Identity Theft

identity theft
Dallas School District Caught Using Random SSNs For Foreign Workers
The Dallas Independent School District has been making up fake Social Security Numbers for foreign hires for years, even after being told in 2004 by the state's education board to stop because it's illegal. The numbers were meant to "expedite" the hiring process and get the employees on payroll, but they found their way onto Department of Homeland Security and IRS forms (which are kept in-district but shared with feds upon request), were used for criminal background checks, and in at least 26 cases were numbers in use by real people. More »

3:48 PM on Fri Nov 14 2008
By Chris Walters
8,591 views, 70 comments

Most discussed Pious_Augustus: Basically the Democratic Party supports illegal immirgrants stealing others SS cards which they then get credit cards and can ruin more »
Can I Change My Social Security Number?

Concerned about a recent incident in which his wife's social security number may have been exposed (by a Bank of America employee, but that's another story), Christian wants to know if you can change your social security number. In special circumstances, yes, the Social Security Administration will change your number. You need to show proof that 1) you've suffered harm from someone misusing your ss# and 2) you've made all reasonable efforts to otherwise solve the problem i.e. credit report freezes, closing accounts and changing account numbers, etc. If both of these apply, then you can simply visit your local SSA office, call, or visit www.ssa.gov/reach.htm.

When Someone Else Uses Your Social Security Number [SSA.gov]

11:00 AM on Mon Nov 3 2008
By Ben Popken
5,127 views, 23 comments

Most discussed Mr-Mr: I'm not sure. I know that you can request a Tax Identification Number. more »
sinowal
500,000+ Banking Passwords Stolen By Sinowal Trojan Horse, So Far
Security researchers uncovered over half a million bank account logins stolen via a sophisticated trojan horse known as Sinowal. The data goes back to 2006, an unusual longevity for a trojan horse. Not mentioned in the news reports: who's to say this is the only cache? [NYT] (Photo: Darcy McCarty)

12:31 AM on Sat Nov 1 2008
By Ben Popken
12,405 views, 35 comments

Most discussed Dooley: This is why everybody should be running some kind of Virus scan, and keep their subscriptions updated. There are so many more »
insiders
How Outsourced Call Centers Are Costing Millions In Identity Theft
A former Chase call center rep tells the story about this one thief who was able to rip off one customer for over $40,000, thanks to his constant outwitting out the internationally out-sourced security department. It wasn't that hard. Over and over again, he was able to commit credit card fraud just knowing the guy's name, social, and mother's maiden name. More »

1:00 PM on Mon Oct 27 2008
By Ben Popken
44,060 views, 65 comments

Most discussed starrion: Is this unexpected? Outsourced call centers save money on US employment and benefits costs. They -will- have poorer quality of service, more »
French President's Bank Account Hacked

While French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been posturing as an international leader during this time of global financial crisis, thieves have been raiding his online bank account, withdrawing small amounts over an extended period of time. Just goes to show that identity theft can happen to anyone, whether or not you're important enough to have people Photoshop your love handles away. For best protection, install and keep up to date a good security program, like ESET. Only log into your bank from the main URL, never click on a link in an email that appears to be from your financial institutions. Use usernames and passwords that are a string of random letters and numbers. Write them down and hide it in a secure place, not inside of a fresh hot pain au chocolat.

Sarkozy bank account raided in internet scam [Daily Telegraph] (Photo: malias)

1:32 PM on Mon Oct 20 2008
By Ben Popken
1,881 views, 11 comments

Most discussed ciscokidinsf: Dude, why? I wouldn't hack Sarkozy's bank accounts. I would totally hack his personal email and make a pretty penny more »
ask the consumerists
What Are The Latest Fraud Stats?

Looking for stats about how fraud has risen over the past year. I was able to find a few data points:
- A NYT article today talks about how the FBI is understaffed to investigate financial crime because it shifted almost 1/3 of its force to anti-terrorism duties.
- A UK bank group says phishing attacks rose 186% from January to June 2008 over the same period last year.
- According to this phone-survey study, both the frequency and dollar amount involved in identity theft has gone down over the past three years.
- The FTC is a great resource, but the most recent, relevant, report I found was from 2007
but that's not quite what I'm looking for. What can you dig up for recent fraud stats?

F.B.I. Struggles to Handle Wave of Financial Fraud Cases [NYT]
Bank turmoil fuels phishing boom [BBC]
2008 Identity Fraud Survey Report [Javelin Strategy]
FTC Releases Consumer Fraud Survey [FTC]
10:24 AM on Sun Oct 19 2008
By Ben Popken
2,305 views, 16 comments

scams
Fake IRS Fax Demands Your Bank Account And Passport
Nick has written in to warn us about a fake IRS scam that lately has been targeting nonresident aliens (e.g. teachers and researchers) working in the U.S., as well as American citizens working abroad. In the scam, which has been going on since at least 2002 (pdf), the target receives a faxed request from the IRS to provide his name, SSN, and pretty much every other bit of data you'd need to take over a person's financial identity. More »

11:10 AM on Fri Oct 10 2008
By Chris Walters
4,494 views, 9 comments

Most discussed BusyBusyBusyBusySleep: [en.wikipedia.org] Anyone else interested? (I posted this before, didn't seem to go through...) more »
how to
The Idiot-Proof Way To Securely Use Public Wi-Fi
We talk a lot on this blog about personal data and privacy, but not so much about how to secure that data on your own computer. That's because a.) we're not Lifehacker and b.) the solutions frequently bloat into crazy, jargon-filled recipes that scare away the non-IT crowd. Not this time! For all you novices, here is a single idea you should consider that will help keep your personal data personal, and make your identity that much harder to steal. More »

1:30 PM on Mon Oct 6 2008
By Chris Walters
46,459 views, 76 comments

Most discussed mariospants: Just a question for you uber geeks: after a little researching, I could find no real way (outside of the more »
This Saturday (September 20th) is the Better Business Bureau's "Secure Your ID" day: in select cities, "bring up to three boxes or bags of paper documents that contain your personal information and we'll shred them." Or, you know, just do it yourself all year long. [BBB]

10 comments
security
'Identity Theft-Proof' Wallet Blocks RFID, Goes In Front Pocket
If you're concerned about your RFID-chipped credit cards being skimmed, you might want to consider shielding them. DIFRwear makes a wallet with the shielding already included, and now roguewallet in Maine has introduced its own RFID-shielded version, with a fin-shaped design so it fits better in your front pocket to thwart pickpockets. Unfortunately, it's also $50, compared to $20 for the more conventional looking DIFRwear hip-pocket design. (Both are FIPS 201 compliant, if that means anything to you.) More »

1:15 PM on Thu Sep 18 2008
By Chris Walters
5,548 views, 33 comments

Most discussed Cafezinha: My husband has been keeping his wallet in his front pocket lately because of the weird sciatic pain he gets more »

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