What Mersinger didn’t know was his ordeal of police reports, sworn
affidavits, unreturned phone calls and ambiguous, frustrating
communication from an understaffed government agency was just beginning.
He also didn’t know that he will likely wait a year or more to get his
$3,500 tax refund, as he becomes one more victim of a fraud that is
costing the American taxpayers billions in stolen U.S. Treasury funds
and government resources.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20120327/NEWS01/303270002/1051/RSS05/Exclusive-Identity-theft-tax-fraud-rise?odyssey=nav|head
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The attack of the annoying computer passwords
The attack of the annoying computer passwords
My life has been overtaken by passwords.
I have so many passwords now for so many websites that I cannot keep them straight.
I have to have a password for everything. My bank account. My credit card. The cable company. The cell phone company. Amazon.com. The UGA ticket office. I even need a password to sign into this newspaper's website.
I understand the need to have different passwords. Elsewhere in today's paper is a story about identity theft and the fact that Gainesville has the 22nd highest rate of identity theft of any city in the country.
I understand that I should make my passwords as complicated as possible so that other can't easily figure them out.
I understand that by having different passwords for all the websites I visit makes it that much more difficult for some bad person to access all of my personal information and to steal my identity.
I understand it, but I don't like it.
When I first started using the Internet years ago, you almost never needed a password. And when you did, it didn't matter if the password you chose was something short and simple.
I chose "glory," the name of the black and white springer spaniel that lives at my house, as my password.
Before long, websites started requiring that my passwords be a combination of letters and numbers. So I threw a couple of numbers at the end of "glory" and went about my business.
But then identity theft became a big issue, and websites starting requiring that your passwords be longer and more complicated to remember. And the IT experts began recommending that we all use a different password for every website on which we have accounts.
I remember signing up for one website. When I attempted to use my standard "glory" password, the website wouldn't accept it. It wasn't long enough
"Please enter a password that is 8-20 characters long."
Eight characters? Really? I can barely remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, and I'm supposed to remember an eight-character password?
The only thing I could think of with eight characters was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Didn't figure that would work as a password.
Now some websites require that passwords include not only letters and numbers, but also special characters, such as "#," "_," "*," or "/."
So now I have about six different passwords, and use one variation every time I sign up for a new site. They all are long. They all have numbers, letters and special characters. And they are all impossible to remember.
Last week, I went to a website and typed in my password.
I got an error message. "There was an error with your email/password combination. Please try again," it said.
I must have made a typo. I tried the same password again. No luck.
I tried one of my other passwords. It didn't work, either.
After about four more attempts, the website locked me out for exceeding the number of sign-in attempts allowed. So I had to call the company and verify who I was to be allowed access to my account.
I told this story to the newspaper's IT guy one day last week.
"There's a really good way to create a password that will never cause you any trouble," he said.
Do tell, I said.
"Use a favorite quote from a book or movie as your password," he said. "That way you have a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end, and that takes care of your need for special characters."
It seems foolproof, and I'm excellent at quoting things, from "The Andy Griffith Show" to "Casablanca" to "The West Wing." Now all I need to do is come up with an obscure enough quote from one of my favorite movies, and I shouldn't struggle to remember passwords anymore.
Although it probably sums up my attitude about passwords best, I think it best to reject that famous quote that starts, "Frankly, Scarlett."
Mitch Clarke is executive editor of The Times. His column appears Sundays. Read previous columns at gainesvilletimes.com/mitch. Follow him on Twitter @MitchTimes.
POSTED:
March 25, 2012 12:30 a.m.
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I have so many passwords now for so many websites that I cannot keep them straight.
I have to have a password for everything. My bank account. My credit card. The cable company. The cell phone company. Amazon.com. The UGA ticket office. I even need a password to sign into this newspaper's website.
I understand the need to have different passwords. Elsewhere in today's paper is a story about identity theft and the fact that Gainesville has the 22nd highest rate of identity theft of any city in the country.
I understand that I should make my passwords as complicated as possible so that other can't easily figure them out.
I understand that by having different passwords for all the websites I visit makes it that much more difficult for some bad person to access all of my personal information and to steal my identity.
I understand it, but I don't like it.
When I first started using the Internet years ago, you almost never needed a password. And when you did, it didn't matter if the password you chose was something short and simple.
I chose "glory," the name of the black and white springer spaniel that lives at my house, as my password.
