Identity Theft Protection Information

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The CEO of Lifelock, Todd Davis, became famous for advertising his Social Security number on television ads and billboards promising his $10 monthly service would protect consumers from identity theft.

The company also offered a $1 million guarantee to compensate customers for losses incurred if they became a victim of identity theft after signing up for the service.

But the Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that the claims were bogus (.pdf) and accused Lifelock, based in Arizona, of operating a scam and con operation. The commission announced, along with 35 state attorneys general, that it had levied a fine of $12 million against the company for deceptive business practices and for failing to secure sensitive customer data. Of that amount, $11 million will go to refund customers who subscribed to the service. Consumers will receive a letter from the FTC and their attorney general explaining how to take part in the settlement.

The FTC said that Lifelock, which advertises itself as “#1 In Identity Theft Protection,” engaged in false advertising by promising customers that if they signed up with its service their personal information would become useless to thieves.

“In truth, the protection they provided left such a large hole … that you could drive that truck through it,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, referring to a Lifelock TV ad showing a truck painted with the CEO’s Social Security number driving around city streets.

The company, he said, used scare tactics to convince potential customers they would be unprotected from identity theft without its service, and of warning them in letters that they were at a high risk of identity theft.

“I was a recipient of one letter,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.

For the annual subscription fee, Lifelock promised customers that it would place fraud alerts on their credit accounts with the three credit reporting agencies. As a result, the company said, thieves would not be able to open unauthorized credit or bank accounts in their name.

But Leibowitz said the promises were deceptive because thieves could still rack up unauthorized charges on existing accounts — the most common type of identity theft. It also couldn’t protect thieves from obtaining a loan in a Lifelock customer’s name.

In fact, Lifelock CEO Davis was the victim of identity theft in 2007 when a thief used his widely advertised Social Security number to obtain a $500 loan in Davis’ name.

Lifelock also promised customers that sensitive data they provided the company to perform its protection services — such as their Social Security number, name and address and bank card information — would be encrypted and protected in other ways on Lifelock’s servers and accessed only by authorized employees on a need-to-know basis.

“Your documents, while in our care, will be treated as if they were cash,” the company promised.

In truth, the FTC said, until at least September 2007, the company failed to provide “reasonable and appropriate security to prevent unauthorized access to personal information stored on its corporate network” either in transit through the network, stored in a database or transmitted over the internet.

None of the data was encrypted, said the FTC, either in storage or in transit. The company also had poor password management practices for employees and vendors who accessed the information. Lifelock also failed to limit access to sensitive data to only those people who needed access.

What’s more, the company failed to apply critical security patches and updates to its network and “failed to employ sufficient measures” to detect and prevent unauthorized access to its network, “such as by installing antivirus or antispyware programs on computers used by employees to remotely access the network or regularly recording and reviewing activity on the network,” the complaint said.

The latter is particularly ironic. Lifelock often promoted its services to companies that experienced data breaches, convincing them to offer a complimentary Lifelock subscription to people whose data was compromised in a breach. All the while, the FTC claims, Lifelock was making its own customer information vulnerable to a breach.

“As a result of these practices, an unauthorized person could obtain access to personal information stored on defendants’ corporate network, in transit through defendants’ corporate network or over the internet, or maintained in defendants’ offices,” according to the complaint.

According to the terms of an FTC settlement agreement with Lifelock to settle the allegations, the company must inform consumers about the limitations of its service. The company will also have to implement a data security program to protect the customer data it handles.

“As long as the company is honest and up front and lets consumers know what they’re getting and has adequate security safeguards for customer information, we wish them well,” said Leibowitz.

Lifelock said in a statement that, in October, it “rolled out the next generation of identity theft protection services that provide even better and broader protection to its valued members.” The company added that its new-and-improved service, which was not the subject of the FCC inquiry, has prevented more than 5,000 fraudulent credit applications.

The company and its owners have been at the center of controversy for a number of years. According to an investigative report by the Phoenix New Times in 2007, Lifelock co-founder Robert Maynard Jr., was suspected at one time of being an identity thief himself and stealing his father’s identity to obtain an American Express card. He had also been the target of another FTC investigation involving a previous business venture unrelated to Lifelock. Maynard resigned from the company after news of his past was published, but he continued to work for the firm as a contractor.

