Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Review of chicago birth injury lawyer::Can English Get Married in Spain







Review of chicago birth injury lawyer::Can English Get Married in Spain








               INTRODUCTION
               The               day               begins               just               like               any               other               one               normally               would.
               You're               on               your               way               to               work               in               the               morning               and               realize               you
               need               to               make               a               quick               pit               stop               at               the               gas               station               before               you
               run               out               of               fuel               completely.

You               fill               up               the               tank               and               grab               a
               coffee               and               newspaper               once               inside               the               store.

You               offer               the
               cashier               your               credit               card               and               are               stunned               when               she               tells               you
               that               it               has               been               rejected.

As               the               wave               of               embarrassment
               rushes               over               you,               you               fumble               around               in               your               pockets               for
               enough               cash               to               cover               the               entire               bill.

On               the               way               out               you
               stop               at               the               ATM               to               replace               the               money               you               had               in               your
               pocket               and               to               your               horror               the               screen               tells               you               that               your
               account               has               insufficient               funds.

Panicked               now,               you               arrive               at
               the               office               and               immediately               check               your               online               credit               card               and
               bank               statements.

Your               checking               account               is               in               overdraft
               which               means               there               must               be               some               kind               of               mistake               as               you
               know               there               was               enough               in               there               for               the               next               mortgage
               payment               and               then               some.

Your               credit               card               statement               shows
               5               thousands               upon               thousands               of               dollars               worth               of               purchases
               over               the               last               two               weeks               that               you               know               you               didn't               make.
               When               you               finally               call               the               bank               to               find               out               what's               going               on
               they               pass               you               over               to               a               supervisor               who               tells               you               that               the
               loan               you               recently               applied               for               has               been               denied.

Because
               you've               applied               for               credit               at               a               number               of               other               places               within
               the               last               month               they               aren't               comfortable               in               extending               a               loan
               to               you               based               on               your               current               debt               load.
               With               your               head               spinning               and               thoughts               coming               at               you               a
               million               a               minute               you               finally               realize...you               have               just               become
               the               latest               victim               of               Identity               Theft.
               CHAPTER               1:               WHAT               IS               IDENTITY               THEFT?
               As               the               quickest               growing               crime               in               America,               identity               theft
               affects               approximately               7               -10               million               people               every               single               year.
               Simply               put,               identity               theft               is               the               act               of               using               someone               else's
               personal               information,               or               their               actual               identity               for               personal
               6               gain.

Frighteningly               it               happens               without               you               even               knowing               it
               and               once               you               have               become               aware               of               it,               in               most               cases               the
               damage               has               already               been               done.
               Types               of               Identity               Theft
               Although               there               are               many               different               methods               that               one               can
               utilize               to               rip               someone               off               in               an               identity               theft               type               scam,
               there               are               really               only               two               basic               types               of               actual               identity               theft.
               The               first               of               these               is               generally               the               easiest               and               most               basic               way
               for               thieves               to               achieve               their               objective.

An               example               of
               Account               takeover
               physical               credit               card,               or               perhaps               just               the               card               number               and
               expiry               date,               using               it               to               purchase               services               or               products.

This
               works               out               extremely               well               for               the               thief,               as               the               credit               card
               owner               doesn't               usually               notice               the               additional               purchases               until
               they               either               receive               their               monthly               statement               in               the               mail               or
               have               attempted               to               use               the               card               and               found               that               it               has
               reached               the               maximum               limit               allowed.
               is               when               a               thief               gets               hold               of               your               actual
               The               second               type               of               identity               theft               is               called
               fraud
               order               for               a               thief               to               be               successful               at               application               fraud,               they
               must               have               access               to               a               good               deal               of               your               personal
               information               such               as               your               Social               Security               Number               (SSN),               full
               name,               address,               place               of               work,               salary,               driver's               license
               number,               date               of               birth               etc.

Of               course               not               all               of               these               pieces
               of               information               would               be               necessary               for               a               thief               to               get               away
               with               application               fraud               but               certainly               a               combination               of               some               of
               the               above               would               be               required.
               Application,               or               what               is               otherwise               known               as               "true               name               fraud".

In
               It               Can               Affect               Anyone
               Like               many,               you               may               assume               that               identity               theft               only               happens
               to               those               people               who               might               be               a               bit               more               careless               when               it
               comes               to               safeguarding               personal               information.

Or               perhaps
               you               are               of               the               mindset               that               because               you               don't               really               have               a
               lot               of               money               in               your               personal               account               or               don't               have               credit
               cards               with               large               spending               limits,               that               identity               theft               thieves
               wouldn't               necessarily               target               someone               like               yourself.

Well,
               make               no               mistake               about               it;               identity               theft               can               happen               to
               anyone,               including               you!

Basically,               if               you               have               an               identity
               (and               we               hope               that               you               do)               then               you               are               susceptible.
               The               size               of               your               financial               worth               does               not               matter,               nor
               whether               you               rent               or               own               your               home,               nor               whether               you               have
               exceptional               credit               or               bad.

The               fact               is               still               this,               if               you               are
               reading               this               right               now               then               you               have               an               identity               and
               because               of               which               you               are               certain               to               have               one,               if               not               many               of
               the               following:               a               name,               a               bank               account,               a               credit               card,               a
               telephone,               a               SSN,               a               job,               a               birth               date,               an               email               and               internet
               account,               a               mailbox,               an               address,               and               the               list               goes               on               and               on.
               And               I               hate               to               break               this               to               you               my               friend               but               here's               my
               point,               it               only               takes               one               of               the               above               pieces               of               information               to
               fall               into               the               wrong               hands               and               you               too,               like               millions               of               others
               can               become               a               victim               of               identity               theft.
               Not               As               Difficult               As               You               Think
               Still               think               it's               not               that               easy               for               someone               to               get               your               personal
               information?

Well               let's               not               be               naïve               about               this,               it's               not               as
               difficult               as               you               think               it               is.

Take               a               moment               to               think               about               all
               of               the               companies,               organizations,               businesses               and               online               sites
               that               might               have               access               to               ANY               of               your               personal               information.
               Think               about               all               of               the               people               whose               hands               your               mail               at
               home               or               at               work               must               pass               through               before               it               reaches               its
               intended               destination.
               Think               about               all               of               that               extremely               personal               information               you
               include               on               your               resume               when               you're               job               hunting               and               that
               you               will               send               it               out               to               who               knows               how               many               companies?
               Your               complete               work               history,               name,               contact               information               and
               possibly               references               are               all               included               in               your               resume!

What
               about               where               you               work               now?

They               have               access               to               more               of
               your               personal               information               than               even               what               your               spouse               or
               parents               might               have!

Now               think               about               all               of               the               people               who
               your               employer               passes               that               information               onto,               such               as               the
               insurance               company,               and               not               only               your               own               bank               but               their
               bank               as               well,               and               let's               not               forget               the               company               that
               processes               payroll!

The               list               is               endless               and               in               just               a               little
               while               we               will               discuss               all               the               ways               in               which               you               can               protect
               yourself               against               identity               theft.

For               now               however,               let's               take               a
               look               at               all               of               the               methods               in               which               thieves               might               use               to
               access               your               personal               information.
               CHAPTER               2:               METHODS               OF               IDENTITY               THEFT
               Okay               so               I'm               just               going               to               warn               you               up               front               that               this               is
               where               things               might               get               a               bit               scary.

As               we               start               to               discuss
               all               of               the               various               ways               in               which               identity               theft               can               occur,               you
               may               begin               to               realize               just               how               vulnerable               you               might               be.

Now
               remember,               the               intention               of               this               book               is               certainly               not               to
               frighten               the               living               daylights               out               of               you,               nor               is               it               to               turn               you
               into               a               paranoid,               crazy               person               who               decides               that               they               don't
               trust               anyone               anymore               and               that               they               now               must               cancel               all               of
               their               credit               cards,               close               out               their               bank               account               and               hide               all
               their               cash               under               the               bed               mattress               in               an               attempt               to               leave               a
               paperless               trail               in               everything               that               they               do.

The               actual
               intention               of               this               book               is               quite               simple.

Let's               make               you               aware
               of               how               identity               theft               does               occur               so               that               you               can               walk               away
               with               the               knowledge               of               what               precautions               to               take               so               that               it
               doesn't               ever               affect               you.

And               if               the               worst-case               scenario               does
               present               itself               and               you               do               become               a               victim,               this               book               will
               ensure               that               you               are               not               at               a               loss               as               to               how               to               deal               with               it,
               what               actions               you               must               take               to               correct               the               problem,               or               how
               stop               it               before               it               gets               worse.

Let's               look               now               at               identity               theft
               methods.
               Dumpster               Diving
               Imagine               for               a               moment               it's               that               time               of               month               we               all               detest               -
               time               to               pay               the               bills.

As               you               sort               through               the               pile               of               mail               on
               your               desk               you               first               throw               out               all               of               that               junk               mail               that               you
               receive               from               every               store               you               have               ever               been               to               who               has               put
               you               on               their               mailing               list               (you               know               -               so               that               they               can               make
               you               aware               of               upcoming               sales               and               promotions               etc).

Oh               yes,
               and               we               can't               forget               about               all               the               credit               card               and               loan
               companies               that               want               to               let               you               know               they               have               generously
               pre-approved               you               for               a               new               credit               card               or               loan.

Let's               face
               it;               those               are               probably               destined               for               the               garbage               or               recycling
               bin               as               well.

Once               we               have               finally               gotten               to               the               task               of
               actually               paying               those               nasty               bills,               many               of               us               discard               of               those
               statements               also.

Bills               that               have               account               numbers,               credit
               limits,               contact               information               and               all               other               types               of               personal
               information,               are               all               very               accessible               in               your               garbage               can               as               it
               sits               waiting               patiently               on               the               side               of               the               road               all               ready               for               the
               garbage               truck               to               come               by               in               the               morning               and               collect               it.
               Don't               think               for               a               minute               that               thieves               have               too               much               pride               to
               go               digging               through               your               trashcan               to               find               what               they're               after,
               because               believe               me,               they               don't!

If               they               happen               to               grab               your
               entire               bag               of               trash               on               the               same               week               that               you               paid               your
               bills               then               they               just               hit               the               personal               information               lottery!
               Think               of               all               the               damage               they               could               do               with               everything               you
               threw               away               by               opening               up               new               credit               card               accounts               with
               those               pre-approved               notices               you               received.

All               they'd               have               to
               do               is               respond               to               the               notices,               tell               the               credit               company               that
               you've               moved               and               provide               a               mailing               address               that               they               could
               access               and               boom...thousands               and               thousands               of               dollars               in
               debt               built               up               in               no               time               at               all,               debt               that               you               are               not               likely               to
               become               aware               of               for               months.
               Mail               Stealing
               If               they're               bold               enough               to               steal               your               garbage               from               the               side               of
               the               road               then               you               certainly               shouldn't               put               it               past               them               to
               steal               your               mail.

Of               course               it               may               be               a               bit               easier               for               them               if
               you               have               one               of               those               road               side               mailboxes               so               that               they
               appear               less               conspicuous               than               what               they               would               walking               up               to
               your               door.

Remember               though,               these               guys               are               smart               and
               have               probably               been               doing               this               for               a               long               time.

Printing               off
               some               bogus               flyers               and               posing               as               someone               delivering               them
               so               that               they               can               more               easily               approach               your               front               door               and
               open               up               your               mailing               box               isn't               exactly               rocket               science.

Your
               mailbox               can               provide               them               with               newly               issued               credit               or
               banking               cards,               a               new               batch               of               checks               for               your               personal               or
               business               accounts,               investment               reports,               insurance
               statements,               tax               information               and               bank               statements.

Need               I
               say               more?
               Shoulder               Surfing
               How               many               times               per               day               or               week               do               you               use               your               ATM               card
               to               pay               for               purchases               or               use               a               banking               machine               to               deposit               or
               withdraw               funds?

Thieves               have               become               very               skilled               and
               discreet               about               watching               people               key               in               PIN               numbers               and
               even               from               a               distance               can               determine               your               personal               ID
               number.

You               may               be               thinking               right               now               that               a               thief               really
               can't               do               any               damage               with               your               PIN               if               they               don't               have               your
               actual               card               so               what's               the               big               deal?

Well               then,               you               obviously
               aren't               familiar               with
               "skimming"               so               please,               read               on...
               ATM               Skimming
               ATM               skimming               is               a               very               real               and               very               present               threat               in               the
               world               of               identity               theft               scams.

Thieves               can               create               very
               inexpensive,               home-made               skimming               devices               that               attach               to
               the               ATM               card               reader,               thus               allowing               them               to               collect               hundreds
               or               thousands               of               card               numbers               in               a               very               short               period               of               time.
               There               are               two               different               types               of               devices               that               are               commonly
               used:               one               that               interferes               with               the               customer's               ability               to
               actually               use               the               ATM               machine               successfully,               and               one               that
               doesn't.

The               type               of               device               that               interferes               with               the               normal
               operating               ability               of               the               machine               is               generally               a               bit               easier               to
               recognize.
               Thieves               will               look               for               an               ATM               that               they               can               alter               the               face               of
               and               build               an               attachment               for.

In               some               cases,               they               may               use               a
               fabricated               metal               container               of               sorts               that               would               fit               onto               the
               existing               machine               and               may               have               a               small               laptop               computer
               inside               that               would               prompt               the               customer               to               use               a               touch               screen
               instead               of               the               machines               actual               keypad.

It               may               also               offer               an
               alternate               card               reader               next               to               it.

With               a               small,               undetectable
               camera               recording               your               PIN               number               as               you               enter               it               attached
               to               or               near               the               ATM,               the               thief               would               have               all               the               information
               he               needed               to               access               your               account               once               you               had               finished
               attempting               to               process               your               transaction.
               However,               because               you               were               actually               using               a               fake               card
               reader               and               prompting               system,               the               final               screen               may               read
               something               like,               "Thank               you               for               using               National               Bank               (or
               whatever               type               of               banking               machine               you               were               using).

There
               has               been               a               malfunction."
               The               type               of               skimmer               that               would               not               interfere               with               your
               transaction               process               would               most               commonly               be               found               on
               banking               machines               that               require               you               to               swipe               your               card
               through               an               external,               raised               slot.

Not               on               those               where               you
               manually               slide               your               card               into               the               actual               machine               in               which
               the               reader               head               would               be               buried               inside               the               unit.

This               is
               because               the               external               readers               are               much               more               accessible               to
               thieves               and               the               skimmer               can               be               placed               directly               overtop               of
               the               actual               reader               strip.

You               as               a               customer               can               still               make
               your               withdrawal               and               the               thief               still               gets               your               number.

These
               types               of               devices               are               very               difficult,               if               not               impossible               for               the
               untrained               eye               to               identify.

ATM               banking               machines               are               not
               the               only               devices               at               risk               when               it               comes               to               skimming.