Before long, websites started requiring that my passwords be a combination of letters and numbers. So I threw a couple of numbers at the end of "glory" and went about my business.
But then identity theft became a big issue, and websites starting requiring that your passwords be longer and more complicated to remember. And the IT experts began recommending that we all use a different password for every website on which we have accounts.
I remember signing up for one website. When I attempted to use my standard "glory" password, the website wouldn't accept it. It wasn't long enough
"Please enter a password that is 8-20 characters long."
Eight characters? Really? I can barely remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, and I'm supposed to remember an eight-character password?
The only thing I could think of with eight characters was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Didn't figure that would work as a password.
Now some websites require that passwords include not only letters and numbers, but also special characters, such as "#," "_," "*," or "/."
So now I have about six different passwords, and use one variation every time I sign up for a new site. They all are long. They all have numbers, letters and special characters. And they are all impossible to remember.
Last week, I went to a website and typed in my password.
I got an error message. "There was an error with your email/password combination. Please try again," it said.
I must have made a typo. I tried the same password again. No luck.
I tried one of my other passwords. It didn't work, either.
After about four more attempts, the website locked me out for exceeding the number of sign-in attempts allowed. So I had to call the company and verify who I was to be allowed access to my account.
I told this story to the newspaper's IT guy one day last week.
"There's a really good way to create a password that will never cause you any trouble," he said.
Do tell, I said.
"Use a favorite quote from a book or movie as your password," he said. "That way you have a capital letter at the beginning and a period at the end, and that takes care of your need for special characters."
It seems foolproof, and I'm excellent at quoting things, from "The Andy Griffith Show" to "Casablanca" to "The West Wing." Now all I need to do is come up with an obscure enough quote from one of my favorite movies, and I shouldn't struggle to remember passwords anymore.
Although it probably sums up my attitude about passwords best, I think it best to reject that famous quote that starts, "Frankly, Scarlett."
Mitch Clarke is executive editor of The Times. His column appears Sundays. Read previous columns at gainesvilletimes.com/mitch. Follow him on Twitter @MitchTimes.
Dating safety: Don't let them steal more than your heart
Posted: Mar 24, 2012, 5:42 am
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By ARA content ARA content When your grandparents started dating, chances are they knew each other already or had mutual friends. In those days, a blind date — going out with someone you hadn't met or knew nothing about — was a rarity. Today, with the boom in online dating, going on first dates with strangers is commonplace, while dating a friend seems like the "old-fashioned" approach. Plenty of people find love online every year, but when you're dating a stranger, it's important to take steps to ensure the only thing they steal is your heart. Online dating, and other forms of blind dating, require extra caution to protect your personal information from those who might use it without your permission. Safely connecting online Joining one or more dating websites can be a great way to meet people you might enjoy spending time with. Yet, nearly half of online daters fail to verify the authenticity of a potential match before communicating, according to a survey conducted by Impulse Research on behalf of ProtectMyID. By following some basic safety guidelines, you can help ensure the experience is as positive as possible and minimize the risk of being targeted by cyber criminals who frequent dating sites. First, be careful what you share in your profile. Never provide your full name, phone numbers, personal email addresses, home address, or other potentially identifying information such as where you work. Use the website's built-in tools for contacting and communicating with other members. Be wary of requests for personal information such as where you bank or what you are doing. And be careful to not reveal potentially valuable information, such as your mother's maiden name (a frequently used identifier for online accounts). These warnings sound obvious, but be alert that the information doesn't reveal itself in obvious ways. Scammers might make a request for a banking recommendation, or an inquiry as to where your family is from. No matter how convincing the story, never respond to a request for money or financial information. Instead, report the individual to the website's security team; there's never any reason for someone you've just met (or haven't yet met) to make that kind of request. While you're bringing so many new people into your life, keep an eye on your credit and financial accounts to ensure you detect fraud quickly. An identity theft protection service like ProtectyMyID can help you monitor your credit and know sooner if your identity has been compromised. ProtectMyID uses daily Internet scanning to determine if your information appears on suspect sites or chat rooms that specialize in trafficking stolen credit card numbers. Identity theft resolution agents also provide personal assistance to resolve new identity theft issues. Communicating safely Once you've made initial contact, be smart and cautious in your communications. Don't exchange private emails or