See also:

• Lifelock Sued for Corporate Identity Theft
• Police Say Lifelock Founder Coerced Unusable Confession From Identity Thief
• Lifelock Founder a Shady Identity Thief?
• Lifelock Founder Resigns Amid Controversy

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Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your personal information, such as your credit card data or Social Security number, to commit fraud or other crimes. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million Americans suffer identity theft annually. it sounds like a big number, but it isn?t.

For one, the hysteria has been stoked by much-publicized data breaches. In reality, identity theft only touches a sliver of the U.S. population each year (about 3%). One-quarter of those cases are credit-card fraud and not full-blown identity theft, according to FTC figures. The credit-card fraud occurs when a thief uses your credit card to make purchases. More serious is when someone uses your information to open accounts or take loans in your name. That?s when you?ll have to fight to get your credit restored and your name cleared, an arduous process that can take months or years to complete.

In response to concerns over identity theft, numerous companies and financial institutions have stepped in with products that monitor your credit, reimburse you for lost wages or funds and guard your identity. Some employers also now offer ID theft insurance to help you reduce the amount of time and money spent resolving the crime, so check with your company’s benefits specialist about your eligibility.

Do you need Identity Theft Protection?
Before examining the services available, try these common-sense, no-cost measures to protect against identity theft and fraud:

Guard your information online. these days, many of us do most of our shopping and banking on the web. with all those account numbers and passwords floating around, it?s easy for someone to nab your information and go on a spree.

? Clear your logins and passwords. this is especially important if you?ve been working on a public computer. Change logins and passwords monthly.

? Pay for online purchases with your credit card, which has better guarantees under federal law than your online payment services or your debit card.

? be alert for phishing, a trick in which spam or pop-ups mimic legitimate banks or businesses to obtain your personal information, which they use to access your accounts. Always verify that you’re on a familiar Web site with security controls before entering personal data.

Monitor your bank and credit card statements. Check your accounts regularly so you know when something?s awry. Purchases you didn?t make should be obvious?like a gas fill-up halfway across the country.

Verify your mailing address with the post office and financial institutions. Identity bandits may fill out change of address forms so that delinquent credit notices remain off your paper billing radar.

Monitor your credit report. By law, you?re entitled to a free report every year from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Request one every four months, changing bureaus each time. you can order the report directly through each agency, or at annualcreditreport.com. use this URL?there are hordes of knockoff sites that will try to charge you for your report and other needless services. Scan it for abnormal activity, such as accounts or credit cards you didn?t open. (And don’t fall prey to faux free credit report advertisements.)

Shred sensitive documents. buy a shredder and regularly shred outdated bank statements, credit card applications, bills, and anything with your personal information before tossing it into the trash or recycling. Junk mail often includes some of your personal details.

Does it make sense to pay for ID theft protection if you?ve taken all these precautions? it depends on your spending habits and overall level of caution. you might want to invest in an identity theft protection service if:

? you do lots of online banking or shopping.
? you don’t have time to monitor your information on your own.
? The thought of investing time and money into recovering from an identity theft sickens you.

Picking the Right Service
Before you spring for identity theft protection, which, at a minimum, is likely to set you back at least $150 a year, consider the no-cost measures you can take to protect yourself. Remember, despite the hype, the odds of having your identity swiped are actually quite low. And no identity theft protection is bulletproof, so consider these factors before you buy.

First, decide whether you’d like to purchase the services of a dedicated identity theft protection firm or one of the products offered by your bank or insurer. Many banks now offer customers daily credit checks that alert them to fishy activity in their accounts. Some will also provide insurance to repay lost wages or legal fees incurred as a result of identity theft or fraud. Other plans assign you a caseworker to help restore your credit. you can also try to bundle identity theft insurance with your home or auto coverage. be wary of this kind of insurance, however — these policies can be riddled with exclusions that may prevent you from ever collecting in the event of theft.

Then there are the specialty companies?LifeLock and TrustedID are two of the most prominent?that market themselves as identity theft protection experts. these companies offer a mix of preventive and reactive tools to maintain your identity and credit, the most common being fraud alerts and credit freezes.