A
               skimmer               can               be               attached               to               any               type               of               system               with               an
               external               reader,               such               as               the               one               you               use               to               pay               your               bill               at
               the               grocery               store,               gas               station,               department               store               or
               restaurant.
               Check               Fraud
               Identity               thieves               will               stop               at               nothing               to               take               control               of               your
               available               cash               and               credit,               even               if               it               means               setting               up               a               little
               counterfeit               scam               from               the               comforts               of               their               own               home               by
               recreating               checks               in               your               name               on               their               own               computer.
               Alternately,               those               industrious               types               who               have               been
               fortunate               enough               to               get               their               hands               on               a               check               that               has
               already               been               fully               written               out               and               signed,               may               use               cleaning
               solvent               to               remove               the               name               of               whom               the               check               was
               originally               made               payable               to               and               will               put               their               own               name               in               it's
               place.

Other               thieves               who               already               have               access               to               certain
               personal               information               may               choose               to               open               up               a               checking
               account               in               your               name,               using               it               to               write               bad               checks               and
               accumulating               a               load               of               debt               that               will               appear               on               your               credit
               report.
               Telephone               Service               Fraud
               Identity               thieves               aren't               only               after               just               your               cold               hard               cash,
               they'll               scam               you               in               whatever               way               possible               and               take               you               for
               everything               they               can.

Just               as               important               as               safeguarding               your
               ATM               or               credit               cards,               remember               that               your               calling               card               can
               also               be               worth               a               fortune               in               services.

Think               of               the               enormous
               long               distance               charges               that               could               accumulate               over               a               month's
               time               and               how               shocking               that               bill               will               be               when               you               finally
               receive               it!

With               access               to               a               little               bit               of               your               personal
               information,               identity               thieves               can               even               establish               new               cellular
               telephone               service               in               your               name.
               Telephone               Scams
               How               many               times               every               week               do               you               receive               phone               calls
               from               a               charity               of               some               sort,               asking               you               for               your               financial
               support?

Or               perhaps               the               call               is               from               a               marketing               firm
               requesting               your               assistance               in               completing               a               survey.

Now               this
               is               not               to               say               that               everyone               calling               you               claiming               to               be               with               a
               charitable               organization               or               marketing               firm               is               really               a               scam
               artist               looking               to               rip               you               off,               but               certainly               the               possibility
               exists.

Any               caller               asking               you               for               personal               information               such
               as               credit               cards               or               Social               Security               Numbers               should               raise               a               red
               flag               for               you.

And,               any               charity               truly               requiring               your               financial
               help               will               be               more               than               happy               to               send               you               a               package               of
               information               that               will               provide               you               with               many               options               of               how
               you               can               make               your               donation.

It               is               not               necessary               for               you               to
               give               out               credit               card               information               at               that               time.

Additionally,
               any               marketing               firm               conducting               a               survey               does               not               actually
               require               your               SSN               unless               of               course               their               goal               is               to               rip               you               off!
               Credit               Card               Theft
               We               did               talk               earlier               a               little               bit               about               how               identity               thieves               will
               use               your               actual               credit               card               or               other               information               to               purchase
               products               or               services,               but               they               don't               just               stop               there,               let's
               look               at               how               they               take               it               one               step               further.

Resourceful
               thieves               will               take               almost               extreme               measures               by               visiting               the
               local               post               office               and               in               your               name,               request               a               change               of
               address               for               your               mail               so               that               they               can               access               all               of               your               bills
               and               account               numbers.

By               the               time               you               realize               that               you
               haven't               received               your               monthly               bills               they               will               have               already
               accumulated               a               substantial               amount               of               debt               and               charges               to
               your               credit               cards.
               Thieves               can               also               access               your               credit               card               number               or               other
               personal               information               when               payments               or               purchases               are               made
               through               either               unsecured               or               fraudulent               web               sites.
               Phishing
               Before               you               get               too               confused               let               me               clarify               right               now               that               this
               is               not               in               any               way               related               to               the               kind               of
               on               the               lake,               in               your               boat               with               a               pole               and               bait.

However               it
               does               use               the               same               theory.

This               is               the               kind               of
               "fishing"               you               do               outphishing
               where               identity               thieves               plant               bait               and               lure               unsuspecting
               victims               into               providing               confidential               and               personal               information.
               Phishing               scams               have               been               around               forever,               what               has
               changed               about               them               is               simply               the               route               in               which               the               scam               is
               delivered.

Before               the               computer,               phishers               used               the
               telephone,               however               in               this               day               and               age               the               vehicle               of               choice
               is               the               internet.
               Have               you               ever               received               an               email               with               a               message               similar               to
               any               of               the               following?
               "«               account.

To               ensure               that               your               account               is               not
               compromised,               please               click               the               link               below               and
               confirm               your               identity."
               "We               suspect               an               unauthorized               transaction               on               your
               "«               couldn't               verify               your               information.

Please               click               here
               to               update               and               verify               your               information."
               "During               our               regular               verification               of               accounts,               we
               "«               information."
               "eBay               requires               you               to               update               your               account
               "«
               "PayPal               account               renewal               required"
               "«
               "Bank               of               America               security               alert"
               "«
               "$20               Reward               Survey,               Chase               Manhattan               Bank"
               "«
               "Please               update               your               bank               account"
               "«
               JC               Penny               gift               card               offer               confirmation"
               "«
               "American               Red               Cross/Hurricane               Katrina               Relief"
               These               are               all               examples               of               actual               phishing               scam               messages
               that               are               either               sent               via               email               or               by               way               of               pop-up               messages.
               The               phisher               will               often               include               in               the               message               the               name               of               a
               well-known,               reputable               business,               organization,               government
               agency               or               financial               institution               that               you               perhaps               deal               with.
               The               goal               is               in               attempting               to               give               the               message               an               air               of
               legitimacy.
               Some               of               them               may               even               go,               as               far               in               threatening               you               with
               severe               consequences               as               a               result               if               you               do               not               respond.
               Messages               will               ask               you               to               update,               validate               or               confirm
               particular               personal               or               account               information               and               will               direct               you
               to               a               website               in               order               to               complete               the               process.

When               you
               click               on               the               link               for               the               website               it               may               very               well               look               fully
               legitimate,               however               it               is               not.
               It               may               appear               to               look               like               the               link               for               eBay,               PayPal,               The
               Bank               of               America,               or               whatever               source               the               email               claims               to               be
               coming               from.

Remember,               these               guys               are               good               and               this               is
               not               just               a               hobby               for               them,               this               is               a               profession.

Their               aim               is
               to               deceive               you               and               they               will               do               whatever               they               have               to               do               in
               order               for               you               to               believe               the               legitimacy               of               their               scheme.
               CHAPTER               3:               PREVENTING               IDENTITY               THEFT
               Let's               check               in               to               see               how               you're               doing               before               we               go               any
               further.

That               was               a               lot               of               information               to               absorb               and               for
               someone               who's               new               to               the               whole               world               of               Identity               Theft               it
               was               likely               very               overwhelming.
               You're               doing               really               well               though               and               I'm               proud               of               you!

You
               made               it               through               the               most               difficult               part               of               this               book.

You
               learned               all               about               the               scariness               of               ID               theft               and               the               many
               forms               it               can               take               and               look,               you're               still               here.

Now               it's               time
               for               your               reward.

The               first               portion               of               this               book               may               have
               caused               you               to               feel               helpless,               frightened               or               without               power
               against               the               enormity               of               the               problem.

Now               however               it's               time
               for               you               to               learn               that               there               is               something               you               can               do               about               it.
               25
               Knowledge               is               power               and               here               is               where               you               become
               EMPOWERED!
               Protecting               Your               Mail
               Remember               how               we               talked               about               thieves               that               would               steal
               your               mail               from               the               garbage               and               even               from               your               own
               mailbox?

