All of us seem to have a smart phone these days. We have pictures, documents, mobile wallets and if it goes south, hacked, lost…your life will seem to be over. So start thinking about the active precautions you need to take..NOW!

1. Install a VPN  – virtual private network – there are many choices out there along with discounts
2. Install an ad blocker. Some VPN’s  do that automatically
3. Activate your screen lock
4. Always check permissions with addition of new app’s
5. Activate remote device locator
6. Activate auto back-up
7. Activate 2-factor authentication
8. Turn on encryption
9. Install antivirus
10. Make sure to use different passwords for different accounts (password manager)

Security today has to be first and foremost in your mind. Often you are sing your own device at work. What will happen if your or your company information is compromised. Who is to be blamed? Can it affect your job? If a breach occurs because of your device what are the consequences. Mobile technology has made our lives more interesting, often easier, but also a challenge in keep information safe and secure.

For further information and other updates contact Linda at 310-831-4400 or watch for her regular Twitter updates!

The holidays are a busy time. While you’re running from store to store finding the perfect gifts and shopping online to get the best deals, each transaction puts you at higher risk for identity theft.

The holidays are exciting for gift recipients just as much as they are for identity thieves. From everything like leveraging data breaches to using portable scanners to steal your money, identity thieves take advantage of every opportunity. You can prevent identity theft during the holidays (and year-round) to avoid false credit card charges and negative credit reports with an identity theft protection service.

Keep an Eye on Credit Card Statements

You’re likely to use your debit and credit cards a lot more during the holiday season. While you may be busy, don’t forget to take a few minutes out of your day to examine your statements and online activity reports. Set alerts on your accounts for large transactions, too. That way, if a large amount is charged or withdrawn, you’re alerted right away. Contact your financial institution the moment you notice an unauthorized charge.

Don’t Use Your Debit Card

Never use a debit card for purchases online or in-store. Checks and debit cards draw funds directly from your bank account. If an identity thief gets these numbers, they can use them to withdraw cash and even drain your bank accounts. It’s easier to report and reverse fraudulent charges with credit cards than it is with your bank account. And, of course, using an identity theft service is the best way to protect you from identity thieves during the holidays.

Use Credit Monitoring

There are a lot of free credit monitoring services that keep an eye on your balances, credit activity, and credit score. Sites like CreditKarma.com are totally free and allow you to view your credit report monthly. You can set alerts on these types of monitoring sites so that you’re notified the moment a new account, inquiry, or charge is made.

Be a Perceptive Online Shopper

It’s often easier to shop online than in-store, especially if you’re hunting for bargains. But don’t shop with any online retailer. Only use those with SSL certificates and other security measures in place. You can tell if a website has an SSL certificate by viewing URL at the top of your browser. It should begin with HTTPS instead of HTTP. If you can, stick to the big name online retailers like Amazon or large store chains when shopping online.

What if Your Identity is Stolen?

Even the most cautious of consumers can have their identities stolen. When it happens to you, you better be safeguarded by an identity theft protection and recovery service like ID360. The process of recovering your identity can cost over $3,000 and take as many as 600 hours of your time. It’s definitely the last thing you want to deal with around the holidays. Hiring an identity theft protection service allows you to focus on celebrating while a team of former law enforcement professionals work for you to help recover your good name and, of course, your credit.

Learn more about how you can protect your identity or how to sign up for identity theft services by visiting The Identity Advocate today.

Identity theft cases are growing at a staggering rate in the United States. While a lot more consumers are becoming aware of the risks and enlisting help via identity protection, most ignore the importance of having an ID theft recovery plan as well. The cost to recover your identity averages over $3,000 and could take as many as 600 hours. The entire process is tedious, time-consuming, frustrating, and could easily bankrupt you if you already have a dire financial situation.

But recovering from identity theft doesn’t have to be so devastating. In conjunction with identity protection, identity theft recovery services help keep your life in order when you become a victim of identity theft.

