Identity Theft: Children, Students, And The Medical Services Are Targets Too
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 8th, 2010
Good Morning.
A little over a week ago General Info posted an excellent article on Identity theft. There was so much good info in the article. I hope that you didnt pass it by, but passed it on to all your friends and family. Here’s another one that I feel is worthy of a look too. Please read and heed
Identity Theft Update: Kids, Students and Medical Services Are Key Targets for 2010
Identity theft, America’s number one crime, which claims more than 9 million victims every year, looks set to plumb new depths in 2010, targeting some of the nation’s most vulnerable groups — children, students, and the medical sector.
What’s more, according to the San Diego-based non-profit dentity Theft Resource Center, which produces an annual Top 10 list of identity theft fraud targets, economic hardship will prompt previously “clean” people to turn to crime, with identity theft their main weapon.
“Once desperate people max out their credit limits and wreck their own credit histories, they will start to use Social Security numbers that they can easily access,” says ITRC chief Jay Foley. Stolen credit card numbers are also high on the hit list.
These new identity theft crooks will use the relatively simple methods of stealing credit card numbers, dumpster diving, phone calls and online phishing to get the information they need.
The same desperation will lead to more child identity theft and family “inside jobs” as well as fraudulent use of numbers belonging to close friends, roommates and fellow workers, ITRC warns in its 2010 outlook.
Child Identity Theft
Identity theft reports involving children now account for 10% of all cases. We highlighted it in an earlier issue of Scambusters, noting that since many children don’t use their
SSN until they turn 18, to get a job, an identity thief can use it for years without getting caught.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=.DKzuIT3RivBzVQYgfneeg
The SSN might be used to help the impostor get a job, to raise credit, or to obtain a driver’s license. Sometimes, child identities are used by crooks when they get caught, so they show up as having no prior convictions.
Amazingly, although the most common source of child identity theft is, as we reported in our earlier issue, undocumented workers, there are increasing instances of the offense being committed by a member of a family, even a parent (often when there has been a family split) who has seriously damaged his or her own credit or driving record.
Certainly, it is usually left to parents to try to clear up the mess of child identity theft that may trail back over 10 or 15 years; the problems can even haunt the child into adulthood.
Action: When you show your child’s birth certificate, you can order a credit report for your child from the three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your request will probably have to be in writing.
If you find anything wrong, or if you are already aware that your child has become a victim of identity theft, contact the police and get the credit agencies to flag up the offense. If the offender is a relative, you may also need an attorney.
But the messy and time-consuming task of straightening out the records will be down to you and is largely the same as for an adult, though you have one additional weapon — the ability to point out to credit issuers that your child is too young to have entered into a contract and that it is therefore not legally binding.
(You may wonder why credit issuers do not verify dates of birth when credit applications are made. So do we.)
Sadly, it’s also possible that a child victim of identity theft could also suffer psychological damage and you may need to seek counseling help for them.
For more assistance with spotting and unraveling identity theft problems, visit the Scambusters Identity Theft Information Center.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=NjIrAN8XJS2xd1nNFyiWig
You might also consider subscribing to an identity theft protection service, such as LifeLock (which is the company we use) or TrustedId (another excellent service).
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=_uwVXBKEYsw63iiskD8LIg
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=SytoZqAnL.VKQcL5MPkq1A
Students and identity theft
A recent case in which a university police officer and his wife pleaded guilty to stealing the college’s enrollment list, which included hundreds of students’ Social Security numbers and dates of birth, underlines the vulnerability of these young people to identity theft.
It’s such a big issue that we previously devoted a three-part college students’ guide to identity theft to the subject.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=ICMuQQqVBRMWMQJ7GXXjBA
Apart from outright theft of enrollment lists, students are also at risk of identity theft fraud because of shared accommodation which often is not secured, carelessness with use of passwords, failing to log-off after using PCs, and the increased likelihood of hackers on campus.
In addition, the tendency for young people generally to be more trusting and their widespread use of social networking sites have contributed to a massive increase of identity theft through these channels.
Action: Ironically, education is the best weapon to fight identity theft among students — making them more aware of the risks they face and ensuring they check and reconcile their credit card statements.
As above, you should also monitor their records with the credit reporting agencies and consider identity theft protection of the sort offered by LifeLock.
More directly, perhaps think about installing a small safe in the student’s accommodation (if feasible and permissible) or even a locked steel box, plus a shredder.
Medical identity theft
Medical identity theft, while not a new crime, will reflect the distress of those who have become unemployed, the ITRC predicts. High premiums and the inability of individuals to afford insurance or medical care will likely cause a spike in this area of identity theft this year.
As confirmation, the Social Security Administration has noted an increase in uninsured people using the coverage of a friend, relative or even a stranger to get care.
That’s just one side of medical identity theft though. As we previously reported, hospitals, clinics, medical centers and even doctors’ offices are targeted in the theft of individual’s personal information for use in the outside world.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=ItgmIwVlQVKOfZ2e_eXgyQ
In another variation, seniors and veterans have recently been targeted by identity theft scammers requesting credit card information supposedly to arrange refunds and rebates for medical services or for sending out prescriptions.
Action: Regularly checking your credit record and online credit card statements, closely monitoring health insurance statements and considering identify theft insurance or other identity theft protection, are your first line of defense against someone assuming your identity.
It’s worth knowing too that your health records are supposed to be protected against identity theft under the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules.
Find out more about this here.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1f.I5z0KW0tWfo&b=laTFPlsCEAGSzYT7gIk0Iw
Check your insurer’s policy statement about compliance.
And, as always, never give your Social Security number or financial information to anyone without first thoroughly checking they are who they say they are.
Three Simple Steps
Undoubtedly, identity theft in all its guises, will be with us for the foreseeable future but, in addition to the points already listed here, there are a few, very simple things you can do both to substantially reduce the risk of becoming a victim or to deal with it effectively if you’re hit.
John Sileo, one of America’s top identity theft experts, recommends these three measures:
1. Keep all your sensitive and personal documents in a single, safe place where they are not only protected but also available as a single, complete source of information if your identity is stolen.
2. Set up regular calendar reminders every four months to order and monitor your credit reports. (You’re entitled to one free report from each of the three agencies each year.)
3. Monitor all your financial accounts regularly. If possible, get banks and credit card companies to send you a text or email message whenever there’s a transaction on your account.
Just remember, when it comes to identity theft, vigilance is your keyword.
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Renae: You got that right.
Heather: I have no doubt that you’re countering your retarded husband’s bigotry lessons to your children.
Anna: Thanks for posting. I may bring the plight of women to the forefront here, and I like to think I am doing some good, but it is women like Dr. Ellen Bez that have dedicated their lives and given it attention daily, that should be applauded. And obviously she is :) – Congratulations to Dr. Bez.
Readers: It seems that many countries are not cooperating with the aliens, and they are obviously taking action. It seems those in power don’t believe in the power of the aliens, or they are too stupid to see the evidence, and are refusing to comply with their requests. It’s too bad – Ultimately it is going to be the people who suffer.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 8th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
The right is at it again. They are asking for “their” country back. The “their” means white. It is the racists who think that being white means its their country. Here is the latest vitriol from them.
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Fire the Democrats —
Take Back Congress!
Dear Fellow Conservative:
The Democrats have done it. They have stolen our country.
In flagrant violation of the Constitution, in open contempt for the will of the people, in a shameless display of bribery and corruption that reveals the true meaning of Barack Obama’s promise to “change the way Washington works,” they have rammed through Congress a healthcare “reform” that will destroy our economy and give politicians and bureaucrats the power of life and death over every citizen.
Make no mistake: This bill is unconstitutional. It is un-American. It is an insult to the memory of every soldier who gave his life to defend our liberties. But it is not — I repeat, NOT — irreversible.
How do I know? Because I have been here before — many times. In my nearly 50 years in political journalism, I have seen the conservative movement, and America herself, seemingly faced with certain and ultimate defeat — only to rise again and fight on to victory.
I have seen the bitter defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964 — and the glorious triumph of Ronald Reagan in 1980. I have seen the Communist takeover of South Vietnam in 1975 — and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I have seen the invasion of Kuwait and the catastrophe of 9/11 — and our subsequent military victories in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
So when the Democrats tell us, “It’s over, give up, we won and you lost — it’s time to move on to other things” — well, I’m not fooled for a single solitary second, and neither should you be. There is still more than enough time and opportunity to repeal the Democrat healthcare bill, and to recover the rights and liberties it would steal from us.
But to repeal the bill, we must first repeal the Democrats themselves.
In other words, we must take back Congress, in sufficient numbers not only to repeal ObamaCare, but to make that repeal stand up against the President’s veto.
Think that’s impossible? Think again. Because one other thing I’ve seen in my half-century in politics is how a battered and beaten Republican Party roared back to life — and into power — in its 1994 takeover of the U.S. House and Senate.
And believe me, the populist passion that empowered the Republican Revolution of ‘94 is nothing, and I mean nothing, compared to the outrage driving today’s conservative re-awakening.
So, if you ask my expert opinion (and it is expert, I don’t mind saying), the question is not whether the GOP will regain majorities in the House and Senate this fall, but only by how much.
The answer to that question depends only on us — you, me, and the many millions of our fellow citizens who still believe in America’s founding principles of limited government and individual liberty.
That’s why I’m asking you today, pleading with you — do NOT give up hope, do NOT despair of our country’s future, do NOT listen to the Democrats’ siren song of surrender. Join us at Human Events as we lead the fight to take back Congress — and take back America.
Join the fight to
TAKE BACK CONGRESS
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It is scary that we have allowed a few organized bunch of bigots to hijack our country. I am white but I don’t think that the country belongs exclusively to me and the white race.
Mike
April 8th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Mike I’m like you, a white man putting up with relatives and friends that are pining for the “good ole days” when we whites could do what we pleased with any OTW that got in our way. I can not tell you how difficult it is to be white among them these days.
I can only imagine what it must be like to live in a country where one race of its citizenry celebrates those who fought to keep one race of its citizenry in slavery as that group who but for the victory of the other side would be slaves.
Yes, Mike on some occasions it can be embarrassing to be white
Jerry