Well               don't               let               them!

Make               sure               that               every               single
               piece               of               mail               with               any               kind               of               identifying               information               on               it               is
               shredded               before               you               throw               it               away.

Simply               tearing               it               into               a
               few               pieces               is               not               adequate               protection.

This               only               provides
               the               thief               with               a               fairly               basic               jigsaw               puzzle               to               your               most
               valued               information.

Invest               in               a               small               shredder               for               your
               home.

These               are               very               inexpensive               especially               when               you
               consider               that               the               minimal               cost               of               the               item               could               save               you
               hundreds               or               thousands               of               dollars               in               the               long               run,               not               to
               mention               a               huge               headache.

If               you               can't               purchase               one
               yourself               then               take               your               mail               to               work               with               you               and               use               the
               shredder               in               your               office.
               A               locked               mailbox               will               not               completely               guarantee               your
               protection               from               identity               thieves               but               it               certainly               may               help               in
               dissuading               their               attempts               to               steal               your               mail.

Look               into
               purchasing               a               mailbox               that               has               a               slot               in               the               top               for               the               mail
               to               be               slid               into               but               where               you               need               a               key               to               actually               remove
               it.

This               way,               if               your               mailbox               is               broken               into               you               will               at               least
               know               it               right               away               and               will               perhaps               be               able               to               notify
               creditors,               banks               and               other               companies               before               any               real
               damage               is               done.
               More               Key               tips...
               "«
               clockwork               so               pay               attention               to               billing               cycles.

If               a               credit
               card               or               utility               bill               does               not               arrive               on               time,               contact               the
               company               to               make               sure               it               has               not               been               redirected.
               Safeguard               Your               PIN               and               ATM/Credit               Card
               Bills               always               tend               to               arrive               on               a               monthly               basis               like
               You               know               that               moment               in               the               store               when               you're               just               about
               to               pay               for               your               purchases               using               your               ATM               card               and               the
               thought               crosses               your               mind               that               you               should               probably               use
               your               free               hand               to               cover               the               keypad               so               that               no               one               can               see
               the               number               you're               punching               in?

But               then               you               don't               do               it
               because               you               think               that               the               cashier               or               person               behind               you               in
               line               will               just               think               that               you're               being               silly               and               over               reacting               -
               I               mean,               it's               not               like               you               have               the               code               to               the               universe               right?
               Wrong!

It               may               not               be               the               code               to               THE               universe               but               it               is               the
               code               to               YOUR               universe.

Who               cares               what               other               people               think
               or               how               you               may               look               to               them               -               you               need               to               protect               that
               code               because               it               is               the               key               to               your               mortgage               and               bill
               payments,               to               your               children's               education               fund,               to               your               next
               family               vacation               and               to               the               food,               clothing               and               supplies               that
               sustain               your               family!
               Make               sure               you               are               aware               of               where               your               ATM               or               credit               card               is
               at               all               times.

When               you               hand               your               card               to               the               cashier               or               to
               the               waiter               at               the               restaurant,               is               that               card               ever               out               of               your
               sight?

Does               it               disappear               for               a               moment               underneath               the
               counter               while               it's               in               their               hand               or               is               it               left               to               sit               on               the               far
               side               of               the               counter               until               the               transaction               is               approved?

You
               may               not               be               able               to               prevent               the               fact               that               the               waiter               needs               to
               take               your               card               with               him               to               process               it,               but               you               can               certainly
               be               more               aware               of               situations               like               this               when               they               do               occur.
               Now               that               you               know               what               ATM               skimming               is               you               can               be               more
               aware               of               machines               that               don't               seem               quite               right.

If               a               machine
               looks               as               though               it               has               been               altered               or               tampered               with               in               any
               way               simply               do               not               use               it.

If               a               machine               has               a               sign               posted               on
               it               telling               you               that               the               ATM               instructions               have               changed               or               that
               you               should               swipe               your               card               "here"               first               before               inserting               it
               into               the               reader,               or               something               to               that               effect               then               it's               not               a
               machine               you               should               be               using.

No               bank               is               ever               going               to               post
               instructions               such               as               these.
               "«
               Don't               give               your               PIN               to               anyone
               "«
               machines
               Beware               of               people               who               try               to               "help"               you               at               bank
               "«
               completed               the               transaction               or               pressed               the               cancel               button,
               contact               your               financial               institution               immediately
               If               your               card               is               not               returned               to               you               once               you               have
               "«
               and               carefully               to               make               sure               that               there               are               no
               unauthorized               transactions
               Check               your               bank               and               credit               card               statements               regularly
               Protect               Your               Personal               Information
               It's               great               to               have               a               trusting               nature               and               all               but               it               is               possible
               to               sometimes               be               too               trusting.

Don't               provide               anyone               with
               information               that               they               have               no               need               for               regardless               of               what
               they               claim               their               reason               is               for               requiring               it.

Always               keep               in
               mind               what               one               can               do               with               a               few               key               pieces               of               information
               such               as               your               SSN               or               driver               license               number.
               More               key               tips...
               "«
               your               conversation               when               you               are               speaking               either               on               the
               telephone               or               to               someone               in               person               and               are               providing
               them               with               personal               information.
               Be               careful               of               who               around               you               might               be               listening               to
               "«
               drivers               license               number               on               job               applications               or               resumes
               Refrain               from               including               your               date               of               birth,               SSN               or
               "«
               SSN
               Question               any               business               or               company               who               asks               for               your
               Avoiding               a               Phishing               Scam
               A               very               large               portion               of               the               population               today               has               access               to
               the               internet               and               email               within               their               own               homes.

Any               of               us
               who               aren't               so               technologically               advanced               at               home,               yet               who
               work               in               an               office               type               environment               are               likely               to               be               pretty
               internet               savvy               at               work.

This               means               that               an               awful               lot               of               us
               are               susceptible               to               being               sucked               into               those               phishing               scams.
               However               you               can               avoid               falling               into               this               trap               by               playing               it
               smart.
               More               Key               Tips...
               "«
               phishing               emails               from               tracking               your               internet               activities
               Use               anti-virus               software               and               a               firewall               to               prevent
               "«
               not               a               secure               method               of               transmission
               Never               email               personal               or               financial               information               -               email               is
               "«
               fraudulent
               Immediately               delete               any               emails               that               appear               to               be
               "«
               downloading               files               from               email               regardless               of               who               is
               sending               them
               Be               cautious               about               opening               any               attachments               or
               "«
               phishing               emails
               Do               not               reply               to               or               open               any               links               that               are               provided               in
               "«
               to               in               an               email,               you               are               best               to               physically               telephone               the
               If               you               are               concerned               about               an               account               that               is               referred
               company               whom               the               email               is               claiming               to               be               from               and
               ask               them               personally               if               there               is               a               problem
               "«
               emails
               Look               for               bad               grammar               and               misspelled               words               in               phishing
               "«
               likely               to               ask               for               personal               information               via               email
               Legitimate               businesses               and               financial               institutions               are               not
               "«
               instead               sometimes               just               by               your               email               address               are               a               tip
               off
               Emails               that               do               not               address               you               by               your               full               name               but
               "«
               information               online               be               sure               that               the               site               you               are               using               is
               secure.

Look               for               a               lock               icon               on               the               status               bar               or               a
               website               that               begins               with               https:               (the               "s"               stands               for
               secure).
               When               you               must               provide               financial               or               other               sensitive
               Additional               Preventative               Measures
               I               think               you're               probably               getting               the               point               now.