How ID Theft Recovery Services Can Help

Identity theft recovery companies are experts at handling the loss of your information. They track down the point of origin to help you discover what credit accounts are fraudulent. Then they go to work helping you restore your credit profile. They handle your recovery from multiple types of identity theft, including:

• Medical identity theft
• Data breaches
• Bank and/or credit card identity theft
• Government identity theft (e.g., Social Security fraud, Medicare fraud, etc.)
• Employment identity theft
• Phone and/or utilities identity theft
• Every other type of identity theft you can imagine—and there are many!

Steps An ID Theft Recovery Service Takes

Identity recovery requires experts, such as law enforcement professionals, who understand the complicated process of ID theft recovery. While the steps they take depend on the extent of your identity theft case, some services include:

• An expert who resolves all inaccurate information that appears on your credit report and/or medical records due to fraudulent activity.
• A professional who contacts financial institutions and other credit providers, and then closes down those accounts to ensure no further charges occur.
• Helping you file a police report as well as a report with other government agencies to thoroughly document the fraud.
• Cleaning up any fraudulent tax returns that may have been filed on your behalf, and working closely with the IRS as well as your state tax commission to correct those errors.

While identity protection is your first line of defense against ID theft, when identity theft does happen, having a respected ID theft recovery plan is place is critical. ID360 provides identity theft recovery services that give you peace of mind. From negotiating with creditors, obtaining your credit reports, dealing with your bank, filing FTC reports, and  assisting with correcting your medical records, the company ensures that you are able to return to the good credit you had before the identity theft occurred.

Get more identity theft protection and recovery advice from the experts at The Identity Advocate by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Identity theft, including medical identity theft, is a growing threat in the United States. Unfortunately, too many consumers, healthcare providers, and businesses of all types and sizes ignore this threat.

The latest statistics still show that one out of four consumers have their identity stolen, equating to about 11.6 million identity theft victims a year. It’s also estimated that some sort of data breach will affect one out of ten consumers, and one out of eight patients will become a victim of medical identity theft.

The cost of identity theft is devastating. Hackers and thieves buy Social Security numbers for just $1.00, but you’ll spend thousands of dollars and countless hours recovering your identity. On the other hand, a person’s medical identity averages just $50, but insurance companies and the patients affected could spend millions in recovery costs.

All It Takes is the Right Data

Identity thieves only need a few key items to steal an identity. A Social Security number, name, date of birth, and a driver’s license number can reveal everything a thief needs. Thanks to the Internet, identity thieves can go to work doing reverse lookups and other searches using the limited information they find, and then gather the other data they need to steal your identity.

Thieves have several outlets at their disposal to steal identities, including:

• Dumpster diving (or your own trash cans)
• Stealing mail
• Check washing
• Stealing wallets and purses
• Performing telephone and email scams
• Obtaining death records

It’s Not Just Professionals

Identity theft is not just perpetrated by professional thieves. In fact, relatives and friends of victims—and even healthcare workers—steal identities every day. Cyber thieves are the most common in data breaches and system hacks.

Everyone is at Risk for Identity Theft

While the elderly are common targets of identity theft, they’re certainly not the only people at risk. Elderly individuals are, however, at higher risk because most are not computer savvy, do not know how to check their credit reports, and are more trusting, which means they’re more likely to fall victim to scams.

The second most vulnerable group is children. Children have clean credit slates and most parents are not proactive at monitoring their child’s credit report. Parents can, however, sign up their children for CreditKarma.com to keep an eye on their credit profile. Also, parents should teach their children to never share personal information (including dates of birth and Social Security numbers) with people they don’t know.

The deceased are also at risk for identity theft. Sadly, thieves look for obituaries to find the information they need to steal the deceased person’s identity. Since most family members do not check the credit of their deceased loved ones, it can be years before the identity theft is ever noticed.

Veterans are also at risk. Because they leave the United States for extended periods, serving their country, thieves take advantage of the fact that they’re unlikely going to check their credit report.

