Protecting your identity isn’t as cut and dry as it was before the digital age. Before the internet, identity thieves would find personal data by hunting through the garbage for sensitive documents, phishing for private information via phone rather than email or purchasing personal data from unscrupulous store employees.Now, with advances in technology, identity thieves [...]
On January 31, the IRS will start processing income tax returns. This day also marks the beginning of one of the busiest times of year for identity thieves looking to cash in by filing false returns.Tax identity theft is a growing issue. In 2010, almost 15 percent of all identity theft complaints to the FTC [...]
As the opening of tax season approaches, concern for the identity protection increases – and new reports confirm that the risk for tax identity theft is real.According to the Associated Press, The IRS has reported a significant increase in the number of identity theft cases in 2013. AP quotes the agency, saying “[As of] Tuesday [...]
At the start of 2014, Texas passed a law enabling parents to create a security freeze on their children’s consumer and credit files. Texan residents 16 and under will be protected under this new legislation, which aims to prevent children from becoming victims of identity theft or credit card fraud.KVUE’s Jim Bergamo quoted Texas Senator [...]
The number of medical identity theft victims increased by over 300,000 cases since last year, according to a report from the Ponemon Institute’s 2013 Survey on Medical Identity Theft. The fourth year of the study revealed that medical identity theft is a costly crime and on the rise.While data breaches are still a concern, the [...]
A recent survey by AnchorFree, online privacy and security firm, found that U.S. and U.K. students shared considerable insight regarding the concerns of their privacy online. The study revealed that most college students are, in fact, concerned about their online privacy – particularly as it relates to their future endeavors.According to Ben Dipietro of the [...]
One in 10 children are targeted for identity theft. This rate is often higher for the 380,000 children in the foster care system. As May is National Foster Care Month, it is important to recognize that foster children are prime targets for identity theft for a number of reasons. Their Social Security Numbers go with [...]
This blog post comes from Adam Kennedy, Product Analyst at Experian. With the rise in social networks and the increasing desire to share personal data in public forums, it’s no surprise identity thieves are targeting Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to steal your identity.What are they after?Your Facebook page and Twitter profile page will show your [...]
This post comes to us from Anne Livingston, the creator of the KidsPrivacy blog. She is writer and speaker with a passion for teaching parents and kids how to manage life online. Follow her on twitter @kidsprivacy.When I talk to my kids about what not to post online, I focus primarily on information that would [...]
This Saturday, April 20, is the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) annual Shred Day—what they call an “identity theft, fraud prevention and educational initiative.”Why shred?We often have documents lying around that feature sensitive information sought by identity thieves and fraudsters. This personal identifying information (PII) can include your name, Social Security Number, bank account number or [...]