There               are
               many               things               that               you               can               do               when               it               comes               to               protecting
               yourself               from               becoming               a               victim               of               identity               theft.

It               may               not
               be               possible               to               follow               every               single               piece               of               advice               that               this
               book               provides               and               that's               okay.

The               key               here               is               awareness.
               Here               is               why               awareness               is               so               critically               important.

Have               you
               ever               been               really               afraid               to               do               something               completely               new,               or
               been               extremely               intimidated               by               something               that               you               knew
               very               little               about?

Well               I               certainly               have               and               I'm               sure               that
               quite               literally               everyone               else               in               this               world               has               been               as               well               at
               one               point               or               another.

In               fact,               it's               simply               human               nature               to
               fear               the               unknown               and               I               believe               that               the               same               can               be               said
               for               something               like               identity               theft.

Before               you               knew               what               it
               was               all               about               the               entire               idea               of               it               was               scary,               but               now               you're
               becoming               more               familiar               with               it               and               you               are               gaining               the               tools
               and               knowledge               that               will               allow               you               to               effectively               deal               with               it.
               Let's               provide               you               with               even               more               knowledge               now               and
               suggest               a               few               more               ways               to               prevent               identity               theft               from
               occurring.
               "«
               you               receive               suspicious               phone               calls               or               emails               in
               regards               to               a               particular               organization               or               business
               Contact               the               Better               Business               Bureau               in               your               area               if
               "«
               in               order               for               changes               or               inquiries               to               be               made               to
               them
               Ensure               that               all               of               your               accounts               require               passwords
               "«
               passwords               (do               not               use               family               or               pet               names               etc),               do
               not               use               the               same               passwords               for               each               account               and
               memorize               them               rather               than               writing               them               down
               When               choosing,               make               sure               you               pick               difficult
               "«
               includes               your               Social               Security               card
               Carry               only               the               cards               that               you               actually               need,               this
               "«
               why               it               is               needed,               who               will               have               access               to               it,               how               it
               is               to               be               used               and               how               they               will               protect               that
               information               from               others
               When               you               are               asked               for               personal               information               ask
               "«
               make               sure               that               it               is               accurate               and               that               there               has               not
               been               an               accumulation               of               unauthorized               debt
               Access               your               credit               report               on               an               annual               basis
               "«
               you               do               business               with               when               it               comes               to               the
               discarding               of               personal/financial               information
               Inquire               as               to               the               policy               of               those               businesses               that
               "«
               to               place               a               security               alert               on               your               file               -               this               will
               ensure               that               you               are               contacted               prior               to               the               opening
               of               any               new               credit               cards               under               your               name
               Contact               the               three               major               credit               reporting               agencies
               CHAPTER               4:               WHAT               TO               DO               WHEN               ID               THEFT
               OCCURS
               All               right,               so               it               happened.

Even               with               all               of               the               precautions
               and               care               you've               taken               to               protect               yourself               from               those
               spineless               and               despicable               thieves,               somehow               and               someway
               they               found               a               way               to               the               inside...to               the               inside               your               personal
               and               financial               life               that               is.

Now               don't               be               too               hard               on               yourself.
               I               know               that               you're               saying               to               yourself               right               now,               "I               did
               everything               I               could               possibly               do.

I               took               the               time               to               make
               myself               aware               and               educate               myself               on               the               facts               and               this               still
               happened...why?"               Well,               unfortunately               sometimes               there               is               no
               real               answer               to               the               question               why,               it               just               is               what               it               is.

You
               have               to               keep               in               mind               that               these               perpetrators               are
               professionals               and               they               will               stop               at               nothing               to               achieve               their
               goal.
               Just               like               you               go               to               work               everyday               and               perform               your               job               with
               the               proficiency               and               skills               that               you               have               acquired,               so               do               they.
               Their               job               everyday               is               to               rip               off               honest,               hardworking               and
               innocent               people               such               as               you               and               I.

It's               not               fair               and               it               never
               will               be.

They               have               made               a               huge               mess               of               your               life               and               you
               are               the               one               who               is               stuck               with               the               task               of               picking               up               the
               pieces               and               turning               things               right               again.

Sometimes               you               can
               build               that               fence               higher,               make               the               bridge               more               difficult               to
               cross               and               even               fill               the               moat               with               alligators,               but               inevitably
               there               will               always               remain               a               weak               and               penetrable               spot.
               Identity               thieves               are               adept               at               looking               for               and               seeking               out
               those               particular               spots.
               The               most               important               thing               for               you               to               keep               in               mind               right               now
               is               that               regardless               of               how               much               damage               was               done               and               how
               bad               the               situation               looks               at               present,               it               could               always               be               worse.
               Think               about               what               would               have               happened               had               you               not               already
               been               so               familiar               with               how               identity               theft               works.

You               may               not
               have               been               able               to               prevent               it               but               you               certainly               knew               how               to
               recognize               the               fact               that               it               was               happening               to               you.
               The               signs               were               there               and               you               didn't               just               dismiss               them,               as
               many               others               would               have               this               early               in               the               process.

Maybe
               you               noticed               that               your               credit               card               statements               had               not               arrived
               at               the               time               of               month               that               they               generally               should               have.
               Perhaps               during               regular               review               of               your               bank               statements               you
               noticed               some               unusual               transactions               that               you               had               not               made.
               Maybe               in               looking               more               closely               at               the               checks               that               had               been
               returned               to               you               from               the               bank               you               realized               that               one               or
               several               of               them               were               made               payable               to               an               unknown
               individual,               tipping               you               off               to               the               fact               that               some               of               your
               checks               had               been               stolen.

Whatever               the               situation,               you               are               to
               be               congratulated               for               catching               on               so               quickly.

You               now               have
               the               ability               to               stop               this               thief               cold               in               his               tracks               and               prevent
               him/her               from               violating               your               privacy               any               further.

This               could
               have               gone               on               for               months               and               months               or               perhaps               even               years
               and               in               the               process               could               have               resulted               in               hundreds               or
               thousands               of               dollars               worth               of               built               up               debt               and               a               lifetime               of
               rebuilding               the               reputable               line               of               credit               you               once               had.
               The               task               at               hand               now               is               to               deal               with               the               damage               that               has
               been               done               and               prevent               any               additional               from               occurring.

You
               may               be               feeling               a               little               bit               overwhelmed               right               now               at               the
               many               thoughts               that               are               swirling               around               in               your               head               of               all
               the               things               that               need               to               be               done               immediately.

However,               just
               try               to               be               calm,               breathe               deeply               and               you               will               get               through               this.
               Let's               take               some               time               right               now               to               go               through               a               complete
               and               thorough               task               list.

Keep               in               mind               that               depending               on               the
               type               of               identity               theft               you               have               been               the               victim               of               not               all               of
               these               actions               may               be               necessary.

Yet               it               is               important               to               cover
               as               many               bases               as               possible.

