The recent issue to come to light on the subject of identity theft is black market sale of personal info. There are people out there in cyberspace who steal electronics from banks and other institutions or maybe just raid a dumpster to obtain valuable personal info. Either way, they hop on the net and claim to have DOBs, SSN, Account numbers, and dumps (magnetic strip codes). They are acting as a sort of middle men. Not bearing the full risk of the crime, but still making a buck illegally.

The thing to keep in mind is that these are people trying to make money off fraud. They could very well be swindling each other. Maybe they don’t ever deliver information after payment or the info delivered itself turns out to be bogus just to make a quick dollar. Whatever the case may be, the plot defiantly keeps thickening.

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Recently, the people at Facebook decided it would be cool to incorporate their site with other sites. It would give their users a more tailored net experience. The setting would be enacted all around. And users would not be made aware. It’s called Facebook Instant Personalization. What it does is share your personal information with Facebook’s partners so they can personalize their features when you first arrive on their websites. This is probably not a threat to your identity or your finances, but it is a breach of your personal information. It’s not like Facebook asked. They just did it.

This is just capitalism. Facebook back in 2004 was not generating any significant revenues to speak of. Now they have sponsors and affiliate marketers to think of. Hence, the progressively different structure.

I just wanted to make everyone aware of the fact your info is being given out. I mean, it’s not like you are going to stop facebooking, write a concerned email, or delete your profile. We are all hooked anyways. Now you might not be able to hide what groups you are a part of or block your activity on the site from appearing on your profile page, but we still log on.

According to Computer Associates, a multinational computer software corporation headquartered in New York, Facebook even tracked user activity on sites affiliated with its Beacon advertising program, even when those users have opted-out of the program and logged off Facebook. Now this controversial service became the target of a class action lawsuit and was shut down in September 2009. This new wave of change looks vaguely familiar.

If you feel like opting out of their “personalization process”, it’s pretty simple:

• Log in
• Click the account tag in the right hand corner
• Go to Privacy Settings
• Go to Applications and Websites
• Click the Edit Settings button under Instant Personalization

-Uncheck the “Allow select partners to instantly personalize their features with my public information when I first arrive on their websites” box and save.

Otherwise you can do it by a site by site visit by visit basis. “When you arrive on these sites, you’ll see a notification from Facebook at the top of the page. You can easily opt-out of experiencing this on these sites by ‘No Thanks’ on the blue Facebook notification on the top of partner sites.”

Gizmodo.com, gives us a satirical look at the changes to come in the future.

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The government says reporting a lost or stolen card to us will not prevent its misuse. You have to do more than just replace it. Some who is in possession of your card can undoubtedly get more of your personal info. Now, it doesn’t cost you anything to apply for a SSN card, either for yourself or for application of a newborn. But these things are not like debit cards. You can’t just have the government close one and open a new identity for you. This is why they made all these other outlets:

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338);
• File an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov;
• Check your Social Security records (call toll-free 1-800-772-1213; TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ensure your income is calculated correctly
• File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime

• Contact the fraud units of the three major credit-reporting bureaus:

– Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; or Internet: http://www.equifax.com

– Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289; or Internet: http://www.transunion.com/

– Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742); or Internet: http://www.experian.com

But the best way to avoid all this is to not travel with the little blue piece of paper. Keep it at home locked up with the title to your car. I can’t believe it when people tell me they still keep it in their wallet or purse. You know how many times I lost my wallet when I was younger?!

“Hello, yes is this the US government? Hi. This is _________. I seem to have misplaced and misused how the entire system recognizes me. Yeah, I need a new number. Oh you don’t really do that. I see.”

