Scams Alert
10 Unbelievable Yet True Identity Theft Stories
Think you’ve heard it all when it comes to stories about identity theft? Think again. Check out these 10 shocking but true identity theft stories.
1. Get Your Identity Stolen…And Then Get Sued.
Imagine: You’re a single mom from the Bronx working hard to get by on just $2,000 a month. Suddenly one day, $38,000 disappears from your savings account and your bank slaps you with a lawsuit demanding $23,000! That’s exactly what happened to Gloria Carlo two years ago, the New York Post reports. Carlo says she lost more than $68,000 in total as a result of identity thieves stealing her information and making purchases on Jewelry Television, Shop NBC, QVC and the Home Shopping Network.
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:
Job-seekers: Could Your Personal Information Be Stolen?
Could you have your personal information stolen when you apply for a job? In a down economy where jobs are hard to come by, it appears some people will do just about anything for work—identity theft included.
The CBS news affiliate in Durant, Oklahoma, reports that James Matthew Chandler had his personal information stolen while applying for a job at J.C. Potter, a local sausage company. Another man used Chandler’s name, Social Security number and birthday to apply for the same job—and was actually hired!
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!
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