engage in texting or instant messaging until you've gotten to know the person better through the website's protected communication methods. When you're ready to talk to each other, consider doing so through an online service like Skype or Yahoo Messenger, rather than exchanging phone numbers. These free services allow you to have a voice conversation over the computer without revealing something as personal as your cell phone or land line number. Meeting for the first time When you take the next step and meet in person, always take precautions. Meet in a public place and make sure a trusted loved one knows where you will be, who you are with and how long you expect to be there. Keep your cell phone handy and consider arranging a check-in with a trusted friend. Drive your own car to the meeting or arrange for your own taxi; don't rely on your date for transportation. Adhere to the safety basics that you always have in place when you go out, including keeping personal items and your drink in your possession at all times and leaving unneeded ID like your Social Security card at home. If meeting your online date requires long-distance traveling, you need to be even more careful and smart. Make sure someone at home knows your travel plans and schedule. If you're arriving at your destination by plane, do not accept a ride from the person you're meeting and don't agree to stay in their home. Instead, arrange for your own rental car or taxi and stay in a hotel. Do not disclose the location of the hotel until you've met the person and established a level of trust. Finally, if something doesn't feel right or you feel pressured, end the date immediately. Trusting your gut can help protect you from an unpleasant or unsafe experience. |
Smartphone owners experience greater incidence of fraud--Data Breach Victims 9.5 Times More Likely To Be Fraud Victims
Smartphone owners experience greater incidence of fraud--
Data Breach Victims 9.5 Times More Likely To Be Fraud Victims
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Data Breach Victims 9.5 Times More Likely To Be Fraud Victims
The 2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier, released today by Javelin Strategy & Research ( www.javelinstrategy.com ), reports that in 2011 identity fraud increased by 13 percent. More than 11.6 million adults became a victim of identity fraud in the United States, while the dollar amount stolen held steady. The report also took the nation's most comprehensive quantitative look at consumer behavior and fraud and found consumers' social media and mobile behaviors may be putting them at greater risk.
Now in its ninth consecutive year, the comprehensive analysis of identity fraud trends is independently produced by Javelin Strategy & Research and made possible by Fiserv, Intersections Inc. and Wells Fargo & Company, companies dedicated to consumer fraud prevention and education. It is the nation's longest-running study of identity fraud, with 42,951 respondents surveyed over the past nine years.
Identity fraud is defined as the unauthorized use of another person's personal information to achieve illicit financial gain. In October 2011, Javelin Strategy & Research conducted an address-based survey of 5,022 U.S. consumers to identify important findings about the impact of fraud, uncover areas of progress, and identify areas in which consumers must exercise continued vigilance.
"While identity fraud incidence increased last year, it is becoming less profitable for fraudsters. Consumers, the financial services industry, law enforcement and government agencies are stopping fraud earlier and making new account fraud more difficult to perpetrate," said James Van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin Strategy & Research. "The study found specific opportunities for improvement. Consumers must be vigilant and in control of their personal data as they adopt new mobile and social technologies in order to not make it easier for fraudsters to perpetrate crimes. Our survey found data breaches are increasingly putting consumers at risk. Consumers and organizations should always carefully and actively monitor accounts, but they should pay particular attention after an incident."
Key Findings
The study found four overall fraud trends:
-- Identity fraud incidents increased, amount stolen remained steady--The number of identity fraud incidents increased by 13 percent over the past year, but the dollar amount stolen remained steady. Additionally, consumer out-of-pocket costs have decreased by 44 percent since 2004, likely due to the improved prevention and detection tools that have come available as well as fraud alerts leading to reduced detection time.
-- Social behaviors put consumers at risk--For the first time, Javelin examined social media and mobile phone behaviors and identified certain social and mobile behaviors that had higher incidence rates of fraud than all consumers. LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter and Facebook users had the highest incidence of fraud although there is no proof of direct causation. The survey found that despite warnings that social networks are a great resource for fraudsters, consumers are still sharing a significant amount of personal information frequently used to authenticate a consumer's identity. Surprisingly those with public profiles (those visible to everyone) were more likely to expose this personal information. Specifically, 68 percent of people with public social media profiles shared their birthday information (with 45 percent sharing month, date and year); 63 percent shared their high school name; 18 percent shared their phone number; and 12 percent shared their pet's name--all are prime examples of personal information a company would use to verify your identity.
