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Identity Theft
Causes Airline Flight Diversion
Dec 27, 2004
- An airline flight from Columbia to Atlanta was diverted to a
military airport and a passenger was detained because his named
showed up on a security watch list. After 5 hours, it was determined
that the passenger was a victim of identity theft, and that someone on
the no-fly list had stolen his identity.
Identity Theft Risked Donating Old Computer
Dec 20, 2004
- Consumers and businesses are advised to erase all the files from the
hard drive before donating a PC to charity. Disk-cleaning software is
recommended to prevent identity theft.
FTC
Warns about Email Offers for Free Credit Reports
Dec 10, 2004
- To fight identity theft, free credit reports are now available to
residents of certain states. Consumers are being cautioned not to
respond to "spam" email offers for free credit reports, which may be
attempts to get personal information for identity theft.
Identity
Theft Used by Thieves to Buy Cars
Nov 18, 2004
- Auto theft via identity theft? Thieves used the Social Security
number and date of birth of an out-of-state individual to buy a car.
Then they registered the car using some other address and never made the
payments.
Identity
Fraud Alleged Against Car Dealer Ex-employee
Nov 8, 2004
- The ex-employee is charged using the Social Security numbers and
identity information from auto dealer customer credit applications to
apply for credit cards.
Identity Theft
Global Crime Ring Busted
Oct 29, 2004
- The U.S. Secret Service today announced the arrest of 28
people from 8 states and 6 countries for charges including identity
theft, computer fraud, credit card fraud and conspiracy.
Identity Theft
Fears: Cal Database Exposed
Oct 21, 2004
- Someone broke into a University of California computer containing the Social Security numbers and other personal information of more than 1 million people, many of them elderly and disabled participants in a state home-care program.
Identity Theft Criminals Use Keystroke
Recorders
Oct 14, 2004
- The FTC calls keystroke recorders an identity theft treat, part of
the larger spyware problem that they have begun to address.
Identity
Theft by Spyware: House Working on New Law
Sep 23, 2004
- The new law would establish criminal penalties for those who use
spyware to commit identity theft or other crimes. Software makers would
be required to notify people before installing computer programs that
can collect personal information.
Identity Theft Guilty Plea in Largest Case
Sep 17, 2004
- A man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges in what may be
the largest identity theft case in U.S. history.
Youth Posing as Detective Commits Identity
Theft
Sep 10, 2004
- The 15-year old set up a fake detective agency and told his victims
he was investigating identity theft and got them to divulge personal
information.
Identity Theft Warning Sent to 600,000 California Students
Sep 3, 2004
- Following hacking incidents and lost hard drives containing personal
information, university officials have had to notify 600,000 students
and faculty.
Group will Fight Identity Theft Phishing Attacks
Aug 13, 2004
- AT&T Wireless, Best Buy, Schwab and several other corporations have
formed a new group to fight identity theft. The group,
TECF, will target
phishing, the practice of sending bulk email that lures unsuspecting
victims to phony websites, tricking them into divulging account numbers,
passwords, Social Security numbers, and other personal information
Identity theft with Just a Social Security Number
Jun 10 , 2004
- According to a Social Security Administration investigator, a
classification of identity theft now accounts for the majority of cases:
The thief takes out a loan using his own name and address, but with the
victim's Social Security number, thereby creating a phony
credit report subfile, and the appearance that the victim is
using a stolen SSN.
Identity Theft
Assisted by Search Engine
May 14 , 2004
- Police are recommending that you limit the amount of online
information available about yourself. Search Engine Google provides a web
page to
request personal information removed from their index.
Place Identity Theft Fraud Alert Online
May 7 , 2004
- Credit reporting agency Experian has a new web page where suspected
victims of identity theft or fraud can place a 90-day security alert on
their credit report. A seven-year victim statement is also available, but
it must be requested in writing.
Identity Theft Feared in Canadian Security Breach
Mar 19, 2004
- Criminals, posing as legitimate credit grantors, got access to
1,400 credit reports at Equifax Canada. Identity theft is suspected as the
motive. The other Canadian
credit bureaus were not known to be affected.
Identity Theft
Center To Offer Free Assistance
Jan 29, 2004
- A non-profit group of the 47 largest financial institutions has
formed ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center, to ease the burden for
victims of identity theft.
Report Identity
Theft at New FBI Web Site
Dec 24, 2003
- To fight identity theft and other white collar Internet crimes, the
FBI has created a new web site and adopted a new name for its cyber-crime
complaint center. The site,
www.ic3.gov, helps coordinate investigations across jurisdictions to
study, prevent, and solve identity theft crimes.
New Identity Theft Law is Signed
Dec 4, 2003
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act was renewed with additional measures
to help fight identity theft, including annual free credit reports and
notification within 30 days when derogatory information is provided to the
credit bureaus.
Change of Address Form Can Enable Identity Theft
Nov 13, 2003
- It is possible for anyone to submit a change of address form to
divert your mail. Postal inspectors are advising consumers and businesses
to check with the post office if regularly scheduled mail doesn't appear
over two consecutive days.
Notice of Unpaid Taxes Reveals Identity Theft
Oct 3, 2003
- A
collection notice from the IRS was the only clue that a Nebraska woman had
become a victim of theft.
FTC Opens Web Site for Military Identity Theft
Sep 18, 2003
- The
Military Sentinel Website is an effort to improve consumer protection
for DOD personnel.
Identity Theft Much Worse than Thought
Sep 11, 2003
- 10 million of us (4.6 percent) were victims of identity theft last
year, either through new credit accounts opened in our names or by thieves
who gained access to existing accounts. Previous U.S. estimates had been
around 700,000.
Identity
Theft Disclosure Law Starts July 1st
Jun 12, 2003
-A new California law taking effect July 1 could have a nationwide
impact because it requires organizations to disclose security breaches
affecting any database containing personal information of California
citizens.
IIdentity theft
Charges Against Email Spammer
May 15, 2003
-The notorious "Buffalo Spammer" was the first person to be charged under
New York's identity theft laws. It is alleged
he "stole the identities of innocent New Yorkers to spam millions of
consumers throughout New York and the nation".
Free
Identity Theft Video Now Online
Mar 27, 2003 -The State of New
York Banking Department has created an online educational video about
identity theft. You can view it here: Windows Media Player
56K
100K
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or Real Player
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Video Helps Prevent Identity Theft
Mar 20, 2003 -The U.S. Attorney's
office in Los Angeles has created an 23-minute educational video about
identity theft, available by request from them.
Identity
Theft Concerns Raised in Canada
Jan 30, 2003 - A
missing hard drive contains personal information on more that 180,000
Canadian consumers, prompting speculation about identity
theft in Canada.
Identity
Theft Report Available for Download
Consumer complaints of of
identity fraud are up 87% according to the
latest identity theft statistics
released by the FTC. Fraud involving opening credit card
accounts was the largest category this year. Statistics by type of
identity theft are broken out by state.
Identity
Theft Victims Freeze Credit Report
Jan 9, 2003 - A
new California Law, Senate Bill 168, took effect January 1, allowing
victims of identity theft the right to place a security freeze on access
to their credit report. With certain exceptions, the person's credit
report cannot be accessed without a personal identification number, PIN
Identity
Theft Case Called Biggest Ever
Nov 27, 2002 - According
to U.S. Attorney, James Comey, 30,000 people were victimized for $2.7
million, and probably much more.
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