Lastly, people who use social media unwisely are at risk for identity theft. This is because they publicly broadcast their personal information and leave it ripe for the taking by identity thieves.

Medical Identity Theft Cases Are on the Rise

While identity theft is a common occurrence, medical identity theft is growing quickly as well. It’s estimated that 5.8 percent of identity theft cases are medical identity theft crimes—and most arise from medical data breaches. But medical identity theft is also dangerous. It can result in not receiving the right type of treatment due to incorrect medical records, which can lead to adverse reactions and, worse, death.

Preventing Identity Theft

There are many steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. While there isn’t a 100 percent effective method to prevent it, these steps are proven to limit the likelihood of your identity being stolen in the future.

• Become a member of ID360, the only identity theft protection company that’s run by law enforcement and recovers your identity after it’s stolen.
• Shred everything that has your name, address, and personal information on it (including junk mail).
• Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus so that they scrutinize new credit accounts.
• Use a gel pen so that your checks and signatures cannot be washed.
• Never put your Social Security number on documents and do not carry your Social Security card with you.
• Review your credit reports annually and look for any unauthorized applications or accounts.

You must take your prevention steps even further to prevent medical identity theft:

• Always check your explanation of benefit documents you receive in the mail, and make sure the services you are charged for were actually received.
• Request and review an annual “benefits paid” statement from your insurance company.
• Keep copies of your own health records for reference.
• Never share your insurance card with anyone.
• Shred medical documents when they are no longer relevant.
• Do not take advantage of free medical care or surveys.
• Report a stolen insurance card immediately.
• Never throw away prescriptions with your name on it.

What to Do When Your Identity is Stolen

There are things you can do to lessen the impact identity theft and medical identity theft have on your life:

• Call 877-ID-Theft and speak to the FTC immediately.
• Call your local police department and file an official report.
• Put a fraud alert on your credit report with all three credit bureaus, and then freeze your credit so it can no longer be used.
• Get copies of all three credit reports.
• Cancel all credit cards in your name.
• Contact your bank and give them copies of your official reports, and freeze your checking and savings accounts.

For more information about how you can prevent identity theft and medical identity theft from happening to you, visit The Identity Advocate. You’ll learn all of the ways you can protect your identity and how to recover it when it’s stolen. You can also contact the identity theft experts at The Identity Advocate by calling 310.831.4400.

Are There Employee Criminal Background Check Laws?

Yes! They vary by state, but the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) set national standards for performing an employee criminal background check. The law only applies to an employee criminal background check conducted by a consumer reporting agency, which is a firm that administers the employee criminal background check on your behalf. If you decide to perform an employee criminal background check in-house, make sure you follow your state’s background check laws carefully. Remember: Employees have rights, too!

According to the FCRA, some information cannot be reported in an employee criminal background check:

• Accounts in collection longer than seven years
• Paid tax liens beyond seven years
• Bankruptcies after ten years
• Arrest records, civil suits, and civil judgments after seven years

Linda Vincent, Founder of The Identity Advocate, is dedicated to helping consumers and businesses keep their identities safe. This article first appeared in the newsletter provided by The Identity Advocate.

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Numerous data breaches have occurred over the past few years. From the Target data breach to electronic health records being tapped into, consumers are at risk for identity theft like never before. Unfortunately, most are completely unaware of it. Many even assume that credit monitoring is enough to protect themselves from identity theft.

In fact, Target and other companies tried to calm the waters by offering free credit monitoring to identity theft victims after the attacks. But this is just a Band-Aid on the problem—and mostly a public relations ploy. Credit monitoring doesn’t provide even close to adequate protection. If you’re only relying on credit monitoring as a ways to prevent identity theft, you’ve given yourself a false sense of security. It’s scary, but true.