-- Smartphone owners experience greater incidence of fraud--The survey found seven percent of smartphone owners were victims of identity fraud. This is a 1/3rd higher incidence rate compared to the general public. Part of this increase may be attributable to consumer behavior: 32 percent of smartphone owners do not update to a new operating system when it becomes available; 62 percent do not use a password on their home screen--enabling anyone to access their information if the phone is lost; and 32 percent save login information on their device
-- Data Breaches increasing and more damaging -- One likely contributing factor to the fraud increase was the 67 percent increase in the number of Americans impacted by data breaches compared to 2010. Javelin Strategy & Research found victims of data breaches are 9.5 times more likely to be a victim of identity fraud than consumers who did not receive such a data breach letter.
Understanding the Findings
Approximately 1.4 million more adults were victimized by identity fraud in 2011, compared to 2010. Countering this rise is the successful effort to combat identity fraud coupled with greater consumer awareness of the issue. While the number of fraud incidents increased, the total amount lost remained steady.
One of the key factors potentially contributing to the increase in incidents was the significant rise in data breaches. The survey found 15 percent of Americans, or about 36 million people, were notified of a data breach in 2011. Consumers receiving a data breach notification were 9.5 times more likely to become a victim of identify fraud.
According to the survey the three most common items exposed during a data breach are:
-- Credit card number
-- Debit card number
-- Social Security number
Some factors contributing to the decline in overall fraud amounts are the more stringent criteria financial institutions are applying to authenticate users and determine credit risk, as well as more Americans monitoring accounts online and using monitoring protection services that can provide alerts and updates. For the first time, more Americans detected fraud by monitoring accounts through the internet, ATM or other electronic means than by examining paper records (24 percent vs. 11 percent). Additionally, there was a 42 percent decline in new account fraud, which can be the most costly and difficult to detect.
When it comes to social networks, LinkedIn users are more than twice as likely to have reported being a victim. Fraud incidence among MySpace users is lower compared to the general consumer. Additionally, those consumers who regularly check-in with GPS-enabled information also reported fraud rates more than double the average.
Eight Safety Tips to Protect Consumers
Javelin Strategy & Research recommends that consumers follow a three-step approach to minimize their risk and impact of identity fraud: Prevention, Detection and Resolution(TM).
Prevention
1. Keep personal data private--At home, at work and on your mobile devices, secure your personal and financial records in a locked storage device or behind a password. Of those consumers who knew how the crimes were committed, nine percent of all identity fraud crimes were committed by someone previously known to the victim in 2011. Avoid mailing checks to pay bills or to deposit funds in your banking account. Use online bill payment on a secure Internet access (not a public Wi-Fi hotspot) instead and direct deposit payroll checks.
2. Be social, be responsible--While social networks are popular, be careful about publicly exposing personal information that is typically used for authentication (full birthdate, high school name). This applies to all social networks.
3. Use mobile devices responsibly--Mobile devices are a treasure trove of information for fraudsters. The "always on" functionality of mobile devices provides fraudsters with new avenues for securing information. Be sure of the applications you download, the data you share over public Wi-Fi and where you leave your devices.
4. Ask questions-- Before providing any information on mobile phones, social media sites and transactions sites, question who is asking for the information? Why do they need it? How is the information being used? If volunteering information, ask yourself if you have more to gain or more to lose by sharing personal and unnecessary details.
Detection
5. Take control--In 2011, 43 percent of fraud was first detected by the victims. By monitoring accounts online at bank and credit card websites, and setting up alerts that can be sent via e-mail and to a mobile device, consumers can more quickly detect if they are a victim of identity fraud and stop it early.
6. Learn about methods to protect your identity--There is a wide array of services available to consumers who want extra protection and peace of mind. These include credit monitoring, fraud alerts, credit freezes and database scanning. Some services can be obtained for a fee and others at no cost. These services can detect potentially fraudulent information from credit reports, public records, and online activity that are difficult to track on your own.
Resolution
7. Report problems immediately--Work with your bank, credit union or protection services provider to take advantage of resolution services, loss protections and methods to secure your accounts. A fast response can enhance the likelihood that losses are reduced, and law enforcement can pursue fraudsters so they experience consequences for their actions.
8. Take any data breach notification seriously--If you receive a data breach notification, take it very seriously as you are at much higher risk according to the 2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier. If you receive an offer from your financial institution or retailer for a free monitoring service after a breach, you should take advantage of the offer or closely monitor your accounts directly.
