Identity theft....

[CherryokeeXJ]

I've been hearing a TON of ads lately regarding identity protection. There are businesses that make sure your identity stays safe, and if anything does happen they pay for all damages.

Anyone use this? Are there ways to secure your identity outside of having someone else do it? Anyone been a victim of identity theft around here? It's something I've always worried about, but never took any time to investigate precautions outside of shredding mail, not buying online, checking my credit report, ect.

Info appreciated. :thumbsup:

[ZappBranigan]

I've been hearing a TON of ads lately regarding identity protection. There are businesses that make sure your identity stays safe, and if anything does happen they pay for all damages.

Anyone use this? Are there ways to secure your identity outside of having someone else do it? Anyone been a victim of identity theft around here? It's something I've always worried about, but never took any time to investigate precautions outside of shredding mail, not buying online, checking my credit report, ect.

Info appreciated. :thumbsup:

Yes I had it happen to me. And it wasn't a huge deal, though it was a bit of a hassle.

All those "credit protection" services do is put a "fraud alert" on your SSN with all 3 credit bureaus, which you can do yourself for the princely sum of $0.00.

A "fraud alert" just alerts the credit bureau that your name and SSN may have been used by unauthorized person and it means that anybody calling the credit bureau will be notified of that fact and will be instructed to contact you before opening any credit accounts. This supposedly keeps people from opening credit cards in your name or obtaining a car loan.

"Fraud alerts" usually only last about 90 days so if you want to keep one in place call them on day 89 or 90 and renew it. Other than indeminfying you for any losses (the insurance provision) that's all those services do. :shrug:

[Jake_Blues]

Read some news stories about "LifeLock" and the scam artist who runs it before you pay them to secure your personal info!

Basically you can do everything they do for you on your own, for free, it just requires some effort. All these companies do is contact the credit bureaus and ask them to put fraud alerts on your profiles. When there is a fraud alert on your profile, creditors (should) take extra steps to ensure that credit requests are legit.

You can do this yourself, just contact the bureaus and they'll do it for free. The only downside is that the fraud alerts automatically expire periodically (every 3 months I think?), so you have to keep renewing them. This is what these services do for you, automatically.

Everything these companies do is *free* for them (or you). Just check out the credit bureau web sites and do it yourself! I admire their ability to generate automated e-mails once every 3 months and get you to pay $30 for the service, but I hardly think it's worth it :D

If you want to do this yourself, go here and fill out this form:

https://www.alerts.equifax.com/AutoFraud_Online/jsp/fraudAlert.jsp

When you fill it out and submit it, Equifax will then alert the other two major credit reporters for you, don't even have to contact all three. Just be aware, after you've done this, it will be harder for you to get credit intentionally too (not lower your score, just make the process more time consuming and difficult).

-E

[Jake_Blues]

Damn, Ninjaed by Zapp.

-E

[ASCTLC]

Read some news stories about "LifeLock" and the scam artist who runs it before you pay them to secure your personal info!


I read all about that guy too. If I recall correctly, even his own dad won't talk to him due to the ID theft he commited against him. :loser:

A

[otisdog]

I've put a fraud alert on mine and my wife's credit. The only hassle to that is you have to do it every 90 days.
There's also a credit freeze you can do but makes it harder when you need credit for yourself.
Jim

[ZappBranigan]

Damn, Ninjaed by Zapp.

-E

"If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards...Checkmate!" - Zapp Branigan :D

[potter]

Yeah, all those "services" that offer identity protection are a scam. All they do is call up on of the three credit beuros. Put a fraud alert on your account (which is then added to the other two, as all three work hand in hand). The fraud alert lasts 3 or 6 months (I forget). And once it's up they make the phone call again.

It's basically a monthly service for them to make one single phone call every few months. Which you can do yourself 1-800 number for free.

Total freakin ripoff!!

[Batgirl]

Experian is suing Lifelock for fraud. They allege that LifeLock is breaking and abusing laws put in place by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as costing Experian millions of dollars in manpower and telephone bills.

Interesting article that helps explain the fraud alert and credit freeze options:

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/02/experian-sues-l.html

[ScaldedDog]

It's happened to me three times. No idea how they got my info, though Fidelity did lose a laptop with all my employer's employee records on it a few years ago. Or, it could have been some nice waiter at a restaurant.

I do have an Equifax account, which has proven to be invaluable. Anytime my credit gets checked or elsewise accessed, I get a text, a call and an email. It was hugely helpful all three times.

Mark

[DETN8R]

I think My Identity Theft protection is through my prepaid legal at work.

[ASCTLC]

A current article about LifeLock.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080522/ap_on_hi_te/identity_fraud_flap

[potter]

I think the term for that is "pwnd"

[CapnCrunch]

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