Tag: technology

According to a Consumer Report, there are millions of Americans becoming victims of identity theft.

Identity theft Video: 7 Ways to protect yourself from cybercriminals

Types of Identity Theft and Fraud

1. Driver’s license theft: most common
2. Mail theft: oldest ways for criminals to steal your information
3. Debit Card fraud or Credit Card fraud: called “card-not-present fraud”
4. Online shopping fraud: purchase items using stolen card and shipped to their own address mostly overseas called “eCommerce fraud”
5. Social Security Number theft: usually occurs from a data breach or tax id theft
6. Account Takeover fraud: criminals gain access to your bank or credit card from data breach, phishing scams, malware attacks then starts using the credit card for their own gains
7. Senior Citizen identity theft: very common since checking financial accounts or credit report is not important for most of them, scams happens when they trust the wrong person (Scam Video)
8. Child Identity theft: not as common but their Social Security Numbers (SSN) can be use to apply for government benefits, take out a loan, etc. often the child does not realize this theft until they are of age and applying for a student loan or car loan
9. Tax Identity theft: Bad guys will file your income tax before you do and use a fax address to receive the funds
10. Biometric ID theft: Fingerprint or voice recognition are the best example such as when “Alexa” (Amazon’s hands free speaker controlled with your voice) can be copied and recorded, but it doesn’t end there (parks such as Six Flags and Disney are using fingerprint to identify who you are for easy access to the park!)
11. Criminal Identity theft: happens when criminals would provide your own data (stolen or lost ID) when arrested/ you would not know until you need a background check for a new job or a warrant is issued for you arrest
12. Synthetic Identity theft: fastest growing type of ID fraud – real and fake information is merged to create a new identity using SSN, names, addresses, birthdays bought from the “dark web”
13. New Account Takeover: criminal opens a new account with your information and have the ability to impersonate you to access a higher credit limit
14. Medical Identity theft: more difficult to discover, but usually used to obtain medical services in your name/check your statement of benefits often
15. Loan Stacking fraud: multiple loans are taken out by borrowers who slide through today’s automated approval process from loopholes in online lending marketplaces
16. Mortgage Fraud: borrower, broker, or an appraiser lies about information on the application for a mortgage loan/it’s done to get approved for a bigger loan or to get the mortgage approved!
17. Auto Lending fraud: similar to mortgage fraud and occurs when consumers, dealers, auto lenders submits or accepts a fraudulent (falsified information)application for credit
18. Employment Identity theft: criminal applies for a job using your SSN or ID, the employers reports the income to the IRS under your name and expects you to pay taxes on all income earned in your name/review credit report regularly
19. Bust-Out Fraud: first party fraud scheme and a deliberate form of fraud or ID theft “sleeper fraud”/ happens when a consumer applies for credit and uses their own name with the intent of maxing out all available credit for the purpose of disappearing
20. Internet of Things (IoT) Identity theft: occurs when your smartphones/tablets are paired with consumer products such as cars, heart monitors, and household appliances that are connected to the internet which creates an opportunity for hackers to steal your data usually from a security flaw

Identity Theft and Fraud Complaints from 2014-2017

Prevention is the best route

Use Strong Passwords that is unique to you

• Make it easy for you to remember but hard to guess
• Use KeePass to store all your passwords securely in an encrypted file (database)
• Change it as often as you can (routinely)
• Don’t ever reuse passwords
• Do not write them and leave them on your desk (put away inside your wallet/inside your purse)

Review Bank statements and Credit Card statements thoroughly each month

• Check for suspicious transactions

• Notify bank or card issuer immediately

Check your three credit reports (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) often for any signs of identity theft

• If you discover unauthorized access to your credit reports notify the credit reporting agency right away
• Place a fraud alert, a credit lock, or a security freeze on all three if you suspect your personal information has been compromised

Phishing

• This is where you might be tricked into revealing sensitive information via email or text
• Messages would be created to look like it is from a company you have an account already or someone (person or organization) you know well
• When you click to the link from the message and attempt to log into your account, you have now handed over your login and password to the “bad guys”
• Now you are vulnerable to many types of identity theft

Recovery Steps to help limit the damage if you become a victim to Identity Theft

• File a Report immediately (get copies of the report for your insurance, medical provider, credit bureau, etc.)

• File with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for their Recovery Steps

• Call the Companies Where the Fraud Occurred (let them know it was not you and ask to work with you)

• Communicate With Each Credit Bureau and place a freeze or fraud alert on your credit report

• If it’s a medical fraud call your insurance company and medical providers (get a copy of your medical files and ask to have them corrected/file with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as well)

• If you become a victim of Tax ID Theft contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Safeguard Against Future Problems

• Stay up to date by reading and learning continuously (read ways to protect your information)

• Learn about the warning signs

• Learn how to reduce your risks

• How to avoid Identity Theft/How to avoid Frauds & Scams (read)

• Be persistent by monitoring your accounts and reviewing your personal information to stay on top of looming threats

For more information read: Security Awareness For Taxpayers