Identity Theft Blog » Scams Alert

10 Unbelievable Yet True Identity Theft Stories

Cole — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:40:58 +0000

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.

2. Lose Your Laptop and Personal Information…And You Do the Suing.
On the other end of the spectrum is Raelyn Campbell, whose laptop containing her personal information was lost during warranty service from Best Buy, according to an identity theft story on engadget. She in turn filed a $54 million lawsuit against the mega retailer!

3. Identity Theft Victim, Meet Your Identity Thief.
The Los Angeles Times tells the story of one victim who took the crime into her own hands. A thief had stolen JCPenney sales clerk Michelle McCambridge’s information and opened up several credit card accounts—including with JCPenney—to charge thousands of dollars in purchases. After reporting the crime, McCambridge pulled JCPenney surveillance tapes of the crime in action and studied up on her identity thief. As luck would have it, several weeks later the thief showed up at McCambridge’s register trying to open up another line of credit! That twist of fate led to the indictment of five people involved in the scam.

4. Not Even to 4^th Grade Yet and Already a Victim of Identity Theft.
Parents, pay especially close attention to this unfortunate identity theft story. These days, ID theft victims are getting younger and younger. The Consumerist reports that a thief stole the identity of 9-year-old Kyle Shoemaker to open up two credit card accounts and an $18,000 line of credit. Apparently, ID thieves don’t discriminate against age.

5. Seattle Man Overcomes Cancer—And Identity Theft.
When it rains, it pours. That was the case for one Seattle man, whose identity was stolen in the midst of his fight to beat leukemia, Discover magazine reports. Right around the time that Eric Drew was told there was little to no hope for survival, he began receiving calls from credit card companies thanking him for his applications—and from collections agencies hounding him about more than $10,000 in charges. Fed up, Drew pulled his credit report, contacted the reporting agencies and went to his local television stations to tell his story. In the end, he beat all odds—he got his credit back in order and he has successfully beat the cancer!

6. Security Breach of 2.2 Million Military Personnel.
Nearly 80% of the nation’s active-duty military were affected by one shocking identity theft story from 2006, reported by The Washington Post. Social Security numbers and other information of as many as 2.2 million U.S. military personnel were stolen from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs analyst. According to the article, it’s not unusual for government employees to take home sensitive information on laptop computers. It’s a scary thought than even those who serve to protect aren’t protected from ID theft.

7. You’ve Heard of Identity Stealing. But House Stealing?
Identity thieves aren’t just out for your personal information to open credit lines and empty your bank account. They may also be out to steal you house, according to NetworkWorld. Here’s how it works: thieves break into your home while you are away, obtain your name and personal information from your home computer, and create fake IDs and Social Security cards. Then, the thieves head to an office supply store and purchase forms for transferring property. They are able to forge your signature, use the fake ID, and file the deed for your home with the proper authorities!

8. $3 Million: The Ultimate in Restaurant Tips.
If you’re like many Americans, you might dine out several times a week. But is your identity safe while you’re doing so? Waiters in about 40 restaurants in five states recorded credit card numbers from their customers. They then passed the information along to a group of people who used it to make more than $3 million worth of illegal purchases, according to CBS News. 13 people were eventually indicted in the scheme.

9. Can You Feel the Sisterly Love?
Blood may be thicker than water, but that didn’t stop one Chicago woman from allegedly stealing her own sister’s identity to apply for a credit card and make more than $14,000 in purchases. CBS 2 Chicago reports that Lilia Cano, a Chicago Public Schools employee, has been arrested and charged with felony identity theft.

10. I’ll Find You a Job. It’ll Only Cost You Your Identity.
When you’re struggling and out of work, you might turn to an employment agency for assistance. But the last thing you’d expect is for that trusted source to misuse your personal information. Newsday reports that the owner of an employment agency in Mastic Beach, New York, has been charged with identity theft. She allegedly used her clients’ information to create forged checks and run other scams.

These identity theft stories are no doubt shocking and frightening. But you can take control of your identity and take steps to prevent becoming a victim. Take advantage of an identity protection service today.

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Are You Safe From Medical Records Theft?

Cole — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:06:02 +0000

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:

• Pay for pricey surgeries or procedures

• Obtain medication illegally

• Bill Medicare or Medicaid for equipment or care that was never received

As a consequence of medical records theft, your credit could be harmed, you could be harassed by debt collectors and you could have a difficult time finding employment. Other consequences are even more frightening. If your records contain false information on blood type, allergies or history of disease, your doctor could easily mistreat or misdiagnose you.

