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What you Should Know Before Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection Company

November 7th, 2009

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Are you thinking of subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company? Given the growing crime rate of identity theft, it is definitely wise to take this particular action in protecting yourself from identity theft. Here?s what you should know before subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company.

An Identity Theft Protection company usually offers the following services:

1. Tracking of credit report, police report and medical records. Whenever your credit card is used or whenever your social security number is included in an application form, your Identity Theft Protection company will notify you. If the transaction was unauthorized, the company would then make a trace to find out who tried to use your identity. The company will also track down any unknown addresses that are affiliated with your name and will also take a look at the DMV records in your state.

2. Alerts in case of any suspicious activity. Once detected, your account will be frozen and you will have to confirm if it is indeed unauthorized. If it is unauthorized, your account will continue be frozen and the company will notify the authorities. If it is authorized however, your account will be reactivated immediately. This is very helpful as normally the only way you would know of this is if you are already harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit only to find your credit rating has been thrashed.

3. Assistance in the process of clearing credit. Should the thieves be successful in using your identity, the company will help you with the police regarding warrants, as well as assist you in getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren?t yours.

An Identity Theft Protection company offers various plans:

The basic plan usually covers tracking of your credit report and alerts in case of suspicious transactions. You will also receive notifications every time a new account is opened or a new inquiry appears on your report. Given the rise of competition in lending, note that many lenders offer this basic plan for free.

Meanwhile, in a more detailed plan, you can receive monthly reports (as compared to yearly reports in a basic plan) and counseling services. Some Identity Theft Protection companies also cover out-of-pocket fees in case you become an identity theft victim. This detailed plan usually charges a reasonable fee of $100 per individual or $150 per household annually.

There are also comprehensive plans available which covers each and every cost the consumer incurs through identity theft. Obviously, this service would warrant higher fees.

A few examples of top-notch Identity Theft Protection Companies include LifeLock Identity Theft Protection and Equifax Credit Monitoring Service. Note that Lifelock offers $1,000,000 Identity Theft Protection Service Guarantee.

Subscribing to an Identity Theft Protection company is just one of the ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. There are other simple steps you can take like being more cautious in all your transactions and being more careful with regards to your personal information. You certainly can?t go wrong with taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft.

Author and internet entrepreneur Bernard Pragides offers expert advice and tips regarding identity theft. Learn more about identity theft and fraud by visiting his identity theft blog at http://www.LifeLockBlog.com for more helpful information.

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention

Tags: Accou, Application Form, Authorities, Before, Collection Agencies, Company, credit card, Credit Rating, Credit Report, Crime Rate, Debts, Dmv Records, Identity, Identity Theft Protection, Know, Medical Records, Notifications, Police Report, Protection., Should, Social Security, Social Security Number, Subscribing, Suspicious Activity, Suspicious Transactions, Theft, Thieves, Warrants

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Medical Identity Theft Prevention and Protection

November 5th, 2009

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Medical identity theft, by definition, is what results when a thief steals someone else’s social security number or health insurance information in order to obtain medical benefits of their own, particularly in the form of hospital visits and prescription drugs. The two facets of medical identity theft involve financial breaches of security and healthcare fraud. Long-term detrimental effects can easily result from this increasingly prevalent type of identity theft.

Medical identity theft is not as easy to detect or reverse as are the more common forms of identity fraud. This type of identity theft has left victims with tainted health records, medical histories, and diagnoses. Victims may receive bills for medications, tests and even surgeries that they never received. In order to ensure your own adequate identity theft protection, always be on the look out for medical service bills, records and notations that are not and were never applicable to your own history. If at any time you receive a bill for a service you never received, or you’re asked questions regarding an unknown medical condition, you’ve probably been victimized. Some victims of medical identity theft have even received faulty blood transfusions due to their records indicating the wrong blood type. So not only can this crime ruin your credit, it can also be potentially life-threatening.

Thieves often fail to pay their shares of insurance deductibles and co-pays, leaving their victims to receive credit reports detailing unrecognizable medical debts. Having a working knowledge of identity theft prevention techniques will help you protect yourself from this damaging crime. It is estimated that 1 in 6 Americans don’t have insurance, making it very tempting for some people to engage in medical identity theft, especially when emergency situations arise. If, heaven forbid, someone uses your personal data in an emergency care facility, they are very likely to get away with it as these facilities cannot refuse care and are less likely to catch the error in the first place.

