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  • Best Ways To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

    Best Ways To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

    Identity theft is a type of criminal activity in which someone’s financial and personal information is obtained and exploited without that person’s consent. A person’s identity information may be stolen and used by thieves to submit false tax returns or health insurance claims, apply for credit cards or loans in the victim’s name, raid the victim’s bank account or use their credit card, or simply sell the information to another party. 

    Who is the Most at Risk for Identity Theft?

    You are susceptible to identity fraud just by holding a Social Security number, but some groups are more in danger than others.

    Minors: Thieves prefer targeting children because they usually do not have credit protection and it’s easy to establish clean credit profiles using their Social Security numbers for people with poor credit histories or those trying to start phony accounts. Unfortunately, family members often commit these crimes because they might have access to a child’s Social Security number.

    Seniors: Because they sometimes lack the tech skills of younger people, seniors are particularly susceptible to online phishing and phone scams.

    Social media users: Those who use social media often share a wealth of identifying information online, making them prime prey for cunning scammers.

    Military personnel: Active-duty service members are less likely to notice any errors in their credit reports when deployed. In addition, because they move around a lot, personal information about them is transmitted more frequently.

    Ten Ways to Safeguard Your Identity

    The methods listed below can help you take immediate action to make your personal and financial information safer.

    1. Inspect Your Credit Reports.

    You can request a free copy of your credit report weekly from each of the three credit bureaus. That way, you may keep an eye out for fraudulent activities, such as new credit cards, loans, or inquiries you don’t recognize.

    2. Freeze Your Credit Reports

    If you freeze your credit reports, no new accounts can be opened in your name until the freeze is lifted. A password or PIN given during the initial freeze can be used to access each credit bureau website and temporarily lift or entirely remove a freeze.

    3. Make use of a Password Manager. 

    Your browser’s storage of all those credentials puts them at risk of malware and other breaches. Your confidential login information can be stored securely with password managers, making it both available to you and difficult for others to access. The most widely used password managers are paid subscription programs.

    4. Protect Devices With a Password Or Biometrics. 

    According to research, 52% of consumers don’t password-protect their phones. You can stop thieves from accessing personal information on your phone by turning on password protection or biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or face recognition).

    5. Don’t use Free WiFi. 

    Although free WiFi in public places may seem like a good idea, open networks make it easier for scammers to connect to your devices. Therefore, using a VPN or avoid using unsafe public WiFi to access your financial accounts.

    6. Shred Old Documents. 

    Bank statements, anything containing your Social Security number, and expired credit cards are all tempting targets for identity thieves in your trash. You can buy a cross-cut or micro-cut shredder or keep an eye out for neighborhood shredding events.

    7. Purchase a Security Program. 

    You can identify attempts by cunning internet scammers to access your personal information with the aid of antivirus and malware software; in many cases, these dangers may be eliminated. These services run anywhere from $35 to $100 in annual fees.

    8. Be a Little Less Outgoing. 

    Always enable the strongest security features on your social media accounts if you use them. Moreover, exercise caution while disclosing information about yourself, such as your entire name, place of residence, employer, and date of birth.

    9. Enroll in a Free Credit Monitoring Service. 

    Customers of organizations like Capital One and Discover are given free credit monitoring. You can also use Credit Karma, which offers free credit monitoring of your Equifax and TransUnion credit reports, or any of the free monitoring tools made available by several credit bureaus.

    10. Online, Look for Data Leaks.

     Ask the internet to find out whether your info has been compromised or discovered on the dark web. Websites like Have I  Been Pwned and F-Secure are easy to use and free to input your email address. If you discover a hacked account, you may easily reset your password and check to see if the website supports two-factor authentication to help keep your account even more secure.

    Is Identity Protection Worth the Money?

    The best identity theft protection services include extra benefits like assistance with identity theft resolution and identity theft insurance up to $1 million in case your identity is stolen.

    However, with all the free resources offered by respected organizations like Aura, IdentityGuard, Experian, Credit Karma, and numerous credit card issuers, it might be difficult to justify any extra expense. Nevertheless, a paid identity monitoring service might make sense if you want the ease, perks, and added safety they offer.

  • Identity Theft: Stay Safe During The Holidays

    Identity theft is a real problem and it can be even worse around the holidays. Identity thieves will go to great lengths to get what they need to steal your identity or at the very least use your credit card or bank information to fund their own holiday shopping trips.

    Here are some tips to get you through the holidays and keep you safe from identity theft.

    Hide Your Card And Pin
    After you swipe your card at most stores, you are asked to enter a pin number. Many identity thieves watch from behind or beside you and can get your pin number and see your credit card number while you hold it in your hand. Always cover your credit card numbers when you use it and keep your pin number blocked as well.

    Don’t Trust Anyone
    Although you might think you can trust that cashier or waitress, any of them could be identity thieves. When you give a waitress or a cashier your credit or debit card, they walk away and swipe it elsewhere. Do you really know if they are also writing down your card information? Always be aware of where you have used your credit card and who had it.

    Check Your Car
    A lot of people leave important information in their vehicle glove boxes or consoles. While you might not think that thieves would be interested in this stuff, identity thieves often break into cars looking for this information and later use it to steal your identity. Before you leave your car in a dark parking garage or crowded parking lot, make sure there are no important or personal papers in it.

