My Identity Thief

Identity Theft is a BIGGER Problem than the IRS Reports

DSCarroll1 — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:51:48 +0000

According to the GAO Identity theft-related tax fraud is more widespread the IRS statistics report.

In 2008, the IRS found only 50,000 incidents of identity theft and employment fraud and stopped 90% of fraudulent tax returns. James White, director of tax issues on the GAO strategic issues team reports, “data provides an incomplete picture of the amount of identity theft-related fraud occurring at the IRS.

If an identity thief steals the identity of a child the IRS would not be able to detect it because a child has no filing obligations. The IRS would just see a name and a social security number that match and the income on the tax return matches income reported by the employer.

In fact the IRS fraud detection process is slow and only after the IRS notifies a taxpayer of unreported income that the IRS eventually learns from the taxpayer that someone else is using their identity. By the time it is discovered more than a year or two may have elapsed.

There is no way for the IRS to determine how many incidents of fraud go undetected. “The security and privacy of taxpayer information is of the utmost importance to the IRS,” Shulman wrote in response to the report. “I have made it a priority of this agency to reduce the burden placed on the taxpayer and the tax system because of identity theft.”

Who is using your Identity?

AmeriPlan is now offering an Identity Theft Program that offers a multi-faceted approach to the problem of identity theft. The program includes proactive monitoring, full restoration in that event that your identity is stolen, legal services and $25,000 insurance. To learn more schedule a FREE consultation.

Author: Debbi Carroll, Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. Debbi recommends that you check your credit report on a regular basis and those of your children.

Stealing Candy from a Baby – Child ID Theft

DSCarroll1 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:08:26 +0000

It’s as easy as stealing candy from a baby. With the government requiring families to get social security cards on their children; there has been an alarming rise in infant and child identity theft.

The theft is not usually reported for years until the child files for some type of credit, school loans or recieves a notice from the IRS or some other agency for some misdeed.

The FTC reports about 5% of all ID theft is reported by children under 18 and the number is growing. As more parents learn how to check their children’s identity, the numbers will rise. Their identity’s are used to open credit card, obtain driver’s license, and employment.

I was speaking to a woman in the HR department at the zoo in Phoenix and she told me a parent had called complaining that one of her employees had been using her childs social security number for employment. He was fired. Imagine the mothers surprise when the IRS denied her using the child as a deduction on her return because they came calling for not filing a tax return for her 9 year old for his employment at the zoo.needed to file their own return for income reported by the zoo.

Imagine the surprise of an 18 year old applying for a student loan to discover is was denied because he had already defaulted on his existing student loans. The 18 year was just starting school and had no student loans… but his identity thief did!

Shiloh Puckett, a 4th grader already has quite a history. A credit history, that is. Shiloh has over 17 credit cards, racked up thousands of dollars on her credits cards and been approved for a $42,000 loan. She is deep in debt and has been since she was just five. Her identity thief was caught and sentenced to prison… it was her own mother.

The Identity Theft Resource Center reports family members as being involved in more than half of the child identity theft cases reported in the United States last year.

So how are criminals able to get credit in your child’s name. One issue is that credit card companies do not do any sort of age qualification of applicants. They application may ask for the date of birth, but there is no way to verify it and that becomes the “official age” for credit purposes and can sit on the child’s credit report for years until someone corrects the misinformation.

Keeping your child’s information safe.

You should check your child’s credit report. The govenment requires a FREE credit report annually you have 3 credit reporting agency’s to check so you can check a different agency every 4 months for no cost.
Be careful who you give your childs birth certificate to, schools, athletic programs. Ask why they need a copy and how will it be stored.
Do not carry your child’s social security card in your wallet or any other personal identifying information. Store in a locked and secure place.

To learn more about protecting your identity visit http://www.myidentitythief.com/

Debbi Carroll, Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, AmeriPlan USA

http://www.facebook.com/debbicarroll

Largest Identity Theft Ring in US Busted

DSCarroll1 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:58:22 +0000

The largest identity theft ring in the United States history acquired more than 130 million credit and debit cards used at 7-Eleven stores, Hannaford Brother grocery stores and Heartland Payment Systems (credit card processor). The Justice department said this case represents the largest credit and debit card breach in the US.

A government informant, Albert Gonzales was working for the US Secret Service and at the same time working with criminals. His goal was to sell the stolen information to his Russian partners. Gonazalez and his two Russian co-conspirators would hack into corporate computer networks and place “malware,” or malicious software, that would allow them backdoor access to their networks to steal the data.

They used a technique called “wardriving,” which involves driving through different areas with a laptop computer and looking for accessible Internet wireless signals. Once they located an open network, they installed so-called “sniffer programs” that captured credit and debit card numbers.

It is important for you to review your credit card statements and debit card charges regularly to spot illegal use of your credit or debit card and call immediatly to report any irregular activity.

AmeriPlan USA is launching a new program September 14th called SecureNet and a component of that program offers identity theft monitoring, restoration, legal services and more to protect your identity. This program also provides credit repair and debt relief programs as well as other services.

Debbi Carroll, Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist

Yikes! Did I just give my Info to an Identity Thief?

DSCarroll1 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:50:44 +0000

I recently called my credit card company to see why we were not receiving our monthly bill. Of course they started asking for my identifying information. First they asked for the last 4 of my husbands social security number, hmmm could not remember.

So I said ask me some questions about me…

“What is your social security number?”

I answered (this made me a little nervous)

“What is your date of birth?” (ok, now I am getting really nervous)

I answered

“Ok, I just have a couple more questions for you…”

Who is your mortgage company? (He listed several and asked me to pick one)

I answered (Ok where did he get those names?)

He then asked what professional license did I hold… a dental hygenist, a RN license…

I answered (how did he know that I was a nurse)

Who was the previous owner of your home? (He listed people’s names)

I answered (Hmmm, he must have a screen in front of him with all that information)

My next thought was… that Chase bank must have an incredible database with all kinds of personal information.

At the end of the conversation… this customer service representative had all the information to steal my identity. What was I thinking???? All just to get my credit card company to mail me a statement.

To learn more how to protect your identity, visit http://myidentitythief.com/

Debbi Carroll