Although               your               thief               for               instance
               may               have               only               accessed               one               of               your               credit               cards,               the
               possibility               exists               for               them               to               have               gained               a               lot               more               of               your
               personal               information               with               that               one               card.
               Steps               to               Take               in               Recovering               Your               Identity               and               Line
               of               Credit
               "«
               away               and               request               a               copy               of               the               police               report               as               you
               may               be               required               to               provide               it               as               proof               of               the               crime
               when               you               are               later               contacting               the               businesses               and
               organizations               you               need               to               deal               with
               Ensure               that               you               report               the               crime               to               the               police               right
               "«
               the               people               whom               you               deal               with               and               any               expenses               you
               incur               in               re-establishing               your               credit               and               clearing               your
               name
               Document               all               of               the               steps               that               you               take,               names               of               all
               "«
               issued
               Cancel               all               of               your               credit               cards               and               have               new               ones
               "«
               Close               all               of               your               bank               accounts               and               open               new               ones
               "«
               and               change               all               of               your               passwords
               Order               new               bank               machine               and               telephone               calling               cards
               "«
               office
               If               your               passport               has               been               stolen               contact               the               passport
               "«
               If               your               mail               has               been               diverted,               contact               the               post               office
               "«
               Apply               for               a               new               driver's               license
               "«
               telephone               and               cellular               service               providers)               that               someone
               using               your               name               may               attempt               to               open               unauthorized
               new               accounts
               Advise               all               of               your               utility               companies               (including               home
               "«
               major               credit               bureaus               to               ensure               that               your               credit               reports
               reflects               the               case               of               identity               theft               and               follow               up               with
               them               after               a               3               month               period               to               ensure               that               someone
               has               not               tried               again               to               use               your               identity.

This               will               also
               Contact               the               fraud               departments               for               each               of               the               three
               ensure               that               your               permission               is               received               prior               to
               opening               any               new               types               of               credit               accounts
               "«
               so               that               you               may               carefully               review               them               and               ensure               that
               no               fraudulent               loans               or               accounts               exist
               Ask               the               credit               bureaus               for               copies               of               your               credit               report
               "«
               a               stop               payment               order               is               placed               on               them               and               contact
               the               major               check               verification               companies               requesting               that
               they               notify               retailers               using               their               databases               not               to               accept
               the               lost               or               stolen               checks
               Notify               your               bank               of               stolen               or               misplaced               checks,               ensure
               "«
               you               as               a               victim               by               providing               information               that               will               help
               you               to               resolve               any               financial               issues               or               other               problems               as
               a               result               of               your               identity               theft
               Contact               the               Federal               Trade               Commission               who               will               assist
               CHAPTER               5:               YOUR               LIABILITY               AS               THE               VICTIM
               OF               ID               THEFT
               The               question               you               have               probably               been               asking               yourself
               throughout               this               entire               book               is..."What               is               my               liability               in               this
               situation"?

Well               unfortunately               that               answer               is               fairly               complex
               and               is               dependant               on               the               type               of               identity               theft               that               has
               occurred,               as               well               as               the               timeliness               in               which               you               have
               responded               and               taken               action               to               correct               the               problem.

In               some
               cases,               victims               are               able               to               identify               and               act               on               the               problem
               quickly               resulting               in               very               minimal               financial               loss.

Other
               particular               situations               have               not               worked               out               quite               so               well               and
               have               resulted               in               substantial               financial               debt               and               a               very               poor
               credit               rating,               which               can               take               years               and               years               to               repair.
               Let               me               tell               you               about               a               few               specific               cases               of               identity               theft               in
               where               the               victim               truly               ended               up               as               the               injured               party               in               more
               ways               than               one.
               Actual               Identity               Theft               Victim               Cases
               A               gentleman               in               San               Diego,               California               (we'll               call               him               John
               Jones),               encountered               an               identity               thief               who               opened               a               PayPal
               account               under               John's               name               and               filtered               $7,600               from               John's
               Bank               of               America               account               into               the               forged               PayPal               account.
               The               incident               occurred               during               July               and               August               of               2002               but
               because               John               had               been               traveling               he               did               not               notice               the
               money               was               actually               missing               until               January               of               2003.

He
               contacted               his               bank               and               was               informed               that               because               he               had
               failed               to               notify               the               bank               within               60               days               of               the               occurrence
               there               was               nothing               they               could               do               for               him.

By               that               time               all               of
               the               money,               with               the               exception               of               $2,100               still               remaining               in
               the               PayPal               account               had               been               spent.

PayPal               returned               the
               remaining               sum               to               John               but               he               was               still               out               $5,000.

John
               sued               both               PayPal               and               Bank               of               America               in               small               claims               court,
               pleading               that               PayPal               should               have               notified               him               immediately
               upon               discovering               the               fraud.

Bank               of               America               counter               argued
               that               it               is               the               customer's               responsibility               to               regularly               check
               bank               statements               and               ensure               their               accuracy.

In               the               end               John
               walked               away               with               a               settlement               from               each               of               the               firms,
               however               was               still               out               approximately               $500               as               a               result.

His
               yearlong               battle               to               turn               things               right               was               extensive,               time
               consuming               and               frustrating.
               An               elderly               woman               in               Seattle,               Washington               (we'll               call               her               Jane
               Doe),               was               the               victim               of               a               telemarketing               scam               in               December
               of               last               year.

Jane               provided               her               checking               account
               information               to               the               caller               and               later               found               that               her               account
               had               been               cleaned               of               $800,               leaving               her               overdrawn               by               $300.
               When               her               December               Social               Security               check               was               deposited               the
               Bank               of               America               withdrew               $300               of               it               to               cover               the               overdraft.
               Jane               was               left               with               barely               enough               money               for               food               and               rent
               and               was               forced               to               "skip"               Christmas               that               year.

By               February
               the               Bank               of               America               had               returned               some               of               the               money               to               her
               and               was               continuing               to               work               with               her               to               repair               the               situation.
               A               retired               California               couple               (let's               call               them               the               Smiths),               were
               also               the               victims               of               identity               theft               in               April               of               2001.

The
               Smiths,               when               attempting               to               refinance               their               home               mortgage
               discovered               that               there               was               $75,000               in               unsettled               debts               on               an
               account               that               they               had               held               with               this               particular               mortgage
               company               over               a               year               ago.

This               was               very               strange,               as               they
               knew               they               had               settled               their               debt               and               closed               that               account               a
               year               earlier.

It               seems               that               an               identity               thief               had               re-opened
               the               account               and               switched               the               original               mailing               address               to               one
               in               Houston               Texas,               which               is               why               the               Smiths               had               never
               received               any               bills               or               statements               for               that               account.

After
               three               months               of               phone               calls               and               paperwork,               the               Smiths               had
               finally               received               confirmation               from               the               mortgage               company
               that               they               were               not               being               held               responsible               for               the               debt.
               However,               in               December               of               2003               the               Smiths               received               a               notice
               from               the               mortgage               company's               Financial               Services               Network
               that               they               were               being               sued               for               $75,000               plus               attorney's               fees
               for               their               negligence               in               not               discovering               and               reporting               the
               identity               theft               in               a               timely               manner,               and               thus               causing               injury               to
               the               mortgage               company.

The               Smiths               hired               a               lawyer               who
               specialized               in               identity               theft               cases               and               who               was               eventually
               successful               in               convincing               the               company               to               drop               the               lawsuit.
               The               remaining               bad               news               in               this               case               is               that               the               lawsuit               was
               dropped               "without               prejudice",               meaning               that               the               firm               could
               resurrect               the               case               in               the               future               should               they               choose               to               do               so.
               The               Smiths               endured               this               nightmare               for               almost               a               three-year
               period               and               still               the               possibility               of               future               incidents               hang               over
               their               head.
               This               last               case               that               I               want               to               share               with               you               is               more               than
               horrific               but               thankfully               took               place               prior               to               the               United               States
               Congress               making               the               act               of               Identity               Theft               a               federal               crime.
               Although               this               is               certainly               not               something               that               this               victim               is
               thankful               for               in               anyway,               but               we               can               take               comfort               in               knowing
               that               an               incident               like               this               would               result               in               a               very               different
               ending               in               today's               times.

