Do you pay your cable bill over the phone? Watch out…!

Anytime you give out your credit card number, you can be at risk of Identity Theft.

Here is a story from Cincinnati Fox News. A customer was paying their bill over the phone to Time Warner cable, and the employee took a customer’s credit card number. The employee was caught, but after she had made several purchases.

• Link from Fox Channel 19 news, on May 28, 2008 – http://www.wxix.com/Global/story.asp?S=8382757

A former employee of Time Warner cable has been charged with identity theft, after she was accused of obtaining the credit card number of a customer.

NY Governor signs Identity Theft Legislation

Link from – http://www.egovmonitor.com/ on 22 May, 2008

• NY Governor signs Identity Theft Legislation – http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/18965

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has introduced legislation that would strengthen New York State.s identity theft laws by protecting individuals from the misuse of their personal information. In recent years, identity theft has prompted frequent legislative action, but significant gaps remain in New York State.s identity theft laws.

Customers file lawsuit claiming Lifelock did not provide protection

Here is an article from AP, that reports LifeLock did not provide Identity Theft Services as it has been advertised.

• Article link to CNN.com May/22/2008 – http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/22/lifelock.flap.ap/index.html

Todd Davis has dared criminals for two years to try stealing his identity: Ads for his fraud-prevention company, LifeLock, even offer his Social Security number next to his smiling mug.

As a personal note, Pre-Paid Legal Service’s Identity Theft Sheild is a better value. When combined with their Life Events Legal Service, much more protection is provided. Click here to learn more about their services.

Is the doctor’s office stealing your identity?

Here is an article from amednews.com

• Medical identity theft is often an “inside job” on March 3, 2008 – http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/prsc0303.htm

When physicians look to protect their patients from medical identity theft, they may want to start by examining their office staff.

That’s because, while patients may try to use another person’s identity fraudulently to receive medical care, many thefts happen when a hospital, clinic or practice employee sells patient information to organized crime or gang leaders, experts said. Then the information is used to conduct fake billing or obtain goods such as wheelchairs and prescription drugs to sell on the black market, said Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit research and consumer education organization.

The forum is conducting its second study of medical identity theft, and the findings will be released later this year. In its first study, issued in 2006, the organization reported that 250,000 to 500,000 people had experienced this form of identity theft.

USA Today – “Identity thieves prey on patients’ medical records”

Here is an article published on-line by USAToday.com, all about Medical Identity Theft.

• Original link – http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-05-06-privacy_N.htm

Also, within the article, they link another story on Medical ID Theft Victims’ problem on accessing their own medical records! See this story here – http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-29-medical-records_N.htm

Protect Yourself from Bogus Home Buyers

Are you selling a home? People might say they want to buy your home, but have criminal intentions instead. Be sure to protect yourself and your personal belongings when showing a home. That way you, your family, and your identity are safe.

• Story from Q13 Fox News in Seattle – http://q13.trb.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=2455780

“Bogus Home Buyer Cons Her Way Into North Seattle Home. Victim Says Crook Stole Her Wallet.”

The 76 year old victim told Seattle Police the home buyer stole her wallet, while she went to get her a for sale pamphlet from the home’s dining room table.”

Car Salesman Charged With Stealing Customers’ Identities

Omaha, NE – The car salesman was fired, but that was after he was caught stealing multiple customer’s identities. The report says he has been workinging there for over 5 years, and been stealing identities for the past 3 years. You know he stole information from mulitple customer’s, where are they at?

• Link from KETV.com in Omaha, NE – April 29, 2008 – http://www.ketv.com/news/16064885/detail.html
• Video link from same site – http://www.ketv.com/video/16080971/