    All of the confusion associated with the holidays can make it easy for identity thieves to steal what they need to steal your identity. Do everything you can to protect yourself and follow these tips.

  • Identity Theft A Serious Problem During The Holidays

    Nothing puts a serious damper on holiday shopping quite like identity theft.

    Identity theft is what happens when a person obtains your personal information and then uses it without your permission.

    This action can result in stolen money or severely damaged credit.

    Unfortunately, identity theft is a rising problem in the United States.

    “With so much of our time spent online, the security of our personal information, and more importantly our identities, is being put at risk on a daily basis,” said Mark Weiner, the CMO for Centrify Corporation.

    According to the results of a recently released survey by Centrify, it’s estimated that as many as one-third of Americans have been a victim of identity theft at one point or another—and a number of U.S. citizens remain completely unaware of the fact!

    Of those surveyed, 1 in 10 was fortunate enough to fix the issue the same day.

    1 in 5 of those persons was not as lucky. It took these hapless individuals weeks to sort through the mess created by an identity thief.

    The survey results also gave some interesting news as to how victims felt they came to have an identity theft problem.

    “According to our survey,” said Weiner, “Online purchases were the top reason that users thought they became victims of identity theft, underscoring the importance of having confidence in one’s own online security.”

    It appears that where you spend your money online, and the online security in place, can play a MAJOR role in how secure your purchases are.

    This information could have important ramifications for the weekend ahead, which will officially usher in the Christmas shopping season.

    Black Friday in particular may be at risk for some major retailers following a series of massive security breaches.

    You don’t have to live in fear of identity theft.

    Be mindful of where and how you spend money. Opt for cash purchases when possible.

    Also, keep a close eye on your credit report, as it is often the first line of defense in spotting a serious issue and correcting it as soon as possible.

  • Identity Theft Protection: Tips To Stay Safe

    Identity theft is a big problem and while some people think it will never happen to them, the truth is, it could happen to anyone. While there are numerous ways your identity could be stolen, there are also ways to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are a few tips.

    Hide Your Social Security Number
    Your social security number is the key to all of your personal information and if an identity thief obtains it, they can access your bank account and numerous other personal files. If you are filling out forms online, or paying a bill or doing a transaction over the phone, avoid giving out your social security number. There are other ways a company can verify your identity and you are never required to give out your social security number.

    Use Smart Passwords
    Everyone is guilty of using a pet’s name or their phone number for an online password. While these passwords are easy for you to remember, they are also easy for hackers to guess. If a hacker can guess your password to your bank account or credit card account, they could easily steal your identity and run up a bunch of charges and expenses that you don’t want to have.

    Avoid Phishing Scams
    Hackers and scam artists have learned how to get the information they need from people and the most common way they do that is by phishing. Phishing involves tricking a person into thinking they are using a safe website or secure form to submit information. In reality, that information goes to the hacker. Always be alert when online and look out for scams and offers that seem too good to be true or require more information than what should be necessary. Trust your gut instincts and be smart about your online activities.

    Don’t become a victim of identity theft, follow these tips and protect yourself.

  • Social Security Number Scams: How They Work

    It’s a bit of a dichotomy. We’ve been told many times to be careful about giving out our Social Security numbers, but it seems like we’re being asked for all or part of it in almost every business transaction. I once saw a video rental store — back when there were such things — requiring a customer’s SSN before allowing them to rent a video. One guy refused to give it. They told him to get lost.

    But why is it such a big deal? Everyone knows that the answer is “identity theft,” but how?

    Your Credit Identity

    The most common thing you hear about is someone applying for a loan, only to learn that someone else has opened credit cards in their name and had a spending spree. All it takes to do that is your SSN, and maybe a pre-approved credit card offer in some junk mail you’ve thrown away. These problems are solvable, but not without some incredibly inconvenient process.

    And this whole scam can get very easy. Some department stores will have you fill out a one or two page form for a credit card application. They key your SSN into the computer, and give you credit that can be used in the store right away. A thief can load up on clothing, tools, electronics, and leave you holding the bill.

    Your Employment Identity

    The most commonly-heard form of this is when employers use stolen Social Security Numbers for undocumented workers. Why would this hurt you? At the end of the year, when you file your taxes, your information will not match what the IRS has on file for you. Suddenly, you tax refund is reduced, and there goes that car you were hoping to put a down payment on.

    Your Political Identity

    There is an unbelievable number of people who subscribe to the conspiracy theory that President Obama is using a stolen Connecticut Social Security Number. There have been three different variations on this, all of which have explanations. The notion has been long disproven, but that doesn’t stop it from spinning around the interwebs.

    Image via YouTube

  • Phaedra Parks’ Husband Gets 8 Years in Prison

    Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks’ husband Apollo Nida was handed an eight-year prison sentence by a federal judge for defrauding over 50 people of roughly $2 million over a four-year period.

    Nida, who had spent time behind bars from 2003 to 2009 for auto theft, was initially looking at 30 years, but his cooperation with authorities helped with the reduced sentence.

    Soon after being released in 2009, Nida opened a fake debt collection agency to gain access to databases full of debtors’ personal information. He would then steal identities to locate unclaimed funds, refunds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, stolen U.S. treasury checks and refunds from fraudulent U.S. income tax returns.