Fraud alerts. Some identity-theft protectors will immediately place fraud alerts on your files with the three main credit bureaus, whether you?ve been victimized or not. In essence, it forces any bank or credit agency to balk before approving credit requests in your name. it?s not foolproof, though. The law only requires the creditor to take reasonable precautions before extending credit. this may only be a speed bump for a practiced thief, so don?t consider it a guarantee that your identity won?t be swiped.

Credit freezes. Freezes are far more effective than alerts. Icing your files prevents any company from accessing your credit unless you already do business with them, effectively sealing your records against any new creditor. Freezes can be a pain if you?re seeking a mortgage or student loan?or any form of credit. you?ll have to contact the bureaus to unfreeze your records, which can take up to three days. plus, the credit bureaus normally charge a small fee whenever you freeze and unfreeze your files. Credit freeze rules vary by state.

Alerts and freezes are two measures you can take yourself, so consider whether you want to pay a company to do it for you.

If you’ve detected fraudulent activity, notify the financial institution where the fraudulent activity occurred first so they can freeze your account. Depending on the situation, you’ll need to file a complaint with the FTC and your local police department, as well as investigate all of your other accounts. And keep a vigilant eye on that credit report.

This guide was created in partnership with FiLife’s identity theft guide.

Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud – How to Protect Yourself

Methods On Identity Theft Protection

In today world each one on us has stored our personal information in digit format which becomes a very easy target for many identity thefts fraudulent to use it and commit crime. We get mailer and emails which are sometime relevant but most of the time they are just promotional material. They are also send to extract personal information and also meant manipulate it to their own benefit. Identity theft is a rapidly growing criminal business so it becomes very important for all of us to be cautious and take all the necessary measures. Below are few tips on identity theft protection which can be very helpful and easy to implement.

* Do not carry all the credit card along, restrict by only carrying the one which you believe will be used as this will reduce the chances of losing them. Most of us carry all of them in a credit case and if we lose the case all the cards get lost at once. So carry the one you need and leave all the rest safely behind.

* When you decide on discarding any document make sure either you burn them or shred them so that the information on them cannot be reconstructed and is lost at once. Just do not crush them and throw in the dustbin as they can be at misused. Before you discard any document make sure it does not have vital piece of information on it.

* When disposing any personal documents ensure you either burn them or shred them. Documents such as bank statements should be shredded before disposing of. There are many documents we think are worthless and just crush them and throw them into the bin but before you do that just take a look whether there is any account no or SSN no mentioned on it as then it can be very vulnerable.

* Even when you feed in your personal information online be careful and only share information with site which are authentic and run anti-identity theft programs for more secure access. Choosing your password carefully and having a different password for online transaction is very import for identity theft protection. There is good number computer software that extracts the password that use to login to your bank account or credit card account.

* Cyber crimes are also on there all time high. Choosing your password carefully and having a different password for online transaction is very import for identity theft protection. There is a good number of computer software that extracts the password that use to login to your bank account or credit card account. It is just a matter of second and the identity thief would not even have to work hard to get the information.

You can find many reliable identity theft protection agencies which in a very professional manner will help you to deal with these criminal minded people. In looking for reliable agency, you need to determine the quality of the following aspects: security, establishment, customer services, cost and recovery. Education is the key to prevent identity theft in the first place.

It is best to secure identity theft protection these days. This is to protect yourself from being victimized by identity thieves who penetrate through your personal information like social security and credit cards. You may want to try best credit monitoring service.

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Identity Theft

Identity theft prevention service LifeLock is not as pristine as its reputation claims after all. The company agreed to pay out $12 million to settle charges with the Federal Trade Commission and 35 states, which had said that LifeLock's identity-theft-prevention claims were false and that the company actually made its own customer data available and unsecured from theft. As it turns out, there is no way to fully guarantee that identity theft won't happen, no matter what someone puts on the side of a truck.

LifeLock has made a name for itself as the go-to service if you never want to have any part of your identity stolen, ever. The company claims to proactively protect your information against fraud, alert you to any kind of shady activity, and reduce credit card offers for $10-15 per month. Those who have seen LifeLock's trucks driving around their cities know that the company used to slap its CEO Todd Davis' social security number on the side of the vehicle along with a number of claims guaranteeing that its customers won't fall victim. (As an aside, Davis' identity allegedly ended up getting stolen in 2007.)