The Facts

It is estimated that over 4.6 million California residents have been affected by healthcare data breaches since 2009. Nationally, it is estimated that over 32 million U.S. residents have been affected. In July of 2014, an IRS worker was charged with identity theft, and contributed to over $1.2 million in fraudulent charges using information he obtained while working for the IRS. It’s said that 39 percent of data breach victims will have to deal with identity theft at some point. That means spending an average of 600 hours to recover their identity. With the growing number of data breaches occurring in the U.S., it’s time to take steps to protect yourself and your family.

Why Credit Monitoring Is Not Enough

Credit monitoring works just like it sounds: it just monitors. It doesn’t take action or provide ways to prevent identity theft from occurring. In fact, it only notifies you once identity theft has been discovered. After it happens, credit monitoring can’t help you recover from any type of identity theft.

Credit monitoring is only effective when someone uses your information to apply for a new bank account, credit card, or other account. But it doesn’t do anything to protect you during a data breach. When a data breach happens, the thieves have all of your personal information—including your credit card data—they can use to make expensive purchases. Your credit monitoring will never see the actual charges. And most credit monitoring services only monitor credit bureau reports, which means they could take weeks to find out fraud has occurred in the first place. It’s an ineffective system, to say the least.

The Right Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Fortunately, there’s one identity theft protection company that offers a full-service product. It not only educates you in all the ways to monitor your credit and identity, but also provides law enforcement grade, fully managed recovery of your identity. It allows you to continue living your life instead of spending countless hours trying to fix it yourself.

Very few identity theft protection companies offer these turnkey services. By signing up with a service that does, you can:

• Have peace of mind in knowing your identity is fully protected—not just monitored
• Know what is on your credit report and public records the second they are posted
• Save out-of-pocket costs on recovering your identity when the theft occurs
• Have access to identity theft experts 24/7
• Ensure your identity is restored to pre-theft status

The Identity Advocate works exclusively with an identity theft protection company known as ID360. The comprehensive service provides numerous ways to prevent identity theft, and is unlike any other on the market. To learn more about ID360 and see how it protects your identity, visit The Identity Advocate for a special offer today. You simply can’t risk becoming yet another victim of a data breach and the resulting theft. Remember: it’s not a matter of if. It’s when. 

A child’s Social Security number and identity can be stolen just as easily as an adult’s. Thieves use their SSNs to open up bank accounts, apply for government benefits, and even rent a place to live. As a parent, it’s important that you are proactive in not only protecting your own identity, but the identity of your children, too.

Recent research has shown that over 10.2 percent of children in the United States have had their identity stolen. Therefore, it is imperative that parents take precautions to protect their kids’ identities. Child identity theft results in:

• A poor credit score
• Higher interest rates and more difficulty being approved for loans/credit in the future
• Medical identity theft when medical records show they are using medications that identity thieves are actually taking
• Difficulty fixing errors, especially when they are years (or even decades) old

How to Spot Child Identity Theft

There are many ways to find out if your child’s identity has been stolen. If you notice these red flags, take action immediately. Some signs your child’s identity has been used fraudulently include, but are not limited to:

• Your child begins receiving pre-approved credit card notices or financial offers in the mail
• Your child already has a bank account open in his/her name
• A child’s application for a bank account is denied because of poor credit
• A credit report is already opened for your minor child

Risks For Child Identity Theft

Children are at high risk for identity theft because thieves thrive on the fact that most parents are not proactive at checking up on or protecting their child’s identity. Also, children are required to submit their Social Security number to physicians and even schools, which means there are multiple records with their personal information out there.