    Nida had an accomplice named Gayla St. Julien, who opened UPS mailboxes and bank checking accounts using those fake identities, deposited the checks, then pocketed the money. Nida went on to create a fake car dealership, and took out auto loans for cars that didn’t exist. The Secret Service eventually tracked St. Julien down, and she led them to Nida.

    Fellow Atlantan housewife Kenya Moore took to Twitter to express her opinion on the sentencing:

    Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office, commented, “Today’s sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status. Nida’s sentence should be an eye opener for other like-minded criminals who scheme to steal victims’ identities, defraud them and ignore the consequences of their actions.”

    After sentencing, Nida commented, “The government did what they had to do,” adding, “I want to apologize to the victims. I want to apologize to my family for letting them down.” Nida remains free on bond, and will likely have to turn himself in to begin his sentence within three to six weeks.

    Here Phaedra explains Apollo’s job:

    Nida explained that his reasoning behind his criminal actions revolved around feeling pressure to make money to keep up with his wife’s high-profile attorney income and “Real Housewives” salary. He added that because of his status as a convicted felon, finding a legitimate job was a challenge.

    Image via Youtube

  • Identity Theft: Tips To Protect Yourself

    Identity Theft: Tips To Protect Yourself

    Identity theft is a major problem and it can lead to even more problems.

    You might think they you are being careful online and when using your credit cards, debit cards and bank information, but you could still be putting yourself at risk in other ways.

    If you are wondering how you can avoid the frustration and financial problems associated with identity theft, use these tips to help you.

    Avoid Carrying Personal Documents
    A lot of people prefer to keep their credit cards, social security cards and driver’s licenses on them at all times for convenience, but it can actually put you at risk for identity theft. If you drop or lose these items, they can be found by thieves who will use them to steal your money and identity. Only carry these things on you when you know you will need them.

    Be Careful What You Click
    Even the most careful Internet surfer can accidentally click on the wrong link or website and enter their information into a form that was created to steal their identity. Only enter credit card information, social security numbers and other personal information on forms and websites that are processed on a secure server. You can tell if the server is secure by looking for the “https:” before the website address. If there is no “s” than the server may not be secure and your information may be at risk.

    Update Your Passwords Regularly
    Even if you think your password is a good one, you might be surprised to find out how easily your accounts can be hacked. The best way to protect your accounts that can contain personal information, is to change your passwords often. Try to change them at least once every three months or sooner if you think your account may have been hacked.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Identity Theft Could Soon Be A Reality For eBay Users

    Identity Theft Could Soon Be A Reality For eBay Users

    Identity theft is a constant concern for those who entrust their personal information to Internet companies. Now millions of users are at risk following a massive cyber-attack that recently hit eBay.

    Last week, we reported that eBay was hit by a massive cyber-attack when hackers broke into the company’s database that hold customers’ personal information. While no financial information was taken, customers’ email addresses, passwords and physical addresses were exposed. Skilled hackers can use this information to gain access to more personal information through social engineering tactics.

    As with most major cyber attacks, eBay can’t do much now that the damage is done. What it can do is ask that its customers change their passwords:

    EBay users will be notified via email, site communications and other marketing channels to change their password. In addition to asking users to change their eBay password, the company said it also is encouraging any eBay user who utilized the same password on other sites to change those passwords, too. The same password should never be used across multiple sites or accounts.

    Unfortunately, the hackers didn’t just take user information. Ebay reports that that the hackers also took some employee log-in credentials. There’s no indication that this information was used to access databases that may contain more sensitive information, but eBay is working with law enforcement to bring in those responsible.

    As you can imagine, people are not pleased with eBay at the moment. Much like the Target hack of last year, Attorneys General from various states are now opening up investigations to see if eBay could have done more to protect user information. The Attorneys General will also be looking into how eBay is planning to prevent future attacks.

    “My office will be looking into the circumstances surrounding this breach as well as the steps eBay is taking to prevent any future incidents,” said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. “However, the most important step for consumers to take right now is to change their password and to choose a strong, unique password that is not easily guessed.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • LifeLock Wallet App Removed From Mobile Stores

    LifeLock Wallet App Removed From Mobile Stores

    LifeLock, the company that promises customers safety from credit and identity theft, has temporarily shut down one of its services. The company has taken down its LifeLock Wallet app from the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon’s mobile app store. LifeLock cited security concerns as the reason for the app’s removal.

    In a blog post issued last week, LifeLock CEO Todd Davis (the man who revealed his social security number for a now-infamous marketing campaign), issued a statement in the interests of “authenticity and transparency.” Davis revealed that the LifeLock Wallet app was not up to payment card industry (PCI) compliance standards. The app was pulled from stores when LifeLock learned that certain parts of the app were not in compliance.

    According to Davis, LifeLock does not have evidence that any of its customers’ bank accounts, credit cards, or identities were compromised. Even so, the company has taken the drastic step of deleting all customer information it had stored on its servers using the app. Users will have all of the data stored locally by the app deleted when the app is started on their mobile device. Davis stated that these steps are being taken to retain customer trust in the company and to emphasize LifeLock’s commitment to keeping customer data safe.

    Davis also issued an apology to LifeLock customers, stating that the app should be back in mobile stores soon. From the statement:

    We believe the LifeLock Wallet provides services and functionality that users value, and we’ll be working to return a Wallet with the highest level of PCI compliance to users soon.

