Despite new regulations in the HITECH Act, data breaches and medical identity theft remains at critical levels throughout hospitals in the U.S., where 83.6 percent of providers have data breaches every year, according to a report from identity theft prevention contractor Identity Force. To find out how rampant this is read astounding article at: http://www.cmio.net/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=21866&division=cmio

Emergency alert, the IRS will never send an email. Review article and suggestions for preventing any IRS scammers and identity theft — http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=498&z=43

Pharmacy Fraud, specialty drugs, and six Miami residents conspiring to bill Medicare. There were also alleged kickbacks paid to the Medicare beneficiaries as well. See Fierce health care article at — http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/press-releases/six-miami-residents-charged-13-million-health-care-fraud-scheme?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Now that April 1 is here the Census forms are due. Remember, a few of the following guidelines:
The census people are NOT coming to your home until May 1 to July 1. Anyone knocking your door now is a potential scam artist. They will arrive if you have NOT filled out your census form and returned it; or have not filled it out correctly.
There are only 10 questions to answer.
They are not to ask for Social Security Numbers, or bank information.
Do not invite them into your home.
They will have a badge, and carry a black bag with US Census Bureau on it.
Check the web site for further details: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php.
If you have NOT received your census form by April 12, call one of the toll free assistance lines:
* ENGLISH – 1-866-872-6868
* Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
* Korean: 1-866-955-2010
* Russian: 1-866-965-2010
* Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
* Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
* TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired):
1-866-783-2010
* Puerto Rico (in English): 1-866-939-2010
* Puerto Rico (in Spanish): 1-866-929-2010

Census Bureau Call Center

General Telephone Lines: 1-800-923-8282

Send certified letter and enclose copy of a government issued ID – drivers license, military ID – and a copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement

State full name address, SSN, and wish to place a “SECURITY FREEZE” on your file

Experian Security Freeze, POB 9554, Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Security Freeze, POB 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348

Trans Union Consumer Protection Center, POB 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634

See web sites for specific state requirements:

http://www.experian.com/consumer/security_freeze.html

http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/preventing/securityFreezepage

http://equifax.com/cs/satellite?c=EFX_contentroot&cid=1165203975981&pagename=5-1%2F5-1_Layout

Remember, freeze means no impulse buying for that “instant credit” at stores—that new TV, boat, car, etc.