|
Warning! You could be the following victim from the no.1 and fastest growing crime in the united states, identity fraud. Based on the Federal Trade Commission, you will find almost ten million people now being victimized each year. Police had charged Heath William Culshaw, 38, of the United Kingdom - incorrectly, as it turned out - with charges for fraud after several people had paid deposits for holiday villas in Goa, another man using a photo-copy of Mr. Heath Culshaw’s passport bearing his information, had opened bank accounts in Goa and proceeded to take payments on non-existent holiday villas. Though Mr. Culshaw was initially fingered as the suspect, police now say he was a victim of identity theft and the charges had been dropped. Mr. Culshaw was questioned in November 2009 after a man posed as him, using a bank account in Culshaw’s name had been taking deposits for holiday villas that did not exist. Bank documents indicating Culshaw had taken many hundreds of thousands of Indian Rupees in payments. According to the Panaji Police Head Quarters. An unidentified man opened bank accounts in Goa and then used them to de-fraud holiday makers. Some holiday makers then notified local Police and they then questioned Mr. Culshaw and reviewed security footage and transactions, the Police understood that it was not in fact Mr. Culshaw and the charges were then dropped. The Panaji Police are still searching for the unidentified man who opened the bank accounts and have requested the local banks there be more vigilant when checking passports in the future for new bank account openings. Some additional statistics on identity fraud are listed below: 1 in 10 Americans are victims of identity fraud. An identity is stolen every 4 seconds within the United states The typical cost to revive a stolen identity is $8,000, excluding attorney fees. Victims are spending over 600 hours to try to revive their good name. It requires twelve months typically, for any victim from it to see the crime. Identity Fraud thief might not make use of the stolen information, until years later. Over 223 MILLION data records of United states residents have already been exposed because of security breaches since Jan 05. The "Black Underground Market" for non-public information (NPI) has exceeded the United states drug trafficking market. Using these staggering identity fraud facts, should concern every individual/consumer within this country. In just as much, we ought to be more careful & protective of methods and who we give our non-public information to, but additionally we need to be demanding more identity fraud legislation, penalties, and criminal charges on identity fraud thieves and business identity fraud of lost or stolen NPI of employees and customers. Identity fraud victims are suffering and often need legal help, while companies are relaxed in investing & implementing reasonable home security systems to lessen identity fraud at work, compliance regulations enforcement continue to be to relaxed on businesses, the vast majority of thieves usually are not being caught, and several companies marketing identity fraud services being a total identity fraud answer to the issue, if they are only offering a credit monitoring program with some features. Being slow to alter will surely cost victims and businesses more cash within the long term! There are many methods to prevent identity fraud, if you take pro-active measures immediately! Sign up for a top quality identity fraud prevention service & restoration. Since, identity fraud crime has exploded; several companies have started offering some kind of identity fraud service, so be very selective within this valuable and a lot needed service. Don't be enticed by the $1 million guarantees/warranties or depending on credit bureau fraud alerts or freezes for safeguarding your credit/financial information (oh, which is just your financial reports, what about your medical information, social security numbers, driver license number, or character/criminal); one company (LifeLock) features a lawsuit pending already. There are identity fraud services which were tested and reported by Doug Pollack, New Reporter of CBS News (LifeLock, Debrix, and TrustedID) that fail the exam in protecting someone's credit records. So you must understand that all services usually are not exactly the same, in benefits, features, or quality service. Compare the identity fraud protection services, but the businesses that will support their service. Within my identity fraud expert opinion, the very best identity fraud service in the industry is provided by Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. and administrated by Kroll Background America (Kroll, Inc.). Both companies have over thirty years of successful service respectively, financially solid, and therefore are pioneers within their industries. Their services are endorsed by a few associations and people across the nation; the President & CEO from the United states Chamber of Commerce, the President from the Black National Chamber of Commerce, Former President from the American Bar Association, Director from the Identity Fraud Institute, several Former State Attorney General, as well as others. Order your credit score quarterly (Federal Law permits 3/year). Your credit monitoring service of preference will give you one too. Credit history monitoring service (1st Qtr), Transunion (2nd Qtr), Equifax (3rd Qtr), and Experian (4th Qtr). Never order your credit reports all simultaneously. You can purchase your free at annualcreditreport.com. Order your non-financial or specialty consumer reports, that are free once every twelve months by federal Law too. This cover under Fair Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) and Fair Credit Rating Act (FCRA). With these sources it is possible to find out had you been a victim of identity fraud within your non-financial reports, like medical information records, background check records, tenant records, insurance claims, auto reports, personal property report, as well as others. Each one of these records ought to be review a yearly basis. Wallets/Purses don't carry any NPI, unless needed. Then store and secure them. Quite simply, don't carry your social security number, birth certificate, and reduce the amount of bank cards to 2. Don't use ATMs apart from at banking institutions. Don't carry check re-order slips within your check book, plus account for all your personal or business checks. Don't order checks from value packs, but have them via your lender and pick them up when possible. Mail/Document Security/Physical Security is definitely the utmost importance. Have only mail sent to a PO Box or make use of a very solid & secure Lock Box. If you are using a PO Box always shred your personal JUNK Mail. Usually do not devote recycle bin. Don't leave mail within your mail box for pickup. Consider the mail towards the Post Office or drop mail into blue U . S . Parcel Service mail boxes. Shred all charge card offers, convenience checks, and sensitive mail. Don't make use of your home address on checks, but a PO Box. Bank On the internet and stop paper bank statements, until you make use of a PO Box. Make use of a small safe and lock/fire box to secure most significant financial documents and private information. Purchase a shredder, safe, and 1 or 2 drawer fire file cabinet. Buy goods online from the secured PC and secured website. Avoid handing out your social security number unless it really is necessary for specific services. Create passwords which contain numbers and letter, plus don't carry them around. But lock them within your lock/fire box. Monitor your accounts (savings, checking, and charge card transactions online daily!). By using these several pro-active steps, can help you from being a victim of identity fraud or fraud and lowering your losses. Please remember, you will find 5 kinds of identity fraud that may affect you: financial/credit identity fraud, medical identity fraud, driver license identity fraud, social security identity fraud, and character/criminal identity fraud. That's why it really is essential to observe your financial records, in addition to, non-financial records. If considering an identity fraud prevention service, search for the service which will protect your family, in every 5 kinds of identity fraud for additional security. Read more here:http://www.articleorb.com/charges-dropped/4592248302
Related Articles -
identity, theft,
| 