    We know we’re asking a lot of our LifeLock Wallet users – to delete and go without this application for a period of time. I personally apologize for the inconvenience.

    Lifelock’s mobile app was based on the Lemon Wallet, a cloud-based digital wallet app created by the startup company Lemon. Lifelock acquired Lemon in December 2013 for over $42 million. The re-branded LifeLock app was featured prominently in a marketing campaign the company began in February.

    Image via Facebook

  • Dead Sea Scrolls Case: Online ID Theft on Trial

    New York’s highest appeals court will consider whether or not to overturn the conviction of Raphael Golb, a man convicted of impersonating a New York University professor in emails and blog posts, according to the AP.

    Golb set up an email account on an NYU computer and sent emails as Judaic studies chairman Lawrence Schiffman. In Schiffman’s name, he made confessions of plagiarism and other things to dispell Schiffman’s criticism of Golb’s father’s work on a theory pertaining to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

    However, he continues to insist that he didn’t intend for anyone to believe it was really Schiffman.

    The 2,000-year-old documents, which were found in 1947 in Qumran, around what is now Israel, contain the earliest known versions of portions of the Hebrew Bible.

    Golb and his father, a University of Chicago historian, among other scholars believe that the writings were the work of some Jewish groups and communities. They think that the scrolls were gathered from libraries in Jerusalem and hidden in caves near Qumran to protect them during a Roman invasion in about 70 A.D.

    Schiffman and his fellow scholars say the texts were assembled by a sect known as the Essenes, and not the work of Jewish groups at all.

    What Golb did, some would (and do) call identity theft, criminal impersonation, aggravated harassment, forgery and unauthorized use of a computer. Some however, including Golb, would say that since there is no physical harm done and no property damage it is harmless “satire, irony, parody”.

    The question being posed is this: Is internet impersonation, speaking as someone you’re not, identity theft and relentless harassment? Or is it simply all in good fun, as in the modern form of the obviously forged satirical letter?

    I can say for certain that most people wouldn’t appreciate that kind of intrusion, but as far as what the law defines, that remains to be seen.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  • McAfee Report Sheds Light on the ‘Dark Web’

    McAfee Labs released the McAfee Labs Threats Report: Fourth Quarter 2013 this week, highlighting the role of the malware industry as a key enabler of the data breaches in consumer credit card information and identity theft in fall 2013.

    The report, which the company released on Monday, brought to light the prevalence of malware and online black channels security experts refer to as the “dark web” and their success in catering to security hackers and identity thieves.

    McAfee Labs’ report indicates the growing ease with which it is possible to purchase point-of-sale (POS) malware online, as well as the accessibility to selling stolen credit card numbers and other consumer data online.

    The report notes that recent attacks were unprecedented in terms of the number of records stolen, and McAfee researchers pointed out just how efficiently and effectively the malware industry was in serving its customers.

    “The attackers purchased off-the-shelf point-of-sale malware, they made straightforward modifications so they could target their attacks, and it’s likely they both tested their target’s defenses and evaded those defenses using purchased software,” the report revealed.

    Detailed research of the high-profile Q4 credit card data breaches found that the POS malware used in the attacks were relatively unsophisticated technologies that were purchased “off-the-shelf” and customized specifically for these attacks.

    McAfee Labs’ ongoing research into underground “dark web” further identified the attempted sale of stolen credit card numbers and personal information known to have been compromised in the Q4 retail breaches. The researchers found that some of the 40 million credit card numbers reported were stolen in batches of between 1 million and 4 million at a time and offered for sale by thieves.

    “The fourth quarter of 2013 will be remembered as the period when cybercrime became ‘real’ for more people than ever before,” said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president for McAfee Labs.

    “These cyber thefts occurred at a time when most people were focused on their holiday shopping and when the industry wanted people to feel secure and confident in their purchases. The impact of these attacks will be felt both at the kitchen table as well as the boardroom table. For security practitioners, the ‘off the shelf’ genesis of some of these crime campaigns, the scale of operations, and the ease of digitally monetizing stolen customer data all represent a coming of age for both Cybercrime-as-a-Service and the ‘dark web’ overall,” added Weafer.

    Another concern as indicated by the report is the rising trend of malicious signed binaries—malware that appears to be legitimate because it is signed using a stolen or malicious certificate.

    McAfee Labs’ team of 500 researchers in 30 countries follows the complete range of threats in real time each quarter and issues a report.

    The McAfee Labs Threats Report: Fourth Quarter 2013  may be viewed in entirety here.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Identity Theft on the Rise this Tax Season, IRS Warns

    Identity theft is on the rise this tax season as millions of Americans file tax returns and claim their refunds. In February, the Internal Revenue Service placed identity theft at the top of their “Dirty Dozen” tax scams list. Criminals simply use their victims’ names and social security numbers to receive the corresponding tax return.

    The IRS isn’t the only organization working to warn and protect citizens this tax season. Both for-profit and non-profit corporations are tackling the issue as well, for good reason. According to a press release from Fellowes, Inc., the Identity Theft Resource Center has found tax related identity theft has been the number one factor in the increase in the rate of identity theft over past eleven years. The Federal Trade Commission identified it as its number one complaint of 2013.

