you should also ensure that your digital data are not compromised.

I have mentioned phishing websites, emails, and the use of anti-virus software before so let’s move on to the next tips.

OpenDNS

What is real sexy about OpenDNS is that it improves your internet’s speed but what’s really great about it is it filters content. This means that your browser will alert you whenever you visit a website that is potentially unsafe.

Online Shopping

Online shopping is fun and very convenient. For those who do not want to go to their local department store, going to online stores is a bright idea. Although this is convenient, there are scrupulous websites that are there to steal your credit card numbers. Buy from reputable online stores only.

Different Password For Every Site

Logging in different websites using different passwords can be time consuming but this is necessary for you to protect your files and your information. Experts say that generating a secure password is a good way for you to get passwords that hackers will not be able to guess. If you do not have the memory of a genius and can’t remember all your passwords, it is best to write them down. You would have to keep that piece of paper safe though to make sure that no one else has them. You can also switch from one password to the other so you only pick from say 3 or 4 passwords.

Identity Theft Online: How do you protect yourself? (Part 1)

Sigrid Salucop — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:07:07 +0000

Identity theft is a serious problem in the United States and other parts of the world and no matter where you keep your information whether it’s in your office drawer or in your home – if it’s valuable to con artists, there is a way for that information to be stolen. Your identity being stolen can be a harrowing experience. With criminals in possession of your information, it makes it easy for them to open accounts under your name. They can also impersonate you for whatever purposes. One thing is for sure though, someone who stole your identity will be using your name for criminal activity.

If you are positive that all your information –the physical ones –your credit cards, your loan information, your bills, your passport, you social security number are in a safe location, you must think that securing your information does not stop there.

Going online can be a source of a leak and what’s worse is that you yourself will be causing this leak. How do you protect your identity while you are online?

Phishing Websites and Suspicious Emails

There are a number of phishing websites that will try to get your password for certain accounts. These websites usually pose as legitimate businesses or will pose as the new website of your bank. People who operate this scheme may also send you text messages, emails or even call you over the phone to try and extract you social security number, your name and other vital information out of you. If you are applying for a credit card or a loan, information such as your SSN your driver’s license number, your home address, your health insurance information and the like will be asked. This is of course legitimate but if this request for information is unsolicited, it would better to not respond.

Your Computer’s Security

Treat your computer like a database –it’s where most if not all of your information are and where most of your communications take place. If your computer is not protected, it is like an open invitation to strangers into your home –they can see what kind of soap you use, where your ventilation system is, etc. It’s the same with your computer –without any anti-virus or anti-malware program, you will be an easy target. Think of it as a security system to stop keyloggers, backdoors and other programs that may harm your files, steal your information or both.

Remember, it is better to get protection rather than not have it when you need it.

Equifax Coupon Code 2012 – Complete, ID Patrol, 3-In-1

Jason Molnar — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:14:02 +0000

Equifax ID Patrol Promotion Code

I am happy to announce that we’ve been given promotion codes from Equifax to offer to our visitors both from the United States and Canada. They have quite a selection of various products and services, so be sure to read our description of each package before choosing your discount. Each Equifax promotion code offer should be valid throughout all of 2012.

Equifax Promotion Codes

Equifax 3-In-1 Credit Report

To get access to all three major credit bureau reports (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax), use this coupon (no promotion code needed). Note, this report does not include your score. So, if knowing your credit scores is important to you, see below for the next promotion.

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Your request has been sent to the admin

expires 05/23/2012

Equifax 3 Bureau Report/Scores

To receive both scores and reports from all three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax), use this promotional coupon (no code necessary).

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NO CODE NEEDEDNO CODE NEEDED

Your request has been sent to the admin

expires 05/26/2012

Equifax Complete Protection

Click here to save on Equifax Complete, a comprehensive credit protection package. See below for our product comparison.

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Your request has been sent to the admin

expires 05/29/2012

Equifax ID Patrol - $14.95/month

Use this promotional link to save $2/month on Equifax ID Patrol. For more detailed information about this product, see our full ID Patrol review below.

12%

IDPATROLIDPATROL

Your request has been sent to the admin

expires 06/02/2012

Equifax.ca Canada Promotion Code

Equifax Canada Report+Score

Use this Equifax Canada promotion to get the lowest possible price on your credit report and score from Equifax.ca

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expires 05/31/2012

Equifax Canada Report

Use this link to guarantee the lowest price with an Equifax.ca promotion for your credit report without your score

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expires 06/06/2012

Equifax Coupon Code and Equifax Promotion Code for 2012

Bookmark this page for more coupon and promo codes for Equifax. As I mentioned earlier, these codes should be valid from now through the end of 2012, so please let us know below in our comments section if any aren’t working. We often test the codes ourselves to make sure that things continue to function properly, but bugs do happen on occasion.

Equifax has provided consumer credit data since 1899, although it did business under a different name back then (Retail Credit Company). The company has changed drastically over the past century to evolve into what it is today. Not only do they provide consumer credit reports, they also offer business analytics and other business services in a wide variety of markets. However, they are still best known for being one of the “Big 3” consumer credit agencies in the world.