In               this               particular               situation               the
               criminal               who               was               already               a               convicted               felon               accumulated
               more               than               $100,000               in               credit               card               debt,               applied               for               and
               obtained               a               federal               home               loan,               bought               homes,               motorcycles
               and               handguns               in               the               victims               name.

The               criminal               went               so               far
               as               to               even               calling               the               victim               and               taunting               him               with               the               fact
               that               because               identity               theft               was               not               a               federal               crime               he               could
               continue               his               charade               for               as               long               as               he               wanted               to               and
               nothing               would               happen.

The               criminal               eventually               filed               for
               bankruptcy               in               the               victim's               name               while               in               the               meantime               the
               victim               spent               over               $15,000               and               four               years               in               efforts               to               clear
               his               name               and               re-establish               his               credit.

In               the               end               the               criminal
               was               not               reprimanded               in               any               way               and               never               paid               back               one
               cent               to               the               victim.

His               only               punishment               was               serving               a               brief
               sentence               due               to               the               fact               that               he               made               a               false               statement
               when               he               purchased               his               firearm.
               How               Will               You               be               Affected?
               By               now               you               are               likely               beginning               to               see               very               clearly               why               it               is
               that               I               keep               preaching               to               you               over               and               over               how               critically
               important               the               issue               of               awareness               and               knowledge               is               when               it
               comes               to               identity               theft.

And,               after               looking               at               the               three               case
               studies               I               just               shared,               you               can               see               now               more               than               ever               the
               enormity               of               the               consequences               when               you               do               not               monitor               your
               credit               and               financial               statements.

If               you               have               been               paying
               close               attention               throughout               this               book               then               hopefully               many
               thoughts               have               been               running               through               your               mind               of               how               the
               situations               could               have               been               prevented               when               we               discussed               the
               stories               of               the               individuals               who               were               victims               of               identity               theft.
               You               may               have               been               thinking               back               to               all               of               the               prevention
               tips               that               you               have               been               provided               with,               and               which               of               those
               would               have               been               helpful               in               each               of               these               cases               had               those
               victims               had               the               knowledge               that               you               now               have.
               Let's               now               spend               some               time               looking               at               what               your               liability               is
               as               the               victim               of               identity               theft               depending               on               the               specific
               situation.
               Credit               Card               Liability
               If               you               have               been               the               victim               of               credit               card               identity               theft               you
               may               take               some               comfort               in               the               fact               that               credit               card               liability               is
               limited               to               $50.

If               you               actually               report               the               credit               card               lost
               prior               to               it               being               used               then               you               cannot               be               held               accountable
               for               any               unauthorized               charges               that               occur               after               that               time.
               However,               if               the               identity               thief               uses               your               card               before               you               have
               reported               it               missing               or               stolen               then               the               maximum               amount               you
               will               be               charged               is               $50.

The               same               rule               applies               even               if               the
               credit               card               is               used               at               an               ATM               to               withdraw               cash.
               Beware               of               telemarketers               who               call               to               sell               you               "loss
               protection"               insurance               for               your               credit               cards.

These               callers
               may               trick               you               into               believing               that               should               your               card               be               lost               or
               stolen               that               you               will               be               solely               responsible               for               any               charges
               made               to               it               if               you               do               not               have               the               "loss               protection".
               ATM               and               Debit               Card               Liability
               Unfortunately               ATM               and               debit               cards               do               not               offer               nearly               the
               amount               of               protection               that               credit               cards               do               in               cases               of               loss               or
               theft.

It               is               in               cases               like               these               where               time               is               truly               of               the
               essence               and               in               the               end               it               is               very               beneficial               for               you               to               keep
               proper               track               of               your               statements               and               card               usage.

When               and
               if               you               do               notice               a               discrepancy               it               is               in               your               best               interest               to
               report               it               immediately               to               the               issuing               office.

If               you               are
               fortunate               in               that               you               report               the               missing               card               prior               to               it               being
               used               then               your               financial               institution               cannot               hold               you               liable               for
               any               unauthorized               use.

If               you               report               the               incident               within               two
               business               days               of               the               loss               your               liability               is               capped               at               $50.

In
               cases               where               the               report               is               made               anywhere               after               two               business
               days               and               before               sixty               days               you               will               be               held               liable               for               up               to
               $500               of               what               the               identity               thief               stole               from               you.

If               a               victim
               were               to               wait               more               than               sixty               days,               they               could               potentially
               lose               every               single               cent               that               was               stolen               prior               to               reporting               the
               card               missing.

However,               we               know               for               a               fact               that               this               last
               scenario               couldn't               possibly               happen               to               you.

You're               much               too
               smart               and               well               informed               to               let               this               happen               especially
               knowing               everything               that               you               know               now...right?
               Check               Liability
               In               most               cases               you               would               not               be               held               liable               in               the               situation               of
               forged               checks               as               the               majority               of               States               hold               the               bank               liable.
               However,               this               doesn't               mean               that               you               have               no               responsibility
               in               the               situation.

If               you               are               negligent               in               notifying               the               bank
               within               a               reasonable               amount               of               time               that               a               check               had               been
               lost               or               stolen,               or               if               you               fail               to               monitor               your               account               for
               unauthorized               transactions               then               the               liability               may               well               rest
               with               you.
               It's               Your               Responsibility
               Don't               fool               yourself               into               believing               that               when               or               if               identity
               theft               hits               you               that               the               responsibility               lies               with               someone               else.
               It               certainly               may               not               be               your               fault               when               it               happens               but               you
               will               be               held               accountable               if               you               allow               it               to               continue               and               just
               assume               that               someone               else               will               look               after               the               mess.

It's               your
               responsibility               to               protect               your               financial               fate,               security               and
               credit               rating.

If               you               don't               do               it,               no               one               else               will               and               you               will
               surely               be               taken               advantage               of.

Take               precautions,               monitor
               your               accounts               and               act               quickly               if               identity               theft               does               occur.

A
               prompt               and               efficient               response               to               the               matter               is               the               best               way
               for               you               to               minimize               your               loss.
               Liability               Agreements
               How               often               do               you               sign               up               for               new               services,               credit               cards,
               loans               or               accounts?

Now               tell               me               how               many               times               you
               actually               read               through               the               entire               liability               agreement               that
               accompanies               that               card               or               service.

That's               what               I               thought,
               like               most               of               us               you               may               not               take               the               time               to               read               through
               those               seemingly               endless               agreements               that               are               filled               with               so
               much               technical               and               legal               mumbo               jumbo               that               it               just               makes
               your               head               hurt.
               And               what               about               those               online               agreements?

Do               you               generally
               scroll               down               to               the               bottom               of               them               without               reading               a               word,
               click               the               "I               agree"               button               and               then               hit               "continue"?

Many               of
               us               do               and               unfortunately               this               is               where               we               run               into               trouble
               later               on               once               we               have               become               an               identity               thief               victim.

I
               understand               that               at               the               time               it               may               seem               tedious               and
               unnecessary               to               read               through               those               agreements               but               perhaps
               in               the               future               you               might               give               it               a               second               thought.
               Additionally,               how               familiar               are               you               with               your               liability
               responsibilities               in               regards               to               your               current               bank               accounts,
               credit               cards,               debit               cards,               telephone               and               cellular               service
               providers,               utility               providers               and               online               PayPal,               eBay               and
               other               similar               accounts?

Not               too               sure,               are               you?

This               might
               be               the               perfect               opportunity               to               go               back               and               look               at               those
               agreements               once               again.