According to the FTC, LifeLock has long claimed that it's the first company to prevent identity theft from ever occurring, that it will never happen to you if you become a paying customer, and that it can stop fraudulent activity before it happens. “Guaranteed.” However, the company only employed limited protections on behalf of its users—LifeLock apparently only went so far as to place a credit alert on its customers' credit reports, says the FTC, and barely did anything else.

As we here at Ars know, there are many more elements to identity theft than preventing someone from opening new accounts in your name. Medical identity theft is quickly becoming big as more and more people go without health insurance, and the FTC says LifeLock offered no protection against this. “If you end up in the hospital with a split appendix and doctors look at your medical charts, they might think it's not an appendix problem because you've already had yours removed,” TrustedID CEO Scott Mitic told Ars last September.

LifeLock also provides no protection against ID theft for job-hunting purposes and did nothing to protect its customers from being defrauded with their existing accounts. “ven for types of identity theft for which fraud alerts are most effective, they do not provide absolute protection,” noted the FTC. (By the way, you can save yourself $10/month by setting up those fraud alerts yourself. Just contact the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian and they'll do it for you for free.)

On top of it all, LifeLock supposedly made claims about data security at its own company that the FTC says were false. After collecting sensitive data on customers, LifeLock did not encrypt its data and supposedly made the information easily accessible to anyone who wanted it. Thirty-five states joined the FTC in its complaint against LifeLock for deceptive claims.

The suit didn't last long, though—it was filed on March 8, and on March 9, LifeLock agreed to shell out $11 million to the FTC and $1 million to the attorneys general of the 35 states involved. The company has also agreed to stop misrepresenting its services as offering absolute prevention against identity theft, must establish a “comprehensive data security program,” and is required to get independent third-party assessments of the program for 20 years.

Given the number of inquiries about LifeLock on our own forums, it's clear that the service managed to pique the curiosity of even some of the most savvy consumers. With the FTC's suit settled, the company seems set on moving forward with more transparency about what it can and can't do to protect users. As an ID-theft-obsessed consumer myself, I'd rather take measures to watch my info on my own than place my trust in a company that already has a somewhat shady past.

For several years, LifeLock has been so brash about their skills at protecting customers from ID theft that they not only drove around a truck displaying their CEO's Social Security Number in public, they also advertised his SSN on TV ads. But that hubris has come back to bite them on the rear, as LifeLock has just agreed to a $11 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over the bulked-up claims made in their ads.

Among some of the statements the FTC took issue with in its complaint were:
• “By now you've heard about individuals whose identities have been stolen by identity thieves… LifeLock protects against this ever happening to you. Guaranteed.”
• “Please know that we are the first company to prevent identity theft from occurring.”
• “Do you ever worry about identity theft? If so, it's time you got to know LifeLock. We work to stop identity theft before it happens.”
• “Only authorized employees of LifeLock will have access to the data that you provide to us, and that access is granted only on a ‘need to know' basis.”
• “All stored personal data is electronically encrypted.”
• “LifeLock uses highly secure physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard the confidentiality and security of the data you provide to us.”

However, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz states the Commission's feelings bluntly: “While LifeLock promised consumers complete protection against all types of identity theft, in truth, the protection it actually provided left enough holes that you could drive a truck through it.”

In their complaint, the FTC charged that the “fraud alerts that LifeLock placed on customers' credit files protected only against certain forms of identity theft and gave them no protection against the misuse of existing accounts, the most common type of identity theft.”

The FTC also says the service provided no protection against medical identity theft or employment identity theft.

According to the complaint, contrary to the above statement, the sensitive data held by LifeLock “was not encrypted, and sensitive consumer information was not shared only on a 'need to know' basis.” Furthermore, the FTC claims that LifeLock's data system was vulnerable and could have been easily exploited.

In addition to the monetary settlement, LifeLock has been barred from making any claims that its services are 100% secure. Also named in the settlement were the company's co-founders, who are hereby barred from making any similar claims with any other businesses.