For Additional Educational Tips, Consumers Should Visit:
-- Fiserv http://www.ebillplace.com/staysafe
-- Intersections Inc. http://www.identityguard.com/identity-theft/protect-identity
-- Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/fraud_prevention/
-- Better Business Bureau www.us.bbb.org
To take an identity fraud safety quiz and download a free consumer version of Javelin's identity fraud report, and get additional safety tips, visit www.idsafety.net .
Law enforcement professionals who are sworn officers and are interested in obtaining a copy of the complete report, please contact: nozawa@javelinstrategy.com.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Data Breach Victims 9.5 Times More Likely To Be Fraud Victims
The 2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier, released today by Javelin Strategy & Research ( www.javelinstrategy.com ), reports that in 2011 identity fraud increased by 13 percent. More than 11.6 million adults became a victim of identity fraud in the United States, while the dollar amount stolen held steady. The report also took the nation's most comprehensive quantitative look at consumer behavior and fraud and found consumers' social media and mobile behaviors may be putting them at greater risk.
Now in its ninth consecutive year, the comprehensive analysis of identity fraud trends is independently produced by Javelin Strategy & Research and made possible by Fiserv, Intersections Inc. and Wells Fargo & Company, companies dedicated to consumer fraud prevention and education. It is the nation's longest-running study of identity fraud, with 42,951 respondents surveyed over the past nine years.
Identity fraud is defined as the unauthorized use of another person's personal information to achieve illicit financial gain. In October 2011, Javelin Strategy & Research conducted an address-based survey of 5,022 U.S. consumers to identify important findings about the impact of fraud, uncover areas of progress, and identify areas in which consumers must exercise continued vigilance.
"While identity fraud incidence increased last year, it is becoming less profitable for fraudsters. Consumers, the financial services industry, law enforcement and government agencies are stopping fraud earlier and making new account fraud more difficult to perpetrate," said James Van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin Strategy & Research. "The study found specific opportunities for improvement. Consumers must be vigilant and in control of their personal data as they adopt new mobile and social technologies in order to not make it easier for fraudsters to perpetrate crimes. Our survey found data breaches are increasingly putting consumers at risk. Consumers and organizations should always carefully and actively monitor accounts, but they should pay particular attention after an incident."
Key Findings
The study found four overall fraud trends:
-- Identity fraud incidents increased, amount stolen remained steady--The number of identity fraud incidents increased by 13 percent over the past year, but the dollar amount stolen remained steady. Additionally, consumer out-of-pocket costs have decreased by 44 percent since 2004, likely due to the improved prevention and detection tools that have come available as well as fraud alerts leading to reduced detection time.
-- Social behaviors put consumers at risk--For the first time, Javelin examined social media and mobile phone behaviors and identified certain social and mobile behaviors that had higher incidence rates of fraud than all consumers. LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter and Facebook users had the highest incidence of fraud although there is no proof of direct causation. The survey found that despite warnings that social networks are a great resource for fraudsters, consumers are still sharing a significant amount of personal information frequently used to authenticate a consumer's identity. Surprisingly those with public profiles (those visible to everyone) were more likely to expose this personal information. Specifically, 68 percent of people with public social media profiles shared their birthday information (with 45 percent sharing month, date and year); 63 percent shared their high school name; 18 percent shared their phone number; and 12 percent shared their pet's name--all are prime examples of personal information a company would use to verify your identity.
-- Smartphone owners experience greater incidence of fraud--The survey found seven percent of smartphone owners were victims of identity fraud. This is a 1/3rd higher incidence rate compared to the general public. Part of this increase may be attributable to consumer behavior: 32 percent of smartphone owners do not update to a new operating system when it becomes available; 62 percent do not use a password on their home screen--enabling anyone to access their information if the phone is lost; and 32 percent save login information on their device
-- Data Breaches increasing and more damaging -- One likely contributing factor to the fraud increase was the 67 percent increase in the number of Americans impacted by data breaches compared to 2010. Javelin Strategy & Research found victims of data breaches are 9.5 times more likely to be a victim of identity fraud than consumers who did not receive such a data breach letter.
Understanding the Findings
Approximately 1.4 million more adults were victimized by identity fraud in 2011, compared to 2010. Countering this rise is the successful effort to combat identity fraud coupled with greater consumer awareness of the issue. While the number of fraud incidents increased, the total amount lost remained steady.