The stance of Social Security on issuing new numbers is like this. They only want you to consider changing your Social Security number as a last resort. The thing being, changing your number may adversely impact your ability to interact with federal and state agencies, employers and others. Why? Well, because your financial, medical, employment and other records will be under your other SSN. If you have done all you can and someone still is using your number, they may assign you a new number. But they cannot guarantee that a new number is going to actually solve your problem. AND you can’t even get a new number if you filed for bankruptcy, appear to “intend to avoid the law or your legal responsibility” (Do alimony and spousal support payments count?), or – and here’s the biggie – if your social security card is stolen or lost and there is no evidence someone else is using it.

Gosh Jim, identity theft isn’t-very funny.

If you value your credit and like being in charge of your life, keep that stupid little card and the content printed on it under lock and key.

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We have heard of some crazy things people do to set scams, steal identities and then the crazy stuff they buy with your money. I have heard recently of women stealing Botox injections and even more astounding is the fact surgical procedures are also being chalked up to identity theft in the past year. It is being called surgical identity theft. It was only a matter of time before this started happening. I mean, healthcare is like 20% of our GDP.

This story really stuck out. And so I felt the need to show the extent of identity theft in 2010. Brace yourselves. This is the story of one woman’s quest to obtain fulfillment. Yvonne Pampellonne was your typical 30-year-old California girl. This typical girl walked into the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery and walked out with $17,000 in lipo and a brand new set of implants. She didn’t pay a dime. She stole a woman’s name to set up a line of credit. She hit the road and didn’t have to pack much, seeing as everything she stole was pretty much right in front of her.
The story gets better. She had implants already. Pampellonne has inherited the alias of “The Breast Implant Bandit”. The Bandit is now looking at six months of hard time after pleading guilty to grand theft boob, identity theft, and burglary.

However did the authorities catch The Bandit? Apparently there is serial numbers on implants. They used the serial numbers of her old set that were removed.

Don’t let your identity wind up on someone’s chest. Here are some tips to ward off surgicial identity theft:

• Watch your credit report and identify any medical debts on the report (make sure they are yours).
• Look at any explanation of benefits that may be sent to you by insurers. If anything appears to be incorrect, contact the insurer or provider for a full explanation. When a statement isn’t yours, don’t ignore it just because it says you don’t owe any money.
• Request and review every benefit associated with being paid in your name by insurance plans to which you belong.

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The thing to remember is that it has become so commonplace that the odds are pretty high that you’ve been a victim or you know someone who has. I cannot stress this enough, be more aggressive with your monitoring. Get in a habit of checking systematically. I don’t care if you have $20,000 in the bank or $20. That doesn’t matter to these guys. It’s not fiat money they are after. Its credit and the doors that open once they get their hand on it. These days people are using stolen personal info to seek medical treatment. Yup, medical identity theft. So stay on the ball people. Watch you statements, for God sakes keep your info under lock and key (particularly on the web, maybe get more spyware or software protection), and take advantage of the government resources.

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“What you’re doing as a salesman, what we are doing is painting a picture. Soon as they pick up the phone, and I get on the phone with them, my hand is on the way. My hand goes, two hands go through that phone. One hand goes up to the wall and starts painting pictures, the other hand is in their checkbook . . . and writing it out.” [Transcript of conversation, used in trial of United States v. Leake (Southern District of California)]

This is the state of things. It’s appalling to think that such a “business” exists. Their sole purpose is to swindle and misrepresent. Just listen to this sound bite. The victim is having their emotions preyed upon. They think they are going to be giving to a charity, when in actuality the victims of this scheme will routinely received prizes of little or no value as thanks for paying hundreds and even thousands of dollars to what was represented to them as a legitimate charity. There are other scams where they will say you’ve won a large sum of money, but have to pay fees or taxes on it within a strict time frame in order to receive it. Don’t fall for it.

The FBI gives us some tips to avoid falling victim:

• Don’t pay for “free prizes”
• Never pay in advance
• It’s never rude to wait and think
• If you don’t under it, ask. If they don’t answer all questions or become hostile, don’t respond.
• Credit Card numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, & social security numbers are never given out over the phone. Ever.
• If it’s a charity, research it first. Don’t just go on what they say. And find out how much is paid in commission and how much actually gets to the charity. (It’s usually best just to find a charity yourself. There is a better chance of legitimacy.)