“This agreement effectively prevents LifeLock from misrepresenting that its services offer absolute prevention against identity theft because there is unfortunately no foolproof way to avoid ID theft,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. “Consumers can take definitive steps to minimize the chances of having their personal information stolen, and this settlement will help them make more informed decisions about whether to enroll in ID theft protection services.”

LifeLock will pay $11 million to the FTC, which will be used to pay refunds to customers. An additional $1 million will be divided up by the Attorneys General of 35 different states who participated in the investigation.

The FTC will be sending out letters to current and former LifeLock customers about the refunds, along with instructions for applying. You can also call 202-326-3757 or go to www.ftc.gov/lifelock for the latest information.

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Identity Theft

Are you really you? It’s hard to say.

That’s because identity theft was the top consumer complaint for 2009, the Federal Trade Commission reported Wednesday.

It was also the top complaint from the year before, although 5 percent fewer consumers reported it in 2009, the commission said.

Overall, of the 1.3 million complaints the agency received last year, 21 percent were for identity theft. Debt collection agencies ranked second, with 9 percent of complaints, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book released Wednesday.

Credit card fraud was the top complaint when it comes to identity theft, followed by fraud related to government benefits, utilities, phones and loans.

The FTC did not verify the complaints lodged with it. It said 72 percent of those reporting identity theft also notified a police department.

The complete 101-page report (.pdf) is available here.

Photo: Don Hankins/Flickr

See Also:

• Supreme Court: Feds Abusing Identity Theft Law
• U.S. Identity Theft Convictions Increase 26 Percent, Feds Say
• Stolen Wallets, Not Hacks, Cause the Most ID Theft? Debunked
• Startup Plans to Solve Online Identity Theft, But Does Anyone Care?
• Feds Swoop In on Nationwide Pickpocket, I.D. Theft Ring
• Congress Must Deal With ID Theft
• Judge Rules LifeLock’s Fraud Alert Service Illegal
• The Pros and Cons of LifeLock

Are you really you? It’s hard to say.

That’s because identity theft was the top consumer complaint for 2009, the Federal Trade Commission reported Wednesday.

It was also the top complaint from the year before, although 5 percent fewer consumers reported it in 2009, the commission said.

Overall, of the 1.3 million complaints the agency received last year, 21 percent were for identity theft. Debt collection agencies ranked second, with 9 percent of complaints, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book released Wednesday.

Credit card fraud was the top complaint when it comes to identity theft, followed by fraud related to government benefits, utilities, phones and loans.

The FTC did not verify the complaints lodged with it. It said 72 percent of those reporting identity theft also notified a police department.

The complete 101-page report (.pdf) is available here.

Photo: Don Hankins/Flickr

See Also:

• Supreme Court: Feds Abusing Identity Theft Law
• U.S. Identity Theft Convictions Increase 26 Percent, Feds Say
• Stolen Wallets, Not Hacks, Cause the Most ID Theft? Debunked
• Startup Plans to Solve Online Identity Theft, But Does Anyone Care?
• Feds Swoop In on Nationwide Pickpocket, I.D. Theft Ring
• Congress Must Deal With ID Theft
• Judge Rules LifeLock’s Fraud Alert Service Illegal
• The Pros and Cons of LifeLock

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Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft is a crime wherein sensitive information about you is deliberately acquired by other people, basically for financial gains. The problem is in solving it because most often, it takes time before you know that you already are a victim. Usually, it takes a year for the victim to know about such theft. Such a mishap it is, for the thief s purpose is to use your information as gainful and as quick as possible.

The fact of the matter is, your name is on the line. There are a lot of things that identity stealing can do to damage your name and all the information which may come with your most sensitive accounts and documents. Here are a few things that thieves could do upon acquiring your information:

Change of Address

The first thing that they might do is to change the mailing address of your credit cards so that you may not know the transactions that follow the crime. This will also give them full use of the account and they could even manage to get another credit card. Thus, take it as a warning if you are not getting any bill mails from your credit companies.

Use Your Name in Exploitation

As fast as time can allow, thieves will want to get the most out of your credit cards and your information. They may use your name to file bankruptcy so that they may be relieved from the debts that they have made with your accounts. They can open your bank accounts and gradually withdraw your savings until nothing is left of it.