    The non-profit Identity Theft Council has been at the forefront of the anti-tax fraud battle this year. Last week, they released this video, documenting and warning taxpayers of fraud this season:

    What’s a victim of identity theft to do? The IRS recommends victims contact their Identity Protection Specialized Unit immediately toll-free at 1-800-908-4490. But after the fact, how does one restore an identity? The new company, ID360, may have an answer. In a press release announcing their formation, ID360 claims to be able to do the heavy lifting for victims, networking with law enforcement from all over the country.

    But for those tax payers just looking to avoid identity theft this spring, the ITRC has a few tips:

    -File your taxes as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more time an identity thief has to file a return for you.
    -Protect your computers and mobile devices with firewalls, anti-virus software and complex passwords.
    -Don’t carry your Social Security card or any other documents with your Social Security number with you.
    -Order a copy of your free annual credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. Stagger these requests throughout the year.
    -Shred all no-longer needed tax-related documents that contain sensitive information with a Cross-Cut shredder. Documents include receipts, W-2 forms and tax preparer invoices.

    So take heed as you file you taxes this year, because nobody wants to end up like those people from those old Citibank commercials:

    Image via The Identity Theft Council, YouTube

  • Identity Theft is Top Complaint of Consumers in 2013

    Each year, the Federal Trade Commission collects data on consumer complaints and analyzes said data in order to improve consumer experiences in the United States. And for the 14th consecutive year, identity theft tops the charts as the most reported consumer complaint in the US.

    The FTC defines identity theft as that which “happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission.” Considering the definition of identity theft is so broad, one could expect it to be more reported than other consumer-related complaints.

    However, the enormity of the issue of identity theft should not be understated. According to the FTC, consumers lost $1.6 billion in 2013 due to cases of identity theft. Of over 2 million complaints filed with the FTC, law enforcement, or consumer complaint agencies, 290,056, or 14 percent, were attributed to cases of identity theft.

    Taking a closer look at the numbers, one can get a picture of the most vulnerable ways for one to become a victim of identity theft. Of all identity theft cases, 43 percent were victimized through email, 21 percent through a telephone conversation, and another 20 percent through a website. The average reported loss due to fraud was $2,294 per consumer.

    Adam Levin, the Co-Founder and Chairman of Credit.com and IdentityTheft911, discussed the importance of protecting against identity theft: “Today’s Consumer Sentinel Report underscores something too many Americans already know first-hand: identity theft is a persistent, pernicious crime. In light of the recent, unrelenting string of data breaches in the retail and higher education sectors, the number of people victimized by identity thieves is only going to grow by leaps and bounds. Identity thieves are going to keep coming at us through every means at their disposal, be that through illicitly-acquired phone numbers or leaked emails, and they won’t stop because it continues to be extremely lucrative for them. ”

    The numbers support Levin’s statement. Due to the drastic surge in identity theft schemes, consumer information is now flooding the black market. According to a Dell SecureWorks report, scammers and identity thieves can now buy “fullz” – dossiers full of consumer information such as names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and phone numbers – for the low price of $25. This price is down a staggering 37 percent from the previous year, most likely due to an over-abundance of readily available information at thieves’ disposal.

    If one feels as if one has been a victim of identity theft, the FTC encourages a visit to its website where one can glean information on the steps to take immediately upon discovering that one has been a victim of identity theft.

  • Antivirus Software: No Match For Potential Cybercrime

    Antivirus Software: No Match For Potential Cybercrime

    “There are only two kinds of companies: those who have been breached and those who will be breached.”

    Such is the claim of Cynthia James, director of business development for Kaspersky Lab, a leading antivirus and Internet security firm. Her assessment may not be far off, either. Identity theft against Target and Neiman Marcus during the holidays last year ended with millions of debit and credit card numbers stolen. It was deemed even worse than the breach of data on T.J. Maxx and Marshalls about ten years ago. Some experts believe it may continue to get worse, too.

    Why?

    Well, in Target’s case, it was somewhat opportunistic. Hackers scored a holiday treat after an AC company employee with access to Target’s network clicked on a malicious email. From there, the thieves had free reign of the company’s system to steal the retailer’s payment card information. For the most part, though, criminal technology is evolving while the technology that stops them is pretty archaic.

    “The unfortunate reality is that we suffered a breach,” John J. Mulligan, Target’s Chief Financial Officer stated during recent legal meetings.

    He added, “And all businesses and their customers are facing increasingly sophisticated threats from cybercriminals.”

    Consider, for example, Aleksandr Andreevich Panin. The Russian national was recently convicted in federal court after constructing a malware virus called SpyEye. According to prosecutors, he sold it for just $1,000 online. Between 2009 and 2011, a minimum of 150 hackers used Panin’s program to set up servers that would let them to drain strangers’ bank accounts from afar. In fact, one criminal customer managed to rake in $3.2 million in half a year via the virus.

    Codes like Panin’s make theft automatic. SpyEye infected over 1.4 million computers across the world and when computers were overtaken, information was immediately compromised.

    “Our decades-old payment system was not designed with cybersecurity in mind,” said Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist at the American Civil Liberties Union.

    Some surmise promising prospective changes include: acquiring end-to-end encryption, walling-off sensitive information off on separate networks, and utilizing new technology that secures the credit card customer’s information on an embedded chip (rather than the black magnetic tape most have in America).

    Where the magnetic strip we swipe at retail counters harbors security flaws, the embedded “chip and pin” technology could potentially put an end to all of that.