No one wants to get deceived. It’s like being made fun of, kicked in the nose, and being picked last in a game of third grade dodge ball all at the same time. Only in this case you also get to see your hard earned cash go to some crook in a headset.

Sites like KilltheCalls.com help to not only stop calls from these people, but also help us fight back. When these telemarketers step out of line, and often they do, you stand to benefit to the tune of $500 to $1500!

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You taxes pay these guys, you might as well utilize their resources.

How to File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission

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We keep saying not to befriend strangers on Facebook or to actively devulge your SSN. We keep saying to not put your information out there for all to see.  Identity thieves don’t discriminate in age guys. This video is a prime example. There is now talk not of insurance premiums going up for avid users of social media sites. The risk of identity theft is significantly higher and thus the risk of having to covering the losses is higher for your insurance company. Don’t be negligent.

1. Never post your home address or other personal information such as your home phone number on social networking sites

2. Don’t follow people you don’t know on social networks and use block others from seeing your profile if you don’t know them

3. Turn off location-based services on Twitter and Facebook unless you absolutely need to use them

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When we think of gangs, generally we think of guns, drugs, and violence. In south Florida however, gang lifestyle is adapting to a new face of crime. This type of crime can affect you even if you never set foot on that side of town. Gangs in Broward County are now operating identity theft campaigns. The crime was found right at the top of the gangs activities alongside gun running and drug trafficking. This looks like it’s only the beginning; showing how vast this once non-violent low grade scam has ballooned.

What did the undercover cops with “Operation Smoking Gun” find? Well, there were 302 firearms; 6,035 prescription pills; 4 kilos of cocaine; 7,762 ecstasy pills; 5 kilos of marijuana; $5,000 in counterfeit cash; and this: more than 300 names related to stolen identities.

We cannot stress this enough: When you hand your credit card or debit card over to someone, anyone, DON’T LET IT OUT OF SIGHT.  If the clerk needs to go take care of something do not be afraid to ask him/her to leave the card. Keep track of your account activity. If you go out to eat, use cash.

Federal authorities have found rooms in Miami with names, bank account info, and credit card machines. Identity theft cases jumped up 12 percent last year to 11 million adults. I don’t know when people are going to start realizing the threat. At this juncture, with all the factors in play, it’s time to start being paranoid.

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In today’s economy more and more people were jumping on more and more new credit card offers. Wrong. I am no accountant and pretty much all of my fiscal knowledge was gained by paying late fees overdrafts and robbing Peter to pay Paul.  In the credit card business, emphasis on business, they make money when you have outstanding debt with them. This is why they call people who pay off their balance every month “deadbeats”. They don’t make money off those individuals. Nobody does that though. Min. balance every month is usually how it goes. The argument for this behavior is that it builds your credit score. There are less expensive ways to do so.

When you leave a balance on a credit card you end up paying 15% on what you leave every month. If you had a balance of $450 on there and paid off a min of $100, then you’d be giving that company $50 of your money every month. That is too things. 1) Stupid. 2) Good Business. Just because this practice is a social norm and is the way it has been, doesn’t mean you need to indulge in it! It’s financially irresponsible. You want a card? Fine. But pay that sucker off every month.

Financial Institutions don’t automatically know best. Exhibit A would be the banks giving out of all the sub-prime loans and derivatives that helped in the housing market collapse. The Fed issued them the money. The banks then gave ‘em out and then on the back end, broke them up and sold off the little bits to other institutions. Everyone was making money. It was fantastic. And then the party ended and we’ve been left with the repercussions. The same slippery slope can be applied to credit card debt. I’m not saying credit cards are evil, but if you have a need for one, use it responsibly. Remember its debt (absence of money) and not money. The absolute biggest myth about these things is that you need to carry a balance to build credit.

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