Credit Card Spree

Having the opportunity of a credit card that is not in the thief s name, the criminal can go on a spending spree until a great debt has been incurred in your name. The extensive use can go on from shopping from the small buys to home appliances and even auto loans.

There are various factors which can help you determine if you have found out the dirty deed behind your back. Much importantly, you have to make the quickest move possible to stop the identity exploitation and clear your name. Here is what you should do:

1. Set an alert on your credit cards with your companies

You may stop any opening of accounts with your personal information by raising an alert with your credit card companies. Contact one of these report companies for further assistance:

Equifax: www.equifax.com

1 800 525 6285

P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374 0241

Experian: www.experian.com

1 888 EXPERIAN (397 3742);

P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: www.transunion.com

1 800 680 7289

Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834 6790

2. File all necessary reports and complaints

Identity theft must be reported to the police; especially if there have been car or house break ins before discovering about the identity theft. The robbery might have given the robbers your identity and the cause for the identity exploitation. The Federal Trade Commission can help you track and identify thieves.

3. Contacts and records

Make sure to contact every possible company where you have credit cards issued. Announce an identity theft by sending letters. Make sure to use certified mail and always keep a copy for future use. Record and update your actions.

Source : Article Directory Online : Free Online Article Submission

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Identity Theft

Identity theft is a huge market, there are so many people that are targets and I'll tell you why in just a moment. There is a common misconception floating around in our every day space that suggests we can not be targets because we are mediocre and do hot have a life worth stealing. Even some celebrities think this way believe it or not. Identity theft has nothing to do with the amount of money you earn what your name is or what your status is on the income bracket…. It is all about the plastic.

This article is designed to help all people whether they are past victims or potential victims… you need to protect your identity and this will offer some insight. There are many types of fraud happening in identity theft cases that they need to be defined so that normal people can know what to watch for. There are also many ways you can be robbed that some people wouldn't even pay much attention to, and the list goes on, so fasten your seat belts because it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Identity Theft: Are you a Prime Victim?

Some celebrities have had their fair share of problems with people using their identity for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods. But, usually it happens to those normal everyday live and die kind of people. For instance many circumstances begin with “…but they only wanted to help me…” or “… I never would've thought in a million years that they would ever do this to me…” One of the easiest targets is the kind and trusting. Those people with problems and financial worries are by far the easiest because the bad guys know how to manipulate or they would have a legal job making money honestly.

Also, it is a fallacy that you have to be old in order to have your identity stolen. There are children who, in some cases, have a bad parent that uses their children's names and social security numbers to begin making credit accounts when their own credit has been ruined beyond repair. Or the thief could be an 'ex' friend or pissed off family member that uses your child's information that was left on your living room desk. It could also be someone who got fired from your child's school and left with a pocket full of valuable information on several children to live cost free.

Elderly people are unfortunately, very easy to con. There are so many identity thieves that target elderly people that have recently lost a spouse or have been delinquent on a few payments in recent months. They are then targeted by opened arm, helpful individuals that are offering refinance options for their home or a loan for their bills. This despicable act gets worse. Once the elderly people have been approached by these vile little con artists they are told how much better they will be able to live once the financial burdens and worries are over. As you can imagine, they are shocked and completely stunned when they are forced onto the streets and their bank accounts are bone dry- they are then homeless, ashamed, and confused.

Identity Theft: Types of Fraud

There are many kinds of fraud that takes place regarding identity theft as I have said before. Let's take a deeper look into what makes for a prime target and just how you are sized up when Identity thieves are on the prowl.

Application fraud is a very common way that your identity can be stolen easily. It is often referred to as 'takeover' fraud which means that a person or persons can take an existing account literally anywhere, but usually is somewhat confined to credit cards and charge accounts, and assume that persons identity to obtain materials or merchandise which is then sold for a profit.

Another very common way to steal someone's identity through fraud is called 'true name fraud' and this has to do specifically with a criminal opening new accounts with a person's information with the sole purpose of racking up as much money as they can before getting caught. In these situations the victims has no idea and by the time they find out the perpetrator has already done the damage and has started a new life which is untraceable.