Using an Equifax Promotion Code For Credit History

Equifax’s target market has spread worldwide, and at the end of 2011, they announced double-digit revenue growth in nearly every international market. This growth bodes well for the company’s future, and it’s a sign that the credit information quality continues to improve. Equifax has been tracking and issuing credit ratings for over 100 years, so they have plenty of experience.

Having access to the same credit report and credit scores that your creditors receive can help you understand why your loan application may have been denied, or why your interest rates are higher than expected. With our Equifax promotion code, it won’t cost you quite as much to discover this information and help you fix any inaccurate data. Plus, the identity fraud protection program can help prevent your financial information from being used by criminals for their own personal gain.

Equifax Complete vs. Equifax ID Patrol

We offer a full review of Equifax Complete Advantage, Complete Premiere, and Equifax ID Patrol on this page. But, the short story is that the best bang for the buck is either ID Patrol or Complete Premiere.

If you want access to your credit report on a regular basis, then we suggest Complete Premier, as that plan gives you nonstop access to your Equifax credit report. However, if having that information constantly at your fingertips is not a priority, then the Equifax ID Patrol promotion code is most likely the way to go. Both products are very similar, but the credit report access is an extra bonus that’s only available with the Premiere plan.

What Does Equifax Know About You?

Equifax has been around for over 100 years, and in that time, they have amassed a huge amount of knowledge on nearly every person in North America. They have partnerships with thousands of banks, credit unions, rental agencies, and utility billing companies. Through these partnerships, they are able to keep tabs on everyone’s payment history and credit-worthiness.

If you’ve fallen behind on your payments or have outstanding debts, Equifax (along with TransUnion and Experian) will usually have knowledge of that information. This data is part of your credit report which banks and other lenders will request before offering you a loan, a new rental contract, or many other cases where payment trust is a factor. Knowing what is on your own credit report is very important, so having an Equifax promotion code to save yourself money on the report make a lot of sense. Please let us know if any of our Equifax promo codes aren’t working below in the comments.

The credit agencies have been collecting more employment history over the past few years as well, so not only do they know how much money you have in outstanding loans and debts, they now also know where you work. This data allows creditors to find people in the case of a default or late payment situation. In extreme cases, a creditor can garnish wages in order to repay the debt. This is why it’s crucial to pay back debts on time and to always stay on top of your own credit report and credit score.

Other Identity Fraud Protection Services

If you’d like to compare their identity fraud protection service to others, don’t miss our LifeLock Review and LifeLock promo code. LifeLock Standard doesn’t directly provide credit protection, but they do cover other forms of identity theft, and LifeLock Ultimate does include some protection from credit fraud.

If you know of any other identity or credit fraud protection products that you’d like to see reviewed, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to get a post up soon. We hope that the Equifax promotion code you requested was working properly, but if it isn’t, please let us know below in the comments. We strive to provide the most up to date and useful coupons and promotion codes here at StartProducingWealth.com, so accuracy of information is paramount for us. Thanks for stopping by, and good luck on your journey towards having the best possible credit, free of identity theft problems.

Four defendants in jail for identity fraud

Sigrid Salucop — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:34:53 +0000

Four defendants were convicted after being on trial for over a month because of bank fraud –the biggest bank fraud in California’s history. The fraudulent activity victimized dozens of individuals from four different states. The losses, sources say, are worth millions of dollars.

The convictions were announced recently and Kristine Ogandzhanyan, Arman Sharopetrosian, Artush Margaryan and Karen Markosian were found guilty for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and attempted bank fraud. Sharopetrosian,Ogandzhanyan, and Markosian waived a jury trial and just consented a trial by the judge. Margaryan on the other hand proceeded with a jury trial.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter found 28-year-old Ogandzhanyan of Burbank, California was found guilty for two counts of attempted fraud, four counts of identity theft, and one count for bank fraud conspiracy. Sharopetrosian, 33 from the same town as Ogandzhanyan was found guilty on March 16^th, 2012 on four counts of bank fraud, seven counts for aggravated identity theft and one count for bank fraud conspiracy. The judge also found 39-year-old Markosian of Glendale, California guilty of one count of attempted bank fraud, two counts for aggravated identity theft and one count of bank fraud conspiracy. Van Nuys resident Artush Margaryan on the other hand was found guilty of bank fraud conspiracy, attempted bank fraud and three counts for aggravated identity theft.

Evidence was presented to the court that Sharopetrosian is also a member of the organized crime group called Armenian Power and that his accomplices Margaryan, Ogandzhanyan and Markosian are also associated with the syndicate. The evidence also pointed towards Sharopetrosian being the director of the massive fraud scheme. He and his co-defendant Angus Brown operated the whole scheme while the two were incarcerated at the Avenal State Prison. The two used cell phone were smuggled to the facility, sources say.

While the two were behind bars, they ordered Margaryan Markosian, and Ogandzhanyan to do the legwork for them. The three basically obtained confidential bank information to steal money from account holders.

How does one protect oneself from people like Sharopetrosian and his cohorts? You may need to get protection today either through Lifelock to monitor all your accounts or make use of your credit reports. Getting your credit reports on certain parts of the year will enable you to monitor what’s going on in your accounts and whether or not there are items that you did not purchase or apply for.