One of the key factors potentially contributing to the increase in incidents was the significant rise in data breaches. The survey found 15 percent of Americans, or about 36 million people, were notified of a data breach in 2011. Consumers receiving a data breach notification were 9.5 times more likely to become a victim of identify fraud.
According to the survey the three most common items exposed during a data breach are:
-- Credit card number
-- Debit card number
-- Social Security number
Some factors contributing to the decline in overall fraud amounts are the more stringent criteria financial institutions are applying to authenticate users and determine credit risk, as well as more Americans monitoring accounts online and using monitoring protection services that can provide alerts and updates. For the first time, more Americans detected fraud by monitoring accounts through the internet, ATM or other electronic means than by examining paper records (24 percent vs. 11 percent). Additionally, there was a 42 percent decline in new account fraud, which can be the most costly and difficult to detect.
When it comes to social networks, LinkedIn users are more than twice as likely to have reported being a victim. Fraud incidence among MySpace users is lower compared to the general consumer. Additionally, those consumers who regularly check-in with GPS-enabled information also reported fraud rates more than double the average.
Eight Safety Tips to Protect Consumers
Javelin Strategy & Research recommends that consumers follow a three-step approach to minimize their risk and impact of identity fraud: Prevention, Detection and Resolution(TM).
Prevention
1. Keep personal data private--At home, at work and on your mobile devices, secure your personal and financial records in a locked storage device or behind a password. Of those consumers who knew how the crimes were committed, nine percent of all identity fraud crimes were committed by someone previously known to the victim in 2011. Avoid mailing checks to pay bills or to deposit funds in your banking account. Use online bill payment on a secure Internet access (not a public Wi-Fi hotspot) instead and direct deposit payroll checks.
2. Be social, be responsible--While social networks are popular, be careful about publicly exposing personal information that is typically used for authentication (full birthdate, high school name). This applies to all social networks.
3. Use mobile devices responsibly--Mobile devices are a treasure trove of information for fraudsters. The "always on" functionality of mobile devices provides fraudsters with new avenues for securing information. Be sure of the applications you download, the data you share over public Wi-Fi and where you leave your devices.
4. Ask questions-- Before providing any information on mobile phones, social media sites and transactions sites, question who is asking for the information? Why do they need it? How is the information being used? If volunteering information, ask yourself if you have more to gain or more to lose by sharing personal and unnecessary details.
Detection
5. Take control--In 2011, 43 percent of fraud was first detected by the victims. By monitoring accounts online at bank and credit card websites, and setting up alerts that can be sent via e-mail and to a mobile device, consumers can more quickly detect if they are a victim of identity fraud and stop it early.
6. Learn about methods to protect your identity--There is a wide array of services available to consumers who want extra protection and peace of mind. These include credit monitoring, fraud alerts, credit freezes and database scanning. Some services can be obtained for a fee and others at no cost. These services can detect potentially fraudulent information from credit reports, public records, and online activity that are difficult to track on your own.
Resolution
7. Report problems immediately--Work with your bank, credit union or protection services provider to take advantage of resolution services, loss protections and methods to secure your accounts. A fast response can enhance the likelihood that losses are reduced, and law enforcement can pursue fraudsters so they experience consequences for their actions.
8. Take any data breach notification seriously--If you receive a data breach notification, take it very seriously as you are at much higher risk according to the 2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier. If you receive an offer from your financial institution or retailer for a free monitoring service after a breach, you should take advantage of the offer or closely monitor your accounts directly.
For Additional Educational Tips, Consumers Should Visit:
-- Fiserv http://www.ebillplace.com/staysafe
-- Intersections Inc. http://www.identityguard.com/identity-theft/protect-identity
-- Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com/privacy_security/fraud_prevention/
-- Better Business Bureau www.us.bbb.org
To take an identity fraud safety quiz and download a free consumer version of Javelin's identity fraud report, and get additional safety tips, visit www.idsafety.net .
Law enforcement professionals who are sworn officers and are interested in obtaining a copy of the complete report, please contact: nozawa@javelinstrategy.com.
What Are the Latest Identity Theft Statistics?
What Are the Latest Identity Theft Statistics?
Posted on March 24th, 2012
Read 239 times.
The 2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier,
released by Javelin Strategy & Research, reports that in 2011
identity fraud increased by 13 percent. More than 11.6 million adults
became a victim of identity fraud in the United States, while the dollar
amount stolen held steady.