    Dan Kaminsky, the founder of White Ops (a company that uses hacking to stop fraud online), explains, “It’s like having a small computer on a credit card. The computer negotiates with retailers and has a unique number for every transaction, rather than one number that is repeated over and over.” However, the long-term outlook on identity theft is a matter of debate.

    “Companies may succeed in strengthening their defenses…deterring hackers,” Security researcher Nicolas Christin said. He went on to add, “Or the surge of stolen credit card information on the market may cause a glut and drop prices to the point at which incentives for new attacks shrink.”

    Implanted security chip cards might thus just be the answer.

    They could even replace our existing ones in the next few years. In fact, an industry group including big credit card issuers wants assimilation of chip card use by October 2015. However, there’s been reluctance by federal regulators to invest if there’s a possibility that it won’t prevent future attacks.

    Before the thought of a multi-million dollar criminal income starts seducing some of you into scouring the undernet, consider first what befell the nefarious Russian responsible for multitudinous Trojan attacks. Mr. Panin demonstrated the inverse relationship his computer and street savvy have during a holiday last year when the FBI nailed him on a sting operation. He now is facing 30 years in prison after trying to sell his inimical invention to an undercover agent.

    SpyEye for a SpyEye, justice is served.

    Image via Youtube

  • Identity Theft Protection: Things You Should Know

    Identity theft transpires when a third party gets your personal information, such as social security number and credit card details and uses them for fraudulent purposes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more or less 9 million Americans experience identity theft yearly. In 2010, an estimated $3.5 billion was spent by U.S. consumers for purchasing products that specialize in identity protection.

    Identity theft is a serious offense that can mess up your reputation, credit history, and finances. Identity thieves can get loans under your name, or open other accounts using your personal information. Fixing the problem also takes time, effort, and patience, but it is not impossible.

     Ways to Protect Yourself

    More and more people resort to online banking and shopping, as it is more convenient. With all your personal information available on the web, there is a chance for your identity to be stolen. There are simple ways to prevent this from happening, and this doesn’t always mean that you have to spend a dime.

    Make sure to delete your login and password information, especially when using a shared computer. Another way to prevent identity theft is to change your account passwords every so often. Check credit reports every quarter to make sure that you only pay for products and services that you purchased.

     What To Do When Your Identity Has Been Stolen

    Maybe it’s your unlucky day and you just found out that you’re a victim of identity theft. You must take immediate action in order to stop the problem from escalating. The first thing to do is report the crime by placing an Initial Fraud Alert. This can be done by calling the national credit reporting company. The next step is to get a copy of your credit report so that you can dispute any unauthorized activity. The last step is to make a report of the identity theft, which allows you to clear the activities of the identity thief on your accounts.

    If you want to be extra careful with your online accounts and credit cards, it might be a good idea to pay for an identity theft service. This might cost you around a $150 annually, but it will make you feel at ease whenever you do activities online.

    Tips For Protecting Your Identity

    http://youtu.be/DT9DoS-1QgQ

    Image via YouTube

  • Coca-Cola Laptop Theft Could Endanger 74,000 People

    The Coca-Cola Company made the announcement on Friday that they recently had a possible security breech when several of its company laptops went missing.

    The soft drink corporation said that several of their employee laptops were stolen from the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and could have compromised the information of over 74,000 people.

    Reportedly, these laptops contained data that revealed private information including names, addresses, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and credit card information – for thousands of employees, both in the United States and Canada.

    Although the laptops disappeared months ago, they were recovered in December, with no known issues.

    The company did discover the theft quickly, and immediately notified about 18,000 of its employees that had their social security numbers stored on them, with the remaining 56,000 that had less sensitive information, such as drivers license numbers as well.

    Coke spokeswoman Ann Moore said the laptops were stolen by a former employee who had been assigned to maintain or dispose of equipment.

    Ms. Moore said the security breach included personal information of about 4,500 individuals who were company contractors or vendors. Credit-card information for fewer than 10 people was on the stolen laptops, she said.

    What is extremely questionable is the fact that even though Coca-Cola maintains a policy that all company computers be encrypted, the stolen laptops had not received their customary encryption protection.

    Because of this possible threat to its employee’s personal information and the breach it might cause, Coke is offering its employees a year of free identity theft protection as an apology.

    Coke said the laptops were later retrieved and it has “no indication” the personal information had been misused.

    In a memo by Coca-Cola to its employees, they wrote, “To expedite the process, we brought in extra crews that worked long hours, including throughout the holiday period and on weekends, to sort through the data.”

    Coke said that as of Friday, no arrest has been made.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Phaedra Parks: Hubby Charged With Bank Fraud, More

    Phaedra Parks of The Real Housewives of Atlanta had a new reality invade her TV life this week when she learned her husband Apollo Nida was charged with bank fraud and identity theft. Nida appeared before the U.S. District Court on Thursday.

    According to the court website, a U.S. Secret Service Agent in the Counterfeit and U.S. Treasury Check Squad named Alexandre Herrera claimed that Apollo Nida created fake companies as a means of stealing from individuals by opening bank accounts using these people’s real names. Nida was identified by Gayla St. Julien, who reportedly has been under arrest since September for the same cache of criminal activities. Apollo Nida has been released on bail.

    Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida have starred in The Real Housewives of Atlanta since 2009, and welcomed their second son into the world this past May. Parks–an attorney–just learned about a month before this baby was born that she will soon be getting her on TV spinoff show about her legal career. Now that her husband has been charged with these crimes, people are likely wondering a couple of things about Phaedra. Was she in on it? Was she aware of what her husband was doing? Or does this mean she’ll seek to sever ties with him since his arrest? Not many clients will be thrilled to know that their attorney is married to someone who both defrauded banks and stole people’s identities. Of course in the world of reality TV there are no doubt excuses for everything that goes on. Maybe Phaedra Parks is using that old “innocent until proven guilty” rule. Does that still apply?

    Phaedra Parks represented Bobby Brown during his assault trial in 2004, when he was accused of assault his then-wife, the late Whitney Houston. She has represented other celebrity clients as well. Certainly she can’t represent Apollo–but she likely knows someone who can.

    Will Apollo Nida’s arrest play itself out on The Real Housewives of Atlanta or are their gag orders on using real criminal cases on reality TV shows? Can’t you just imagine how that would boost ratings?

    Image via Facebook

  • Phaedra Parks’ Husband Charged in Fraudulent Schemes

    The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, Phaedra Parks, may literally be married to a partner-in-crime.

    Parks’ husband, Apollo Nida, was charged with bank fraud and identity theft on Thursday Jan. 23. He was questioned by U.S. Marshalls the same day and was summoned to appear before U.S. District Court.

    According to Access Atlanta, U.S. Secret Service agent Alexandre Herrera of the Counterfeit and U.S. Treasury Check Squad reported that Nida stole other people’s identity and private information by developing fake companies. He then “opened fake bank accounts under those real names and funneled stolen U.S. Treasury checks and auto loan proceeds into those accounts.”

    The original criminal, Gayla St. Julien, has been under investigation since February 2012. However, in September, she tied Nida into the crime as well.

    Julien, who refers to herself as “NIDA’s ‘right hand b****’” claimed that the RHOA reality co-star was the mastermind behind the scandals.

    One scheme involved a bankcard for Ferrari Autohaus Inc., which is said to be a fake car dealership. A search warrant by authorities has confirmed this.

    The criminal complaint reported by Access Atlanta details how their partnership worked:

    “Nida would allegedly steal real people’s identities and have St. Julien pretend to be them to open bank accounts. She would then deposit fraudulent auto loan checks, stolen U.S. Treasury checks, stolen retirement checks issued to Delta Airlines employees, and checks in the names of real people that were owed unclaimed property from various state and federal government agencies.”

    It’s no surprise that Nida is in trouble because in 2004 he was sentenced to five years in prison for a similar crime, which involved “breaking federal racketeering laws related to auto title fraud.”

    Nida regularly appears on the reality show along with his wife. They have been together since 2009 and are parents to two sons together.

    Parks is also an attorney herself, a celebrity attorney to be exact.

    A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb 12, 2014.  Maybe Parks will end up representing her ‘hubby’?

    Located below is a HLN interview with Parks and Nida about his time behind bars:

    Image via Youtube

  • Twitter’s Two-Step Authentication Feature: Success or Failure?

    With over 500 million registered users, Twitter is flying high among the giants of social media. The fact that the service is in high demand has made it a target for identity thieves looking to use social media networks to victimize people.

    Phishing scams, for instance, remain a favorite among identity thieves. One particular scam involves direct messages sent to potential victims. These messages usually contain a link that, when clicked, leads to what looks like the Twitter login page. The operative words here are “looks” and “like”, since the page is actually just a cleverly made trap. Entering your login info on that page will give the scammers access to your real Twitter account and whatever other important information you have there.

    Identity theft through social media can also happen when you get taken in by a fake Twitter account. It doesn’t take much to impersonate someone on Twitter. Just look at the sheer number of fake celebrity accounts, for example. While annoying, Twitter admins can take these pretenders down as long as you are able to convince them of your identity. It’s not exactly a deterrent but it can help you get rid of the fake accounts.

    It is a lot harder to actually hack into a Twitter account and hijack it, especially if you have a strong password. Unfortunately, it still happens. Not even big companies are safe. The Associated Press, for example, recently suffered a hacking attack that resulted in the Dow plunging 145 points. Yes, something as small as a single Tweet can affect stock markets.

    In order to make sure that its users have extra protection against account hijackers and identity thieves, Twitter has implemented a new security feature that uses a two-step authentication process. A user who registers his or her mobile phone number will receive a text message containing a six-digit code every time they log on to their account. The code must then be entered in order to finalize the login. This means that anybody trying to hack into your Twitter account will need access to both your password and your mobile phone. Both Facebook and Google also have their own versions of this security feature.

    One of the upsides of the new feature is that it alerts you if unauthorized persons ever try to log on to your Twitter or Facebook or Google account. It’s very useful if your login information is ever compromised either through hacking, phishing, or via an unrelated breach on a database somewhere else on the web. That last one is a particularly tricky problem, since it’s basically outside of the user’s control.

    Some experts, however, believe that the new feature will largely go unused by most Twitter users. Why? Because having to wait for a text message before you can log on is a bit of a hassle, apparently. In addition, experts believe that people don’t quite trust social media companies to provide them with such sensitive information.

    Online security firm Avira found in 2012 that over 80% of people think that a social networking site will either steal or misuse their information. Ironic, since security features such as the one Twitter has added were actually implemented to protect people from a stolen identity online.