How to Prevent Identity Theft For Your Child

While there is no 100 percent guarantee you can protect your child’s identity, there are things you can do to limit the chances that they become a victim of identity theft in the future. Some things you can do to prevent child identity theft include:

• Sign up for an identity theft protection plan with a company like ID360, the only one that offers fully managed law enforcement grade recovery. ID360 will save you the extensive time and hassle it takes to contact the FTC, credit bureaus, banks, and other entities to begin the recovery process—leaving you free to live your life.
• Limit the availability of your child’s Social Security number. Be mindful of who asks for it, ask why it is being required, and how it is stored. For example, what happens to your child’s Social Security number after you provide it to a recreation center?
• Always keep your child’s personal documents safe, which includes prescription information, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and more.
• Check your child’s credit report annually to ensure that his or her Social Security number is not being used fraudulently.
• Be aware of family members and family friends who could steal your child’s identity. It sounds unconscionable, but there are countless examples of child identity theft occurring by people who are close to the family. For example, family members with poor credit history may see your child’s perfect credit as an easy way to get back on their feet.

To learn more about how you can avoid child identity theft, visit the identity theft prevention experts at The Identity Advocate. By taking steps to protect your child’s identity, you can ensure they have a long, healthy credit history.

Related Articles:

• Be Vigilant! Don’t let Your Children Become Victims of Identity Theft
• Is Your Social Media Profile Putting You at Risk For Identity Theft?
• Today’s Grave Robbers: Identity Theft and the Deceased

Do you know how easy it is to infiltrate, expose, and compromise any type of health care agency? Identity theft can easily happen right under your nose, so the best defense is a good offense. Know your rights and know how you can protect your business by performing an employee criminal background check for prospective employees during the hiring process. Unfortunately, as crime statistics for identity theft continue to soar, an employee criminal background check is more important than ever before for corporations and physician’s offices of any size.

Any employee can be a potential thief, so an employee criminal background check should be conducted on every new hire, whether it is a full time in home caregiver or a temporary /transitional caregiver. As the aging baby boomers discover it is better to have in-home care, and now economy continues to recover, more agencies are hiring more employees, it’s important to know the “do’s and don’ts” of an employee criminal background check. An employee criminal background check ensures that you are protected from identity theft predators or opportunistic criminals masquerading as enthusiastic job applicants. There are many things to consider when performing an employee criminal background check, including the components, laws, and processes necessary to ensure a new employee can be trusted with sensitive information.

What’s Included in an Employee Criminal Background Check?

Every employee background check also includes a thorough employee criminal background check. Some of the information is public and some is private, but all of the information is important in assessing a job applicant. Although the type of information checked varies from state to state and county to county, an employee criminal background check can include:

• Credit, driving, criminal, education, medical, drug test, court, military, and bankruptcy records
• Social Security Number
• Vehicle registration
• Property ownership
• Past employment
• Professional and personal references

All of this information is invaluable, but one aspect that is often overlooked is the credit report. A poor credit rating makes the average applicant a higher risk for identity theft. Additionally, research shows that one in four disputes over information on an employee criminal background check is connected to identity theft issues, so take every precaution to thoroughly evaluate every prospective employee’s credit and criminal records.

Are There Employee Criminal Background Check Laws?

Yes! They vary by state, but the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) set national standards for performing an employee criminal background check. The law only applies to an employee criminal background check conducted by a consumer reporting agency, which is a firm that administers the employee criminal background check on your behalf. If you decide to perform an employee criminal background check in-house, make sure you follow your state’s background check laws carefully. Remember: Employees have rights, too!

According to the FCRA, some information cannot be reported in an employee criminal background check:

• Accounts in collection longer than seven years
• Paid tax liens beyond seven years
• Bankruptcies after ten years
• Arrest records, civil suits, and civil judgments after seven years

Employee Criminal Background Check: An Overview

Follow this employee criminal background check “cheat sheet” to safeguard your company from identity thieves and potential criminals in the workplace:

• Who: Every employee!
• What: A comprehensive employee criminal background check that abides by all applicable laws
• When: Before an employee is hired
• Why: To protect your business and your employees!
• How: Either in-house or by a consumer reporting agency

If you have questions or need assistance performing an employee criminal background check, don’t hesitate to the contact the experts! It can save your business from disaster. Contact Linda Vincent at 310-831-4400 or connect with her at linda@theidentityadvocate.com