The State Department said Friday it has warned nearly 400 passport applicants of a security breach in its records system that may have left them open to identity theft.
The department has so far notified 383 people — most of them in the Washington, D.C. area — that their passport applications containing personal information, including Social Security numbers, may have been illegally accessed and used to open fraudulent credit card accounts, spokesman Sean McCormack said.
Link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9UJOG_0PXJjxLwKQwYfG1KOBFnQD945OS3G0
Source: Assiciated Press
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A fraud alert is a notification, or a “flag,” used by the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union and Experian) to call attention to potentially suspicious activity on your credit report. When you or someone else tries to open a new account (for instance, by applying for a new credit card, car loan, cell phone), the creditor will be required to contact you by phone to verify that you really want to open a new account. If you aren’t reachable by phone, the account should not be opened.
BUNK ALERT: Be aware, however, that a credit issuer is NOT required by law to contact you – even if you have fraud alert in place.
It’s fairly simple – and it’s free. All you need to do is contact each of the consumer fraud departments at each of the three major credit bureaus and ask them to flag your credit file for fraud.
BUNK ALERT: The three major bureaus claim to share fraud alert data once you contact one of them. However, studies have shown that this process doesn’t always work, so your best option is to contact each bureau individually to place an alert.
Within 24 hours, your alert should be activated at the credit bureau. You should receive a confirmation in the mail a week or two after your call. If you don’t receive this confirmation, call and place the alert again.
BUNK ALERT: Think you’re safe from here to eternity? Nice try. Be aware: your fraud alert will only be effective for 90 days. After that, you’ll need to repeat the process.
It is true that your credit information is more secure. But fraud alerts are still not foolproof. A fraud alert can be, and sometimes is, ignored by creditors.
BUNK ALERT: If you suspect you’re a victim of identity theft, or have already become a victim, fraud alerts are only a start in trying to protect your credit. You also need to pay close attention to your credit report to make sure no new credit inquiries or credit accounts are being opened.
The idea that consumers can continue to issue fraud alerts against their credit files is currently being tested in court. It should also be pointed out that getting a copy of your credit report after identity theft has occurred - whether it is through a credit monitoring service or on your own - is akin to closing the barn door after the horse has already gotten out.
BUNK ALERT: Neither practice will prevent you from becoming an identity theft victim, nor will they help you clean up the mess after you have been victimized.
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The real Michele Sorenson lives a simple life in a small northern Minnesota town where she is the mother of two children and works as a certified public accountant. But half-way across the country in the Los Angeles suburb of San Bernardino, Calif., someone stole Sorenson's good name and turned her happy life into a nightmare by passing hundreds of bad checks, charging medical bills, bailing a prisoner out of jail, and even stealing a car.
Link: http://www.startribune.com/local/29622899.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Source: Star Tribune
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When your credit rating becomes compromised, cleaning up the mess can be daunting -- and more expensive. Even that ugly scenario pales in comparison to the challenge of clearing your reputation after an identity thief has committed crimes, and been convicted, in your name.
Link: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/security/64644.html
Source: Technewsworld
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A West Virginia law firm has filed its third class action lawsuit against Lifelock, whose ubiquitous ads promise ironclad protection against identity theft. Earlier suits were filed in New Jersey and Maryland.
Link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/lifelock_class_action.html
Source: ConsumerAffairs.com
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