    There’s also the matter or losing your mobile phone. Without it, you won’t be able to log on to your Twitter account if you have the two-step authorization feature enabled. Staying always logged on and changing the registered number doesn’t work, since you still need to enter a code sent to the number you originally registered. The only other solution remaining is to contact Twitter’s support team.

    Another roadblock is that not every mobile carrier is supported by Twitter. If you register a number that’s on an unsupported carrier, you are basically locking yourself out of your Twitter account. You can check a list of supported mobile carriers here. Twitter plans to add support for more mobile carriers in the future.

    Furthermore, you can only use one phone number to secure one account. If you happen to have multiple accounts, you are going to need more mobile numbers if you want to keep all of them protected by the two-step authentication service. This is a particularly big hurdle for Twitter accounts that are used by more than one person. For example, those used by news services or big blogs. Staying logged on forever is considered a bad idea in terms of security. Always having to contact the person who owns the mobile number tied to the account is also more of a hassle than a solution.

    All of these problems don’t bode well for user adoption of the new authentication process. If seen from the perspective of a person who only uses one Twitter account, it can prove very useful. The thing is it can’t protect everybody. Not just yet, anyway. It still remains to be seen if Twitter rolls out new features that address the shortcomings currently plaguing the two-step authentication feature.

    Whether you decide to enable the feature on not, it’s important to remember that preventing identity theft is as much your responsibility as it is that of whatever social networking service you use. Make sure you have a strong password, preferably something long with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t click on suspicious links, especially if they’re from someone you don’t know personally. Also keep your PC, smartphone, or tablet’s OS up to date. Invest in a good anti-virus program, too. Finally, remember that social networking sites are public. Be careful with the information that you share and who you share it with.

    Vigilance is a big factor in preventing identity theft, be it online or in the real world. If you found this article useful, please don’t hesitate to share it with your friends and family. You can also give us your own opinion on the matter in our comments section below.

  • 7-Eleven Raids: Nine Arrested For Illegal Workers

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office today unsealed two indictments charging nine 7-Eleven store owners and operators with wire fraud, steling identities, and concealing and harboring illegal immigrants.

    The defendants are accused hiring “dozens” of illegal immigrants and giving them identities stolen from U.S. citizens. The illegal employees were allegedly housed in boarding houses owned by the defendants, and “substantial” portions of their wages were stolen.

    “As set forth in the indictments, the defendants used 7-Eleven as a platform from which to run elaborate criminal enterprises,” said Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “From their 7-Eleven stores, the defendants dispensed wire fraud and identity theft, along with Slurpees and hot dogs. In bedroom communities across Long Island and Virginia, the defendants not only systematically employed illegal immigrants, but concealed their crimes by raiding the cradle and the grave to steal the identities of children and even the dead. Finally, these defendants ruthlessly exploited their immigrant employees, stealing their wages and requiring them to live in unregulated boarding houses, in effect creating a modern day plantation system,”

    14 7-Eleven stores in Long Island and Virginia have been seized in connection with the indictments. In addition five New York houses worth over $1.3 million have also been seized. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stated that this was the largest criminal immigration forfeiture in its history.

    The defendants were arraigned today at court houses in Islip, New York and Norfolk, Virginia. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and harboring illegal immigrants, as well as consecutive two-year sentences for each count of aggravated identity theft.

    “The 7-11 franchises seized today will be better known for their big fraud than their Big Gulp,” said James Hayes, special agent-in charge for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. “As alleged, the franchise owners knowingly and repeatedly employed an illegal workforce and abused and exploited that workforce for more than 13 years. This charged criminal scheme had a vast detrimental effect on both the employees who were overworked and cheated out of wages, as well as the more than 25 American citizens whose lives were upended by the theft of their identities in furtherance of the scheme.”

  • ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Conman Talks Facebook Privacy

    One of the world’s most famous confidence men has his reservations about Facebook.

    Speaking at the Advertising Week Europe conference, Frank Abagnale says that he completely understands why people like Facebook. But he warns that the network is full of people who don’t really understand just how far they’re putting themselves out there. And that Facebook is basically a godsend for potential identity thieves.

    Abagnale would know a thing or two about identity theft. He’s known as one of the most successful impostors of all time, assuming the identities of pilots, doctors, lawyers, and even a U.S. prison agent. You may know him as the subject of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film Catch Me If You Can. He’s the guy played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

    Abagnale suggests that users never include their date and place of birth together. He also warned against using “passport style” photos as profile pictures. To be safe, you should opt for group photos.

    “If you tell me your date of birth and where you’re born [on Facebook] I’m 98% [of the way] to stealing your identity,” he said. “Never state your date of birth and where you were born [on personal profiles], otherwise you are saying ‘come and steal my identity’”.

    He even discussed the concept of Facebook likes giving away tons of information about you. People (some with malicious intent) can use your history of likes (and even what you choose not to like) to discern your personal info, lifestyle choices, and personality traits. We recently ran a piece on this very same thing.

    But he doesn’t put all the blame on Facebook and other social media and tech services. “Don’t blame all the other companies…you control it,” he said.

    “What I did 40 years ago as a teenage boy is 4,000 times easier now,” he said. “Technology breeds crime.”

    Chilling words from a guy who knows what he’s talking about.

    [via The Guardian]