To date, there are no government statistics as to the number of medical identity fraud cases occurring annually in the United States, but insurance providers and hospitals agree that this type of theft is presenting itself more and more. Approximately 250,000 Americans have been victims of medical identity theft thus far, according to the World Privacy Forum. If you think your medical records and insurance data are safe, never underestimate a thief’s ability to get their hands on your information. Because insurance companies share patient information, just because you clear up a tarnished medical history does not mean you’re always protected should you decide to switch to another provider.

Should a medical identity thief ever use your good name to seek treatment, you could be refused insurance coverage later–depending on the treatment they sought. It’s no secret that insurance agencies can and will refuse coverage to people with histories of certain drug use or pre-existing conditions. Here are a few medical identity theft protection tips for you and your loved ones to keep in mind:

? Any notices from your insurance carrier should be opened immediately. If you’re ever informed of or billed for treatment you didn’t receive, dispute it right away. Always shred these documents before throwing them in the trash.

? Be diligent about checking your credit report–this is important for any type of identity theft prevention. Strange medical bills need to be disputed with credit reporting agencies, as well as your insurance company.

? If you receive mail from a doctor’s office or hospital where you haven’t been a patient, don’t just assume it’s junk. Open these immediately, as they could be data theft notices or bills for services to which you weren’t privy. Let credit agencies know so they can put fraud alerts on your file. Also let your insurance company know right away.

? Suspect that you’re a victim of Medicare/Medicaid fraud? Call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), contact the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-368-1019 or go to their website at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/.

? Think you might have been the victim of medical identity theft? File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ( http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft ) by visiting their website or calling their Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

Denise Richardson is an author, freelance writer and advocate who educates the public on identity theft protection, identity theft prevention and credit reporting issues. She is a Board member of American Consumer Credit Education Support Services, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on credit matters. She is founder of http://www.givemebackmycredit.com .

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention

Tags: Blood Transfusions, Detrimental Effects, Emergency Care, Emergency Situations, Health Records, Healthcare Fraud, Identity, Identity Theft Protection, Insurance Deductibles, medical, Medical Benefits, Medical Debts, Medical Histories, Medical Service, Notations, Prescription Drugs, Prevalent Type, Prevention, Prevention Techniques, Protection., Service Bills, Social Security Number, Theft, Theft Prevention, Working Knowledge

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10 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention, Cont’d

October 20th, 2009

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In my previous article, I gave you the first 5 tips to help prevent from being a victim. Did you apply any of those tips to your life? I hope you have taken action to complete all of them. You will gain peace of mind.

Here are the next 5 tips:

Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, there’s no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying. You want to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. If you do become one, there is help for identity theft victims. Services that provide identity theft insurance coverage can help save you time and money restoring your identity. Read about it here.

Cover-up your vehicle identification number (VIN): People have been known to get the VIN from atop of the vehicle’s dash board. They would use the VIN to order new vehicle keys and later steal the vehicle using the new keys. Criminal acts can then be completed using the stolen vehicle, yet the true owner gets the blame for the crime.

Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier: You can put a freeze on your credit reports which is called the credit freeze or also known as the security freeze. When you place a freeze on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can’t check your credit history. Without that information, they won’t issue credit. And that also means criminals can’t set up new accounts in your name. This service is great identity theft protection.

Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox. To foil “dumpster-diving” thieves, buy a shredder and destroy documents before discarding. Take action on this tip and add to it identity theft insurance coverage, IDT Insurance.

Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you’re at it, make copies of your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Quick action on this tip can be a great protection from identity theft.

Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, we’re all John and Jane Doe’s if we can’t speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. For some of us, that is a good reason why we carry our social security numbers in our wallets or purses. But, we don’t think about having identity theft coverage.

Even after you observe all of these tips for identity theft prevention, you may still become a victim. What can you do as a victim of the identity theft crime? To find the answer this question, Click here.

And now I’d like to invite you to get your Free Instant Access to an Identity Theft Restoration Service Video when you visit http://www.prepaidlegal.com/idt/charleshjohnson. You’ll receive valuable information on a legal service that can help you before, during and after an identity theft crime was committed against you! Please send me an email requesting that I send more great information to you.

From Charles H Johnson Jr – The B.S. Chemical Engineer, Christian Family Man, Online Marketing Entrepreneur& Prepaid Legal Independent Associate

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention