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r5 - 18 Dec 2005 - 02:33:22 - SueMcGinnisYou are here: TWiki >  OLT Web  > IdentityTheft
-- JamesBishop - 05 Dec 2005

IdentityTheft

The one thing that people take for granted when getting on the computer and surfing cyberspace is their privacy. Some crooks would much rather spend their time trying to steal your good name, rather than earn an honest living. After seventeen years of law enforcement, I have seen an explosion of IdentityTheft.

There are many things you can do to keep your good name and credit score intact. The first and foremost error that I see people do is carry their Social Security card with them. A thief can ruin your credit by obtaining your social security number! So, NEVER, EVER carry your social security card with you.

Things you can do to hinder thieves while online:

  • Don't save personal information (passwords, account numbers, etc...) on your computer! If you do, install an encryption program to prevent someone from readily reading your files.

  • Create good passwords- Thieves use password-breaking programs that use dictionaries to break your password, so be creative when designing a password (ie. s1m9i8t8h "Smith" with "1988" inserted inbetween the letters) This method is makes it that much tougher for someone to guess your password.

  • Make sure that you have a "firewall" for your computer. It prevents someone from snooping through your computer when you don't want them to.

  • Turn your computer off when you are not using it.

  • Do not use automatic log-in features, which saves your username and passwords. If your laptop is stolen, the thief won't be able to access your accounts.

* Beware of internet scams! The most popular one is called the "Nigerian Scam". If someone wants to buy your laptop that you advertised for sale, and they want to send you more than what you offered it for, hit the delete button!!! I have seen this time and time again. They request that you forward them the difference when you send the laptop. Example: Your laptop is for sale at $700, but a guy in Africa wants to send you a cashiers check for $2,500 and "trusts" you to send him the difference. You receive an authentic-looking check for $2,500 and deposit it. You then (being the good citizen) forward the difference with the laptop. A few days later, your bank wants their $2,500 back because the "check" was bogus! Now you're out $2,500 and your laptop and guess what? The culprit lives in another country and there's nothing that you can do except learn from your experience.

None of these tips will absolutely prevent someone from stealing your information off of your computer, but they make it tough enough where a thief may decide to go somewhere easier.

What to do if you're a victim of IdentityTheft

  • Contact each credit reporting agency (Equifax (800) 525-6285, 
    TransUnion
    (800) 680-7289, and Experian (888) 397-3742)
  • Close any accounts that you believe have been tampered with.
  • File a police report and get a copy of the report or at least the case number.

Some web resources for you:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/harddrive.pdf

http://www.ifccfbi.gov

http://www.consumer.gov/

http://www.cybercrime.gov/

http://www.fraud.org/

http://www.scambusters.org/

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pdfpdf IdentityTheft.pdf manage 855.4 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:33 JamesBishop  
pdfpdf internet_fraud.pdf manage 529.8 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:33 JamesBishop  
pdfpdf ProtectingYourPrivacy.pdf manage 889.5 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:33 JamesBishop  
pdfpdf SafeSecure.pdf manage 1133.9 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:33 JamesBishop  
pdfpdf Safesurfing.pdf manage 1202.4 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:34 JamesBishop  
pdfpdf SSN.pdf manage 214.6 K 05 Dec 2005 - 07:34 JamesBishop  
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