Approximately 1.4 million more adults were victimized by identity fraud in 2011, compared to 2010. Countering this rise is the successful effort to combat identity fraud coupled with greater consumer awareness of the issue. While the number of fraud incidents increased, the total amount lost remained steady.
One of the key factors potentially contributing to the increase in incidents was the significant rise in data breaches. The survey found 15 percent of Americans, or about 36 million people, were notified of a data breach in 2011. Consumers receiving a data breach notification were 9.5 times more likely to become a victim of identify fraud.
According to the survey the three most common items exposed during a data breach are:
– Credit card number
– Debit card number
– Social Security number
What Are the Latest Identity Theft Statistics?
Here are some eye-opening statistics:
• 500 million—the number of consumers from 2005 to 2009 whose personal and financial data has been exposed as a result of corporate data breaches—events the victims cannot control despite taking personal safety measures
• 400%—victims who found out about their identity theft more than six months after it happened incurred costs four times higher than the average
• 165 hours—the average amount of time victims spent repairing the damage done by creation of new fraudulent accounts
• 58 hours—the average amount of time victims spent repairing the damage done to existing accounts
• 43%—the percentage of identity theft occurring from stolen wallets, check-books, credit cards, billing statements, or other physical documents
• 1 in 4—number of American adults who have been notified by a business or checkbooks, credit cards, billing statements, or other physical documents
• Once every three seconds—how often an identity is stolen
The most efficient way to protect your identity is with an identity theft protection service and get a credit freeze.
Approximately 1.4 million more adults were victimized by identity fraud in 2011, compared to 2010. Countering this rise is the successful effort to combat identity fraud coupled with greater consumer awareness of the issue. While the number of fraud incidents increased, the total amount lost remained steady.
One of the key factors potentially contributing to the increase in incidents was the significant rise in data breaches. The survey found 15 percent of Americans, or about 36 million people, were notified of a data breach in 2011. Consumers receiving a data breach notification were 9.5 times more likely to become a victim of identify fraud.
According to the survey the three most common items exposed during a data breach are:
– Credit card number
– Debit card number
– Social Security number
What Are the Latest Identity Theft Statistics?
Here are some eye-opening statistics:
• 500 million—the number of consumers from 2005 to 2009 whose personal and financial data has been exposed as a result of corporate data breaches—events the victims cannot control despite taking personal safety measures
• 400%—victims who found out about their identity theft more than six months after it happened incurred costs four times higher than the average
• 165 hours—the average amount of time victims spent repairing the damage done by creation of new fraudulent accounts
• 58 hours—the average amount of time victims spent repairing the damage done to existing accounts
• 43%—the percentage of identity theft occurring from stolen wallets, check-books, credit cards, billing statements, or other physical documents
• 1 in 4—number of American adults who have been notified by a business or checkbooks, credit cards, billing statements, or other physical documents
• Once every three seconds—how often an identity is stolen
The most efficient way to protect your identity is with an identity theft protection service and get a credit freeze.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Prevention Tips:
1.Review a current copy of your credit report.
2. Make sure you shred “junk mail” and unwanted credit card offers!
3. Opt out when you receive Privacy Statements – You must write them to stop companies from sharing your information.
4. Do not carry your Social Security Card – Keep it safe at home.
5. Do not carry extra credit cards.
6. Copy the contents of your wallet and store in a secure place.
7. Do not mail bill payments and checks from home. Use locked mailboxes.
8. Do not print your Social Security number or drivers license number on your checks.
9. Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement and check it for accuracy.
10. Invest in an identity theft protection plan that provides restoration services.
For information on identity theft restoration services call:
Rob Taylor Identity Theft Specialist
Harvard Risk Management
1.Review a current copy of your credit report.
2. Make sure you shred “junk mail” and unwanted credit card offers!
3. Opt out when you receive Privacy Statements – You must write them to stop companies from sharing your information.
4. Do not carry your Social Security Card – Keep it safe at home.
5. Do not carry extra credit cards.
6. Copy the contents of your wallet and store in a secure place.
7. Do not mail bill payments and checks from home. Use locked mailboxes.
8. Do not print your Social Security number or drivers license number on your checks.
9. Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement and check it for accuracy.
10. Invest in an identity theft protection plan that provides restoration services.
For information on identity theft restoration services call:
Rob Taylor Identity Theft Specialist
Harvard Risk Management
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