You               may               decide               that               having               some
               of               those               particular               accounts               are               not               worth               the               price               you               may
               have               to               pay               should               you               one               day               find               yourself               in               unfortunate
               circumstances               such               as               those               that               our               three               case               studies               did.
               Hopefully               though               as               a               result               of               your               research               you               are               able               to
               determine               that               the               financial               institutions               and               various
               companies               that               you               deal               with               place               you               as               their               customer,
               on               the               top               of               their               priority               list               ensuring               that               you               are               well
               protected               against               identity               theft               incidences.
               CONCLUSION
               Much               has               been               covered               on               the               topic               of               identity               theft
               throughout               this               book               and               hopefully               it               has               been               successful               in
               answering               all               of               your               questions,               clarifying               any
               misconceptions               or               myths               and               in               providing               you               with               an
               enlightened               understanding               of               the               issues               involved               in               identity
               theft.
               We               have               conquered               not               only               what               identity               theft               is               and               how               it
               occurs               but               also,               how               you               can               have               a               hand               in               preventing               it
               and               knowing               what               to               do               when               or               if               it               does               affect               you.

The
               sad               reality               remains               however               that               no               matter               how               many
               precautions               you               take               it               is               never               possible               to               be               fully               immune
               to               identity               thieves.
               Even               when               you've               done               everything               possible               the               threat               still
               exists               and               always               will.

The               best               that               you               can               do               for               yourself
               and               your               family               is               to               protect               what               you               are               capable               of
               protecting               and               arm               yourself               with               the               knowledge               that               will
               help               you               deal               with               whatever               else               it               happens               to               be               that               may
               come               along               at               some               later               point               in               life.

Often               you               are               not
               only               relying               on               just               your               own               actions               and               methods               of
               protection               but               also               those               of               the               companies               whom               you               have
               entrusted               with               your               personal               information.
               It's               very               similar               to               when               a               parent               tells               their               son               or               daughter
               who               has               just               received               their               driver's               license               that               they               need               to
               be               careful               on               the               road.

The               child               generally               responds               with,
               "Mom,               dad,               I               am               a               safe               driver,               don't               worry               about               me".

The
               parent               then               tells               the               child,               "It's               not               your               driving               that               I'm
               worried               about,               it's               the               other               people               on               the               road               that               concern
               me."               The               fact               is,               you               just               can't               control               the               actions,               mistakes
               or               oversights               of               others.

You               are               forced               to               put               your               faith               into
               them               and               into               their               capabilities.

You               must               trust               that               they
               are               as               concerned               about               your               privacy               and               in               protecting               it               as
               you               are.

You               must               believe               that               they               will               act               with               due
               diligence               in               taking               every               step               possible               on               your               behalf               to
               prevent               an               act               of               identity               theft               against               you.
               However,               sometimes               those               people               fail,               they               let               us               down               and
               they               put               us               at               great               risk.
               Here               are               some               actual               headlines               from               major               news               sources               of
               cases               where               very               well               known               and               very               large               institutions
               have               compromised               the               privacy               of               their               customers.
               "«
               criminals               able               to               obtain               almost               140,000               names,
               addresses               and               other               information."
               Source               -               CNN               February               2005
               "ChoicePoint:               More               ID               theft               warnings...company               says
               "«
               illegally               compromised               an               undisclosed               number               of               its
               member               accounts"
               Source               -               News.com               June               2000
               "American               Online               has               confirmed               that               hackers               have
               "«
               data,               announced               yesterday               that               information               about
               32,000               consumers               was               fraudulently               gathered               in               a
               series               of               incidents."
               Source               -               Washington               Post               March               2005
               "LexisNexis,               a               worldwide               provider               of               legal               and               business
               "«
               reporting               company               Equifax               Canada               Inc.

has               suffered               a
               security               breach               that               has               given               criminals               access               to
               personal               financial               information."
               Source               -               Globe               And               Mail               June               2005
               "For               the               second               time               in               about               a               year,               the               credit
               "«
               breach,               believed               to               be               one               of               the               worst               of               its               kind,               is
               the               latest               twist               in               the               proliferation               of               spam:               a               rogue
               employee               supplying               a               subscriber               list               for               profit."
               Source               -               USA               Today               June               2004
               "AOL               breach               gives               spam               fight               a               twist...The               security
               "«
               employee               credit               card               accounts               may               be               exposed               to               theft
               or               hacking"
               Source               -               Time               February               2005
               "Bank               of               America               says               at               least               1.2               million               federal
               Make               an               effort               to               be               familiar               with               those               businesses               that               you
               deal               with               and               ask               them               what               steps               and               measures               they               take
               in               protecting               you?

You               have               entrusted               them               with               your
               personal               information               and               financial               matters,               which               means               you
               have               every               right               to               expect               nothing               less               than               all               of               their
               efforts               in               protecting               your               privacy.
               You               also               have               every               right               to               hold               them               accountable               for               any
               breach               of               privacy               that               does               occur.

Remember,               these               are               the
               same               companies               that               are               telling               you               to               protect               yourself               from
               identity               theft.

But               are               they               taking               the               same               care               when               it
               comes               to               your               protection?

You               deserve               to               know,               so               ask
               them.

There               are               many               competing               companies               out               there               that
               would               love               your               business,               and               if               the               ones               that               you               are
               working               with               currently               can't               satisfy               you               with               the               kinds               of
               answers               that               these               important               questions               deserve,               be
               confident               and               know               that               someone               in               some               other               place
               certainly               can.
               RESOURCES
               Use               the               following               list               of               resources               to               help               you               in               taking
               action               if               you               have               become               an               identity               theft               victim.
               Credit               Card               Contact               Information
               Visa               -               (800)               847-2911
               Mastercard               -               (800)               622-7747
               American               Express               -               (800)               554-2639
               Credit               Bureau               Fraud               Departments
               TransUnion
               Fraud               Victim               Assistance               Department
               Phone:               (800)               680-7289
               Fax:               (714)               447-6034
               P.O.

Box               6790
               Fullerton,               CA               92634-6790
               Equifax
               Consumer               Fraud               Division
               Phone:               (800)               525-6285               or               (404)               885-8000
               Fax:               (770)               375-2821
               P.O.

Box               740241
               Atlanta,               GA               30374-0241
               Experian
               Experian's               National               Consumer               Assistance
               Phone:               (888)               397-3742
               P.O.

Box               2104
               Allen,               TX               75013
               Check               Verification               Companies
               Check               Rite               -               (800)               766-2748
               Chex               Systems               -               (800)               328-5121
               CrossCheck               -               (800)               552-1900
               Equifax-Telecredit               -               (800)               437-5120
               NPC               -               (800)               526-5380
               SCAN               -               (800)               262-7771
               Tele-Check               -               (800)               366-2425
               REFERENCES
               Identity               Theft               Resource               Center
               www.idtheftcenter.org
               Federal               Trade               Commission
               http://www.ftc.gov/index.html
               Bankrate
               www.bankrate.com
               Chicago               Better               Business               Bureau
               http://www.chicago.bbb.org/idtheft/typesof.html
               Office               of               the               Privacy               Commissioner               of               Canada
               http://www.privcom.gc.ca/index_e.asp
               MSNBC
               http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4264051
               Privacy               Rights               Clearing               House
               http://www.privacyrights.org/index.htm
               Fight               Identity               Theft
               www.fightidentitytheft.com
               Protect               My               Info
               http://what-is-identity-theft.com
               Computer               World
               http://www.computerworld.com
               All               Free               Info.com
               http://all-free-info.com/phishing
               United               States               Department               of               Justice
               http://www.usdoj.gov/index.html






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