Identity Theft Tips
15 Staggering Identity Theft Crime Statistics
Do you know the annual cost of identity theft? Looking to assess your chances of becoming an identity theft scheme victim? We compiled 15 of the most staggering identity theft crime statistics for you.
They are numbers you truly have to see to believe:
1. Identity theft affected 10 million people last year, according to a 2009 Javelin Strategy & Research Center study compiling identity theft crime statistics. That’s up 22% from 2007.
2. The mean cost of identity theft per ID theft victim is $500, the Javelin study found.
Are You Safe From Medical Records Theft?
Sure, you relentlessly guard your Social Security number.
True, you go above and beyond to safeguard your credit card information.
And not even the wisest identity thief could crack your passwords.
But are you safe from medical records theft, too?
You may not even realize you need to protect your medical information. But a growing number of identity theft victims are victims of medical records theft. According to a 2007 Federal Trade Commission survey, the most recent of its kind, there were 3 times as many medical information theft victims in 2005 compared to 2001. Medical identity thieves may use your information to:
Are Your Kids’ Identities Safe Online? Follow These 8 Tips
Are your kids safe online? Children these days spend hours on the Internet, whether they’re doing their homework, playing games or communicating with friends. But could they be losing their identities online, as well?
As a parent, you’ve likely set some parameters for keeping your kids safe online: the sites they can visit, the hours they can spend online and the people they should steer clear of. But identity thieves become savvier and more cunning every day.
Follow these 8 tips to ensure the identities of your kids are safe online:
College Student Safety: Identity Theft a Concern as Students Head Back to School
September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month and the time college students are making their way, sometimes for the first time, to unfamiliar college campuses. Many parents are worried about college student safety and their child being away from home–but many never dreamed that they would have to worry about their child’s identity being stolen and possible financial ruin.
College students have always been easy marks for identity theft because their credit is ripe for the taking. Students’ Social Security numbers have traditionally been openly displayed on student badges, testing information, in filing cabinets and databases all over campus. Landlords and those involved in campus housing also have access to students’ identifying information.
ID Theft Expert Robert Siciliano Explains How to Protect Yourself
In light of the recent data breach involving a former informant for the Secret Service in which some 130 million credit card numbers were compromised, ID theft expert Robert Siciliano appeared on Danny Fontana on Finance to explain some simple proactive steps that everyone can take to protect themselves from having their identities stolen. 
Identity Theft of Children: How to Protect Your Family
Identity theft is scary and surprising when it comes from the hands of a stranger. But think of what it must feel like if your own family members stole your identity and used it for their own financial gains?
The Latest Identity Theft Scheme Involves Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke
Ben Bernanke
It recently became frighteningly clear that no one is immune to identity theft schemes, not even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. On Aug. 25, Newsweek reported that Bernanke was one of hundreds of victims in an elaborate identity theft scheme. Led by Clyde Austin Gray Jr., who has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the criminals stole more than $2.1 million from hundreds of consumers and 10 financial institutions.
Online Credit Card Theft Affects 130 Million: Learn to Protect Yourself
As many as 130 million people may be the latest victims of online credit card theft.
Two men were indicted in New Jersey this week for allegedly stealing 130 million credit and debit card numbers. It’s being called the largest identity theft case in American history.
Authorities say the men stole the numbers from credit card processor Heartland Payment Systems, convenience store chain 7-Eleven Inc. and supermarket chain Hannaford Brothers Co., Reuters reports. According to prosecutors, as early as 2006, the men began assessing the list of Fortune 500 companies and identifying potential vulnerabilities in their computer systems.
Are You Safe From the Latest Facebook and Twitter Scams?
When you log on to social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, are you worried about preventing identity theft?
Maybe you should be. Three in 10 people have experienced some type of scam on a social networking site, according to a study by security firm Webroot.
Security Central magazine in July pinpointed 5 of the latest social networking site scams. Ensure identity theft protection by learning and avoiding them:
1. Send me money!
For Preventing Identity Theft Online: 5 Must-Follow Tips
Preventing identity theft online is vital, and with good reason. In 2008, nearly 10 million people had some type of identity theft crime committed against them. A major part of this is due to the explosion and convenience of online commerce and communication. The good news is that while identity theft is common, a little knowledge goes a long way to help prevent potential issues.
To get you started, here are 5 Must-Follow Tips For Preventing Identity Theft Online:
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