Protect yourself—and your medical identity—with these 6 easy tips:

1. Only give your personal information to doctors and authorized healthcare workers.

2. Request your records from anyone who treats you.

3. If you find something wrong in your records, tell your doctor. According to HIPPA, he or she has 90 days to respond.

4. Ask your doctor about the safety measures he or she takes. Are the electronic medical record systems routinely audited? Do they require a photo ID to be treated? Are records password-protected?

5. Find out how your insurance provider is protecting your information. Does the insurer use software to screen for anything suspicious?

6. Finally, if you think you are a victim of medical records theft, immediately contact the U.S. Health and Human Services Fraud Hotline at 800-447-8477 or the FTC ID Theft Hotline at 877-438-4338.

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Job-seekers: Could Your Personal Information Be Stolen?

Cole — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:21 +0000

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!

Months after not receiving the job, the real Chandler received a letter from the Department of Human Services asking for employment status and income information to verify benefits. That letter was intended for the man who stole Chandler’s identity and tipped Chandler off to the crime. The identity thief had been working for months at J.C. Potter using Chandler’s stolen personal information.

Chandler immediately contacted the local police department and sheriff’s office, but when officials went to question the man at his place of work, he had already fled.

So far, Chandler’s credit has not been affected, and it appears the identity thief was simply out to gain employment status. But only time will tell all the repercussions.

Job-Seekers: Safeguard Your Personal Information
When job-hunting, remember these tips to ensure you won’t have your personal information stolen:

1. Don’t include sensitive information on your resume. Let the employer know you can provide your birthday, Social Security number and home address during the interview.

2. Review the privacy policies and terms and agreements of online job boards. Make sure they won’t share your information or resume with third parties.

3. Keep a detailed record your job hunt. Keep track of all the information you’ve sent to all potential employers and everything you’ve posted on job boards.

Beyond these measures, an identity theft protection service with credit monitoring is the most effective way to watch for suspicious activity and take immediate action should your personal information be stolen.

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Online Credit Card Theft Affects 130 Million: Learn to Protect Yourself

Cole — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:47:41 +0000

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.

One of the men arrested, Albert Gonzalez, was indicted a year ago with 10 others for allegedly stealing 41 million credit and debit card numbers from major retailers. That online credit card theft resulted in more than $400 million in damages, Reuters reports.

Protect Yourself From Online Credit Card Theft
This large-scale online credit card theft reinforces the need to safeguard your personal data. Banks and retailers may be doing all they can to protect your and your information, but it’s also your own responsibility to take some precautionary measures.

Follow these 5 quick tips to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of online credit card theft:

1. Never respond to unsolicited emails.

2. Use strong passwords with at least 8 characters and symbols.

3. Keep your system secure with anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.

4. Update your web browser and operating system to the latest version.

5. Protect your personal information when disposing of an old computer.

Most importantly, monitor your credit with the help of an identity theft protection service to ensure no one has stolen your personal information. For more on these tips, check out “For Preventing Identity Theft Online: 5 Must-Follow Tips.”

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Are You Safe From the Latest Facebook and Twitter Scams?

Cole — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:13:28 +0000

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!

You get a message (a Tweet, a direct message, a wall post, an IM, etc.) from a “friend” who says he is in trouble. He was pick-pocketed in another country and needs you to wire money. Because the scammer hacked into your “friend’s” account, he seems to be a trusted source and knows personal details about you. So you might be convinced to offer up sensitive bank account information.

2. The latest celebrity news!

Be wary of messages that promise new or never-before-heard celebrity gossip. A recent popular scam? Top-secret information about the death of Michael Jackson. The link to the story might ask you to download a file. Instead, you may end up installing some type of malware (short for malicious software) on your computer, which can damage or steal your data.

3. Did you hear what was said about you in this blog?

Whether it’s on your wall, in your inbox or in an instant message, you might be asked an attention-grabbing question. Clicking on the link directs you to a fake login screen, where you are asked to enter your personal information.

4. Update your personal information.

Be on the lookout for messages, emails or requests to update your personal information. These too may lead you to a fake login, where your personal data is stolen.

5. Find out your IQ!

A recent Facebook IQ test application, according to Security Central, asked users for their cell phone numbers in order to receive a text message with the IQ test results. By doing so, users were enrolled in a costly text messaging service. Unfortunately, many people failed to read the fine print.

These scams are no doubt scary, but preventing identity theft online can be achieved by following a few useful tips.

• Use privacy settings to protect your personal information. Limit your private and more sensitive information to “friends” only. Or better yet, exclude it completely.

• Come up with a unique password for your social networking account. Don’t use the same password for online banking, job-related sites, etc.

• Make sure your computer is protected with a reliable firewall and the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

• Use good, old-fashioned common sense and be on guard for any suspicious behavior. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• Check your credit report to ensure your identity hasn’t been compromised. And use an identity theft protection service that alerts you to any suspicious activity.

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