Identity Theft: In Closing

It is difficult to imagine anyone wanting to inflict this type of pain on another person. Physical pain at least heals in time but this kind of abuse lasts a lifetime and scars both emotionally and mentally. Now that you know how to protect yourself maybe you can pas the knowledge on to those you love and offer them the education to stop identity theft from happening to them.

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Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic. Bob Sullivan. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. 2004. 314 pages including appendix (how to protect yourself), notes and index. ISBN: 0471648108. Available from Amazon.com for $17.61

Identify theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. Whose fault is it? The individuals who don't protect their identities properly…or the financial and government organizations to whom they entrust their personal information, in the belief that these huge companies do all they can to safeguard this vital data?

Take the first six months of 2005, for example. In February Bank of America reported that computer tapes containing data for some 1.2 million U.S. government employees had vanished. In May, Time Warner said an outside storage company lost computer backup tapes containing data on 600,000 current and former employees. Just this month (June) Citicorp lost information on 3.9 million customers, which they had attempted to send to a credit bureau via UPS. Other companies have also reported missing data.

This rash of lost information has got to be frightening and frustrating, not only to the general public but to all the authors out there, who have published book after book over the last decade about the problem of identity theft and how to prevent it. And yet it would appear that the companies to whom this information would be of most value haven't bothered to read them.�

Your�Evil Twin�is not a manual on how to prevent identity theft, but rather a series of non-fiction horror stories: some of the perpetrators and their schemes, most of the victims and how much they suffer.

Some examples:

Malcolm Bird, an African-American, spent five years of his life being arrested for crimes an impostor committed, and having to prove over and over again that his identity had been stolen:
“Malcolm Byrd was at home with his two children on a Saturday night in January 2003 when a pounding knock came at the door. Three Rock County, Wisconsin, sheriff's officers were there with a warrant for Byrd's arrest. Cocaine possession, with intent to distribute, the warrant read.

This time, Byrd thought, I just can't take it any more. Why bother to explain.? During all the other arrests, all the other times he'd been fired from his job, the times his driver's license had been taken away, no one listened. It's because I'm black, he thought. No one believes a black man when he says he's innocent. No one believes a black man when he says he's innocent. No one believes him when he says, “You've got the wrong man.”

Arlene Cling, a widow in her mid-80s, had her house sold out from under her:
” �How can they do do that and take our house? We never had it for sale or rent or anything,' said Arlene Cling, a widow in her mid-80s, in front of her San Diego home. But it was true. Someone had stolen Cling's personal information, gone to the bank, sold her home, and pocketed the cash.

�All I know is we got this letter that the house had been taken – sold – and we…we didn't sell it,' she told NBC's Kevin Tibbles.”

The benefits of identity theft for the criminal:
“More Americans are victims of identity theft than any other crime in America now, and there's a reason: For criminals, the rewards are high, and the risks are infinitesimal. By one example, only 1 out of every 700 identity theft crimes are ever prosecuted.”

“Once it is determined a fraud has been committed the company never contacts you again. My SSN was used in Cleveland and Detroit to buy cell phones; $1,000 in charges were run up. I asked the fraud dept. if they could notify me if the people were caught; I was told �Read the newspaper.' The fraud departments aren't talking to the police and no one is talking to the victims.”�

Author Bob Sullivan is a senior writer at MSNBC.com, and is the nation's leading journalist covering identity theft. He won the 2002 Society of Professional Journalists Public Service Award for his series of articles on online fraud.

In Your Evil Twin, Sullivan brings his expertise to bear once more. His final chapter is called What Now, and deals with “what can be done to regain control of your out-of-control digital twin?”

He advocates that the government cease coddling the credit industry. He talks about biometrics, about electric ATM cards that are surgically implanted in human flesh. He talks about training police officers for the possibility that people who claim �you have the wrong person' might be telling the truth.

Sullivan closes with a plea of a �return to sanity' for those who use credit.

“Since the foundations of the credit card business in the 1950s, the industry has been focused entirely on convincing consumers to give in to their most basic urges, to surrender tomorrow for today, to buy on credit no matter what the cost. It's an industry designed to convince Americans we can have everything we want today, and in fact, we can have a whole lot of things we don't want. Not only has the industry contributed to, and practically caused, the personal bankruptcy crisis, the credit industry has also enabled the identity theft crisis.”

Another must read.

Identity Theft

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